VST plug-ins, compliant with the Virtual Studio Technology standard, serve as sophisticated software instruments that transform the personal computer into a digital music studio. They facilitate the integration of virtual musical instruments and effects into digital audio workstations (DAWs), thus providing a platform for musical exploration in a digital environment.
This technological advancement establishes a new era in musical creation and manipulation. It allows artists to experiment with a wide range of sounds and effects, eliminating the need for expensive and cumbersome physical equipment.
Additionally, the digital nature of VST plugins presents a distinct advantage. They can be replicated and shared effortlessly, making them an indispensable resource for remote music collaborations.
In essence, VST plugins not only revolutionize how music is created, but also how it is shared and collaborated on, thereby redefining the landscape of musical creativity.
Steinberg - The First Plugins
Virtual Studio Technology (VST), a revolutionary innovation in the field of digital music production, was introduced by Steinberg, a German music software and equipment company based in Hamburg, in 1996.
Along with the specifications and SDK, the first VST plugins were included in version 3.02 of Steinberg Cubase, a digital audio workstation (DAW). This introduction marked an important milestone in the history of music production, as it allowed producers and artists to integrate a wide variety of virtual instruments and effects into their digital workstations.
This has not only expanded the creative possibilities available to musicians, but also democratized access to a variety of sounds and effects that previously required expensive physical equipment. Since then, VST technology has been an integral part of digital music production, with a multitude of VST plugins available for a variety of applications, from simulating acoustic instruments to creating fully synthetic soundscapes.
The first VST plugins present in Cubase 3.02 included:
- ‘Espacial’, a reverb plugin that adds depth and space to the sound;
- ‘Choirus’, which creates the chorus effect, giving the impression that several voices or instruments are being played at the same time;
- ‘Stereo Echo’, which produces a delay effect, replicating the sound as if it were echoing in a large room;
- ‘Auto-Panner’, which creates a panning effect, moving the sound between the left and right channels to create a sense of movement.
These plugins were pioneering at the time and paved the way for the vast array of VST plugins available today, each offering a unique way of shaping and improving the sound in digital music production.
Audio plugins have experienced remarkable evolution, leading to a significant diversification in their functionalities. No longer limited to the traditional functions of equalizers and compressors, a new generation of specialized plugins has emerged.
These innovative tools offer a wealth of features, including amp and cabinet modeling, guitar effects simulation, and real-time audio processing capabilities.
Furthermore, they offer a wide range of virtual instruments, from pianos and synthesizers to full orchestral ensembles, thus expanding the horizons of audio creation and manipulation.
How they work
VST plugins operate by processing audio signals and can be inserted at any point in the DAW signal chain. This allows them to process audio from different sources, be it a VST instrument, an audio track, or even the entire mix.
When an audio signal is received by a VST effect, the plugin processes the signal in a specific way, according to the function for which it was designed. This processing may involve changing the tone, volume, timbre or any other characteristic of the audio signal. The result is a transformation of the original audio signal, which can be as subtle as a slight reverb or as drastic as complete distortion of the signal.
VST plugins generally employ a combination of digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms and synthesis techniques to produce their sound. Algorithms determine the overall sound of the plugin, while synthesis techniques are used to create the individual sounds that make up the plugin.
A digital signal processing (DSP) algorithm is a meticulously designed step-by-step computational procedure specifically programmed to modify digital signals.
These algorithms work by taking a digital audio signal, which is a representation of sound waves in digital format, and applying a series of mathematical operations to it. The result is a modified digital audio signal, which can then be converted back into sound waves by a speaker or headphones.
Instruments and Effects
While most plug-ins fall into the instrument (VSTi) or effects categories, there are some that fall outside this classification. These others include tools like meters and spectrum analyzers, which provide valuable information about the audio being processed.
VST instruments (VSTi) are the audio generators and are usually virtual synthesizers or samplers. VST effects are used to shape and modify the sound generated by the VST or acoustic instruments. They can include a wide range of effects such as reverb, delay, distortion and more.
Measurement plug-ins are those that provide visual feedback on aspects such as volume levels, frequencies, and dynamics of the audio signal. Spectrum analyzers, in particular, are used to display an audio frequency analysis, helping producers make decisions about equalization and other audio adjustments.
A common feature of the VST plugin landscape is the presence of emulations, plug-ins designed to imitate the sonic characteristics and even appearance of renowned hardware synthesizers, samplers, and audio effects.
These emulated plug-ins allow musicians and producers to access exclusive sounds from classic and high-end vintage gear without the need to purchase and allocate physical hardware.
These emulations bring the essence of these iconic devices into the digital world, whether it's the warm, analog tones of a classic synthesizer, the punch of an old-school sampler, or the lush reverbs of a high-quality reverb unit.
Alternative formats
In addition to the widely used VST standard, which is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux machines, there are several other music plug-in formats available that should be considered when producing music on specific systems.
Apple Inc., in an innovative move, introduced the Audio Unit (AU) as a competitor to VST. It is a sophisticated set of APIs and other instructions designed specifically to work on macOS and iOS operating systems.
Its capabilities extend to audio signal generation, processing, playback and manipulation with an impressively minimal level of delay. Interestingly, certain music production software like Logic was originally created with AU in mind, hence its exclusive compatibility with macOS and no VST support.
Avid Technology, a pioneer in the audio industry, has developed a unique audio plug-in format known as AAX, which stands for Avid Audio eXtension. This format is not just a technical specification, but a fundamental part of the Pro Tools environment, Avid's highly respected digital audio workstation (DAW).
LV2, also known as LADSPA Version 2, is a highly regarded and flexible open standard widely used for audio plug-ins in the Linux ecosystem. It stands out for its intuitive central interface, which is further enriched by a diverse set of extensions.
There are several digital audio workstations (DAW) that support VST plug-ins. Among the most popular are: Ableton Live, Nuendo, Cubase, Audition, Premiere Pro, Studio One Professional, FL Studio, Reason, Bitwig Studio, Cakewalk, Samplitude and Sequoia.
These are some of the VST plugins most used by professionals, along with their creators: Serum / Xfer Records, Spitfire Labs / Spitfire Audio, Fab Filter Pro Q3 / FabFilter, Valhalla Supermassive / ValhallaDSP, Spectrasonics Omnisphere / Spectrasonics, Native Instruments Massive / Native Instruments , Arturia V Collection / Arturia, Native Instruments Kontakt / Native Instruments, Native Instruments FM8 / Native Instruments and Reveal Sound Spire / Reveal Sound, among other very popular ones.
The future of VST plugins, with its focus on innovation, versatility and accessibility, is expected to be very promising. This development guarantees a dynamic future with constant news for producers and music enthusiasts.
References:
Wikipedia
Steinberg
