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VST Plugins

What Is VST?

VST logo

VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology and is developed and owned by Steinberg and according to their web site "VST allows the integration of virtual effect processors and instruments into your digital audio environment."

VST plug-ins are electronic music software programs usually run within a Digital Audio Workstation or DAW. They give the VST host extra functionality and a music producer more options in their "virtual" recording studio setup.

Strictly speaking as a Mac user I don't use VST plug ins as the OSX Audio Unit is the equivalent plugin format. But as most people call them VST plugins, (and many are offered as Audio Units anyway) that's what I'm calling them here.

Broadly, they can be split into two categories, VST instruments (VSTi) and VST Effects.

VST Instruments

A VST synth or sampler generates audio. They perform a similar task to their hardware equivalents, and there are many vintage synth emulations such as Arturia's Prophet V which is a software copy of the legendary Sequential Circuits Prophet 5.

VST Effects

VST effects like compressors, reverb, delay and chorus process audio. Again, there are many software emulations of classic hardware now available such as the IK Multimedia Vintage Tube Compressor/Limiter Model 670, which is a software emulation of the Fairchild Model 670.

VST Hosts

Although some can be used as standalone programs, plugins usually run within a VST Host which is most often a digital audio workstation such as Ableton Live or Sony's Acid Music Studio. But there are also dedicated hosts such as Apples Mainstage (bundled in Logic Studio) Cantabile, Brainspawns Forte and Deckadance which are often used for live performance.

There are also hardware VST hosts like the Muse Receptor which are usable without a computer, but edited within the computer. The advantage of these is that they have their own processors and don't take up any of the computers limited DSP.

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