Importing via Screenshot
Bulk import your plugins from screenshots of your DAW, license manager, or plugin folder. We'll read the text and match it to known plugins.
If you have dozens or hundreds of plugins, adding them one by one can be tedious. Screenshot import lets you capture your plugin list from any source and we'll automatically identify and add them to your library.
Supported Sources
Screenshot import works with any image that shows plugin names clearly. Common sources include:
- DAW plugin menus - The insert plugin browser in Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, etc.
- License managers - Native Access, iLok License Manager, Plugin Alliance, etc.
- Plugin folders - Your VST3, AU, or AAX plugin directories
- Store purchase history - Screenshots from plugin retailers
How to Import
Capture your plugin list
Take a screenshot showing the plugin names you want to import. On macOS, press Cmd + Shift + 4 to select an area. On Windows, press Win + Shift + S.
Best practices for screenshots
- Ensure plugin names are fully visible (not truncated)
- Use high resolution - avoid zooming out too much
- Capture one list at a time for best accuracy
- Avoid overlapping windows or dialogs
Upload to Plugin Library
Wait for processing
Review what we found
The names we read off the screenshot come back in three groups:
- Add to library - matched to a plugin in our catalog, ready to add
- Already in library - you have it already, so nothing happens
- Will be added as new - names we don't have yet; we'll add them and go find their details
Each matched row carries a small label saying how sure we are of the match: exact, high or medium.
Uncheck and add
How many screenshots you can import
Reading a screenshot costs us real money per image, so there's a daily allowance. Your first day is the generous one, because that's when you're setting up your library and one screenshot is rarely enough:
- Your first day: 10 screenshots — enough to work through a plugin folder, a license manager, and your DAW menu in one sitting.
- Every day after: 3 a day on a free account.
- With Pro: 20 a day, every day.
The review screen tells you how many you have left. If you run out, the allowance resets the next day — and pasting plugin names as text doesn't use the screenshot allowance at all: up to 500 names per paste, as many pastes as you need. Either way, a free account holds 100 plugins and instruments, so if your collection is bigger than that, Pro is what lifts the cap.
Troubleshooting
Missing plugins?
False positives in results
Sometimes text that isn't a plugin name may be detected. Simply uncheck those items before importing. Common false positives include folder names, menu headers, and vendor names without specific plugins.
Matches labelled medium
A medium label means we matched on part of the name. This often happens with plugin bundles (e.g., "Waves SSL Bundle" vs individual SSL plugins) or variations in naming. If the row names the wrong plugin, uncheck it and add the right one by searching for it afterwards.
"Image too large"
Screenshots have to be under 10MB. A full-screen Retina grab of a long plugin list can go over that — crop it to the part with the names in it, or split it into two screenshots. Capturing one list at a time is the recommendation anyway.
Image quality issues
If you're getting poor results, try taking a new screenshot at a higher resolution. Retina/HiDPI screenshots work best. Avoid using compressed images from messaging apps or social media.
Multiple screenshots
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