What are the differences between VST2, VST3, and AU plugins? Is there are recommended format?
When it comes to sound quality, there is no variation among different formats. However, the difference lies in how the plugin interacts with the host. Although there is no one format that is universally preferred, some users have reported an improvement in stability or performance for certain formats for certain plugins. If you encounter any difficulties with a plugin, it would be a good idea to experiment with various formats to determine if it resolves the problem.
VST2 (Virtual Studio Technology 2):
VST2 is an older plugin format introduced by Steinberg in 1996 and quickly became a standard in the industry.
VST2 plugins lack certain features compared to VST3, such as automation handling, and dynamic I/O.
Due to its limitations, Steinberg has discontinued official support for VST2 in favor of VST3.
VST3 (Virtual Studio Technology 3):
VST3 is the successor to VST2 and was introduced by Steinberg in 2008.
It is designed to address the shortcomings of VST2 and provides several enhancements for developers and users.
VST3 supports more efficient CPU usage, improved sample-accurate automation, and better handling of multi-channel audio.
It also has additional features like VST3 note expression, which allows more expressive and flexible MIDI control.
AU (Audio Units):
Audio Units is a plugin format developed by Apple and introduced in 2002.
It is native to macOS and fully integrated into Apple's Core Audio framework.
They offer features like side-chaining and MIDI-controlled effects, which were not available in VST2 at the time of its introduction.