diff --git a/vst/CMakeLists.txt b/vst/CMakeLists.txt
index c6f573fb..0ee8cddc 100644
--- a/vst/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/vst/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,15 +17,32 @@ set(VSTPLUGIN_SOURCES
     SfizzVstController.cpp
     SfizzVstEditor.cpp
     SfizzVstState.cpp
+    SfizzFileScan.cpp
+    SfizzForeignPaths.cpp
     VstPluginFactory.cpp
-    X11RunLoop.cpp)
+    X11RunLoop.cpp
+    NativeHelpers.cpp
+    FileTrie.cpp)
 
 set(VSTPLUGIN_HEADERS
     SfizzVstProcessor.h
     SfizzVstController.h
     SfizzVstEditor.h
     SfizzVstState.h
-    X11RunLoop.h)
+    SfizzFileScan.h
+    SfizzForeignPaths.h
+    X11RunLoop.h
+    NativeHelpers.h
+    FileTrie.h)
+
+if(APPLE)
+    set(VSTPLUGIN_MAC_SOURCES
+        SfizzForeignPaths.mm
+        NativeHelpers.mm)
+    list(APPEND VSTPLUGIN_SOURCES ${VSTPLUGIN_MAC_SOURCES})
+    set_property(SOURCE ${VSTPLUGIN_MAC_SOURCES} APPEND_STRING
+      PROPERTY COMPILE_FLAGS " -fobjc-arc")
+endif()
 
 add_library(${VSTPLUGIN_PRJ_NAME} MODULE
     ${VSTPLUGIN_HEADERS}
@@ -65,6 +82,16 @@ if (MINGW)
     set_target_properties (${VSTPLUGIN_PRJ_NAME} PROPERTIES LINK_FLAGS "-static")
 endif()
 
+# Link system dependencies
+if(WIN32)
+elseif(APPLE)
+    target_link_libraries(${VSTPLUGIN_PRJ_NAME} PRIVATE ${APPLE_FOUNDATION_LIBRARY})
+else()
+    pkg_check_modules(GLIB REQUIRED glib-2.0)
+    target_include_directories(${VSTPLUGIN_PRJ_NAME} PRIVATE ${GLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+    target_link_libraries(${VSTPLUGIN_PRJ_NAME} PRIVATE ${GLIB_LIBRARIES})
+endif()
+
 # Create the bundle (see "VST 3 Locations / Format")
 execute_process (
     COMMAND "${CMAKE_COMMAND}" -E make_directory "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/${VSTPLUGIN_BUNDLE_NAME}/Contents/Resources")
diff --git a/vst/FileTrie.cpp b/vst/FileTrie.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..014ad626
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/FileTrie.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#include "FileTrie.h"
+#include <iostream>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <cassert>
+
+constexpr size_t FileTrie::npos;
+
+fs::path FileTrie::at(size_t index) const
+{
+    if (index >= entries_.size())
+        throw std::out_of_range("FileTrie::at");
+    return pathFromEntry(index);
+}
+
+fs::path FileTrie::operator[](size_t index) const
+{
+    assert(index < entries_.size());
+    return pathFromEntry(index);
+}
+
+fs::path FileTrie::pathFromEntry(size_t index) const
+{
+    const Entry* currentEntry = &entries_[index];
+    fs::path path = fs::u8path(currentEntry->name);
+
+    size_t currentIndex;
+    while ((currentIndex = currentEntry->parent) != npos) {
+        currentEntry = &entries_[currentIndex];
+        path = fs::u8path(currentEntry->name) / path;
+    }
+
+    return path;
+}
+
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const FileTrie& trie)
+{
+    os << '{' << '\n';
+    for (size_t i = 0, n = trie.size(); i < n; ++i)
+        os << '\t' << i << ':' << ' ' << trie[i] << ',' << '\n';
+    os << '}';
+    return os;
+}
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+FileTrieBuilder::FileTrieBuilder(size_t initialCapacity)
+{
+    FileTrie& trie = trie_;
+    trie.entries_.reserve(initialCapacity);
+}
+
+FileTrie&& FileTrieBuilder::build()
+{
+    FileTrie& trie = trie_;
+    trie.entries_.shrink_to_fit();
+    return std::move(trie);
+}
+
+size_t FileTrieBuilder::addFile(const fs::path& path)
+{
+    if (path.empty())
+        return FileTrie::npos;
+
+    size_t dirIndex = ensureDirectory(path.parent_path());
+
+    FileTrie& trie = trie_;
+    FileTrie::Entry ent;
+    ent.parent = dirIndex;
+    ent.name = (--path.end())->u8string();
+
+    size_t fileIndex = trie.entries_.size();
+    trie.entries_.push_back(std::move(ent));
+
+    return fileIndex;
+}
+
+size_t FileTrieBuilder::ensureDirectory(const fs::path& dirPath)
+{
+    if (dirPath.empty())
+        return FileTrie::npos;
+
+    const fs::path::string_type& dirNat = dirPath.native();
+    auto it = directories_.find(dirNat);
+    if (it != directories_.end())
+        return it->second;
+
+    FileTrie& trie = trie_;
+    FileTrie::Entry ent;
+    ent.parent = FileTrie::npos;
+    ent.name = (--dirPath.end())->u8string();
+    if (dirPath.has_parent_path()) {
+        fs::path parentPath = dirPath.parent_path();
+        if (parentPath != dirPath)
+            ent.parent = ensureDirectory(parentPath);
+    }
+
+    size_t dirIndex = trie.entries_.size();
+    trie.entries_.push_back(std::move(ent));
+
+    directories_[dirNat] = dirIndex;
+
+    return dirIndex;
+}
diff --git a/vst/FileTrie.h b/vst/FileTrie.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..63bf32d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/FileTrie.h
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#pragma once
+#include <ghc/fs_std.hpp>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <iosfwd>
+#include <cstddef>
+
+class FileTrie {
+public:
+    static constexpr size_t npos = ~size_t(0);
+
+    size_t size() const noexcept { return entries_.size(); }
+    fs::path at(size_t index) const;
+    fs::path operator[](size_t index) const;
+    void clear() noexcept { entries_.clear(); }
+
+private:
+    fs::path pathFromEntry(size_t index) const;
+
+private:
+    struct Entry {
+        size_t parent = npos;
+        std::string name;
+    };
+    std::vector<Entry> entries_;
+
+    friend class FileTrieBuilder;
+};
+
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const FileTrie& trie);
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+class FileTrieBuilder {
+public:
+    explicit FileTrieBuilder(size_t initialCapacity = 8192);
+    FileTrie&& build();
+    size_t addFile(const fs::path& path);
+
+private:
+    size_t ensureDirectory(const fs::path& dirPath);
+
+private:
+    FileTrie trie_;
+    std::unordered_map<fs::path::string_type, size_t> directories_;
+};
diff --git a/vst/NativeHelpers.cpp b/vst/NativeHelpers.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2015a194
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/NativeHelpers.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#include "NativeHelpers.h"
+#include <stdexcept>
+
+#if defined(_WIN32)
+#include <windows.h>
+#include <shlobj.h>
+
+const fs::path& getUserDocumentsDirectory()
+{
+    static const fs::path directory = []() -> fs::path {
+        std::unique_ptr<WCHAR[]> path(new WCHAR[32768]);
+        if (SHGetFolderPathW(nullptr, CSIDL_PERSONAL|CSIDL_FLAG_CREATE, NULL, SHGFP_TYPE_CURRENT, path.get()) != S_OK)
+            throw std::runtime_error("Cannot get the document directory.");
+        return fs::path(path.get());
+    }();
+    return directory;
+}
+#elif defined(__APPLE__)
+    // implemented in NativeHelpers.mm
+#else
+#include <glib.h>
+
+const fs::path& getUserDocumentsDirectory()
+{
+    static const fs::path directory = []() -> fs::path {
+        const gchar* path = g_get_user_special_dir(G_USER_DIRECTORY_DOCUMENTS);
+        if (!path)
+            throw std::runtime_error("Cannot get the document directory.");
+        return fs::path(path);
+    }();
+    return directory;
+}
+#endif
diff --git a/vst/NativeHelpers.h b/vst/NativeHelpers.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..766d01d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/NativeHelpers.h
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#pragma once
+#include <ghc/fs_std.hpp>
+
+const fs::path& getUserDocumentsDirectory();
diff --git a/vst/NativeHelpers.mm b/vst/NativeHelpers.mm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8f2bfd3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/NativeHelpers.mm
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#include "NativeHelpers.h"
+#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#if !__has_feature(objc_arc)
+#error This source file requires ARC
+#endif
+
+const fs::path& getUserDocumentsDirectory()
+{
+    static const fs::path directory = []() -> fs::path {
+        NSFileManager* fm = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
+        NSArray<NSURL*>* urls = [fm URLsForDirectory:NSDocumentDirectory inDomains:NSUserDomainMask];
+        for (NSUInteger i = 0, n = [urls count]; i < n; ++i) {
+            NSURL *url = [urls objectAtIndex:i];
+            if ([url isFileURL])
+                return fs::path([url path].UTF8String);
+        }
+        throw std::runtime_error("Cannot get the document directory.");
+    }();
+    return directory;
+}
diff --git a/vst/SfizzFileScan.cpp b/vst/SfizzFileScan.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9971d6ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/SfizzFileScan.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#include "SfizzFileScan.h"
+#include "SfizzForeignPaths.h"
+#include "NativeHelpers.h"
+#include <absl/strings/ascii.h>
+#include <absl/algorithm/container.h>
+#include <vector>
+#include <memory>
+
+// wait at least this much before refreshing the file rescan
+// it permits to not repeat the operation many times if many searches are
+// requested at once, eg. on session loading with multiple plugin instances
+static const std::chrono::seconds expiration_time { 10 };
+
+SfzFileScan& SfzFileScan::getInstance()
+{
+    static SfzFileScan instance;
+    return instance;
+}
+
+bool SfzFileScan::locateRealFile(const fs::path& pathOrig, fs::path& pathFound)
+{
+    if (pathOrig.empty())
+        return false;
+
+    std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock { mutex };
+    refreshScan();
+
+    auto it = file_index_.find(keyOf(pathOrig));
+    if (it == file_index_.end())
+        return false;
+
+    const std::list<size_t>& candidateIndices = it->second;
+    std::vector<fs::path> candidates;
+    candidates.reserve(candidateIndices.size());
+    for (const size_t index : candidateIndices)
+        candidates.push_back(file_trie_[index]);
+
+    lock.unlock();
+
+    pathFound = electBestMatch(pathOrig, candidates);
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool SfzFileScan::isExpired() const
+{
+    return !completion_time_ ||
+        (clock::now() - *completion_time_) > expiration_time;
+}
+
+void SfzFileScan::refreshScan(bool force)
+{
+    if (!force && !isExpired())
+        return;
+
+    file_trie_.clear();
+    file_index_.clear();
+
+    FileTrieBuilder builder;
+
+    for (const fs::path& dirPath : SfizzPaths::sfzDefaultPaths()) {
+        std::error_code ec;
+        const fs::directory_options dirOpts =
+            fs::directory_options::skip_permission_denied;
+
+        for (fs::recursive_directory_iterator it(dirPath, dirOpts, ec);
+             !ec && it != fs::recursive_directory_iterator();
+             it.increment(ec))
+        {
+            const fs::directory_entry& ent = *it;
+            const fs::path& filePath = ent.path();
+            std::error_code ec;
+            if (ent.is_regular_file(ec) /*&& pathIsSfz(filePath)*/) {
+                size_t fileIndex = builder.addFile(filePath);
+                file_index_[keyOf(filePath.filename())].push_back(fileIndex);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    file_trie_ = builder.build();
+    completion_time_ = clock::now();
+}
+
+std::string SfzFileScan::keyOf(const fs::path& path)
+{
+    std::string key = path.u8string();
+    absl::AsciiStrToLower(&key);
+    return key;
+}
+
+namespace SfzFileScanImpl {
+template <class T>
+bool asciiCaseEqual(const std::basic_string<T>& a, const std::basic_string<T>& b)
+{
+    const size_t n = a.size();
+    if (n != b.size())
+        return false;
+
+    auto lower = [](T c) -> T {
+        return (c >= T('A') && c <= T('Z')) ? (c - T('A') + T('a')) : c;
+    };
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < n; ++i)
+        if (lower(a[i]) != lower(b[i]))
+            return false;
+
+    return true;
+}
+} // namespace SfzFileScanImpl
+
+bool SfzFileScan::pathIsSfz(const fs::path& path)
+{
+    const fs::path::string_type& str = path.native();
+    using char_type = fs::path::value_type;
+    const size_t n = str.size();
+    return n > 4 &&
+        str[n - 4] == char_type('.') &&
+        (str[n - 3] == char_type('s') || str[n - 3] == char_type('S')) &&
+        (str[n - 2] == char_type('f') || str[n - 2] == char_type('F')) &&
+        (str[n - 1] == char_type('z') || str[n - 1] == char_type('Z'));
+}
+
+const fs::path& SfzFileScan::electBestMatch(const fs::path& path, absl::Span<const fs::path> candidates)
+{
+    if (candidates.empty())
+        return path;
+
+    if (candidates.size() == 1)
+        return candidates.front();
+
+    struct Score {
+        size_t components = 0;
+        size_t exact = 0;
+        bool operator<(const Score& other) const noexcept
+        {
+            return (components != other.components) ?
+                (components < other.components) : (exact < other.exact);
+        }
+    };
+
+    std::vector<Score> scores;
+    scores.reserve(candidates.size());
+
+    for (size_t i = 0, n = candidates.size(); i < n; ++i) {
+        scores.emplace_back();
+        Score& score = scores.back();
+
+        const fs::path& p1 = path;
+        const fs::path& p2 = candidates[i];
+        auto it1 = p1.end();
+        auto it2 = p2.end();
+
+        bool matching = true;
+        while (matching && it1-- != p1.begin() && it2-- != p2.begin()) {
+            const fs::path& c1 = *it1;
+            const fs::path& c2 = *it2;
+            if (c1 == c2) {
+                score.components += 1;
+                score.exact += 1;
+            }
+            else if (SfzFileScanImpl::asciiCaseEqual(c1.native(), c2.native()))
+                score.components += 1;
+            else
+                matching = false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    size_t best = 0;
+    for (size_t i = 1, n = scores.size(); i < n; ++i) {
+        if (scores[best] < scores[i])
+            best = i;
+    }
+
+    return candidates[best];
+}
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+namespace SfizzPaths {
+
+absl::Span<const fs::path> sfzDefaultPaths()
+{
+    static const auto paths = []() -> std::vector<fs::path> {
+        std::vector<fs::path> paths;
+        paths.reserve(8);
+        auto addPath = [&paths](const fs::path& newPath) {
+            if (absl::c_find(paths, newPath) == paths.end())
+                paths.push_back(newPath);
+        };
+
+        addPath(getUserDocumentsDirectory() / "SFZ instruments");
+
+        for (const fs::path& foreign : {
+                getAriaPathSetting("user_files_dir"),
+                getAriaPathSetting("Converted_path") })
+            if (!foreign.empty() && foreign.is_absolute())
+                addPath(foreign);
+
+        paths.shrink_to_fit();
+        return paths;
+    }();
+    return paths;
+}
+
+void createSfzDefaultPaths()
+{
+    for (const fs::path& path : sfzDefaultPaths()) {
+        std::error_code ec;
+        fs::create_directory(path, ec);
+    }
+}
+
+} // namespace SfizzPaths
diff --git a/vst/SfizzFileScan.h b/vst/SfizzFileScan.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2626ef15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/SfizzFileScan.h
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#pragma once
+#include "FileTrie.h"
+#include <absl/types/span.h>
+#include <absl/types/optional.h>
+#include <ghc/fs_std.hpp>
+#include <string>
+#include <list>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <chrono>
+
+class SfzFileScan {
+public:
+    static SfzFileScan& getInstance();
+    bool locateRealFile(const fs::path& pathOrig, fs::path& pathFound);
+
+private:
+    typedef std::chrono::steady_clock clock;
+    std::mutex mutex;
+    absl::optional<clock::time_point> completion_time_;
+    FileTrie file_trie_;
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, std::list<size_t>> file_index_;
+
+    bool isExpired() const;
+    void refreshScan(bool force = false);
+    static std::string keyOf(const fs::path& path);
+    static bool pathIsSfz(const fs::path& path);
+    static const fs::path& electBestMatch(const fs::path& path, absl::Span<const fs::path> candidates);
+};
+
+namespace SfizzPaths {
+absl::Span<const fs::path> sfzDefaultPaths();
+void createSfzDefaultPaths();
+} // namespace SfizzPaths
diff --git a/vst/SfizzForeignPaths.cpp b/vst/SfizzForeignPaths.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..17319997
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/SfizzForeignPaths.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#include "SfizzForeignPaths.h"
+
+namespace SfizzPaths {
+
+#if defined(_WIN32)
+#include <windows.h>
+
+fs::path getAriaPathSetting(const char* name)
+{
+    fs::path path;
+
+    HKEY key = 0;
+
+    std::unique_ptr<WCHAR[]> nameW;
+    unsigned nameSize = MultiByteToWideChar(CP_UTF8, 0, name, -1, nullptr, 0);
+    if (nameSize == 0)
+        return {};
+    nameW.reset(new WCHAR[nameSize]);
+    if (MultiByteToWideChar(CP_UTF8, 0, name, -1, nameW.get(), nameSize) == 0)
+        return {};
+
+    const WCHAR ariaKeyPath[] = L"Software\\Plogue Art et Technologie, Inc\\Aria";
+
+    if (RegOpenKeyExW(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, ariaKeyPath, 0, KEY_QUERY_VALUE, &key) == ERROR_SUCCESS) {
+        WCHAR valueBuffer[32768 + 1];
+        DWORD valueSize = sizeof(valueBuffer) - sizeof(WCHAR);
+        if (RegQueryValueExW(key, nameW.get(), nullptr, nullptr, reinterpret_cast<LPBYTE>(valueBuffer), &valueSize) == ERROR_SUCCESS) {
+            valueBuffer[32768] = L'\0';
+            path = fs::path(valueBuffer);
+        }
+        RegCloseKey(key);
+    }
+
+    return path;
+}
+#elif defined(__APPLE__)
+    // implementation in SfizzForeignPaths.mm
+#else
+fs::path getAriaPathSetting(const char* name)
+{
+    return {};
+}
+#endif
+
+} // namespace SfizzPaths
diff --git a/vst/SfizzForeignPaths.h b/vst/SfizzForeignPaths.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..02f79b42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/SfizzForeignPaths.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#pragma once
+#include <ghc/fs_std.hpp>
+
+namespace SfizzPaths {
+fs::path getAriaPathSetting(const char* name);
+} // namespace SfizzPaths
diff --git a/vst/SfizzForeignPaths.mm b/vst/SfizzForeignPaths.mm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..074a3ece
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vst/SfizzForeignPaths.mm
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#include "SfizzForeignPaths.h"
+
+#if defined(__APPLE__)
+#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
+#if !__has_feature(objc_arc)
+#error This source file requires ARC
+#endif
+
+namespace SfizzPaths {
+
+fs::path getAriaPathSetting(const char* name)
+{
+    NSUserDefaults* ud = [[NSUserDefaults alloc] initWithSuiteName:@"com.plogue.aria"];
+    NSString* value = [ud stringForKey:[NSString stringWithUTF8String:name]];
+    if (!value)
+        return {};
+    return fs::path(value.UTF8String);
+}
+
+} // namespace SfizzPaths
+#endif
diff --git a/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.cpp b/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.cpp
index 6f729a27..3825db65 100644
--- a/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.cpp
+++ b/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.cpp
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@
 #include "SfizzVstProcessor.h"
 #include "SfizzVstController.h"
 #include "SfizzVstState.h"
+#include "SfizzFileScan.h"
 #include "base/source/fstreamer.h"
 #include "pluginterfaces/vst/ivstevents.h"
 #include "pluginterfaces/vst/ivstparameterchanges.h"
+#include <ghc/fs_std.hpp>
 #include <cstring>
 
 template<class T>
@@ -28,6 +30,8 @@ SfizzVstProcessor::SfizzVstProcessor()
     : _fifoToWorker(64 * 1024), _fifoMidiFromUi(64 * 1024)
 {
     setControllerClass(SfizzVstController::cid);
+
+    SfizzPaths::createSfzDefaultPaths();
 }
 
 SfizzVstProcessor::~SfizzVstProcessor()
@@ -83,6 +87,29 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API SfizzVstProcessor::setState(IBStream* stream)
     if (r != kResultTrue)
         return r;
 
+    // check the files to really exist, otherwise search them
+    for (std::string* statePath : { &s.sfzFile, &s.scalaFile }) {
+        if (statePath->empty())
+            continue;
+
+        fs::path pathOrig = fs::u8path(*statePath);
+        std::error_code ec;
+        if (fs::is_regular_file(pathOrig, ec))
+            continue;
+
+        fprintf(stderr, "[Sfizz] searching for missing file: %s\n", pathOrig.filename().u8string().c_str());
+
+        SfzFileScan& fileScan = SfzFileScan::getInstance();
+        fs::path pathFound;
+        if (!fileScan.locateRealFile(pathOrig, pathFound))
+            fprintf(stderr, "[Sfizz] file not found: %s\n", pathOrig.filename().u8string().c_str());
+        else {
+            fprintf(stderr, "[Sfizz] file found: %s\n", pathFound.filename().u8string().c_str());
+            *statePath = pathFound.u8string();
+        }
+    }
+
+    //
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(_processMutex);
     _state = s;