I can't find my plugin in my DAW

You plug-in doesn't show up in your DAW? This guide contains hints on troubleshooting when a plugin does not appear in your DAW list after installation.

Checklist for Solving

1. Restart your computer after the installation.
2. Check locations (correctly installed into your Plug-in folder? Correctly defined Plug-in folder path in DAW?)
3. Restart your DAW (most DAWs scan plug-ins only on startup OR if triggered manually)
4. macOS: Check if your DAW needs to be running in Rosetta mode as some plugins might not be compatible with Apple Silicon chips. 
5. Check if your DAW allows you to see all plug-in formats (for example, some plug-ins might be only available as VST2, but not VST3)
6. Make sure you are on a 64 bit system (32 bit is nor supported any longer)
7. Check whether you're using the correct tracks (e.g. stereo instrument track for Virtual Instruments and audio tracks for effect plug-ins)
8. Virtual Pianist and Usynth plug-ins use a "frame" to group individual titles, so you'll only see "Virtual Pianist" or "USYNTH" in your plug-in list. After adding one of these to a track, click the the title (e.g SCORE) in the upper left to toggle from showing plug-in controls to see the installed titles.

Important question:

1. Did you already define a dedicated Plug-in folder?
   
   • If yes, make sure to add your path while installing the Plug-in (setup step "Select Plugin Locations")
   • If no, point your DAW at the standard installation path used while installing (see below for details)

standard installation path for UJAM Plug-ins on Windows

Why you should use a special folder for your Plug-ins

In most DAWs you have the opportunity to define a folder which contains your Plug-ins. This enables you to install all Plug-ins in one location and let multiple DAWs use them independently (e.g. FL Studio, Ableton Live, ProTools ...). As a consequence, no Plug-in manufacturer knows exactly where the Plug-in should be installed into on a specific system, so most of them will just create a standard folder to install the Plug-in to (for UJAM Plug-ins on Windows this is "{SYSDRIVE}\Program Files\VstPlugins\UJAM\"). The result is that you have multiple folders of Plug-in manufacturers with their individual Plug-ins inside, spreaded on your system.

Most DAWs do not check unlimited numbers of folders or locations, so it is a good idea to unify them into one Plug-in folder. Just create a new folder at a location where you don't stumble over it all the time, call it e.g. "DAW Plugins" and install all your Plug-ins inside this folder. If you buy a new DAW and need to set it up, simply define this folder as your Plug-in folder and all installed Plug-ins from all manufacturers should be visible for your Software.

The standard paths can look like this: 

Windows 64 bit

32-bit plug-ins on 64-bit Windows:

• {SYSDRIVE}:\Program Files(x86)\VstPlugins\UJAM\
  
  

macOS

Unusual: {SYSDRIVE}/User/Name/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST/

How to point your DAW to your Plug-in folder

Go to your DAWs settings window (sometimes called "Preferences" or "Options") and look for the "Plug-ins" section. Search for "Plug-in Path" / "Plug-in folder" or sometimes "VST folder" and insert the path you used while installing your Plug-ins. This shows the software where you decided to put your Plug-ins. The DAW scans this folder during startup.

Below a few pictures of standard DAWs and their Plug-in settings:

FL Studio ''Plug-in Manager''


Reaper ''VST plug-ins settings''

Ableton Live ''Preferences''

Verify plugin software is correctly installed

Many Plug-ins consist of two main files:

• the content file (e.g. *PlugInName*.blob)
• the Plug-in (e.g. *PlugInName*.dll for VSTs)

Check whether these files are indeed located at the locations defined during installation.

macOS example:

{SYSDRIVE}:/Library/Application Support/UJAM/FIN-VOOD.blob

The relevant plug-in file will be named after the plugin, in this format: [PluginCategory]–[PluginName]. For example, the plug-in folder for Virtual Guitarist IRON will be named VG-IRON.

If the relevant plug-in files are not in the above folders, uninstall and re-install the plugin (preferably as administrator):

• Uninstall & Reinstall | macOS
• Uninstall & Reinstall | Windows

Rescan for Plugins

If the relevant plug-in files are now in the right folders, restart your computer, launch your DAW and check whether the issue persists.

If the issue persists, perform a re-scan in your DAW. Have a look at these articles: How to re-scan Plug-ins in my DAW?

Now you should be ready to make some music! We wish you a lot of creativity and fun with your new ujam plug-ins!

Additional Trouble Shooting

• Remember that 32-bit hosts cannot load 64-bit plug-ins while using 32-bit plug-ins in 64-bit hosts require a bridging solution. 
• If your plug-in is not working, the installation might be corrupted. Uninstall and reinstall the latest version of the plug-in (preferably as administrator).
• The Finisher is an effect and no Virtual Instrument plug-in! Please make sure to add the Finisher to the respective Audio FX section (this can be slightly different and depends on the respective DAW).
  
  

  

• Make sure to create a stereo audio track in Pro Tools (mono might not work properly).
• Make sure you are using a DAW which supports VST/ AU/ AAX and not: Adobe Audition, Audacity, or Pro Tools First.
  
• Update your operating system if you're lower than Windows 7 or macOS X 10.11 (our plug-ins are not supported)
• Update your DAW to the newest version. Cubase 5 for example, might not work as expected.