SYSTEM ThirdPartyPluginLoader Presale
Original price was: 60,00 €.39,00 €Current price is: 39,00 €. incl. VAT
With the HOFA SYSTEM ThirdPartyPluginLoader you can load your VST and AU plugins straight into HOFA SYSTEM and patch them together any way you like – unlocking a whole lot more potential from the plugins you already own.
- Load third-party plugins into HOFA SYSTEM and combine them freely with the SYSTEM modules and routing options
- Adds multiband, parallel, feedback, oversampling, M/S, L/R and much more to all your favorite plugins
- Use SYSTEM's parameter modulation on external plugins, too
- Run plugin formats your DAW doesn't support (e.g. VST in Logic, AU in Cubase, VST in Pro Tools …)
- Supports VST2, VST3 and AU plugins
Here's what you can now do with any plugin:
Multiband
Ever wondered how an 1176 or an LA2A sounds as a multiband compressor? Find out: just drop your plugins into the SYSTEM Multiband module.
Mid/Side
Pultec-style EQs really shine in a mid/side setup, especially in mastering. And from now on, any other plugin is fair game for your M/S work as well.
Parallel
Have you ever run two plate reverbs side by side for your main reverb? It opens up a ton of options and gives you beautiful spatial depth.
Feedback
What does a reverb sound like with tube distortion in the feedback path? There are no limits to your creativity – your signature sound is just a few clicks away.
Plugin Chains
Build your own channel strips from your favorite plugins and save them – complete with multiband, parallel, feedback, M/S and L/R modules, oversampling and more if you want.
Freeware Version
Every plugin in the HOFA SYSTEM series is also available as freeware with a slightly reduced feature set. Simply install HOFA SYSTEM via the HOFA-Plugins Manager and you can start using all freeware features right away.
Here’s an overview of how the SYSTEM ThirdPartyPluginLoader freeware differs from the full version:
| Funktion | Freeware | Full Version |
|---|---|---|
| Loading VST2, VST3 and AU plugins into HOFA SYSTEM | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Number of third-party plugins loadable at once | 1 plugin only | unlimited |
| Multiband operation for loaded plugins | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Parallel processing (dry/wet, multiple signal paths) | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Feedback loops with third-party plugins | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Mid/Side (M/S) and Left/Right (L/R) processing | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Oversampling for loaded third-party plugins | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Plugin delay compensation (PDC) within the chain | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Sidechain input passed through to loaded plugins | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| DAW automation of third-party plugin parameters | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Parameter modulation via SYSTEM modulators | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Saving and loading plugin chains as presets | ⬤ | ⬤ |
FAQ
What is the SYSTEM ThirdPartyPluginLoader?
The ThirdPartyPluginLoader is an add-on for HOFA SYSTEM that lets you load any VST2, VST3 or AU plugin directly into SYSTEM and combine it with SYSTEM’s routing and modulation capabilities. Your existing plugins gain features they never shipped with – multiband operation, parallel processing, mid/side processing, feedback loops or oversampling.
Do I need the paid version of HOFA SYSTEM to use the ThirdPartyPluginLoader?
No. The ThirdPartyPluginLoader also runs with the free version of HOFA SYSTEM. You don’t need the SYSTEM Bundle or any additional modules to host and route third-party plugins.
What's the difference between the free and the paid version of the ThirdPartyPluginLoader?
The free version lets you load one external plugin into HOFA SYSTEM, perfect for trying out the basics or for extending a single plugin with multiband, mid/side, oversampling and the like. The paid full version lets you host as many third-party plugins as you want simultaneously and wire them into complex chains, parallel setups or multiband racks.
Which plugin formats can I load?
The ThirdPartyPluginLoader supports VST2, VST3 and AU as hosted third-party plugins. HOFA SYSTEM itself runs as VST3, AU and AAX in your DAW.
Can I use VST or AU plugins in Pro Tools with it?
Yes. Since HOFA SYSTEM runs as an AAX plugin in Pro Tools, the ThirdPartyPluginLoader lets you use your VST and AU plugins there – effectively acting as an AAX wrapper for formats Pro Tools doesn’t natively support.
Does oversampling work for third-party plugins as well?
Yes. You can oversample any loaded VST/AU plugin, even if the plugin itself offers no oversampling of its own. Ideal for reducing aliasing on saturation, distortion or clipper plugins. Please note that some third-party plugins don’t support arbitrarily high sample rates – for some the ceiling is 192 kHz, for others even 96 kHz.
Is the latency of my plugin chain compensated automatically?
Yes, the ThirdPartyPluginLoader supports plugin delay compensation (PDC) within the chain. Even complex chains built from several latency-inducing plugins stay phase- and timing-accurate.
Can I route sidechain signals into loaded plugins?
Yes. Sidechain inputs are passed through to the loaded third-party plugins, so you can feed a compressor or gate inside the SYSTEM environment with an external trigger signal just as you normally would. You can even process that signal further via SYSTEM’s sidechain insert path – putting a filter in the sidechain, for example, which can sound excellent on vocal compression and in mastering.
Which routing modes are available?
The ThirdPartyPluginLoader offers, among others:
- Multiband – use any plugin frequency-dependently
- Parallel – blend dry/wet or several signal paths
- Feedback – creative feedback loops
- Mid/Side (M/S) and Left/Right (L/R) – process each separately
Can I save my plugin chains as presets?
Yes. Complete chains including routing, modulation and the settings of the loaded third-party plugins can be saved and recalled in other projects.
Can third-party plugin parameters be automated and modulated?
Yes. Parameters of loaded plugins can be automated from your DAW and additionally driven by HOFA SYSTEM’s modulators. Both are found under “Parameters” in the menu bar of the loaded plugin.
Formats: VST3, AU, AAX
Operating System: macOS 10.13 or later, Windows 10 or later
HOFA plugins are continuously tested on the following DAWs:
Ableton Live, Apple Logic, Avid Pro Tools, Bitwig, Cockos Reaper, Image Line FL Studio, Magix Samplitude/Sequoia, Fender Studio Pro, Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo/Wavelab
You have two licenses available. These are managed via the HOFA Plugins Manager, where they can also be deactivated and transferred to other computers.
It is also possible to activate and use HOFA plugins offline. Licenses on USB sticks can be used alongside USB licenses from other plugin manufacturers without any issues.
You will find helpful answers to many questions in our support center:
You can also reach us on weekdays at plugins@hofa.de and +49 7251 3472-444