I always set up my VST folders on my hard drive by Vendor.
That makes it logical to manage them (install / uninstall, etc).

As far as organization within DAWs, Reaper is pretty good allowing one to create Folders in a browser pane, but does not allow subfolders, so it becomes too crowded, etc.
IO find that FL Studio has the best system for organization, using normal folders to do this.
It is actually Windows-compatible in method, and one sets it up in Windows folders and can see immediate changes in FL Studio's browser.
I have mine set up like so:

 

Last edited: Jul 25, 2024

compressor folder need subfolder for opti,vca,mu and fet at auen freds

 

you sure ? also from live 7-10 it allowed vst2 with the same structure as the windows tree anyways.

 

One of many reasons it has become my main DAW.

 

If we talk installations, I'd rather let things say in the Common Files folder in Windows... The easier the better.

If we talk in the DAW.... I have one example for one of the DAWs I use:

FL Studio is quite the pita with their plugin manager.. So I figured out by checking out my FL Studio Presets folder in Documents, I was able to see ".fst" files for each plugin that the manager was able to scan and identify... Well, "identify" required you to verify scanned plugins aswell, as it has to know whether it was "effects" or "generators".. I chose to manually create my folders for the plugins I wanted to use regularly.. So by creating folders for EQ's, Compressors of any type, Synthesizers, Samplers, Effects, Multi-Purpose plugins.... The list goes on and really depends on what you prefer..

Since I did this, my FL had a much better system than ever. Everything is now in my own systematic order.

 

Last edited: Jul 25, 2024

also a point...vst3 root is way to long

it was right ...better than fl's...just 1:1 windows tree for vst and samples folder
they fckt 50% of workflow advance over all other...so stupid

 

fck it , i stay with live10 and will never buy anything of ableton ,NI or steinberg software .
these overpaid berlin hippsters living in a bladder can ....... .

 

Interesting - could you talk a bit more about your Synth Racks? You create a Rack for each individual Synth and then file that?

 

Yes and if you use Reaper the Vst3 and Vst2 folders will show up if you tick it it in options\show in left pane list
That is way better than categorys (which you then can untick) as some of those metatags doesnt organize in the correct category and some tag it different like channelstrip instead of channel strip drum and drums etc etc.

 

Most current daws will allow you to use the plugin manager and make your own folders and put whatever plugins you want in them. some daws allow you to categorize based on by type vs manufacturer and it’ll already be halfway the way you want.

What daw are you using?

 

ableton
and this thread brought to surface that only s1 and fl come near like it was in ableton...reaper is great but read what i wrote before in this thread bout it...

its a dead horse or how you say in english...i stay with live 10 and vst2 with my windows root and enjoy that what partly once made ableton a workflow monster over all other....
had hopes someone mention bitwig but no...

 

As mentioned, in Cubase, you can create your own plugin lists for quick loading using the Plugin Manager, so maybe a list for instruments, fx, mastering (if you do it within Cubase) etc. You can arrange by vendor (not the most reliable way) if you like.
As for installation directory, if you move the actual VST's into their own folders, you may come into a problem when it comes to updating those VST's, the vendors tend to stick to the default location/s, maybe their own subfolder in the VST3 folder, unless you remember where you've moved them into (if you are given the option to choose that is), you could end up with two of the same plugins!

 

Probably due to ppl not even understanding or knowing but I can tell you Nuendo and Cubase allow you fully customize your plugins in anyway that you want and have for 10+ years
I’ve used every thing out there over the last 25 years. Quite a few actually allow you too
As for the vst3 folder itself yes you can make folders but they won’t show in your daw like that as they would with a vst2 plugin folder
Most daws have plugin managers that allow you to make folders, move plugins around etc.
Ableton I’m not sure about but I’ll try it tomorrow and let you know if there’s a way within Ableton 12

 

Btw I already found that Ableton 12s browser can do exactly what you want via the library . Just a quick YouTube search