You can download various plugins here:
Most plugins get automatically activated once you install them on your system.
Caution:
64-bit Audacity can only run 64-bit plugins, and 32-bit Audacity can only run 32-bit plugins.
Additionally, Apple Silicon (arm64) Audacity cannot run Intel (x86-64) plugins and vice versa.
"Instrument" versions of plugins (VSTi, LV2i) are not supported.
If a plugin doesn't get found by Audacity, or doesn't come with an installer, move the plugin files to one of the following locations:
You can access the Common Files folder quickly by hitting 🪟 WINDOWS key + R to launch Run and typing %ProgramFiles%\Common Files
VST2: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST2 or C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VSTPlugins
VST3: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
To install a Nyquist Plugin, follow these steps:
Download the plugin(s) in question.
Open Audacity, and go to Tools > Nyquist Plugin Installer
Click Browse and locate your downloaded plugin(s)
Click Open, then
Go to Tools > Plugin Manager
Select the plugins or effects you want to deactivate
Click Disable.
To re-enable a plugin, select them and click Enable.
LV2: C:\Program Files\Common Files\LV2
Note: Always copy the complete .lv2 folder
LADSPA: C:\Users\<username>\Appdata\Roaming\audacity\Plug-ins\ Note: You can quickly access this folder by hitting 🪟 WINDOWS key + R to launch Run and typing %AppData%\audacity\Plug-ins
Vamp: C:\Program Files\Vamp Plugins\
Nyquist: See below
All Plugins can be installed per-user (~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/...) or system-wide (/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/...). In following, only the system-wide path is named
Audio Unit: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
VST2: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/
VST3: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
LV2: ~/.lv2 or /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/LV2,
Note: always copy the entire .lv2 folder
Vamp: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Vamp
Nyquist: See below
LV2: ~/.lv2, /usr/local/lib/lv2 (for 32-bit) or /usr/local/lib64/lv2 (for 64-bit)
Note: Always copy the entire .lv2 folder
VST2: ~/.vst or /usr/local/lib/vst
Note: Many VST effects are Windows-only
VST3: ~/.vst3 or /usr/local/lib/vst3
LADSPA: ~/.ladspa or /usr/local/lib/ladspa
Vamp: ~/.vamp or /usr/local/lib/vamp
Nyquist: See below
Restart Audacity.
The plugin should now be available in the corresponding Generate, Effect or Analyze menu.
Click OK to close the Plugin Manager and save your settings.