Folders inside the plugin folder

[Ben Jenssen]

I thought about this, but never tried it; does PT care if you make folders inside PI-folder and organize PI's the way you want? Perhaps even subfolders? Or does it just load PIs however they are organized? Some PI manufacturers let their installers make folders, so why can't I?
I'll be trying it, but I thought maybe someone had already tried it, and might share their experience.

[AlexLakis]

Pro Tools does NOT care about subfolders in the plugin folder. I keep all of my plugins organized in this way. The only thing to watch out for is when you update/install a new plugin to put it in the right folder and overwrite the previous one (otherwise you can wind up running two copies of the same plugin and Pro Tools does NOT like that!)

[Matts]

It has worked very well for me, I’ve been doing this for many years.

-matts

[Matts]

The only thing to watch out for is when you update/install a new plugin to put it in the right folder and overwrite the previous one (otherwise you can wind up running two copies of the same plugin and Pro Tools does NOT like that!)

I forgot to mention this!

[Ben Jenssen]

Thanks guys. Yes I see you'd have to take care when using installers/uninstallers and updating and such.

Just one more thing; If I reorganized and put some plugins in folders, and they would have new locations, would I have to delete 'InstalledAAXPlugIns' to make PT load all plugins again?

[BScout]

No. It auto rescans when the folder changes. No need to delete anything.

We use subfolders for mixers. So any mixer walks onto a Pro Tools system and drags their folder into the plugin folder. When done, it gets dragged back out. Folder named after each person.

(All the plugin installs are first done as if everyone has the license before being dragged out so all the ancillary files are already on the system)

[Ben Jenssen]

Thanks, BScout. Good advice as always.
I now feel less nervous about experimenting a bit with this.

BTW, I've used labels (mac labels) to help organize plugin folder for some time. Basic Avid PT plugins - red, Avid extra plugins - orange, iLok licensed - yellow, and so on. Makes it easy to see newly installed and demos f.ex, because it would have no label. Works good to see things at a glance.

[Eric Lambert]

Plugin updates getting confused about file paths is the reason I stopped altering the plugin folder, but if you're diligent about resetting it prior to an update then it shouldn't be a problem.

[BScout]

I just install and then move the plugin afterwards. My plugin folder is:

Plugin-Ins

BScout

Each Manufacturer

Acon Digital

Nugen

Lexicon

Makes it easy to check versions and do updates (just show the version column in Finder and check a complete manufacturer's line up, download, install, drag the whole group of "new" plugins back into the manufacturer folder ("replace" when you get the pop-up)

Only plugins at the root level of the plugin folder are the Avid ones.

[Eric Lambert]

Originally Posted by BScout

I just install and then move the plugin afterwards.

And that never creates an issue when an installer needs to validate the presence of a former version of that plugin?