Generate M-Plugins as Audio Units on the Mac

This feature is only available when loading MPH Single host as an AU and hosting AU third party plugins.

When you host an AU third plugin in an AU instance of the MPH in a new folder (which is displayed as a Category in MPH menu), you will see the option in the MPH Menu (right click in main window > Presets) to see the option Create Plugin. This will create a new .component file (AU) in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/  that can be seen by the DAW as a new plugin.

Creating a new M-plugin is useful because when loaded in the DAW directly it will show the name that you chose.

This plugin's name will always start with "M-" so the file name of the plugin generated will be  

M-the_name_you_entered.component.  (Do not write the M- )

M-plugins have the exact same  functionality as the MP Host. However, in an M-plugin you cannot remove the hosted plugin.

Once you create a new M- plugin, scan for your plugins in your DAW or in case of Logic Pro X reopen Logic and it will scan and find the plugins. 

New AU plugins need to register with Mac OS so sometimes, depending on the DAW a reboot may be necessary. If your newly created M-plugin does not pass the validation scan in Logic, reboot the Mac and open Logic again. It should scan it again and it will pass validation. Otherwise you can manually scan it in Logic's Plugin Manager.

This M- plugin has all the settings, mappings, and references to the third-party plugin. It can be recalled from the MPH Menu or your DAW.

The default xml preset for the M-plugin saved in the .component file is the xml preset you have created. So, when you load the M-plugin, it will open the xml preset you created, without having to load another preset. Last, you can load other presets in the M-Plugin, because like mentioned before, the functionality is exactly the same as the single MPH.

If you save the M-plugin preset in a folder inside the ~/MP/Host/Presets folder, then the folder name will be used as the vendor (manufacturer) name for your M-plugin.

For example, if you save a Pro Q3 by Fabfilter in a folder ~/MP/Host/Presets/FabFilter then in your DAW you will find the M-plugin listed under the manufacturer FabFilter.


In Logic's expandable plugin menu you will find your M-plugin under manufacturer FabFilter.If you don't use a folder name and save it directly in ~/MP/Host/Presets/ then the manufacturer will be set as "AU".

Update M- AU Plugins

This is an option in the main window menu, that should only be used when you have installed an updated version of the MP Host. When selected, it will place the new version of the MP Host inside the M- plugin  .component files. 

When you download and install a new version of the MP Host, click on Update M-Plugins option and it will update all your M- plugins to the newest MP Host version.

After the update you will see a report of all the plugins updated to the version updated.

Troubleshooting

M-plugins are not being created

If the M-files are not being created in the Audio Units directory 
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/ , (you cannot see the newly created M- plugin in the Finder under the components folder) it is because the OS permissions do not allow the MPH to write the new M-file. 

To solve this issue, run in a terminal:

sudo chmod 777 /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/

It will ask for your Mac's password. Type it and hit enter. 

There should be no output on the terminal and you may close it. 

Reopen Logic and try to create the plugin again.

M-plugins not loading in the DAW

If you have migrated to a new Mac, and copied over the plugins from the previous Mac, it may cause Mac OS to prevent opening M- plugins due to permissions.

Run in a terminal:

sudo chmod -R 777 /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/M-*.component

It will ask for your Mac password, type it and hit enter. 

There should be no output on the terminal and you may close it. 

Reopen Logic Pro X or the DAW and try to load the M-plugin.

How to remove M-plugins

Delete the M-name.component file from /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/.

Open Logic's plugin Manager and search for the M-plugin. Select it and then choose the "Reset and Rescan Selection".