Hey guys

Just like the title states, I'm looking for a way to reorganize my VST and sample libraries without losing all my projects from before the reorganization.

The samples I can deal with. If I have to, I'll just export everything to a collected folder, but I'm worried that if I move my VSTs around Ableton won't be able to find them and won't keep my parameters if I replace them with the plugs from their current location.

If you lose a sample ableton gives you a chance to locate it. But when it can't find a VST, as far as I can tell, it doesn't make an effort to let you replace it. I haven't done a lot of experimenting with this because I'm too afraid of losing a beat I'm working on, but I can't be the only person who has tried to do this. I'm sure one of you has a solution. I'll greatly appreciate any advice.

 

@ Cav Emp,

As I don't know if you're using your 'Ableton LIVE' as well as your 'VST Plugins' under 'Windows' or 'MAC OS X', the following will be applicable to 'Windows'...

One important thing you must to understand (if not already done !), is that as some 'VST Plugins' are simple '.dll' Files to simply place as is within your 'VST Plugins' Folder(s), others however need some (or many !) other Files to work properly, and here's the dilemma, because some of these installed 'VST Plugins' rely on these other Files and some even generate a '.log' File during their installations, which you can guess, contains the exact locations of each of the installed items ('VST Plugins,'Files', 'Presets',... ).

So you can easily guess that if you manually change the location of a particular 'VST Plugin' that relies on such '.log' File (or even another important Files), you'll not be able to load it as is... *no* ... and you'll certainly need to re-install it once again for that it can work properly again... *yes*

 

Well, finish working on Your "beat" , and than do a fresh installation of Your plugins with some new updates and things if there are some available at that point...

 

[Windows, addition to Studio 555]

Some 'simple .dll files' generate their own subfolders to store presets etc.
Lookout for those.

And - more complex installs often have keys in the registry, which reference installed locations, license/serial etc.
If you manually move those apps, you might need to modify their registry keys as well.
For those apps, might be easier for you to uninstall--reinstall.

 

Right. I always forget that part. I'm on Windows 7.

Crap. See I was just thinking about opening an Ableton Set from which the VST locations have changed. I wasn't even considering logs, registry keys, etc. What a headache.


@Rhodes, what's wrong with the word beat? In my genre, the vocal is the centerpiece.



So let's assume I do everything the right way, reinstall, etc. Is it possible for me to open a Live Set which was made before reorganizing my folders and either load the VSTs properly or swap them in without losing parameter tweaks?

 

@ Cav Emp,

Well... hard to say, because in the case where a '.log' File was generated earlier (first Installation of a particular 'VST Plugin'), then that you reinstall the 'VST Plugin' which that '.log' File makes reference to, maybe the difference(s) of the Date/Time of Installation can lead to some troubles, but I'm not totally sure of this fact...

Maybe also other similar 'Parameters/Settings' done during the first Installation of a 'VST Plugin' could act similarly, leading you to some errors. Here, I'm thinking about what 'Dalmation' exactly said in his Comment *yes* (and which I forgot to stipulate, in some sense, in mine) : some 'Traces' done during the Installation, then registered (here and there) within your 'Windows Registry' ! And this could be the worst in your case, I mean, wanting to reload (old) 'LIVE Projects' with some 'VST Plugins' that could perhaps have wrong references according to their previous and/or specific 'Registry Keys/References' !!!

 

absolutely nothing wrong; it is just that I feel strange referring to a beat as a "thing" You have to finish ... that fore I put it under quotation marks.
In my world, a Beat is part of a measure; the notes and rests corresponds to a certain number of beats.

Of course, I understand what You mean when You say "Beat", but since it triggers a feeling of oddness in my mind, I automatically put it under quotations... nothing personal

The simplest way is to try it out:
temporarily move one of the plugins that You use in one of Your projects, in another folder, and try to load the project; see what happens...
if You are able to redirect Ableton to a new location, without loosing all Your tweaks, than You are OK...
if not, than see where each plugin stores its presets and use them.

 

I have one vst and one vsti folder,where do I install my plugins. But in Abletons file&folder-> own vst path, i use shortcuts of the dll´s, sorted in subfolders on my hdd (plugins ink folder). never had problems with existing projects *no*

 

You mean it'll acknowledge shortcuts to plugins as the plugins themselves? That'd be a big time saver as far as reinstalling is concerned. I'll have to try it out when I get home.

Thanks to everyone for their input. As has consistently been the case for me learning to make music electronically, there isn't a simple, cut & dry answer to my questions, and I appreciate everyone alerting me to the potential options and pitfalls.

 

On Windows pc : Yes
I do not know how it is on mac...

 

that is brilliant
and simple now that i know.

I deleted a heap of plugins cos it was easier than finding all the relevant files. lol