Tag: apple silicon

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Apple Silicon – Installation/Activation instructions for our legacy VST (.vst) and AU (.component) plugins

To maximize compatibility across the widest range of historical platforms, as well as continue to leverage our 100% bug-free legacy VST/AU platform right up to today’s latest hardware and macOS updates, our current generation of plugins (including Poly-Ana, SCAMP, and Stunning Phaser) are still Intel-based and have not been digitally signed by Apple. As such, modern macOS security will try to block them by default.

Not to worry! To get them running, you just need to perform a one-time “security handshake” with your Mac.

1. Install Your Plugin

Unzip the .component (AU) and/or .vst file that you downloaded from this website and copy it to its usual folder:

  • AU: Macintosh HD / Library / Audio / Plug-Ins / Components
  • VST: Macintosh HD / Library / Audio / Plug-Ins / VST

2. Clear the Security Gatekeeper (The Terminal Step)

Before opening your DAW, you must remove the “quarantine” flag that Apple places on non-notarized files.

  1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
  2. Type the following command (replace StunningPhaser.component with whichever plugin you are installing):
    sudo xattr -cr /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/components/StunningPhaser.component
  3. Press Enter.
  4. Type your Mac Admin Password when prompted. (Note: You won’t see any characters as you type—just hit Enter when finished).

3. Run Your DAW in Rosetta Mode

Because these plugins were built for Intel processors, your Mac needs to use its “Rosetta 2” translator to run them inside your DAW.

  • Find your DAW (Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, etc.) in your Applications folder.
  • Right-click the app icon and select Get Info.
  • Check the box that says “Open using Rosetta.”
  • Restart your DAW and perform a plugin scan.

A Note on the Future

This marks the “end of the line” for our original platform plugins. We are currently migrating to a new code platform that will support Apple Silicon natively for all future releases. (And because of our Upgrade Protection Policy, version 1.x licensees already have a license for those future 2.x updates! We only want to sell you our products once!) And until then, these steps will keep your favorite Admiral Quality plugins working perfectly in your modern studio.