To go to or download the Audio Plugin Organizer, click the appropriate button below.
NOTE: The only difference is the desktop version has the ability to scan your computer to find plugins, which makes entry much easier. Both access the same data base, meaning your personal library will be exactly the same with either version. Any library edits made in one version are automatically shown in the other version. Example usage might be using the desktop version at the daily studio, then pulling up the online version at a client studio for some inspiration.
For more information about this fun tool, read on.
What is the Audio Plugin Organizer and Why Do I Need It?
For anyone frequently diving into any aspect of music production, the massive number of plugins and other tools we amass becomes clutter that tends to be ignored while looking for a select few plugins.
We usually have one go-to tool in mind for each task just to keep things moving, but when I do take the time to look through all of the plugins, I discover a saturator, compressor, or something else that is really good and adds color or control that might be more useful in some situations. Some of them, especially multi-effects and synths, can be uniquely inspiring during a creative process. These tools do not, and will not, get used because they are lost in the pile and forgotten about.
In addition, I also find that I have multiple plugins doing the same thing in the same way, and all but one should be removed from the system.
What I needed was a way to think, "I want a vintage vibe and need some dynamics control," and instantly have all of, and only, the dynamics processors with a vintage vibe. That is not possible with any tool that I can find—and I have looked extensively.
So, I built one, and it is awesome.
If I need an EQ and know I want to add some specific audio feel (color), two clicks later, I have ten or so EQs with variations of the color I want and nothing else. This works for audio effects, processors, instruments, and more. I can use this repeatedly in a long mix or writing session and get more of what I am looking for faster.
This project consisted of three phases, and I am happy to report the completion of phase three. These three phases are outlined toward the end of this writing, but the summary is that this tool can scan your computer for new plugins, is pretty quick to set up, and provides fast filtering by audio feel, function and more. Add to that, you can access your own library locally or online from anywhere.
Personal Library Setup
It is important to remember that the same personal plugin library will be available to you regardless of whether you use the desktop or web app version. Both save to and read from the same online database. You can use either or both tools and still have the same library accessible through either or both. Note: there is an "Ignored Plugins" list that will skip plugins when scanning the drive. This list can be edited by either app.
Setup via Desktop
The best way to set up a personal library initially is to use the desktop version and let it search the computer for plugins (in the folders you provide). From there, you just choose the function(s), color and a few other attributes for each and submit. Full plugin library setup might take twenty to thirty minutes or so, but then you are done and should never have to repeat that again. When new plugins are added, just click one button and the tool will find the plugin and bring it up for you to quickly add.
Setup via Web App
If you only want to use the web version, there is a large stock library to draw from, so a user can fairly quickly pick which plugins to add to the personal library. That said, the web version setup can take thirty minutes or maybe an hour because it requires a little more manual entry than the desktop version. Additionally, when the user buys a new plugin, the online Plugin Organizer will not know that the new plugin exists until the user adds it. This is why it is probably a good idea to perform the initial library setup in the desktop version, then use either version for general use.
Project Phases
- Phase one: Web version: The only downside with the web version is that, being web-based, browser security does not allow scanning of local drives to find new plugins. Other than that, it is feature-rich and works great.
- Phase two: Creation of a desktop version that adds functionality to find all of the plugins, set them up, and add new plugins whenever they appear. This does not replace the web version but is available as an option with the added scanning functionality. The interface is the same between both versions.
- Phase three: Implementation of a single cloud database making the local and web versions always perfectly in sync with each other. This is the ultimate solution, so the engineer or musician who frequently works in other studios will have the Audio Plugin Organizer available to augment their workflow at the daily studio and anywhere else.
Conclusion
The Audio Plugin Organizer is a very feature-filled and useful tool. Feel free to use it as much as you like. Be sure to let me know any thoughts on changes or enhancements.
