When updating Serato Sample, it's crucial to ensure that your old DAW projects remain intact. This guide will help you understand plugin formats, installation locations, and best practices to prevent any issues when updating.
Backup Your Projects First
Before updating the Serato Sample, make a copy of your projects and test the update on the backup version. This will allow you to verify that the plugin loads correctly without affecting your main projects.
Understanding Plugin Formats
Serato Sample is available in different plugin formats depending on the version you have installed:
- Serato Sample 1.4.1 and below support VST and AU (macOS only).
- Serato Sample 2.0 and above added support for VST3 while still supporting VST2 and AU.
- Serato Sample 2.2 and above added support for AAX Native
Older DAW projects that originally used the VST or VST3 format will continue to require the equivalent VST or VST3 version of the plugin even after updating. If you only install the VST3 version when upgrading from a version prior to 2.0, your DAW may not recognise the plugin, resulting in missing or broken project files.
The same applies if you have been using a plugin wrapper and are trying to open previous projects after installing the latest AAX support update.
Understanding Plugin Install Locations
Serato Sample installs in the default plugin directories for your operating system unless manually changed. Ensuring that the updated version is installed in the same location is crucial for maintaining compatibility with existing projects, especially when using Custom Plugin locations.
Default Plugin Install Locations:
VST
- Windows:
C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins\ - macOS:
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/
VST3
- Windows:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\ - macOS:
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
AU (Audio Units) - macOS Only
- macOS:
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
AAX Native
- Windows:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins - macOS:
/Library/Application Support/Avid/Plug-Ins/
If Serato Sample is installed in a different location than where your DAW expects it, your projects may fail to load the plugin instance correctly.
Before installing the update, check your current Serato Sample installation location and ensure that the new version is installed in the same place.
Rescan Your Plugins in Your DAW
After updating, force your DAW to rescan plugins to ensure it recognizes the new installation. This is usually found in your DAW’s settings under Plugin Management or Plugin Preferences.