VST3, also known as Virtual Studio Technology 3, is an updated version of the VST plugin format developed by Steinberg. It brings several improvements and enhancements over its predecessor, VST. In my opinion, VST3 is indeed better than VST for a variety of reasons.
1. Remote Controller Flexibility: One significant advantage of VST3 is its improved support for remote controllers. It offers more flexible control options, allowing for better integration with external hardware. With VST3, plugin developers can define custom parameter ranges, units, and curves, providing more precise control over various parameters. This means that remote controllers, such as MIDI keyboards or control surfaces, can have a more intuitive and accurate mapping to the plugin’s parameters, enhancing the overall workflow and user experience.
2. Audio Inputs for VST Instruments: VST3 introduces the concept of audio inputs for VST instruments. This means that besides MIDI data, it’s now possible to route audio data into a VST3 instrument. This opens up new creative possibilities, such as processing external audio through the instrument or creating complex audio routing setups within a single plugin. This feature can be particularly useful in live performances or when working with modular setups.
3. Improved Plugin Communication: VST3 provides enhanced communication capabilities between the host application and the plugins. It introduces a standardized way for plugins to report their latency to the host, allowing for better synchronization and compensation of latency issues. This ensures that the audio signals from different plugins are correctly aligned, resulting in a more accurate and coherent sound. Additionally, VST3 supports improved sample-accurate automation, enabling precise control over plugin parameters, even at high sample rates.
4. Better Performance and Stability: VST3 offers improved performance and stability compared to VST. It utilizes more efficient coding techniques and takes advantage of modern computer architectures. This leads to optimized CPU usage, reduced latency, and a smoother overall performance. Moreover, VST3 plugins are designed to be more resilient against crashes, providing better fault tolerance and ensuring that a plugin crash doesn’t bring down the entire host application.
5. Future-Proofing and Industry Standard: VST3 is the latest iteration of the VST plugin format and has become the industry standard for plugin development. It is actively maintained and supported by Steinberg, ensuring compatibility with the latest operating systems, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and hardware platforms. By adopting VST3, plugin developers can future-proof their products and ensure compatibility with a wide range of audio software and hardware setups.
VST3 offers significant improvements over VST, including enhanced remote controller flexibility, audio inputs for instruments, improved plugin communication, better performance and stability, and future-proofing as an industry standard. These advancements make VST3 a superior choice for both plugin developers and end-users, providing a more seamless and powerful audio production experience.