You can install Audio Units plug-ins from manufacturers other than Apple to process audio in Logic Pro, GarageBand, and Final Cut Pro. When installed, Audio Units plug-ins appear as individual components in the Library folders on your Mac:
If your Mac is running macOS High Sierra or later and you recently installed a plug-in that isn't available in Logic Pro or MainStage, restart your Mac. Before you restart your Mac, confirm that the plug-in is 64-bit compatible. 32-bit plug-ins aren't compatible with Logic Pro or MainStage. Choose Apple menu Restart. Open Logic Pro or MainStage. Select the button Use VST Plug-In Custom Folders; Click Browse by VST Plug-In Customer Folder; In the window that opens, navigate to the folder where your VST plugin is located: C: Program Files Common Files Steinberg VST2 Equator for RISE x64.dll; Press Rescan to make Ableton find the VSTs in that folder and make them available in your project.
- In the Finder choose Go > Go to Folder, enter '/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components' into the Go to Folder field, then click Go.
- You can also check the Library in your Home folder. In the Finder choose Go > Go to Folder, enter '~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components' into the Go to Folder field, then click Go.
Built-in effects and instruments included with Apple apps like Logic Pro, GarageBand, MainStage, and Final Cut Pro don't appear in the Library folders and can't be removed manually.
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If you're using third-party plug-ins, try any of these recommendations to fix your issue depending on what you're experiencing:
- If you can open Logic Pro or MainStage, but you're having issues with your project or concert, try bypassing plug-ins.
- If you can't open Logic Pro or MainStage, try removing plug-ins.
- If a recently-installed plug-in isn't available in Logic Pro or MainStage, try the following in the order listed until you can find the plug-in:
Bypass Audio Units plug-ins
If you're having an issue in a particular Logic Pro project or MainStage concert that uses third-party plug-ins, bypass each third-party plug-in in the project one-by-one, testing the project after you bypass each plug-in.
You can bypass plug-ins several different ways:
- Place the pointer over the plug-in slot in a channel strip, then click the Bypass button so the slot dims.
- Option-click the plug-in slot so the slot dims.
- In the plug-in window, click the Bypass button so the slot dims.
If bypassing a plug-in fixes your issue, check with the manufacturer to see if the plug-in is compatible with your version of macOS, and for possible updates.
Remove Audio Units plug-ins
If you can’t open Logic Pro or MainStage, try manually removing plug-ins.
- Find the plug-in file on your Mac.
- If you suspect a particular plug-in, locate the file for the plug-in in the folder, then drag the file to the Desktop.
- Try to reopen the app.
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If you still can't open Logic Pro or MainStage:
- Create a new folder on the Desktop.
- Move all the plug-in files that appear in their installation locations to the new folder.
- Try to open Logic Pro or MainStage.
- If you can open the app, replace each plug-in file to its original location one-by-one. Quit and reopen the app after you replace each plug-in file. If you can't open the app after replacing a particular plug-in file, that plug-in might be corrupted or incompatible. Try reinstalling the disabled plug-in or check with the manufacturer for an update.
Restart your Mac
If your Mac is running macOS High Sierra or later and you recently installed a plug-in that isn't available in Logic Pro or MainStage, restart your Mac. Before you restart your Mac, confirm that the plug-in is 64-bit compatible. 32-bit plug-ins aren't compatible with Logic Pro or MainStage.
- Choose Apple menu > Restart.
- Open Logic Pro or MainStage.
- Click an Audio Effect, Instrument, or MIDI Effect slot to see if the plug-in is available in the pop-up menu. If the plug-in still isn't available, rescan the plug-in.
Confirm that the plug-in is installed
If a recently-installed plug-in still isn't available after restarting your Mac, confirm that the plug-in is installed:
- Choose Logic Pro > Preferences > Plug-in Manager, or MainStage > Preferences > Plug-in Manager.
- In the Plug-in Manager, locate the plug-in. To filter the list by manufacturer, click the manufacturer's name in the left column.
- If the plug-in doesn't appear in the Plug-In Manager, find the plug-in file.
If 'not authorized' appears in the Compatibility column for the plug-in, make sure the plug-in is properly authorized as documented by the manufacturer. - Reinstall the plug-in, then restart the computer.
- If the plug-in still isn't available, check with the manufacturer to see if the plug-in is compatible with your version of macOS, and for possible updates.
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Rescan a plug-in
If the recently-installed plug-in is installed, use the Plug-in Manager to rescan the plug-in.
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- Choose Logic Pro > Preferences > Plug-In Manager, or MainStage > Preferences > Plug-In Manager.
- In the plug-in Manager, locate the plug-in you want to check. To filter by manufacturer, click manufacturer's name in the left column.
- If 'failed validation' appears in the Compatibility column for the plug-in, select the plug-in in the list, then click Reset & Rescan Selection.
If 'not authorized' appears in the Compatibility column for the plug-in, make sure the plug-in is properly authorized as documented by the manufacturer. Then rescan the plug-in. - If the plug-in fails validation again, check with the manufacturer to see if the plug-in is compatible with your version of macOS, and for possible updates.
Rescan all plug-ins
To automatically rescan all installed plug-ins, remove the Audio Unit cache file.
- In the Finder, press Option and choose Go > Library.
- In the Finder window, go to Library/Caches/AudioUnitCache.
- Move the files from AudioUnitCache folder to the Desktop.
- Restart the computer, then open Logic Pro or MainStage. All installed Audio Units plug-ins will be rescanned.