Feature request: set default preset for VST plugins (like ProTools feature "Set as user default")

[Max Arwood]

I resave the default to where I want to start.  Don’t know why but it takes 2 saves sometimes for it to stick. Some brands don’t work with this, some do. A global default would be nice. You could use FX chains or track templates to save a default setting. 

[GreenLight]

Happy new year everyone!

ProTools has exactly the feature I'm after: you can save a preset in any plugin, and then designate this preset as the default user setting to be loaded by the DAW every time you instantiate the plugin. Simple! And so useful.

Check out the ProTools screenshot below:

For more details about the ProTools feature, check out the YouTube instruction video for (timestamped link - I hope it works):

 

[Max Arwood]

Cake Walk / Sonar has an even better feature called Plugin chains. So instead of adding a plug-in, you can add a chain.  You could have five different versions of a plug-in and pick which version you want. Or just one. An FX chain does not have to have multiple plug-ins. It could be a single plug-in with the default setting you want. The track Even better! I can have multiple plug-ins with multiple default settings along with the routing to external bus effects prebuilt in one click ad all that. You should really look into these two features if you have not. 

[Max Arwood]

I open up waves Q-10. I type in the word default. I hit save setting. I hit save setting again. Next time I add Q 10 it uses that default setting. 
Now you have 3 ways to have a “default” plugin setting. 

Edited Friday at 02:04 AM by Max Arwood

[murat k.]

This is a feature request.
OP wants a better solution, not a workaround.
No need to repeat what we already do.
An LLM can already do this.
We’re humans, so do better.

[GreenLight]

18 hours ago, Max Arwood said:

I open up waves Q-10. I type in the word default. I hit save setting. I hit save setting again. Next time I add Q 10 it uses that default setting. 
Now you have 3 ways to have a “default” plugin setting. 

Thanks for the tip about Waves - even though the suggested feature (like it works in ProTools) would apply to all plugins, regardless of manufacturer.

But since you mention Waves, I got curious - I can't get it to work as you describe. I assume you mean to save the plugin's setting within the Waves plugin's own preset system menu, and not as an external .xps file? (And also not using Cakewalk's preset system)? Is the preset name "Default" some kind of keyword? Does it work in all Waves plugins? 🤔

[Max Arwood]

Any plug-in that loads with the word default as the opening settings will always load the default so you have to save something back over the word default. I’m not positive about q10. Just open a few and look for ones that say default as they load. I always save it twice. Just an old geek habit. I’m not sure that makes a difference either. That would probably be an easy way for Cake Walk to install one preset for every plug-in.  Just have them load default as they load the plug-in. 
 

Edit-  After a few test, I found that all Waves plug-ins can be saved as your favorite default setting. Right clicking on the bar plug-in menu in the middle of the Plugin. I didn’t have time to check very many, but blue cat also works and fabfilter. There might be more we will do more testing later.

 

Edited Saturday at 06:58 AM by Max Arwood
Added info

[murat k.]

Plugins already have default settings, but this feature isn’t in all of them.
If it’s there, you’ll see it in the menus; if not, a feature request isn’t the place to find out.
What I’m curious about is why a simple, useful feature isn’t being added, and instead, a workaround is being suggested, even by a developer?