Support

I paid for the plugin, how do I download it?

You can download the plugin installers from:

www.blackstarplugins.com

For details on how to purchase a licence or to start a free trial, please see the relevant sections below.

After going through the process of obtaining either a full licence or a free trial as outlined in the section below, you will be provided with a download option for Mac and Windows. After clicking either option, the download will begin automatically.

I signed up for a free trial of the plugin, how do I download it?

Once you’ve selected the free trial and signed up, there will be an option to download either the Windows or Mac version.

Make sure you have the latest version of the iLok License Manager installed and running on your machine. Download and run the Blackstar St. James plugin installer.

When you first open the St. James standalone application or open a supported DAW after installation, an iLok activation window will appear on screen. To start your free trial, click the “Try” button in the window. If you haven’t already got an iLok account, click “Create new account” to make one.

Your 14-day trial should be added to your iLok account automatically.

I am running Windows 10, will the plugin work on my computer?

Yes it will! To see a full list of supported operating systems, click here.

I am running Mac OSX Catalina (10.15), will the plugin work on my computer?

Yes it will! To see a full list of supported operating systems, click here.

Do I need an iLok dongle to use the plugin?

No! All you need is the latest version of the iLok License Manager application and an iLok account.

The iLok license can be used locally on your PC or Mac, or using iLok Cloud which requires an internet connection.

I got sent an activation code, how do I activate the plugin?

Collect the Blackstar Plugin activation code from the Blackstar Plugins website. Once this is done, go to the “Available” tab, right-click on your full license and select “Activate”. From your online account, copy the activation code and paste it onto the activation screen.

If you have already been using the St. James plugin as a free trial, open iLok License Manager, log in, and right-click on your free trial activation and click on “deactivate”. You will not need to do this if your trial is already expired.

Does the plugin work with my DAW?

Here is a list of all the supported DAWs:

Pro Tools 2023.6 or later, Mac & PC – AAX Native
Logic Pro X 10.7.8 or later – AU
Cubase 12.0.60 or later, Mac & PC – VST
Ableton Live 11.3.3 or later, Mac & PC – Mac: AU & VST; Windows: VST
Reaper 6.80 or later, Mac & PC – Mac: AU & VST; Windows: VST
Presonus Studio One 6.1.0 or later, Mac & PC – Mac: AU & VST; Windows: VST
FL Studio 21.0.3 or later, Mac & PC – VST
Reason 12.5.1 or later, Mac & PC – VST

Do I need to use this plugin with a DAW?

Not at all! Blackstar plugins come as a standalone application that you can run without having to load inside a DAW.

Is there a free version?

There is a 14 day free trial for Blackstar plugins. You can sign up for the free trial on the plugin page.

How many computers can I use it on at the same time?

If you have bought a licence for a Blackstar plugin, you can activate your licence on up to 3 computers using the iLok License Manager application.

Do Blackstar plugins work on Apple Silicon (M1, M2 etc.)?

Yes they do! Blackstar plugins are fully compatible with Apple Silicon.

I’m using the standalone and I can’t get any sound. How do I fix this?

Check the correct audio device and input/output is selected in audio settings by clicking the settings icon in the plugin window. Audio will be muted when the settings window is open, so please close this window before playing through the plugin. If you are still having issues, please contact us here.

I found an issue with the plugin, where can I report issues?

If you are having any issues with the plugin, contact us here with details of the issue you are experiencing and we will endeavour to solve it for you.

Will Blackstar support existing plugins through updates?

We are committed to supporting all Blackstar plugins, so please make us aware of any issues with any of our plugins by contacting us here.

I've downloaded and installed my plugin and I want to use the standalone. Where can I find it on my computer?

Windows: The standalone application can be found in the following directory – C:\Program Files\Blackstar

Mac: The standalone application can be found in your Launchpad, or in the Applications folder.

I cannot see my products or the latest downloads on my user account?

In Nov ’23 we moved to a new user backend system, which will make it much easier to keep up to date and manage your products and upgrades. Users that purchased from us before that date will need to migrate to our new system. When migrating St James Plugin users will receive a free crossgrade to St James Suite.

Please follow the following link which explains both the migration and the crossgrade:
https://blackstarplugins.com/stjames_crossgrade/

Why Do I Have No Sound Input/Output using the St James Standalone App on Mac?

Recent Mac OS versions require permission for third-party apps to use the microphone input and this can cause audio to not be received into the standalone version. Turn on access to the microphone by enabling mic access for the St James application in system settings->Privacy & Security and click on Microphone on the left. This takes you to the microphone access page and check the box next to the St James App.

Also, under some circumstances (like after updates or if devices themselves have crashed or been temporarily unplugged) the audio engine can crash. To re-activate change the audio input or output to an alternative device and then back again. This resets the engine and audio streaming should recover.

I’m experiencing latency when using the stand-alone plugin on Windows, What can I do to solve this?

When using the standalone plugin on a Windows. Make sure to select the ASIO driver option and choose you interface from this list. This will help with extra latency when using Windows.

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