Virtual Studio Technology

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(Redirected from VST Plugin)
For the television term, see Virtual studio.

Virtual Studio Technology and its acronym VST refer to an interface standard for connecting audio synthesizer and effect plugins to audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies allow the replacement of traditional recording studio hardware with software counterparts.

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Overview

More than 1500 plugins exist, making VST the most widespread audio plugin architecture. The technology can be licenced freely from its creator Steinberg.

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VST plug-ins

VST plug-ins are software modules that can take the form of real-time instruments or effects. Competing technologies include LADSPA and DSSI for Linux, Apple Computer's Audio Units, Microsoft's DirectSound, Digidesign's AudioSuite, Real Time AudioSuite, and TDM.

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VST instruments

A VST instrument (or VSTi) is a type of VST plug-in that is generally used to synthesize sound or play-back sampled audio. Types of VST instruments include (among others) virtual synthesizer devices and sampler devices.

VST instruments can be played in real-time when used with an appropriate software and hardware configuration.

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VST effects

A VST effect is a type of VST plug-in that is generally used to process audio. Types of VST effect include (among others) reverb processors or phaser effects.

VST effects can be used in real-time when used with an appropriate software and hardware configuration, such as a sound card that supports ASIO, software that bypasses Windows' sluggish audio engine and so offers much lower latency times, allowing for effective real time playing. Modern Macintosh computers typically ship with low-latency audio drivers.

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VST plug-in standard

The VST plug-in standard is the audio plugin standard created by Steinberg to allow any third party developers to create VST plug-ins for use within VST host applications. The VST plug-in standard is cross platform and allows developers to create VST plug-ins for Microsoft Windows or Macintosh platforms. It is even starting to appear on the Linux platform.

The VST 2 plug-in standard was released in around 1999 and allowed more functionality to be added to the VST plug-ins; specifically it allowed them to receive MIDI which paved the way for VST Instruments and MIDI controlled effects.

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Linux support

Kjetil Matheussen's vstserver first provided a mechanism for loading and using VST plugins via his k_vst~ object for the Pure Data synthesis environment and his ladspavst "plugin to host plugins" for the LADSPA Linux audio plugin API. Kjetil has added his vsti to his list of vstserver clients, providing a way to use VSTi plugin instruments under Linux. See also Free audio software.

A newer project enables Linux users to use native Windows VST-plugins by using parts of the WINE emulator, and is named FreeST (fst). It is nowadays supported by such programs as Ardour and JACK Audio Connection Kit. This requires the Steinberg SDK, which can be found here.

The competing Linux standard DSSI can use VSTi instruments by wrapping them into DSSI instruments. This mechanism also uses WINE.

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VST hosts

A VST host is a software application or hardware device that allows VST plug-ins to be used in a logical context, interacting with digital audio and MIDI elements.

Examples of VST host applications include commercial ones such as Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Orion, Cakewalk's Sonar, WaveLab, Nuendo, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Acoustica Mixcraft and Beatcraft, TC Spark, Bias Deck, and Bias Peak, and also open-source ones such as Rosegarden and Audacity. Also stand alone hosts which can be used when there is no need for sequencing or wave playbacks, such as VSTHost.

VST plugins can be hosted in incompatible environments through the use of a translation layer, or shim. For example, FXpansion offers a VST to RTAS (Real Time AudioSuite) adapter to enable VST plugins to be used in the popular Pro Tools Digital Audio Workstation.

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Programming Languages

Steinbergs VST SDK is a set of C++ classes that can be downloaded from their website. However, there are differents ports available. E.g. a Delphi version by Tobias Fleischer, a JAVA version from the jVSTwRapper project at sourceforge.net, and a .Net version - Noise.

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See also

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External links

fr:Virtual Studio Technology it:Virtual Studio Technology sv:VST

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