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Cubase Artist 9 stuck at Initializing: Scanning VST3 Plugins

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Remote connection

Connected remotely with a new client from South West London who had found my service via Google. He needed help with an installation of Cubase Artist 9 that was crashing on launch with the message “Initializing: Scanning VST3 Plugins”. He had been in contact with Steinberg support but they told him that they no longer supported Cubase 9.

We arranged a time to speak and connect our screens using Anydesk. Once we were connected and he explained the symptoms his problem was a straightforward one to solve. 

Incompatible demo plugins

His VST Plugins folders had a few incompatible 32-Bit plugins which Cubase was struggling to add to its Plugin Manager Blocklist. Using a process of finding likely culprits, trial and error I went through his plugins folders, found the ones which were causing the problem and took them out. Once the plugins were removed and the preferences reset Cubase Artist 9 launched without a problem.

The particular plugins that were causing the problems were demo ones my client didn’t want to use in the future so we removed them from the system. My client was happy to have Cubase working again and wrote me a nice review after the session. Thanks Ben!

About the Author

PAUL ANDREWS

I’m the owner and lead technician for Audio Support, a small company based in London, UK that connects remotely with clients worldwide to help them with their music technology issues. I’ve run Audio Support since 2005 and in that time I’ve seen and solved thousands of recording studio problems. 

Outside of Audio Support, I run music workshops at a local school, play bass in a 90s tribute function band and perform modular synth jams with friends on Twitch.

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