FL Studio comes with a lot of great plugins and effects, but you can also install third-party plugins in FL Studio to access new sounds, effects, and virtual instruments.
This guide will show you step-by-step how to install VST plugins into FL Studio, how to manage your plugins, and extra tips to make it easier for you to access and use your plugins.
Once you install some plugins, check out these guides to help you get more out of FL Studio:
- Ultimate Guide to Guitar VST Plugins
- Ultimate Guide to Drum VST Plugins
- How to Record Guitar in FL Studio
- How to Create Drum Tracks in a DAW
- Ultimate Guide to DAW Controllers (highly recommended for FL Studio users)
- Recording Guitar FAQs (ask your questions here)
Table of Contents show
Step 1: Downloading Plugins Compatible with FL Studio
There are a few different formats for plugins and you need to install the types that are compatible with FL Studio.
Make sure the plugins you want to install are compatible with FL Studio by checking the below information.
Plugin Bit Versions
VST Plugins can come in 32-bit or 64-bit versions.
If youâre using a 64-bit version of FL Studio (most people will be), try to install 64-bit plugins. 32-bit plugins will work, but the best practice is to match the plugin bit version to the bit version of your version of FL Studio.
Some plugins will automatically install both 32-bit and 64-bit plugins. Thatâs fine. FL Studio can combine the two versions so you donât have them doubling up in your plugins list.
Check what version of FL Studio youâre running by going to theHelp > Aboutmenu.
Youâll see either 32 bit or 64 bit on this screen.
Plugin Format
There are four different plugin formats you may find: VST, AU, AAX, RTAS. The different formats work with different DAWs.
FL Studio uses VST and VST3 format plugins. VST3 plugins are 64-bit and recommended if you have the choice.
Many plugin installers will ask you to choose which formats to install for the plugin as shown below:
If you only use FL Studio and no other DAWs, you can uncheck the other formats and only install VST formats. If you also use other DAWs such as Ableton Live, you may want to install other formats as well as explained in my Guide on Guitar Plugins.
Downloading Plugins
When downloading most plugins, they will include an installer to help you install the plugin to the correct directory. Where to install the plugin is covered in the next step.
If you download a plugin and all you get is a .dll file, donât panic. All you need to do is move/copy that file into the correct folder as covered in the next step.
If you download a plugin and it comes in a zip file, you need to open the zip file to either access the installer or find the.dll file.
All of this will make sense after the next step.
Step 2: Finding FL Studioâs Plugins Folders
FL Studio looks for plugins in specific folders by default. If a plugin isnât installed in one of these folders, FL Studio wonât be able to use it.
Find out where your version of FL Studio looks for plugins by going to theOptions > Manage Pluginsmenu.
The above screenshot shows FL Studioâs Plugin Manager. This is where you can install, edit, and manage your plugins.
The directories shown on the left âPlugin search pathsâ panel shows where FL Studio looks for plugins.
In the above screenshot, you can see that FL Studio looks for plugins in five different directories. The different directories are used for different types of plugins (eg: VST vs VST3) as well as FL Studioâs own plugins.
If you want to add a different directory to this list, click the folder + icon as shown below:
Select the directory you want to use for your plugins and it will be added to the list. If you have used other DAWs in the past, your plugins may be stored in folders created by the DAW. Adding those folders to FL Studioâs list is the easiest way to use those plugins.
Step 3: Installing Plugins to the Correct Folder
Now that you know where FL Studio looks for plugins, you can install your plugins to those folders.
In this example, Iâll show how to install one of the LePou Amps â a collection of free guitar amp simulator plugins covered in my guide on Best Guitar VST Plugins. You can follow these steps for any plugin.
First, download the plugin from the pluginâs website. This plugin gives you the option to download either Windows or Mac versions and choose between 32 and 64 bit. Iâll download the Windows 64-bit version.
Once you have downloaded your plugin, either run the installer (if it comes with one), or copy the plugin files to a folder FL Studio can scan.
The file I downloaded was a.zipfile, so I need to open the file and extract the plugin file into my plugin folder, which was C:\Program Files\VstPlugins\ as shown in FL Studioâs plugin manager.
While the method you may follow may be different depending on what type of file you are given in the download, the end result should always be the same. There should always be some sort of file (eg: .dll or .vst3) installed in your plugins folder.
Step 4: Adding New Plugins to FL Studio
Once you have installed your plugin to one of the folders FL Studio can scan, open FL Studio.
Go to the Options > Manage Plugins menu.
There are a few scan options you may want to enable/disable such as rescanning plugins that have had errors in the past or whether you want to combine 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
Click theFind More Plugins button at the top and FL Studio will scan the folders for any new plugins.
Once the scan has completed, scroll through your list to see if your plugin shows up.
The below screenshot shows that the HyBrit plugin from LePou has been found and added to the list of plugins:
Sometimes the name shown on this list doesnât perfectly match the actual plugin name. Use the search bar at the bottom or look at the filename column to find your new plugins.
If your plugin doesnât show up after scanning, check that it is installed in the correct folder and you have installed the correct format (covered in step 1).
Step 5: Managing Your Plugins
If your new plugin shows up in this list, you can start using it straight away. But there are a few ways to make it easier to access and use your plugins.
Depending on the edition of FL Studio you buy, you might have a long list of plugins. This can make it awkward to quickly find your most-used plugins.
Hereâs how you can organize your plugins for faster access.
Click on a plugin in the Plugin Manager and click the âPluginâ tab on the left:
The left panel now shows all of the options and details for the selected plugin.
You can rename the plugin if you want to something thatâs easier to remember or clearer on what the plugin is. For example, the âHyBritâ plugin is based on a Marshall amp, so Iâll rename the plugin to âHyBrit (Marshall amp)â so in the future I can easily find it.
Favoriting Plugins
Favoriting plugins is a great way to make it easier to find and add your most-used plugins to any project.
You can add any plugin to favorites in the Plugin Manager by clicking the start next to the plugin in the list.
At any time you can add or remove plugins from favorites to clean up your list.
When you go to add a plugin to a mixer channel, youâll see the plugins you have favorited at the top of the list (unless they are sorted into a category as explained later):
If you want to better organize your plugins, check out the tips below and learn how to create custom categories for your plugins.
FL Studio Plugins Tips and Best Practices
Here are some tips and best practices for using plugins in FL Studio:
Create Custom Categories
To use a plugin in FL Studio, go to the mixer and click one of the insert channels to highlight it as shown below:
At the far edge of the mixer panel, you will see empty slots you can use to add plugins to a channel:
Clicking a slot will bring up your list of plugins. Youâll see that FL Studio separates the plugins into categories by default:
Note:if you donât see any categories when you open the list of plugins, make sure you have the âCategoriesâ view selected (at the end of the plugin list there are view options).
You can create custom categories to sort out your plugins as you like. If you feel like your list of favorite plugins is spiraling out of control, set up some custom categories to sort them out.
In the Plugin Manager, click a plugin, then enter a category name for that plugin on the left panel under the favorite heading.
You can see in the above screenshot that Iâve added the HyBrit amp plugin to a custom âGuitar Ampsâ category. Click the favorite button or else the custom category wonât show in your list.
Click the âApply Changesâ button to save your category.
If you now open your list of plugins, youâll see your plugin sorted under your custom category. You can see that the HyBrit plugin now shows under the âGuitar Ampsâ category:
Note that the custom name I set for the plugin also shows here.
Extra tip: the categories are sorted alphabetically. If you want your custom categories to show up at the start of your effects list, create custom categories that start with âAâ such as âA Guitar Ampsâ, âA Drumsâ, âA Virtual Instrumentsâ, etc.
Itâs not ideal, but that will ensure that your custom categories show at the top of the list.
Use the Plugin Picker
FL Studio has a visual tool you can use to access your plugins instead of selecting them from a list.
You can access the inbuilt plugin picker at any time by pressing F8 on your keyboard.
This might look messy, but once you get the hang of it, it can sometimes be faster than trying to find your plugin from a long list.
You can easily jump between categories by hovering your mouse over the category names at the bottom of the screen. The plugins for each category will instantly show.
You can see that when I hover over my âGuitar Ampsâ custom category, it only shows the plugins Iâve added to that category.
Some plugins may not show thumbnails. To enable a thumbnail for any of these plugins, open the plugin in FL Studio, click the top left corner arrow and select âAdd Plugin to Databaseâ
Once you find a plugin you want to use, click and drag the plugin and add it to any track or mixer channel.
In the below screenshot, you can see that I have dragged the HyBrit plugin into the âInsert 1â channel on the mixer. It now shows in the list of inserts on the far right of the mixer.
Sometimes you will prefer using the text list of plugins and other times you might prefer the plugin picker. Practicing using both methods to see what works best for you.
Installing Plugins in FL Studio Summary
Here is a quick step-by-step overview of how to install plugins in FL Studio:
- Download a compatible VST plugin
- Open FL Studio and find the plugin directories used in the Plugin Manager
- Install your plugin into the correct directories
- Scan for new plugins in FL Studioâs Plugin Manager
- Sort and organize your plugins by favoriting, renaming, and adding plugins to categories
Once you have followed the above steps, you can add your plugins to your projects as you like. How you add your plugins depends on whether youâre using a generator plugin (eg: synths and virtual instruments), and effects plugins (eg: guitar amp simulators).
Video Tutorial
Hereâs a quick video tutorial walking through the above steps:
After you install some plugins, check out these guides to help you get more out of FL Studio:
- Ultimate Guide to Guitar VST Plugins (Best free and paid guitar plugins)
- Ultimate Guide to Drum VST Plugins (Best free and paid drum plugins)
- How to Record Guitar in FL Studio
- How to Create Drum Tracks in a DAW
- Ultimate Guide to DAW Controllers (highly recommended for FL Studio users)
- Recording Guitar FAQs (ask your questions here)
Related Guides and Lessons:
FAQs
How do I install a VST plugin? âș
...
- Go to Options and select Preferences.
- Select VST, click Edit, and select Add.
- Navigate to the folder where your plug-in(s) are installed, and click Rescan.
- Open FL Studio.
- In the menu bar, click on Options and select Manage Plugins.
- The FL Studio Plugin Manager appears. ...
- Navigate to the folder containing your Native Instruments plug-ins and press OK.
Open FL Studio. In the menu bar, click on Options and select File Settings. A pop-up window will appear showing extra search folders for samples and plug-ins. Click on the folder icon located beneath the VST plugins extra search folder and select the install location of your VST plug-ins.
Should I use VST or vst3? âșAudio Signals
One other big advantage of VST3 is that audio data, as well as MIDI data, can now be passed through a plugin. With the old VST standard, MIDI was the only way to go, but with the VST3 implementation, you can send any kind of audio signal to your plugin.
Plug-ins Aren't Showing Up. There could be a number of reasons why your plug-ins aren't showing up in FL Studio. It could be due to bad installation, the plug-in not being installed to the correct scan path, or it could simply be that it isn't enabled within FL Studio.
Does FL Studio use VST or vst3? âșFL Studio Windows - Supports 32 and 64 Bit VST 1/2, VST3 and Image-Line's own enhanced proprietary FL Studio native format.
How do I install third party plugins? âș- Go to ExtensionsâInstall/Uninstall and make sure the Install subsection link is clicked.
- Click the Choose File button and navigate your computer to locate the plug-in archive file (usually a ZIP, but also might be TGZ, GZ, or TAR).
- Click the Upload File & Install button.
...
Where should I Install the VST on Windows?
| Digital Audio Workstation | VST Location |
|---|---|
| FL Studio | C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins |
| Studio One | C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins or C:\Program Files\Common Files\Steinberg\VST2 |
To install the plugin, you visit the website of the plugin's developer and click on a link that will download the installer for the plugin you have selected. You can save the installer to an easy to find location such as the Desktop or a specific folder you have created to organize all of your downloads.
What does VST stand for? âșVirtual Studio Technology (VST) is an audio plug-in software interface that integrates software synthesizers and effects units into digital audio workstations. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware in software.
Where is VST3 plugin system folder? âș
AUDIO plug-ins are installed by default (C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3).
Where are VST3 plugins located? âșC:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 (64-bit VST3) C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins (AAX)
Are VST and VST2 the same? âșVST2 and VST3 are simply different versions of VST. Many additional features were introduced in the VST version 3 (VST3) and these plug-ins are now supported by most hosts and DAWs.
Should I install VST2 or 3? âșVST2 or VST3 â Which One Should You Use? What is this? If you have plugins that come in both VST2 and VST3 versions, it's recommended to use the VST3 version unless you have a reason not to (e.g. if the VST3 version is causing issues or is buggy).
Are all VST3 64 bit? âșxx format. VST3 plugins are always 64-bit-compatible, offer sidechaining options and dynamically assignable outputs.
Which plugins is best for FL Studio? âș- New York Compressor.
- MJCUjr By Klanghelm â Free compressor.
- Imperial Delay.
- Decapitator By Soundtoys.
- Phase Distortion Snapin By Kilohearts.
- FuzzPlus 3 By Audio Damage â Free.
- U-he Diva.
- Steinberg Model E â Free Bass VST.
Virtual Studio Technology (VST) Plugins (Windows and macOS) VST is a software interface standard that allows you to load VST software synthesizer and effect 'plugins' in FL Studio.
How many plugins fl studio all plugins edition? âșOver 100 plugins included
FL Studio All-Plugins Edition includes over 100 instrument and effect plugins covering automation, sample playback/manipulation, synthesis, compression, delay, equalization filtering, flanging, phasing, chorus, reverb, distortion, bit-crushing and more.
But, 64-Bit VST2 or VST3 is what we want as music producers. (You may need to install both if you use your DAW and video editing program, as your DAW will use VST3, as music production is usually one step ahead on technologies, and your video editor will use the dated 64-Bit VST2 version).
What file type is a VST? âșWhat is a VST file? Files with . vst extension are vector image files created with Microsoft Visio and act as template for creating further files. These template files are in binary file format and contain the default layout and settings that are utilized for creation of new Visio drawings.
Can I use a VST without a DAW? âș
It is possible to run a VST plugin as standalone without using a DAW. The easiest way is to use something called a VST host. A VST host is a lightweight program with the sole purpose of running the VST.
Why can't I load a plugin? âșCorrupted or missing system files could also lead to the âChrome couldn't load pluginâ error. In this case, you should run System File Checker (SFC), a Windows 10 built-in tool for checking and fixing system files.
How do I know if a plugin is activated? âșIf you know of a class or function that is included with the plugin you're checking for, you can easily use the function_exists() and/or class_exists() functions to determine if the plugin is active. If the function or the class is registered, meaning the plugin is active, the checks will return true.
What is the difference between an add on and a plugin? âșA plug-in, which can also be called an add-on or an extension, is third-party software that adds new functions to a host program on a computer, without altering the host program. Basically, they allow you to add new components to a host program or extend its capabilities beyond its original design.
How do I install a zip file from a plugin? âș- Sign in to WordPress.
- In the left-hand menu, select Plugins > Add New.
- Select Upload Plugin.
- Select Choose File.
- Locate and select the plugin . ...
- Select Install Now.
- Optional: Select Activate Plugin if you want the plugin to be active after the installation.
Google Chrome
To enable it, click Chrome's menu button and select Settings to open the Settings page. Click Show advanced settings, click Content settings under Privacy, scroll down to Plug-ins, and select Click to play.
- GForce Software Oberheim SEM.
- Arturia Pigments 3.
- Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.6.
- Roland Zenology Pro.
- Spectrasonics Keyscape.
- Xfer Records Serum.
- Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra.
- Cherry Audio Synth Stack 2.
- Spectrasonics Omnisphere.
- Xfer Records Serum.
- Gforce Oberheim OB-E.
- Arturia Pigments.
- VCV Rack Pro 2.
- Arturia V Collection.
- U-He Diva.
- Korg OPSIX Native.
You should install as many WordPress plugins as necessary to run your website and grow your business. On average, its quite common for a business website to have at least 20 â 30 plugins. If you're using WordPress to it's full potential and have many advanced features, then this count can easily go into 50+.
What is the most important thing to remember about activating a plugin? âșActivating a Plugin
If the plugin depends on other plugins, these plugins are listed along with their activation status. If the plugin has optional features that depend on other plugins, those plugins are listed under Some files will not be loaded because these plugins are inactive.
Is VST and plugin the same? âș
VST, otherwise known as Virtual Studio Technology, are plugins utilised by professional and amateur recording artists and engineers who use these tools to strengthen their audio projects. Essentially, a plugin is a variety of software that performs inside another fragment of software.
Are VST and plugins the same thing? âșThis would also include those used by DAWs that have their own non-VST format of effects. So, a âpluginâ and a âVSTâ are two ways of describing the same thing and they are often used together as in âVST pluginâ or you may find âVST effectâ or âplugin effectâ used as well.
What does VST stand for Yamaha? âșVapor Separator Tank (VST) Filter
Attached to the electric fuel pump in the Vapor Separator Tank (VST).
Go to the Options menu and click Manage Plug-ins. 2. In the plug-in window, make sure that the folder you installed your plug-in is listed and also has a white checkmark. If it isn't listed, click the folder with a plus sign icon, and add it.
Where do I install plugins? âș- Go to âPluginsâ in your WordPress dashboard. Start by going to your admin panel â http://your-domain.com/wp-admin/ and click on âPluginsâ in the sidebar menu:
- Click on âAdd Newâ ...
- Find your plugin via search. ...
- Install your plugin. ...
- Activate the plugin.
The plug-ins folder on Windows is located inside of the user directory.