VST Plug-ins

Introduction
This is a page that is meant to help out fellow home recorders with understanding VST's and other plug-ins a little bit better.

There are several types of plug-in formats (including RTAS, DXi, and VST). They are all basically the same thing, but not all recording software programs will read or understand all of them. Many purchased plugins will allow you to choose which extension you are going to use (Pro Tools uses RTAS exclusively, most other programs are able to read VST and some can do DXi as well).

Being that VST is the most common plug-in type, I will primarily deal with that format in this blog.

What's this VST/DXi/RTAS thing?
Plug-ins are little applications that need a host in order to work. For those of you who have done some recording, you've probably used a few plug-ins before without realizing it. Whenever you decide to lace your beautiful voice with reverb, that little window that pops up is a built-in reverb plugin. It just came pre-installed on your system.

Most modern recording software does a pretty good job working with VST plug-ins. Often times, your recording software will act as your host and sequencer. Plug-ins such as EZ Drummer require hosts that can act as a sequencer. See my blog on EZ Drummer.

Types
I am very new to the world of VST's, but I've found there are three main types of them:

• Instrument VST's
• Effect VST's
• MIDI Effect VST's
  

VST Instruments
These simply sound like or perhaps were inspired by actual instruments. There are quite a few very good, very realistic ones out there.

VST Effects
These range from reverb to crazy synth effects. You've probably used these at some point without realizing what they were.

VST MIDI Effects
I have less experience with these; but they are just as they sound. Effects you apply to MIDI tracks.

Hosts
As I mentioned, just about any modern recording software can act as a host whether you're using Cubase, Pro Tools, Cakewalk/Sonar, Audacity, Garage Band, etc.

I personally use Cakewalk Music Creator 3, which does a great job hosting VST's. It is also very cheap software. I recently acquired Sonar 7, which I am now trying to learn. I also use Cool Edit Pro 2.0 at times, but have found that program is not the best at running virtual instruments (VSTi's).

Summary
All in all, getting started with plug-ins is easy and free. Feel free to comment or shoot me an email if you have any questions about plugins. Some of the plugins that I use include:

Not free:
EZ Drummer ($150)
IK Multimedia's Miroslav Philharmonik ($400)
EastWest Quantum Leap Goliath ($415)

Recommended Free Plugins:
The DSK series (probably the best all-around free virtual instruments available)
The DVS series (great virtual instruments and effects)
The Modern series (probably the best free effects - it's like having thousands of dollars in an effects rack - all for free)
Majkens Chimera (my favorite synth, this thing is absolutely amazing and easy to use)

There are many other free ones that I use (probably about 50 or so); I just wanted to highlight some of my most commonly used plugins. Please let me know what your favorite(s) is/are.

VST help for newbie, nooby, noob, rookie. VST introductionF.