Now there is a Silicon Native version of Pro Tools (currently in Beta) you may be wondering which plugins offer AAX native compatibility, often referred to as Universal Binary. Here’s how to check and update them.
Avid AAX Plugins
Avid’s own plugins included in various subscription plans have all been updated. The simplest was to check and update them in to use the Avid Link software. The Avid Link software will tell you if they are up to date or not. The most current working version of Avid plugins that are Silicon Native are version 22.12.0.326. If you are unsure go to your Pro Tools plugin folder and check the version number. Avid Link should show you if they need updating with a red icon next to the Product icon on the left of the GUI.
AIR virtual instruments which include Expand, Mini Grand etc. are currently not working with no date given for the Universal Binary.
Check Your Current Plugin Installs For Free
In September, we revealed that Pete Gates had announced on the PT Prefs thread on the DUC the public beta release of an Apple Silicon compatible version of his very popular free PT Prefs app, which simplifies the process of trashing the Pro Tools preference files. This process can resolve specific problems that occur with Pro Tools.
When you select the Plugins tab in PT Prefs 2, it will take a little while to scene your AAX plugins folder, but once scanned, the tab will populate with a list of all your AA Plugins. As well as the plugin name, it also lists the version of each plugin as well as the ‘architecture’ of each of your AAX Plugins.
Intel 32/x64 shows that the plugin will run on both the older Intel-powered 32-bit code machines as well as 64-bit Intel-powered computers.
x64 shows that the plugin will only run on 64-bit intel-powered computers. It will run on Apple silicon-powered computers using Rosetta 2.
Universal shows that the plugin will run natively on Apple silicon-powered computers via Rosetta 2 using the x64 code on Apple silicon-powered computers or using the x64 code on 64-bit intel-powered computers.
Universal is the only option that will run natively on Apple silicon-powered computers.
Check Third Party Plugins
Avid has a knowledgbase article which shows the current status of third party plugins, it’s better than you might think;
Acon Digital: All
Acustica Audio: FROST, DIAMOND DYNAMIC SATURATOR, ASH, ARCTIC
Akai: All
Apogee Digital: All
Auburn Sound: All
Audio Brewers: All
Audiomodern: All
Audiomovers: All
Audiokids: All
Baby Audio: All
Black Rooster Audio: All
Blue Cat Audio: All
Celemony: All
Cherry Audio: All
Dear Reality: EXOVERB
Dept of Sound: All
DMG Audio: All
EastWest: Opus
Eventide: All
Fuse Audio Labs: All
GoodHertz: All
Goran Grooves: All
IK Multimedia: All
IRCAM: ASAP
iZotope: Stutter Edit 2
JDFactory: Room Widener
KiloHearts: All
Korg: All
Krotos Audio: Krotos Studio, Dehumaniser II
Leapwing Audio: All
Line6: All
Liquidsonics: All
Mastering The Mix: All
Mathew Lane: All
McDSP: All
MDW: All
Metric Halo: All
Mixed In Key: All
Moog: All
Native Instruments: Kontakt, FM8
Noise Engineering: All
Nugen Audio: Stereoizer, Stereoplacer, Monofilter
Organic Instruments: All
Output: Arcade
PSPaudioware: auralControl
reFuse Software: All
reFX: All
Reverb Foundry: (Liquidsonics) All
Robotic Bean: Portatron
Rob Papen: All
Scuffham Amps: All
Sinevibes: All
Sonarworks: All
Sonnox: All
Sound Radix: Most
Sound | Theory: All
SoundToys: All
Spitfire Audio: All
Strymon: All
Synchro Arts: All
Techivation: All
The Cargo Cult All
Tokyo Dawn: All
Toneboosters: All
United Plugins: All
Universal Audio: Spark, UAD
UVI Falcon: UVI Workstation, Drum Replace
Valhalla DSP: All
Vengeance Sound/Keilwerth: Audio Avenger
Vertigo Sound: VSE-4
Voxengo: All
Waves Audio: All - Need v14 software
Wave Arts: All
WaveDNA: All
Zynaptiq: All
Waves Plugin Users
A word of note about those using Waves plugins. You will need v14 and above to be able to run Waves plugins as AAX in Universal Binary. If you don’t have a current WUP then you’ll need to update any plugins you wish to use to v14. This means for some people a cost. Please check your Waves account for details.