Installing VST Plugins on FL Studio in 10 steps

Beginner friendly guide to adding a VST plugin into FL Studio:

Step 1: Obtain the VST Plugin

• Find a reputable source for VST plugins. There are many websites and marketplaces where you can purchase or download free plugins. Make sure to choose plugins that are compatible with FL Studio.
• Download the plugin file to your computer. It usually comes in a compressed format like a .zip file.

Sidenote: VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology and refers to plugins that add additional audio effects, instruments, or processing capabilities to your digital audio workstation (DAW) like FL Studio.

Step 2: Extract the Plugin Files

• Locate the downloaded .zip file and extract its contents to a folder on your computer. Most operating systems have built-in tools for extracting compressed files. If not, you can use third-party software like WinRAR or 7-Zip.

Step 3: Install the Plugin (If Necessary)

• Some plugins require installation before they can be used. If the extracted files include an installer (.exe or .pkg), double-click it and follow the on-screen instructions to install the plugin. Make sure to choose the appropriate installation path or directory for the plugin.

Sidenote: Installing a plugin typically involves specifying the location where the plugin files should be stored on your computer. This is important for FL Studio to locate and access the plugin later.

Step 4: Set Up FL Studio to Recognize the Plugin

• Launch FL Studio on your computer.
• Go to the “Options” menu at the top and select “File Settings” or press the “F10” key.

Step 5: Add the Plugin Directory to FL Studio

• In the “File Settings” window, click on the “Manage plugins” button.

Sidenote: By managing plugins, you can specify the directories where FL Studio should search for VST plugins.

• In the “Plugin Manager” window, click on the “Add” button.
• Browse to the folder where you extracted the VST plugin files, and click “OK” to add the directory to FL Studio’s plugin search paths.

Step 6: Scan for Plugins

• After adding the plugin directory, click on the “Find plugins” button in the “Plugin Manager” window.
• FL Studio will scan the specified directory and its subfolders for VST plugins. This process may take a few moments.

Step 7: Enable the Plugin in FL Studio

• Once the scanning process is complete, you will see a list of detected plugins in the “Plugin Manager” window.
• Locate the newly added plugin in the list and ensure its checkbox is checked to enable it in FL Studio.

Sidenote: The “Plugin Manager” provides control over which plugins are active in FL Studio. You can enable or disable plugins as per your requirements.

Step 8: Close the Plugin Manager and Use the Plugin

• Click “Close” to exit the “Plugin Manager” window.
• The added plugin should now be available in the FL Studio browser or plugin database.

Sidenote: The plugin browser is where you can access and use the added VST plugin within FL Studio. You can find it in the left sidebar or by pressing the “F8” key.

Step 9: Load the Plugin into a Channel or Mixer Insert

• To use the plugin, navigate to the channel rack or mixer in FL Studio.
• Right-click on an empty channel or mixer insert and select “Insert > More plugins…”
• In the plugin menu, find the category where your plugin belongs (e.g., Effects, Generators, etc.) and locate the plugin name.
• Click on the plugin name to load it into the selected channel or mixer insert.

Step 10: Explore and Experiment

Congratulations! You have successfully added a third-party VST plugin into FL Studio. Now, it’s time to explore and experiment with the plugin’s features, parameters, and presets to enhance your music production.