Well, I don't.

When I want to add a plugin, I click on the channel plugin box. A window opens with a drop down for the audio plugs. It's listed by category. In each category such as VOCAL, GUITAR, MISC. it lists all the available plugs.

I use Sonar and I'd assume other DAWs also have something very similar.

Also, in the PLUG IN MANAGER, there's lists by plug in type that lists ALL of the plugs of that variety.

TBH.... I recently added a new plug to the machine and realized I had a boatload of plugs that were not being used. A recent plugin freebee had loaded every single plug that the company sold and they were all locked except for the one freebee. That one "free" plugin more than doubled the number of plugs in the list. My plugin scan took more than 5 minutes. I have it disabled on normal startup but I was adding something new. I let it finish and then went in and deleted the plug ins that I wasn't using and a few that were loaded as free trials that had expired. I also deleted the download files and managers for those particular companies so it wouldn't pop up and try to reload itself.

Doing that cleaned up the list and my scans are now under a minute.


Edit: If you honestly assess how you work and what you use 90% of the time, you will find that you really only use a small handful of plugs. If you paid a lot of money for a plug, keep it. If you got it free and use it, keep it. If it's in the rarely, seldom, or never used category, consider deleting it. But feel free to keep it for sentimental reasons if you wish. Every plug in the list gets scanned every time you run a scan. If that's not a big deal..... carry on.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 12/29/24 08:17 AM.
You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.