Speakerfood Legacy PlugSearch 4 Support

PlugSearch runs as a background application in the Finder's task bar. You can find its icon in the top right (a magnifying glass). Click the icon and select 'Quit' from the drop-down menu.

If PlugSearch can't find your Plug-Ins in its online database, it will not categorise them. The database is continuously updated, and PlugSearch will automatically update the categorisation daily.

If you want to change or assign categories manually, open the Plug-Ins window of PlugSearch. You can now select one or more Plug-Ins and change the categories in the right panel.

First, open the Plug-ins window from the PlugSearch drop down menu in the Finder task bar. Then you can drag-and-drop Plug-ins from the list to each corresponding Favourites box. Here you can also reorder the favourites.

You can also mark Plug-Ins as favourite by clicking the yellow star button right of each Plug-In in the search results, or in the Plug-In Info Panel, which you can open by pressing the right arrow key.

You can assign keyboard shortcuts to Plug-Ins to have them inserted in the first available insert slot in the Inspector instantly.

Open the Plug-Ins window from the drop down menu of PlugSearch in the Finder task bar. Select a Plug-In and press the 'Learn' button, and press a keyboard shortcut. The shortcut is now assigned to the Plug-In. If the shortcut was assigned to another Plug-In, it will be removed from that Plug-In.

Note: these shortcuts override any Logic Pro keyboard shortcuts, so make sure they don't overlap any Logic Pro shortcut you are using.

The shortcuts are stored in the preferences of PlugSearch. If you would like to transfer these to another system, copy this file:

~/Library/Preferences/com.speakerfood.PlugSearch

PlugSearch can open as a floating, resizable window, irrespective of the location of the mouse cursor. Instead of using the modifier key for 'Search' (Control by default), use the custom key command instead (Command-P by default).

The Quick Load window will open. Selecting a Plug-In by pressing enter or double-clicking will insert it on the first available insert slot in the Inspector. If an Instrument is selected and the currently selected track is an Audio track, an Instrument track will be automatically created with the Instrument.

You can also drag & drop a Plug-In to any insert slot in Logic Pro, or to the Track header.

To trigger Plug-Ins by any MIDI application or device, you use the Control Grids window.

• Open the Control Grids window from the PlugSearch drop down menu in the Finder task bar. You can also assign a key command to 'Open Control Grids Window'
• Select the MIDI device in the MIDI input drop down menu
• Click the 'plus' button in the bottom left to create a new grid
• Name the Grid, and assign a MIDI CC Number and MIDI Channel
• You can now drag Plug-Ins from the Plug-Ins table to the grid (you can drag multiple Plug-Ins at the same time)

The item number in the Control Grid corresponds to the MIDI CC value. For instance, if you created a grid that is assigned to MIDI CC 1, Channel 1, then use this MIDI message to trigger the Plug-In in item number 1:

CC 1, Channel 1, Value 1

To change the order of items in the grid, you can select and move Plug-Ins to a different slot.

TRIGGER

If you enable the 'TRIGGER' button, you can trigger Plug-Ins directly from the Control Grids window. Plug-Ins will be inserted at the first available insert slot of the selected track in Logic Pro.

IMPORT / EXPORT

You can export and import Control Grids if you want to use them on another system, or for backup purposes

PLUGSEARCH 3 FAVOURITES

Triggering favourites by MIDI CC is no longer supported in version 4, the Control Grids replaces this functionality. If you defined favourites in PlugSearch 3, these will be converted to Control Grids on first launch of PlugSearch 4.

 

To have PlugSearch automatically hide UAD Plug-Ins that are not licensed, follow these steps:

• Open the 'Plug-Ins' window from the PlugSearch menu
• Click the action menu in the top right, and choose 'Set UAD Visibility'

You will now be guided through the steps, and PlugSearch will hide UAD Plug-Ins that are not licensed.

Using PlugSearch 4 is very simple.

PLUG-INS:

• Open Logic Pro

To insert a Plug-In at the first empty insert slot in the Inspector

• Open PlugSearch with the custom key command (Command-P by default)

To insert a Plug-In at a specific insert slot:

• Hoover above an Audio FX, Instrument, MIDI FX, or Articulation Set insert slot

• Hit the Quick Key, which is Control (Ctrl) by default, or the custom key command (Command-P by default)

When PlugSearch is active:

• Type to start searching
• Select a Plug-in with the cursor or arrow keys or mouse
• Double-click or hit return

To remove a Plug-in:

• Hoover above an occupied Audio FX, Instrument or MIDI FX insert slot
• Hit Command (cmd)

ARTICULATION SETTINGS:

• Open Logic Pro
• Select an Instrument track

To insert an Articulation Setting for the currently selected track:

• Open the Key Commands window of PlugSearch and assign a custom key command to 'Search Articulation Set'
• Open PlugSearch with the custom key command

To insert an Articulation Setting in the Inspector:

• Hoover above the Articulation Set insert slot in the Tracks pane of the Inspector

• Hit the Quick Key, which is Control (Ctrl) by default, or the custom key command for 'Search Articulation Set'

When PlugSearch is active:

• Type to start searching
• Select a Articulation set with the cursor or arrow keys or mouse
• Double-click or hit return

INPUTS, OUTPUTS, SENDS, SIDE CHAIN INPUTS:

• Hoover above an Input, Output, Send or Side Chain Input button
• Hit the Quick Key, which is Control (Ctrl) by default

When PlugSearch is active:

• Type to start searching
• Select a Input, Output, or Send with the cursor or arrow keys or mouse
• Double-click or hit return

TRACKS:

• Hoover above a track header in the Tracks window
• Hit the Quick Key, which is Control (Ctrl) by default

When PlugSearch is active:

• Type to start searching by track name or number
• Select a track with the cursor or arrow keys or mouse
• Double-click or hit return

To use Elegato Stream Deck to insert Plug-Ins in Logic Pro, please follow these steps:

• Configure as many Control Grids as you need, following these instructions
• Open Audio/MIDI Configuration on your system, and check the name of the IAC device and make sure it is active. You can check if it is active by double clicking its icon in the MIDI-studio window
• For Stream Deck, install the Stream Deck MIDI plug-in if you haven't done so already
• In the Stream Deck editor, create a MIDI Button, and configure it like the image below, with the following notes:
  
  - The 'Command' value should match the CC value of the Control Grid
  - The 'Channel' value should match the Channel value of the Control Grid
  - The 'Value' should match the number in the Control Grid that contains the Plug-In
  
  Set the MIDI Out port to the IAC device.
  
  
  
  
• In the Control Grids window of PlugSearch, select 'Bus 1' as the MIDI input port.

When Logic Pro is active, you should now be able to trigger Plug-Ins with your Stream Deck.

Unfortunately, PlugSearch can not move the mouse to the correct position when Accessibility zoom is enabled. Just before you select a Plug-in by double-clicking it, or pressing return, exit zoom mode. PlugSearch will now work as normal.

Warning: resetting PlugSearch will delete any shortcuts assigned to Plug-Ins. Please backup the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.speakerfood.PlugSearch first.

• Quit PlugSearch
• Backup and delete the folder ~/Library/Application Support/PlugSearch
• Open a terminal and type: defaults delete com.speakerfood.PlugSearch
• Open PlugSearch
• Enter your license key again

To install PlugSearch:

• Double click the .zip file
• Open the .pkg file
• If you get a warning, open System Preferences -> Security and allow the installer to open
• Follow the setup procedure

Note: if you get a message that the installer is corrupted, this means that there was an error unpacking the .zip file. Please use another unzip application and try again.

The installer will create the following files and folders:

• The 'PlugSearch' application in the Apps folder
• The folder ~/Library/Application Support/PlugSearch
• The preference file ~/Library/Preferences/com.speakerfood.PlugSearch

PlugSearch is installed in your applications folder as a standalone application. When you open it, it will run as a background process in the Finder's task bar. You can see its icon (diamond shaped wave) there.

Support files for PlugSearch are stored at ~/Application Support/PlugSearch

A preference file is also created at ~/Library/Preferences/com.speakerfood.PlugSearch

To uninstall PlugSearch, follow these steps:

• Quit PlugSearch
• Delete the following files and folders:
  
  
• Applications/PlugSearch
• ~/Library/Application Support/PlugSearch

And, if present:

• ~/Preferences/com.speakerfood.PlugSearch.plist

PlugSearch is compatible with: 

• macOS High Sierra (10.13) or higher
• Logic Pro version 10.4.8 or higher

PlugSearch is not compatible with Sierra (10.12). If you have a valid license, you can still use PlugSearch 2. You can download version 2 here:

Download PlugSearch 2

Yes, you can. The PlugSearch category is only needed for stock Logic Pro Plug-ins, but you can use as many custom categories as you want. PlugSearch will list these with a 'User' icon.

You can find installers of legacy versions on the Downloads page.

You can find the release notes of PlugSearch here.

First, do not Control-click or Command-click, just press Control or use the custom key command (Command-P by default).

If PlugSearch still does not appear when you press control or option on an empty insert slot, please follow these steps:

• Check if you have the latest version of PlugSearch installed. Update notifications are automatically sent.
• Make sure your are running Logic Pro version 10.5 or up and it is installed in the Applications folder (not in any sub folder)
• Make sure PlugSearch is running. It's icon should be visible in the top right of the system menu-bar. PlugSearch is a standalone application, not a Plug-in.
• Check that PlugSearch is not Paused
• Remove PlugSearch from the Accessibility list in the System Preferences, restart your computer, and open PlugSearch again.
• Control and Command don't work when you are working with Remote Desktop. You can use a custom key-command instead.
• If you updated from a previous version of PlugSearch, try deleting the preferences: Quit PlugSearch, open Terminal and type: defaults delete com.speakerfood.PlugSearch

If PlugSearch can't find a Plug-In in Logic Pro's Plug-In menu, check that:

• The Plug-In is available in the channel mode of the insert slot
• The Plug-In is not deactivated in Logic's Plug-In Manager. If it is, you can open PlugSearch's Plug-Ins window and hide the Plug-In from the results
• The Plug-In is unavailable in Logic because it didn't pass Audio Unit validation. You can check this in Logic's Plug-In Manager
• If the Plug-In has a custom name with a colon character (:), Logic Pro will create an extra folder in the Plug-In menu. Please remove the colon character.

PlugSearch scans available Plug-ins on your system when it opens. 

If you installed or removed Plug-ins, you can force a rescan in the Preferences of PlugSearch, or from the rescan button in the PlugSearch window.

Note that some Plug-Ins are only registered by MacOS after a restart, even if they are recognised by Logic Pro. So if you see the Plug-In in Logic Pro, but not in PlugSearch, please perform a restart.

Note: if you moved or renamed the following folder: 

/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components,

your system will not have a correct registry of your installed components. A restart will fix this.

Just press control or command, don't control-click or command-click. This was a feature in an earlier version of PlugSearch.

PlugSearch's automatic categorisation will not work for Plug-ins you categorised with Auganiser, as Auganiser changes the manufacturer name in the Plug-In component file on your system.

To force a rescan of custom Plug-In names, you can use the Rescan button in the PlugSearch window (the spiralling arrow) or in the Preferences of PlugSearch.

Version 3.2 or higher no longer requires the custom 'PlugSearch' category with the stock Logic Pro Plug-Ins.

If you updated from version 2 to version 3 or higher, you can delete the 'PlugSearch' category in Logic Pro's Plug-In Manager.

If you keep getting the "PlugSearch couldn't open the Plug-In menu" warning while the insert slot is not obscured, follow these steps:

• Quit PlugSearch
• Open System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Privacy, and remove PlugSearch from the Accessibility list
• Restart your system
• Open PlugSearch, and add it to the Accessibility list

Also, make sure that Logic Pro is located in the Applications folder and not in any sub-folder, and you are running a legal version.

If you still get the warning, please contact support.

Currently, Option + Up or Down arrow can only operate on empty insert slots.

To have PlugSearch respond to key commands triggered by MetaGrid, set the 'Target Application for Macros' to 'Desktop'.

PlugSearch 4 can crash frequently when an RME ARC remote control is connected to an USB port of your system with an outdated firmware version. The issue can be solved by updating the RME ARC to the latest firmware version.

For MacOS versions earlier than Sonoma, Logic Pro can crash when you remove a Plug-In with PlugSearch. Apple is aware of this issue and are working an a fix. The problem only occurs on specific system configurations. The workaround at the moment is to disable the key command for removing Plug-Ins until this has been fixed by Apple.