is there a mac app out there for plugin management? I have lots of plugins that I don't use and would like them to be removed, though I don't like doing it manually via erasing every single VST/AU/RTAS from the libraries folder.

 

I don't know if AudioFinder has such an Plugin Manager inside…

Code:

http://www.icedaudio.com/

Once there was an Audio Unit Manager by audiofile-engineering available.

Code:

http://www.kvraudio.com/product/audio_unit_manager_by_audiofile_engineering

I should have a backup copy still! But that would not work on the new MACs.

But an allround Plugin Manager described by you has never existed, as far as I know.

 

Audio Finder does manage plugins as well but what you can do is just activate/deactivate them, not uninstall

There where an app called PlugAdmin (by CodeOperator) a couple of years ago but later on the dev dropped the support
and even the web site doesn't exist anymore… The funny side is I bought that damn app,LOL

 

I just do it manually, tiring but ....

 

There was an app called Plug Tools from a dev in Montreal that worked with RTAS, TDM and Waves plugs, but not AU or VST. It worked well but was limited - couldn't see into subfolders, though PT itself could, wouldn't allow saving different plugin sets, didn't always recognize the version number. IFAIK it was never updated for AAX, much less 64-bit AAX.

Don't know of any other options, but I sure think we need one, and I can't imagine the coding would be particularly hard. If you're using your DAW for different kinds of jobs, or if you're running Media Composer on the same system you use for Pro Tools (or FInal Cut on the same system you use for Logic), being able to organize, and selectively disable, your plugs in a fast and reliable way would be a gift indeed.

 

It's real easy to do in 3 seconds flat!!

To remove the Audio Units (AU) plug-ins, go to your main (Macintosh) hard drive and go to Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components and then highlight whatever plug-ins you want to remove. Click delete and it will ask for your admin password.
To remove the VST's just open the VST folder and do the same… DONE! Next time you re-start your DAW you won't see them anymore.

You can check the other folders (MAS, and VST3 if you have them) and remove anything there as well but know what you are removing!

 

I used to use a plugin manager but found that they didn't work very well and brought more confusion to the process than clarity.
Here is how I do it now if I don't want to delete them but just don't want them not to load.

Add a new folder next to your components AU and name it " Components out" transfer the AU's you don't want to use in it.
Attention because some will change folder and others will get copied only.
Those who get copied you can trow in the garbage afterward.
I do the same thing with VST's or VST3's or RTAS and it works just fine.
Simple and effective…

Hope this helps.