Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins

You can add plug-ins, replace a plug-in with a different one, and remove plug-ins from a channel strip. You can also move, copy, and bypass plug-ins.

Add a MIDI effect plug-in

Do one of the following:

  • Click the MIDI Effect slot, then choose a plug-in from the pop-up menu.

    Figure. Choosing a MIDI effect from the pop-up menu.
  • Place the pointer above or below an occupied MIDI Effect slot, click the green line that appears, then choose a plug-in from the pop-up menu.

    Figure. Pointing to the green line under a MIDI Effect slot.

Add an audio effect plug-in

Do one of the following:

  • Click an Audio Effect slot, then choose a plug-in from the pop-up menu.

    Figure. Choosing an audio effect from the pop-up menu.

    The last visible empty Audio Effect slot in a channel strip is shown at half its height; use it in the same way.

  • Option-click an Audio Effect slot.

    You can now choose legacy plug-ins from the pop-up menu.

Add an instrument plug-in

Do one of the following:

  • Click the Instrument slot, then choose a plug-in from the pop-up menu.

    Figure. Choosing an instrument from the pop-up menu.
  • Option-click an Instrument slot.

    You can now choose legacy plug-ins from the pop-up menu.

Replace a plug-in

  • Place the pointer over the plug-in slot, click the pull-down arrows that appear to the right, then choose a plug-in to replace the existing one.

    Figure. Pointing to the pull-down arrows at the right of the slot.

Remove a plug-in

  • Place the pointer over the plug-in slot, click the pull-down arrows that appear to the right, then choose No Plug-in from the pop-up menu.

    FIgure. Choosing No Plug-in from the pop-up menu.

Move a plug-in

  • Drag the plug-in up or down in the channel strip, or to another channel strip.

    For guidance, use the colored line that appears when moving the plug-in.

Copy a plug-in

  • Hold down Option and drag the plug-in to an unused slot.

Bypass a plug-in

If you want to deactivate a plug-in, but don’t want to remove it from the channel strip, you can bypass it. Bypassed plug-ins don’t drain system resources.

  • To bypass a single plug-in, do one of the following:

    • Place the pointer over the plug-in slot, then click the Bypass button that appears to the left.

      Figure. Pointing to the Bypass button at the left of the slot.
    • Option-click the plug-in slot.

    • Click the center area of the plug-in slot to open the plug-in window, then click the Bypass button at the left side of the plug-in window header.

      Figure. Pointing to the Bypass button in the plug-in window header.
  • To bypass multiple plug-ins, click-hold a plug-in slot, then drag the pointer up or down.

    All swiped plug-in slots switch to the same state.