Plugin placement strategy (64-bit only)

Cubase
1

I need to cleanup my DLL plugin folders.
I have more than one DAW (Cubase) installed on my machine.
My first rule, from now on, when adding a new plugin on my machine is as follows:

  • Install the DAWs own plugins in their default folders.

For 3rd party plugins I have seen two different stragegies:
Assumption: The DAW mfg. will handle putting VST3 plugins in a unique VST3 folder.
(If this is not true please advise).

Install all 3rd party plugins in:

  • C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins, or
    C:\Program Files\Common Files

Such is my problem right now in that i have plugins installed in both Common Files and VSTPlugins.
For rule two, is there an advantage or disadvantage to choosing either of these folder paths?

Now I have to clean up 3rd party plugins already installed.
For instance, back in 2009 when I only had Cubase installed, I was putting 3rd party plugins into
my Cubase 6 (at the time) VSTPlugins folder.

This is an important cleanup point:
Depending on which plugin path I choose, Common Files or VSTPlugins, can I simply cut and paste these
DLLs that are currently in my Cubase 6 path into either of the Common Files or VSTPlugins path?

As well, after choosing a Common Files or VSTPlugins path, can I cut and paste plugins from one and put them into the other folder?

Any advise would be appreciated.

2

Common files\VST3 is where the vst3 plugs are installed.
There may be other files related to plugs in here too but I would not put your vst2 dll in here.
C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins is fine.

Copying dll across works ok for the vast majority of plugs.

3

Yes, I realized that i don’t have to worry about VST3 plugins.
I hope that copying (actually cut and paste) works for ALL of the dlls that I have installed.
thx for the reply.

4

FWIW, I have found Ultimate Plug-in tool handy to assure there are not duplicate .dll’s in your system…if that is of any importance to you.
http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/

5

That tool is awesome!! It noticed several duplicates and outdated versions which were incorrectly installed. thx!