WEEK: 7
Active: March 3rd - March 10th
Work Due: March 10th @ 11:59 PM

Install 3rd Party VSTs

Plug-In Formats & Installation Guide

๐ŸŽ›๏ธ Why Use Plug-Ins?

Reaper, like most DAWs, is an insanely powerful tool for working with audio. But even with all its built-in capabilities, sometimes you need extra featuresโ€”this is where plug-ins come in!

A plug-in is a separate software program that runs inside a DAW, adding new features, effects, or instruments. Reaper (like all modern DAWs) can host third-party plug-ins, expanding your creative possibilities.


๐Ÿ”Œ Plug-In Formats

Just like video or document files come in different formats, plug-ins also have various types. Some DAWs only support certain plug-in formats due to optimization, system architecture, or licensing issues.

What Plug-Ins Work in Reaper?

Reaper supports VST-based plug-ins.

  • VST (Virtual Studio Technology) was developed by Steinberg Media Technologies.
  • If a plug-in is available in VST format and is compatible with your operating system, you can use it in Reaper.

Note: There are two versions of VST you might encounter: VST and VST3. Reaper supports both!


๐ŸŽฏ Install Your First Plug-Ins

To expand Reaperโ€™s functionality, letโ€™s install some plug-ins! These are freeware plug-ins, meaning they donโ€™t come with fancy installers, so weโ€™ll install them manually.


1. SocaLab Tone Generator (Sine Wave Oscillator)

Download link: SocaLab Tone Generator

๐Ÿ–ฅ macOS Installation:

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Go to Go > Go To Folderโ€ฆ.
  3. Type:/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/
  4. Drag and drop ToneGenerator_64b.dll into this folder.
  5. Restart Reaper.

๐Ÿš€ Loading the Plug-In in Reaper

  1. Open Reaper.
  2. Add an FX to a track.
  3. In the Add FX window, search for:
    tonegenerator
    
  4. Select and load the plug-in.

๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Troubleshooting

๐Ÿ” Canโ€™t find the plug-in?

  1. Open Reaper Preferences (Ctrl + P or Cmd + ,).
  2. Go to Plug-ins > VST.
  3. Click:
    • Auto-detect
    • Re-scan
    • OK
  4. Try adding the plug-in again.

๐ŸŽ›๏ธ 2. SoundHack Delay Bundle

This next set of plug-ins is from Tom Erbeโ€™s SoundHack project.

Download link: SoundHack Delay Bundle

Installation:

Follow the same steps as the SocaLab Tone Generator installation.


๐ŸŽถ 3. Valhalla DSP Plug-Ins

These plug-ins come with automatic installers, making installation super easy!

๐Ÿ—๏ธ Installation:

  1. Download the installer.
  2. Run it and follow the instructions.
  3. Restart Reaper and enjoy!

๐Ÿ” 4. ++Audio Rubbadub Delay Plug-In

Another great plug-in with an automated installer!

Download link: Rubbadub - ++Audio

๐Ÿ—๏ธ Installation:

  1. Download the installer.
  2. Run it and follow the instructions.
  3. Restart Reaper and enjoy!

๐ŸŽ‰ Wrapping Up

Now you have an expanded arsenal of plug-ins in Reaper! If you run into any issues, double-check the installation paths and try rescanning in Reaper Preferences > VST.

๐Ÿš€ Time to make some noise! ```

Video Demo