Hi,
 
I have duplicate plugins in my FX folders.  I found where they are installed and discovered duplicate file names have either a VST3 extension or DLL.  In many cases both files are in the same folder.   I must have chosen both VST3 and 64 bit during install.
 
If VST3 is supported by Sonar, I assume I'd want to remove the DLLs in order to reduce clutter in my insert FX menus.  What is the best practice in removing the DLL files.  Copy them to a different utility folder that is not scanned by Sonar?  I read somewhere if you delete the DLLs that could cause registry issues later.
 
Thanks in advance for any guidance you have for cleaning house on these duplicate plugins in my Insert FX folders

Unlike the VST2 spec, VST3 specifies the install folder for vst3 files. It seems odd that a manufacturer would ignore the spec and mix VST2 and VST3 in the same folder. This is not the VST3 standard and might suggest the manufacturer is not really following the spec at all. Regardless, moving plug-ins out of the scan path is one way to exclude plug-ins. Going into the Plug-in manager and excluding plug-ins is another.
 
I do not believe deleting plug-in dlls would be a problem. Moving dlls from their installed location effectively deletes them if the registry is expecting them in a particular location.
 
The cleanest way would be uninstall and install only the preferred format. Unfortunately some manufacturers do not provide that option.
 
Finally, some manufacturers have problems creating VST3 plug-ins resulting in plug-ins that do not perform as well as their VST2 offerings. Others simply wrap their VST2 code presenting them as VST3. There is little reason to use these as they really do not offer any advantage over VST2.

I think we should have an scook sticky with the answers he gives on these kinds of topics.