Unusable Engineering ApS
Install

Install guide

Installation is straightforward. Products are delivered as signed installers for macOS and Windows, and you should be making sound quickly.

1. Download installer package

Download your product installer from your purchase page or recovery link.

2. Run the installer

Double-click the .pkg installer on macOS or the .exe installer on Windows, then complete the setup steps.

3. Restart and rescan in your DAW

Restart your DAW if it was open, then run a plugin rescan if your host requires it.

4. Activate your license

On first launch, activate by uploading your license file or by pasting its content.

Windows VST3 location

On Windows, the license file field is only for selecting your .license file. The plugin itself is installed by the installer.

Depending on the install mode, Windows may install the VST3 plugin for the current user here: 

C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Local\Programs\Common\VST3

If your DAW does not find the plugin, make sure it is scanning that folder. In Ableton Live, open Preferences > Plug-Ins, enable VST3 scanning, then rescan. If needed, add the folder above as a custom VST3 folder.

If you prefer installing to the shared system VST3 folder, run the installer again and choose All users when Windows asks for install mode. Windows will ask for administrator approval. 

C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3

Unusable plugins are VST3 plugins, not standalone apps, so they open inside a DAW or VST3 host rather than as separate .exe applications.

macOS License Import Installer (if needed)

On macOS, if you have trouble authorizing your Unusable plugins (pun intended), use this License Import Installer.

Before running it, make sure your downloaded .license file is in either your Downloads folder or on your Desktop.

  • Run the License Import Installer.
  • Reopen your DAW.
  • The authorization screen should now be gone and your plugins should be unlocked.

First launch notes

  • macOS installers are signed with Developer ID and notarized by Apple.
  • If Gatekeeper prompts on macOS, choose Open/Allow in System Settings as needed.
  • Windows installers are signed and install VST3 plugins for Windows 10/11.

Compatibility

  • macOS 10.15 or newer: AU and VST3, Universal binary for Apple Silicon and Intel
  • Windows 10/11: VST3, x64
  • Recommended: a reasonably recent CPU, especially for larger sessions with several instances.

Performance notes

These plugins use detailed real-time processing, so dense sessions can ask a lot from older machines. Freezing, bouncing, or closing plugin windows you are not actively editing can keep more power available for the rest of the session.

The science-native plugins also use GPU-accelerated interfaces with live simulations. They are beautiful to watch and interact with, but closing those windows can save processing power for other hungry plugins while audio processing continues normally.