OBS Studio macOS VST Plugin Support

Yes, OBS Studio supports VST plugins on macOS, allowing users to enhance their microphone and program audio with professional filters like EQs, compressors, and noise gates. While support was historically limited to VST2, modern versions of OBS Studio (version 28 and newer) natively support both VST2 and VST3 plugins on macOS. However, successful integration depends on installing plugins in the correct system directories and ensuring compatibility with your Mac’s processor architecture.

Supported VST Formats and File Paths

For OBS Studio to detect your VST plugins on macOS, they must be installed in the default system library folders. OBS does not scan custom directories. Ensure your plugins are installed in the following paths:

• VST3 Plugins (.vst3): /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/ or ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
• VST2 Plugins (.vst): /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/ or ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/

Note: AU (Audio Units) plugins, which are highly common on macOS, are not natively supported by OBS Studio; you must use the VST version of the plugin.

Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Compatibility

If you are using a Mac with an Apple Silicon processor, you must match the architecture of your OBS Studio installation with your VST plugins:

1. Native Apple Silicon: If you run the Apple Silicon version of OBS Studio, your VST plugins must also natively support Apple Silicon (ARM64). Intel-only VST plugins will not appear in the OBS menu.
2. Rosetta 2 translation: If you need to use older Intel-only VST plugins, you must force OBS Studio to run using Rosetta. To do this, find OBS Studio in your Applications folder, right-click it, select “Get Info,” and check the box for “Open using Rosetta.”

How to Use VST Plugins in OBS Studio

Once your plugins are installed in the correct directory, apply them to your audio sources using these steps:

1. Open OBS Studio on your Mac.
2. Go to the Audio Mixer dock and click the three dots (options) next to your audio source (e.g., Mic/Aux).
3. Select Filters.
4. Click the + icon in the bottom-left of the Filters window and select VST 2.x Plug-in (this option handles both VST2 and VST3 plugins in current versions of OBS).
5. Name the filter and click OK.
6. Select your desired plugin from the dropdown menu, then click Open Plug-in Interface to configure your audio settings.