How do you manage and structure the installations of different software and/or formats for Live and M4L?

Sometimes I get a device, audio- or midieffect, instruments, sounds or M4L without installguide and don't know how/where to install...

...so dear, longtime experienced ableton-nerd;
do you have a special method, maybe some recommendations how to structure, install, manage all this?

 

The easiest way is to take whatever you downloaded and drag it over to Ableton Live (right next to the last track in your Set) from finder/explorer. If you then hit the save button on the device Live should ask if you want to save the device with this preset, confirm to include the device. This way the device & preset will go to the corresponding folder in your user library. There are more elaborate ways but that‘s the easiest one.

 

Thank you very much! I will try!

 

Another question! Is there a trick to overcome the looooong vst-scan everytime i load live?

 

Last edited: Oct 12, 2022

Please, be so kind and explain these elaborated ways! I'm sure manymany would be very happy about!

 

I had this issue and it was down to a couple of broken symlinks, which (I think) Ableton couldn't comprehend, and kept trying to rescan them. Once I removed these it fixed it.

 

Hmmmm...the only symlinks i have are the ones for spectrasonic and vengeance...

 

There is in version 10.. what version you using?


I used this process. Just not sure if it's still available to do in version 11. that's why I asked!

https://www.homemusicmaker.com/stop-ableton-scanning-vsts

I don't. Anything I need to find in Ableton is easy. The search facility top left is a godsend.

 

My broken links were from U-He installs.

You could use Process Manager and watch that as Ableton opens. Maybe filter for pluginscanner and watch what files and folders it keeps trying

 

Recently ininstalled an .alp by doubleclick and it asked me where to install. I've chosen my packsfolder, but it d9es not show up! Even with the search facility...

 

Over on the left hand side where it says 'places' is there a scrolling circle going round? If so, it just means Ableton hasn't found it yet..

 

Well that's one way I guess !
No wait... that's two.. :O

My old maths teacher would be horrified :P

 

Oh I fully believe you AS. It's just an extreme way to go when you consider, reverting back to Live 10 with disabling VST checker wont cost a penny.

 

I just have a max folder on my desktop that I put them all in

 

1. You can‘t skip the vst scan from version 11 on, up to v10 you could edit the options.txt to skip the vst scan.
2. an elaborate way to store stuff is: take an older live pack, one of those that don‘t come as an image but a folder with the stuff inside, in there you will find a folder called "virtual folder info" which has a properties.cfg file in it. if you put this folder and file into a downloaded content folder and also mimic the packs other folder structure to suit your content you can then add it in the packs section and voila you‘ll have a custom made pack that show up under sounds, audio effects etc... & it will tell the name in the browsers "vendor" column.

I‘ll add a preset folder I made for myself, my holy grail of packs creation.
have fun!

 

Great! Thank you very much!