Installation Guide, Update Guide and Troubleshooting
Installation guide for a first-time installation
When installing a Nyquist Labs virtual instrument (VST), the process consists of two steps: first, you will install the software plugin and standalone application, followed by the sample installation.
Step 1: Downloading the plugin installer
After your purchase, you will receive a download link (inside your mailbox and in the "My Downloads" section of our website), providing access to the plugin installer (.exe file for the .vst3 plugin) and, if applicable, the sample files (.hr1) inside a compressed folder (.zip).
Step 2: Installing the software
The Windows installer is an .exe file. Double-click it to start the setup wizard. When a pop-up window appears, click "More info", then select "Run anyway" to proceed.
The first screen will display the software and sample license. If you agree to the terms, select "I accept the agreement" and then click "Next."
On the next screen you’ll need to supply a location to install the plugin. We recommend leaving the folder location that the setup wizard suggests. This does not need to be the same location as where you will install the samples (Step 3). Then, click "Next."
Now, you're ready to install the plugin! Click "Install" to begin the installation.
Once the installation is complete, click "Finish." You can now move on to installing the samples.
Step 3: Installing the samples
When installing a Nyquist Labs virtual instrument, you will receive one or more .hr1 files, which contain the audio samples that need to be extracted.
Upon opening the instrument for the first time in your DAW, you will be presented with two options — select the "Install Samples" option.
You will then be prompted to choose the file ending in .hr1, followed by selecting the location where the samples will be extracted. This location doesn’t need to match where the plugin was installed, though for optimal performance, it is generally recommended to install samples on an SSD. We recommend making a dedicated samples folder on your pc.
Once the destination folder is chosen, the sample installation tool will appear, offering two additional settings: "Overwrite existing samples" and "Delete Sample Archive after extraction." For a first-time installation, it is recommended to leave both settings at their default values.
Click "OK," and the samples will begin extracting to the specified location, which may take a few moments.
After the extraction is complete, you might see a message stating that "The sample directory does not exist" — simply click "Ignore." Finally, close and reopen the plugin to complete the setup.
Installation guide for updating or upgrading your plugin
The process of updating a plugin or upgrading from the Free to the Pro edition is very similar to the initial installation, with a few key differences—especially when it comes to sample files.
Updating the Plugin
- When installing an updated version of the plugin, the new version replaces the old one. To ensure a smooth update, install the new plugin in the exact same location as the previous version.
Fortunately, the installer (.exe) will automatically handle this for you. Just run the installer as you normally would, and it will place the updated plugin in the correct folder:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3[YourPluginFolder]
Updating Sample Files
Updating the sample files requires a manual process. Here’s how to do it:
1. Delete the old samples
- If you’re unsure where the samples are stored, open the plugin inside your DAW.
- Go to the Settings tab and click "Show sample location" to find the folder.
- Delete the contents of the sample folder. (You might first need to close your DAW)
2. Download and extract the new samples
- Go to the "My Downloads" page and download the latest samples (ZIP file).
- Extract the ZIP file.
- You can either keep the extracted folder as it is or move its contents (the .hr1 file and, if applicable, .hr2, .hr3, etc.) to the same location where the old samples were stored.
3. Load the new samples in your DAW
- When you open your DAW, it will prompt you to select the sample folder: click "Choose Sample Folder".
- Choose the folder where you installed the new samples.
- Click "Install Samples" to complete the process.
Downloading Only Updated Samples
In some cases, instead of downloading the full sample pack, you’ll find an updated sample folder on the "My Downloads" page. This folder contains only the new .ch files. This file will be named something like this: "The Organic Piano - Samples - Update December 2024.zip".
If available, you can:
- Download this smaller ZIP file instead.
- Extract it and copy the
.chfiles into the existing sample folder.
This method saves time by updating only what’s necessary, without having to re-download everything. We recommend to download the ZIP file with all the samples if you missed a previous update.
You're All Set!
Once you've completed these steps, your updated plugin and samples are ready to use. If you run into any issues, feel free to reach out for support!
Troubleshooting
Moving the samples to a new location
If you move the sample files to a different location after installation, you will need to update the search path for the sample libraries.
You will be prompted to do this when launching the plugin in your DAW after the move. Click "Choose Sample Folder", select the folder where you put the samples, and then click "Install Samples".
What if there is no sound?
Ensure that the plugin is referencing the correct location for the samples. You can verify this under the "Engine" tab in the plugin's settings. If the path is incorrect, you can update it by selecting the "Change sample folder location" option.
During the initial launch, you should have been prompted to either install the samples or locate them on your system. If you opted to locate the samples instead of installing them, the plugin may not function properly. To resolve this, you will need to delete the plugin's configuration files, relaunch it, and the prompt to install the samples will appear again.
Resizing the plugin
If the interface (GUI) is too big or too small, you can resize it from the settings page within the plugin.