How To Install Vst Plugins In Pro Tools 12

Pro Tools uses a proprietary plug-in format called RTAS (Real Time AudioSuite) which is equivalent to the open source VST plugin format used in other sequencers such as Logic and Cubase. As anyone can create their own VSTs and release them to the public, there are literally thousands of VST plugins out there, ranging in price from free to remarkably expensive. As there is no quality control system on these plugins, their usefulness also varies a lot – but at least for the free plugins, you don’t have much to lose by giving them a go. For Pro Tools users, however, there are still a few ways to expand your RTAS plugin arsenal on the cheap…
(from DAW)

Free RTAS Plugins – Yes, They Do Exist

To hide certain plug-ins from Pro Tools, simply move the plug-in to the 'Plug-Ins (Unused)' folder. The next time you open Pro Tools, only the plug-ins remaining in the “Plug-Ins” folder will show up in Pro Tools and any plug-ins moved to the “Plug-Ins (Unused)” folder will not be shown. The lepou le456 is a FREE guitar amp sim VST plugin - so it's NOT a crack. If you want to use it in pro tools, you'll need to wrap it with a vst to rtas adapter like the one from fxpansion. At this point, i wouldn't waste your money on the fxpansion adapter just for this if you haven't bought it yet as lepou still needs to make some adjustments. Plugins from IMGL do not currently have an installer. Instead, you drag the plugin files into the proper location. This method will be familiar to VST users, but may not be evident to Pro Tools users (AAX plugins). In the video I will go over where you need to place the files so your plugins show up in your DAW.

Having plug-ins with Pro Tools is like milk and cookies, hhey go hand and hand. The sad part is that many of the plug-ins that you can buy are very powerful, but very expensive. The good news is that there are some amazing free plugins available on the market and I am going to give you some insight into what I think are the best 12 free plugins. Make sure Pro Tools is closed, as it will need to scan in the newly installed plugin(s) after the installation. Once plugin(s) have finished downloading, locate in your downloads folder and double-click to unzip and run the installer. Step 3: Follow prompts in the installer: Step 4: Launch Pro Tools after installation has completed. Click the 'Detect and Wrap' button to convert the VST plug-ins into RTAS. Quit VST to RTAS Adapter Configuration and open Pro Tools. The newly converted RTAS will now appear under Inserts in the Pro Tools Mixer. Each converted plug-in will begin with a 'VST' prefix. As you may already know Pro-Tools uses AAX Plugins but there is wealth of VST instruments and effects availble for production. One of the ongoing debates for Pro Tools users is the issue of having AAX compatible plug-ins for Pro Tools 11 and also hosting VST and AU plug-ins in earlier versions of Pro Tools.

Although thin on the ground, there are a few free RTAS plugins to be had if you know where to look.

How To Install Vst Plug-ins In Pro Tools 10

Pro Tools does come with some nifty plugins out of the box, but if you want to grab a few more then try these:

• The Bad Habit RTAS Plugin List
• Blue Cat Audio Freeware Plugin Pack Nice bundle, including a useful analyser.
• Brainworx – bx_cleansweep Free filtering goodness.
  Brainworx – bx_solo Mid/side processing tool.
• Digidesign – Structure Free – Free sampler.

  Digidesign – SignalTools – Metering and analysis.
  Digidesign – Xpand! – Sampler-performance instrument..
  Digidesign – D-Fi – Lo-fi sound designer.

  Digidesign/Bomb Factory – Free Bomb Factory Plug-ins – Bomb Factory plug-ins now free for Pro Tools users.
  Digidesign/TL Labs – TL Utilities – Metering and monitoring utilities.
  Digidesign/TL Labs – TL AutoPan – Panning effects.

• Elysia – Niveau Filter – Another filtering option for your arsenal.
• Flux – BitterSweet II – Transient designer with a sweet sound.
  Flux – Stereo Tool – Get your panning in order.
• FXpansion – Orca – Free synth with some good options.
  FXpansion – ClapOMatic – Not exactly essential, but an interesting addition.
• Izotope – Vinyl – Make your recordings sound like olde vinly.
• JK Plugs – JK-Pipe – Utility for Macs.
• Massey – Massey Tools – Massey RTAS plugins.
• Native Instruments – Kontakt Player – plays Kontakt sound packs.

  Native Instruments – Kore Player – Sadly discontinued, but still useful.
  Native Instruments – Reaktor Player – Plays Reaktor soundpacks.
  Native Instruments – Guitar Rig 4 Player – Guitar effects processor.

• Ohm Force – Frohmage – Cheesy filter sounds.
  Ohm Force – Cohmpost – For some sound decomposition.

  Ohm Force – Symptohm: Melohman PE – More synth fun.

• Prosoniq – NorthPole – 4 pole filter.
• PSP Audioware – PSP Vintage Meter – Metering.
• Sonoma Wire Works – DrumCore Free – Free drum kit action.
• SPL – Attacker – Transient designer.
• Studio Devil – Studio Devil BVC – Amp modeling.
• UVI Sound Source – UVI Workstation – Sample playback.
• ValhallaDSP – ValhallaFreqEcho – Frequency shifter and echo.

Some of these are actually demo or trial versions, but it’s a start.

Free RTAS Plugins From VST – Time To Wrap Up

If you really want to use VST plugins with your Pro Tools rig, there is a way – you can get yourself a wrapper program that acts as an interface between the VST and Pro Tools itself.

You can buy this program from FXpansion for about €75, and once it’s installed then you can call up your VSTs in Pro Tools just like you would your usual RTAS Plugins.

How Do I Install Vst Plugins In Pro Tools

You can read about my experience with the Fxpansion wrapper program in this post about my VST to RTAS wrapping adventures.

In this free video tutorial for Pro Tools First Russ shows how you can run any virtual instrument plug-in in Pro Tools First and not just the plug-ins purchased from the Avid store.

In the Avid Pro Tools First FAQs it says 'Only plug-ins purchased through the Avid Marketplace with your Avid Master Account will work with Pro Tools | First'

Not so - this workaround is a real help to those who don't want to have to repurchase all their VST and AU plug-ins or who have free plug-ins they want to use in Pro Tools First.