VST folder location

toddsilva


Hi folks,

I have just upgraded my DAW with three new drives, a system/programs drive, one for audio projects and audio files, and one for my samples libraries.  I've read that it's best to keep Sonar and the picture cache on the programs drive, and only the CWPs and WAVs on the audio drive.  So, where should I keep my VSTs?  What do you guys do/recommend?

And... as far as the page file, I should keep that on the systems drive, right?

Thanks for your help,

Todd

There are a few schools of thought around here, from my observations:
 
My own approach is to install the actual program related items on C: (normally in Program Files).  These would include documentation files and other files related to the installation, but not the actual VST DLLs.
 
I have a folder on my C:\Program Files called "VST Plugins" and that's where I keep the actual DLLs and I do so by having separate "vendor" subfolders.   This is mostly for easy organization and updating.
 
Others put all their program files and actual VSTs on a separate drive.
 
My feeling is by keeping the 'main' program files and DLLs on C: I can do an image backup more easily.
 
However, if the plugin has big libraries (like samplers do), then I create a separate folder on one of my NON-OS drives (I have one drive JUST for samples/libraries).  This also allows for easy backup of such things and I can use large drives to hold the libraries and related data.
 
You have to find what will work for you best, though.
 
 

pwal


also, in win7, keeping the vst folder outside the program files hive helps avoid security/uac issues (ymmv), mine's at c:\vst plugins

Good point.
 

Thank you all, great feedback!

I was primarily wanting to know if there is performance advantage/disadvantage with having the VST DLLs on the same drive as the system/programs/X1.

Todd

Thanks BA.

Thanks Bristol_Jonesey.

I'm using Sonar Platinum now and when I search my hard drives for "VST" I come up with nothing - absolutely nothing. Before, when I used Sonar X3 Producer, I remember having a folder with VST in the name, and that's where all my plugins went. Is it because Platinum stores plugins remotely, on the Cakewalk server perhaps that I don't have a VST folder any longer? Or could it be that I haven't installed any VST plugins on this new install yet? Thanks.

toddsilva

And... as far as the page file, I should keep that on the systems drive, right?

"If you have more than one physical disk, moving the page file to a fast drive that doesn’t contain your Windows system files is a good idea. Using multiple page files split over two or more physical disks is an even better idea, because your disk controller can process mul¬tiple requests to read or write data concurrently. But don’t make the mistake of creating two or more page files using multiple volumes on a single physical disk. If, for example, you have a single hard disk that contains volumes C, D, and E, splitting the page file over two or more of these volumes, might actually make your computer run more slowly. "
 
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff382717.aspx