Audio Recording

In my Focusrite Saffire Pro40 audio interface, it includes the Focusrite Plug-in Suite. This is included free with the audio interface. I have read some reviews and research on this plug-in and it was good. They say it has that classic/vintage analog warm sound. I never use these plug-ins before in all of my music production projects and I am looking forward to try this.

This tutorial will take a look at how to install these plug-in with Reaper and Adobe Audition 1.5. The operating system used is Windows XP SP3. If you are using a different DAW or operating system, I believe the procedure is similar.

Very Important: Keep the Focusrite Plug-in Suite Activation Code

This is very important before you will proceed to install the plug-in in your DAW and operating system. You must keep the activation code in a safe place. The activation code is a sticker placed in the paper CD case of the Focusrite installer CD. If you lost it, you will never be able to activate and use the plug-in.

When I install the Saffire Pro40 drivers in Windows XP, I accidentally lost the paper CD case cover that includes the activation code. If you also lost your activation code, I suggest you will follow the steps below:

1.) Get the serial number at the back of the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40. In case you are not sure which of those is the correct serial number; list all of them such as shown below:

PF6XX99XX77X
153XX008X5
MOSFXX05X

2.) Contact Focusrite Support here:

http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/contact.php

And state that you need to retrieve your activation code because its lost. Provide the support with all of those numbers you have listed.

3.) Focusrite support will then reply to you with the activation code.

Install the Focusrite Plug-in Suite in Windows XP

Now you have the activation code, you can now proceed to install the plug-in. Refer to the steps below:

1.) Insert the installer CD in your computer.
2.) Inside the CD, look for “Focusrite Plug-in Suite”, e.g. see below:

3.) Double the click the installer and follow the instructions.

4.) In most cases, it will tell you that the latest plug-in update is available and the installer will download and proceed with the installation.

5.) If there are no errors shown, you have successfully installed the plug-in.

Configure Adobe Audition 1.5 to use the Focusrite Plug-in Suite

Since the VST plug-in is now installed in your operating system, you can configure your DAW to use the plug-in. Let’s start with Adobe Audition 1.5:

1.) Launch Adobe Audition 1.5.
2.) Go to Edit View and then in the “Effects”, click “Refresh Effects List” and click OK.
3.) Load a sample audio in the Edit view.
4.) Since Focusrite Plug-in Suite is a VST plug-in, go to Effects – VST. However, you will not see the plug-in there, only dots such as shown below:

However if you do not see any dots or the plugin, you need to manually add the plug-in directory by clicking the “Add/Remove VST Directory” under “Effects”. Then close Adobe Audition, restart it and click Refresh Effects list again.

5.) Click one of the dots.
6.) Focusrite will require you to activate the plug-in by entering the activation code. Click “Submit Activation Request”. You will then see the Focusrite Plugin Suite Software Activation page.

7.) Enter your full name, email address, operating system, country, the activation code and then click submit.

8.) Check your email for the license file. This file is attached with the email and uses an .fnlf file extension. Download this license file to your computer.

9.) Back in the Adobe Audition 1.5, click the “Install License File”. See screenshot below:

Navigate to where you have save the license file and click OK.

10.) The plug-in should now be activated. For example, below is the Focusrite Compressor:

Configure Reaper DAW to use the Focusrite Plugin Suite

1.) Make sure the plug-in is installed first with your OS (see instructions in the previous section).

2.) Launch Reaper DAW.
3.) Go to Options – Preferences.
4.) Under “Plug-ins”, click “VST”.
5.) Under VST Plug-in paths click add then navigate to the “Focusrite Plugin Suite” folder. See below:

6.) Click Rescan then click Apply and OK. Exit Reaper.
7.) Restart Reaper and try to insert one track in Reaper with audio.
8.) Click “FX” button, you should now see the Focusrite Plug-in under the VST section.