diff --git a/content/getting-started/installing-plugins/en/plugin-manager.png b/content/getting-started/installing-plugins/en/plugin-manager.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf1cbf5 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/getting-started/installing-plugins/en/plugin-manager.png differ diff --git a/content/getting-started/installing-plugins/index.en.md b/content/getting-started/installing-plugins/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..28cb004 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/getting-started/installing-plugins/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,84 @@ ++++ +title = "Installing plugins" +description = "How to install plugins for Ardour" +chapter = false +weight = 6 ++++ + +While Ardour already ships with some plugins, chances are that you will need +more than that: a more sophisticated compressor or reverb, a sampler that +can play a high-quality orchestra library, a polyphonic synthesizer etc. + +Ardour supports mutiple plugins APIs: + +- **Linux**: LADSPA, LV2, VST2.x, VST3 +- **Windows**: LADSPA, LV2, VST2.x, VST3 +- **macOS**: LADSPA, LV2, VST2.x, VST3, AU + +You can find a list of recommended free/libre plugins +[in the appendix](../../appendices/plugins/). + +## Installing plugins + +### LADSPA and LV2 + +These plugins mostly don't have binary builds for Windows and macOS, so on +those systems, most of the time you will be dealing with VST2, VST3, or AU. + +On Linux, LV2 is a very popular option. If you only install plugins from your +distribution's repository, there is nothing else you should do. Ardour will +pick up new plugins easily. But if you do build a plugin from source code, the +build script will typically attempt to copy a `plugin-name.lv2` folder either +to `/usr/local/lib/lv2` or to `~/.lv2`. + +### VST2.x + +VST2 plugins do not have vendor-recommended location for installation, so what +you can do is: + +1. Unpack all your VST2.x plugins to the same folder. (On Linux, `~/.vst` is +commonly suggested.) + +2. In Ardour, go to _Edit > Preferences > Plugins > VST_ and in the VST2.x +section, click the **Edit** button to add a new path to VST2.x plugins. + +3. Add the path to the folder you created in step 1. Ardour will ask if you +want to rescan plugins. Say 'yes'. + +This approach works on each supported operating system. + +### VST3 + +The VST3 specification has hardcoded system paths for storing plugins. On +Windows and macOS, most of the time, you get your plugins installed to the +right folder, so all you need to do is re-scan plugin folders. + +On Linux, in many cases you get a ZIP archive with a `plugin-name.vst3` folder +inside. That folder needs to go to `~/.vst3` or, should you want all users on +that computer to have access, to `/usr/local/lib/vst3`. + +### AU + +These macOS-specific plugins get installed from DMG to the correct folders. +All you need to do is re-scan those folders. + +## Re-scanning folders for installed plugins + +Upon installation it is recommended to re-scan available plugins. This is +typically done with the _Plugin Manager_ (_Window > Plugin Manager_). + +{{< figure src="en/plugin-manager.png" alt="Plugin manager" >}} + +If you only installed new plugins, discovering those will be sufficient. In +the left sidebar of the _Plugin Manager_, click **Discover New/Updated**, the +wait for the scan to finish. + +If you removed some of the previously installed plugins, it's best to do a +full re-scan. Click **Re-scan All** instead and wait for the scan to finish. + +## Continuing + +Now that you know what to do if you want to install an effect plugin or a +software synthesizer, let's learn how to record audio and MIDI to Ardour. + +Next: [RECORDING AUDIO](../../recording/recording-audio/) \ No newline at end of file