I'm honestly curious if what I suggested in post 9 would work. It is easy to do and test.. but I don't use Ableton.

 

the same is true for win

vst3 is under Program files comon....... VST3*
" " " AAX
" " Steinberg/VST

But lazy devs, create folders in "x86", "Program files" VST(2)
Or they leave them in main Install- Program folder or other nonsense
it is actually one of the reasons for VST3, they now have (all) a must install folder for their DLL´s*

Look
its the same Problem with say Falcon (expansions)
You can install them in one folder or in many different folders, doesn't make much sense
but maybe for size problems, and many small drives, but thats not the main thing i tried to solve
like @ArticStorm mentioned how to Organize them after the scanning. is a must for arturia for instance.

So!
Live Recognises Folders, so does Falcon (Folders and Numbers, Names(a.b.c.d so on in that order)
so you can group instruments, and fx! that makes looking for stuff easy.
you just have to find out what your daw of choice recognises and what you want
Like with Records: Label, Genre or feelings

 

that's not what i meant, how to organize them inside falcon is the solution i proposed.
wherever from you scan things (multi drives or folders), inside falcon, falcon orders them (at least that is what i think)
because i have them in the same (1drive) main folder divided by company.(but falcon ignores that structure)

but if you, for instance put all the UVI Soundwares in one Folder and call it 1.
those will appear first in falcon and sorted by name
then for instance in Folder Named 2.
you put the UVI extensions
the extensions will then be, alphabetically sorted, Below the Soundwares
everything else will be sorted how falcon see fits.. (everything Alphabetically without folder structure as reference)

i hope i made myself more clearer.
you could have the (Different) Pianos appear first in Falcon
then UVX and so on.

the same is possible inside Ableton (without the need for numbers)
just by having custom subfolders inside the (Main)VST Folder

to clarify
cubase does it differently again

 

Last edited: Feb 24, 2022

it is not clearer. moving Falcon expansions, or any other content like it; is not the same as moving around windows plugins which are .DLL files. "Dynamic Linking Library". It's not the same as sticking a wave file on an external drive. can't you guys benefit from using Symbolic Links (aka symlinks) like is common on Mac?

 

Last edited: Feb 24, 2022

i gave the explanation about dll´s before
for the most part, you can move them (dll´s) without hassle (licence issues and so on)

symlinks are only necessary if you cant move or Change, locations after installing + if there´s
no Custom path possible (during install) like with the reason extensions

anyway
what i talked about is, what to do in daw, after installing.
(Live) folders work for the most part! but you have to find out the rest for yourself
like numbers for Falcon

@ArticStorm
the problem i see/saw with adg, and other daw specific solutions
that you cant "transport" them to other daws
that´s where folders could solve the "problem"
adg if of course better
Alternative solutions for you are:
VSL Ensamble, or DDMF Meta or other MultiFX Plugin hosts