I have most of my Steinberg content on an external drive and it shows up just fine.
But I had some programs on there, like BackBone and Groove Agent that wouldn’t show up when doing a scan. They only showed up when I put them on the C drive.
Is that notmal?
The programs themselves always want to be on the C: drive. The content related to them can be located elsewhere. The actual programs are small & shouldn’t cause issues.
I kind of figured that.
I got a new computer and was trying to keep the smallish C drive clean in case I ever screwed something up and had to reload the OS.
Not a big problem nowadays though if I ever have to reload programs.
Windows?
You can use the mklink command to create OS file system junctions to ‘point’ to other directories on other partitions/drives. Mac can do something similar using ‘ln’.
Example:
mklink /j “C:\Path\to\create\link” “D:\Path\of\directory”
So, when software calls for “C:\Path\to\create\link”, the OS leads the software in a manner that is transparent to apps. The OS delivers the files that are actually stored in “D:\Path\of\directory”.
There are a few different kinds of links. Steinberg stuff seems to be happy with them all (/d style symbolic links [can even be special networking links], or /j style junctions). I’ve run into some other music software that doesn’t do so well with the /d type symbolic or direct network links, but do fine with the /j type of directory junctions [Some of the older AKAI MPC software didn’t like /d links for me, but worked fine with /j links].
You can even copy/move things to a new partition, and then make a link pointing to the new location. Software thinks it’s still living on drive C.
Here’s a more detailed post on the topic:
But there is no need to do this anymore since the Library Manager can relocate content directly. Prior to the introduction of the Library Manager Cubase did expect the content to be on the C: drive and using links in this manner was the way to get around that limitation. But it’s kind of obsolete now.
Maybe, but it takes 3 command lines as opposed to 20 minutes of fiddly stuff, and it can be ‘changed and rearranged’ easily with a few key taps (not having to reinstall anything, or move wads of shortcuts around). Can even have auto run batch scripts on removable media. I.E. Plug in the external drive, and it changes the paths. Remove it and go back to a ‘lighter’ configuration.
Yep - the Library Manager is pretty slick. The only thing that threw me off were a couple of programs. No problems with the content at all.
There has to be an answer to my question…I must remember that with using DAW’s and being a composer…I now have to re-learn stuff I didn’t have problems with before.
I had (wanted)to buy to new computer only because my motherboard on my Windows XPS 8700 burned out. Except for updates, the computer has never been powered off for 12 years…yep years the only DAW I’ve known is Cubase…started at5% and now on 13 Pro…along with all the VSTS they offer.
So I buy a Dell Inspiron 3020 with 32 gb of RAM and 1 TB of storage…my plan was to put the Cubase 13 on the C: drive…and the VST…cpr./.bak. files on my external hard drive,(s).
I think I made a mistake by not buying a 2 TB HDD hard drive along with the 1 TB SSID…that way…everything except song saves would be on the C: drive.
Does anyone know IF I can still install Cubsae 13 PRO on the C: drive, and the VSTS/ Halion…really just every VST or package CUBASE makes, has made…I want to put on 5 TB ex, hard drive…and song/project files on another…I’ve watched a view you tube posts which supposedly is/was supposed to address this…result is absolute madness on my part.
I had conversations with Cubase tech support…( they are not allowed to tell us what location to install their product ???) I have had Dell support do a TWO remote sessions , one for over 6 hours…6 hours…
I think the answer is much simpler…something like…
Does anybody have any ideas regarding this adventure…?
You are conflating Plug-Ins and Library Content. When installing Programs like Cubase and VSTi’s like Halion always use the default locations which will be on the C: drive - and won’t use much diskspace. Install these first before any Content for them.
Use the Library Manager to download any Content you want. But before doing this you can change the Default Folder in the Library Manager to put the Content in the location(s) of your choice.
Yes, you can have the main software installed on one drive and all the extra content (VSTi, loops, session files, and so on) on another. I’m using Mac OS (Mac Mini M2) and my Cubase 13 pro is installed on the internal SSD and everything else is installed on an external SSD drive (connected using thunderbolt). But I’m sure this can be done in Windows too.
I did this from the start (so no moving after installing VSTis). Before installing any extra software I changed the folder content in Steinberg library manager from default internal SSD to the external one. You can do the same under Windows.
I cannot thank you enough…I just read this…reset my computer and follow your directions. You are the first one who explained this process like to a musician instead or one who builds computers. Thank you, I will keep you informed.
Best Wishes,
Paul Zaleski
I recently purchased HALion 7. Like many users, I want to install the VST3 plugin (and other templates, etc) on my C drive and all the samples on an external (D) drive.
Could someone please walk through how I would 1st install the Halion 7 plugin (VST 3) on my C drive and then install all the samples on my external drive?
If there a clear way to tell when you are installing the applications versus the samples?
Thanks,
Jeff
In the Download Assistant when you Select a product in the left pane, the right pane shows you everything that is included with that product and nothing that isn’t. For Halion 7 the item circled in red is the app while green is the content & the non-circled stuff is pretty obvious as to what it is. Basically if it isn’t the app or something obvious it is content.
Thanks, that is helpful. 
Jeff
Just to repeat the obvious (sorry), I would:
Got it.
Jeff
