NEO MOON PRESENTS
How to Add VST Plugins to FL Studio in 2024
In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to add both VST2 as well as VST3 plugins to FL Studio 21. This will allow you to import virtual instruments and audio effects.
Neo Moon Studios is a VST development agency that helps audio companies build software. We also run a no-code VST development course.
Adding VST2 and VST3 Plugins to FL Studio in 2024 – In Under 5 Minutes
In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to install VST2 and VST3 plugins in FL studio. For example, I have this VST plugin by NeoMoon which is controllable and playable, but first we need to find a way to tell FL studio how to find these plugins, and then how to add them to our workspace.
Now, just before jumping in I want to remind you that at NeoMoon we have a VST development course which teaches creatives how to develop a VST plugin, without having to know how to code. So if that sounds like something that would be of interest to you, be sure to check out the courses we have by clicking on “edu” in the navigation bar of this page.
Okay, so let’s jump in.
Adding Plugins to FL Studio 21
To begin, click on “add” in the top bar of FL Studio and then click on “more plugins”. Then look at the bottom of the list that pops up until you see “manage plugins”. Click that button.
Now, here we can establish the folders where we have our VST plugins installed. Now FL Studio will have automatically created some default VST folders for you. But personally, I like to organize my VSTS into a folder structure of my choosing. Again, by default, when you install FL studio, it will likely have already found those folders, however, if you’ve installed VST plugins into custom folders after installing FL studio, you’re going to need to tell the DAW where to find your new VSTS and VST folders. Notice in my case, I’ve created a VST plugin folder here for my VST2 plugins and another folder here in my program files folder for my VST3 plugins. To add a new folder for FL studio to search in this list, simply click on this “add folder” icon button here and select the folder you want FL studio to search for VSTS.
Once you’ve completed that step click on “find installed plugins”.
Adding VSTs to Categories
After scanning these folders, your plugins should now show up over in the plugins list to the right. If you select a plugin and then click on the “plugins” tab, you’ll see the details of the VST you’ve highlighted. You’ll notice that my VST2 plugins have the file extension .dll while my vst3 plugins have the file extension VST3. Here I can also re-name my plugin, ensuring that the right type is selected from the dropdown box (effect or synth). And in order to be able to quickly add this VST into our track later on, let’s also favorite it now.
But just before we add this VST to our tracklist, let’s first add this VST plugin to a category. I’ll add all of my NeoMoon plugins to a category called NeoMoon. If you make changes to a plugin, it’s important to remember to click this button that says “apply changes”.
Adding your VST Plugins onto Your Workspace
If you’ve followed all of these steps, then adding a VST plugins into FL studio will be easy now. In order to add a VST plugin into FL studio, there are a few methods, but let me show you one. First, let’s click on “channel rack” by clicking on the channel rack icon. Now right click on any of the channel buttons that you have in front of you and hover over “insert”. Now you’ll notice that your favorite plugins are showing up under the category sub-header you created previously. For example, my plugins are showing up under my NeoMoon category here. So I’ll select the plugin I want… and that’s it.
I can now play this VST!
Conclusion
Now, the VST plugin you see in front of you now is a free testing plugin we created over at our VST Development Agency at NeoMoon studios. So again, If you want to learn how to develop your own VST plugins without having to know how to code head over to NeoMoon to learn more about our no-code VST development course. In this course we’ll teach you how to develop and design your own VSTs from scratch, without having to know how to code.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Neo Moon Studios is a VST development agency that helps audio companies build software. We also run a no-code VST development course.
Want to Make Your Onw VSTs?
Do you love sound design? So do we! For this reason, we created a no-code VST development course that walks you through the process of bringing your virtual instrument visions to life without needing to know how to program and without having to be an artist. We will teach you how to bring your VST to life in our 8 hour 50 + module no-code VST development course.