Installation Guide

Find your operating system and DAW below. This guide applies to Noiseforge Omni and Noiseforge Apex.

💡 Important — Omni + Apex use the same installation flow

The steps below are identical for both plugins. Just replace the file name depending on what you purchased: Noiseforge Omni or Noiseforge Apex.

🖥 Windows + VST3 🖥 Windows + Pro Tools 🍎 Mac + VST3/AU 🍎 Mac + Pro Tools 🔑 License Activation 🛠 Troubleshooting

Windows VST3 DAWs

Reaper, Cubase, Studio One, FL Studio, Ableton Live, and any DAW that supports VST3.

Step 1 — Download & Extract

  1. Log in to your Noiseforge account and click Download Windows.
  2. Extract the .zip file. You'll find a file called Noiseforge Omni.vst3 or Noiseforge Apex.vst3 (it may appear as a folder — that's normal).

Step 2 — Copy to VST3 Folder

Copy the Noiseforge Omni.vst3 file/folder to:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
💡 Tip

This is the standard VST3 path that all DAWs scan automatically. You may need administrator permission to paste files here — click Continue when Windows asks.

Step 3 — Open Your DAW

  1. Open your DAW (Reaper, Cubase, FL Studio, etc.).
  2. Run a plugin rescan if needed:
    • Reaper: Options → Preferences → Plug-ins → VST → Re-scan
    • Cubase: Studio → VST Plugin Manager → Rescan All
    • FL Studio: Options → Manage Plugins → Start Scan
    • Studio One: Studio One → Options → Locations → VST Plug-Ins → Rescan
    • Ableton Live: Preferences → Plug-Ins → Rescan
  3. Insert Noiseforge Omni or Noiseforge Apex on any track.
⚠️ Windows SmartScreen Warning

Because Noiseforge Omni is not yet signed with a Microsoft certificate, Windows SmartScreen may show a warning when you first extract or run the plugin. This is expected for independent developers.

How to Bypass SmartScreen:

  1. When the "Windows protected your PC" dialog appears, click More info.
  2. Click Run anyway.
  3. If the .zip contents appear "blocked," right-click the file → Properties → check Unblock at the bottom → Apply.

Windows Pro Tools

Pro Tools does not support VST3 natively. You'll need BlueCat PatchWork (or a similar VST3 wrapper) to load Noiseforge plugins (Omni/Apex) inside Pro Tools.

What You Need

  • BlueCat PatchWork — Download here (paid plugin, free trial available)
  • Noiseforge Omni or Apex .vst3 installed in the standard path (see above)

Step 1 — Install Noiseforge Plugin VST3 (Omni or Apex)

Follow the Windows + VST3 steps above to place the plugin in:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\

Step 2 — Install BlueCat PatchWork

  1. Download and install BlueCat PatchWork (AAX version for Pro Tools).
  2. In Pro Tools, insert BlueCat PatchWork on a track (it appears as an AAX plugin).

Step 3 — Load Noiseforge Plugin Inside PatchWork

  1. Open the PatchWork interface.
  2. Click an empty slot → Load VST3 Plug-in.
  3. Select Noiseforge Omni or Noiseforge Apex from the list.
  4. The plugin will open inside PatchWork, and you can use it normally.
💡 Alternatives to BlueCat PatchWork

DDMF Metaplugin and Element also work as VST3-to-AAX wrappers, but PatchWork is the most popular and reliable option.

macOS VST3 & AU DAWs

Reaper, Cubase, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Studio One, GarageBand, and any DAW that supports VST3 or AU.

Step 1 — Download & Extract

  1. Log in to your Noiseforge account and click Download Mac.
  2. Extract the .zip file. You'll find:
    • Noiseforge Omni.vst3 or Noiseforge Apex.vst3 — for VST3-compatible DAWs
    • Noiseforge Omni.component or Noiseforge Apex.component — for AU-compatible DAWs (Logic Pro, GarageBand)

Step 2 — Copy to Plugin Folders

For VST3 (Reaper, Cubase, Ableton, Studio One, etc.):

~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/

For AU (Logic Pro, GarageBand, etc.):

~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
💡 How to Access the Library Folder

The ~/Library folder is hidden by default on macOS. In Finder, click Go (menu bar) → hold Option (⌥) → click Library. Then navigate to Audio → Plug-Ins → VST3 (or Components).

Step 3 — Bypass macOS Gatekeeper

⚠️ macOS Security Warning — "Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified"

Because Noiseforge plugins are not notarized with Apple yet, macOS Gatekeeper may block them on first launch. This is standard for independent plugin developers. The plugin is safe — here's how to allow it:

Method 1 — Remove Quarantine (Recommended)

Open Terminal and run one (or both) of these commands depending on which format you installed:

sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/Noiseforge\ Omni.vst3 # (if using Apex, run with Noiseforge\ Apex.vst3)
sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/Noiseforge\ Omni.component # (if using Apex, run with Noiseforge\ Apex.component)

Enter your Mac password when prompted. Then restart your DAW.

Method 2 — System Settings (if Method 1 doesn't work)

  1. Try opening the plugin in your DAW (it will fail the first time).
  2. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security.
  3. Scroll down — you'll see a message like "Noiseforge Omni was blocked".
  4. Click Allow Anyway (you may need to authenticate).
  5. Go back to your DAW, rescan plugins, and try again.

Step 4 — Open Your DAW

  1. Open your DAW and rescan plugins if needed:
    • Reaper: Options → Preferences → Plug-ins → VST → Re-scan
    • Logic Pro: Logic Pro → Settings → Plug-in Manager → Reset & Rescan
    • Cubase: Studio → VST Plugin Manager → Rescan All
    • Ableton Live: Preferences → Plug-Ins → Rescan
    • Studio One: Studio One → Preferences → Locations → Rescan
  2. Insert Noiseforge Omni or Noiseforge Apex on any track.
💡 Logic Pro AU Validation

Logic Pro validates all AU plugins on scan. If Noiseforge Omni fails validation after Gatekeeper bypass, restart your Mac and try the scan again. Logic can be strict on first attempt.

macOS Pro Tools

Pro Tools on Mac supports AAX only. Use BlueCat PatchWork (or a similar wrapper) to load Noiseforge Omni's VST3 or AU inside Pro Tools.

What You Need

Step 1 — Install Noiseforge Plugin (Omni or Apex)

Follow the Mac + VST3/AU steps above, including the Gatekeeper bypass.

Step 2 — Install BlueCat PatchWork (AAX)

  1. Download and install BlueCat PatchWork (AAX version).
  2. In Pro Tools, insert BlueCat PatchWork on a track.

Step 3 — Load Noiseforge Plugin Inside PatchWork

  1. Open the PatchWork interface.
  2. Click an empty slot → Load VST3 Plug-in (or Load AU Plug-in).
  3. Select Noiseforge Omni or Noiseforge Apex.
  4. Use the plugin normally inside PatchWork.
💡 Pro Tip

Save a PatchWork preset with Noiseforge Omni loaded so you can recall it instantly on any track without navigating the plugin list each time.

🔑 License Activation

After installing the plugin, you need to activate it with your license key.

How to Activate

  1. Open Noiseforge Omni or Apex in your DAW — you'll see the activation overlay.
  2. Go to your Noiseforge account and copy the license key for the correct product (Omni key for Omni, Apex key for Apex).
  3. Paste the key into the plugin's activation field.
  4. Click Activate. The plugin will verify online and unlock immediately.

Important Notes

  • You need an internet connection for activation.
  • Each license supports up to 2 machines (e.g., desktop + laptop).
  • To move your license to a different machine, deactivate the old one from your account panel first.
  • After activation, the plugin works offline — it only checks periodically when internet is available.

🛠 Troubleshooting

Common issues and how to fix them.

Plugin doesn't appear in my DAW

  • Make sure you copied the file to the correct folder (see paths above for your OS).
  • Rescan plugins in your DAW's preferences.
  • On Mac, make sure you ran the xattr command to remove quarantine.
  • On Windows, make sure you unblocked the file (right-click → Properties → Unblock).
  • Restart your DAW after copying files.

macOS: "Cannot be opened" or "Damaged" error

  • Open Terminal and run:
    sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/Noiseforge\ Omni.vst3 # (if using Apex, run with Noiseforge\ Apex.vst3)
  • If using AU, also run the same for .component.
  • Restart your DAW and rescan.
  • If it still fails: System Settings → Privacy & Security → scroll down → click Allow Anyway.

Windows SmartScreen blocks the file

  • Click More info → Run anyway.
  • Right-click the downloaded .zip → Properties → check Unblock → Apply. Then extract again.

Activation says "Could not connect to license server"

  • Check your internet connection.
  • Make sure your firewall or antivirus is not blocking the plugin from accessing the internet.
  • Try again in a few minutes — the server may be temporarily busy.

"Maximum activations reached"

  • Each license allows 2 activations.
  • Go to your account panel and deactivate a machine you're no longer using.
  • Then activate again on your new machine.

Updating to a new version (important)

  • Do not keep old and new versions with different names in the same folder. Your DAW may still load the old one.
  • Before copying the new update, remove the previous plugin file/folder for that product.

Windows (VST3)

  1. Close your DAW.
  2. Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\.
  3. Delete old Noiseforge Omni.vst3 or Noiseforge Apex.vst3.
  4. Copy the new .vst3 from the latest zip.
  5. Open DAW and run plugin rescan.

macOS (VST3 / AU)

  1. Close your DAW.
  2. Delete old plugin files from ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/ and/or ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/.
  3. Copy the new plugin files.
  4. Run xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine ... again on the new files.
  5. Open DAW and rescan plugins.

Still need help?

Contact us at [email protected] — we'll get you sorted quickly.