You can choose a custom AU synthesizer at the top of the stack, and there are hardwired slots for the Compressor and Visual EQ effects, plus four remaining slots for your installed Audio Units plugins. Once in GarageBand, you can access your AU plugins by creating a software instrument track, then clicking on the "Edit" tab in the right-hand Track Info column (see left image). Power User note: The latest versions of OS X might try to stop you from installing these plugins (it's a long story), but you'll have success if you use this trick: hold down the Control key while clicking on the installer, and select the "Open" command from the pop-up menu. component suffix) into the support folder Macintosh HD\Library\Audio\Plug-Ins\Components before starting up GarageBand. Some of the plugins include an installer, but for those that don't, you'll need to place the plugin (identified by the. We've taken the time to sift through the mountains of offerings to locate the gems in the pile. Besides the vast assortment of commercial plugins, there is also a treasure trove of free synthesizers and effects that will really inspire your creative juices. This is partly true.ĭespite Apple developing the AU format for use within music production on Mac OSX systems, it is worth mentioning that you can use VST plugins on Mac systems…just not in Logic or Garageband (two popular music making apps owned by Apple).Even though Apple's GarageBand for Mac has all sorts of built-in instruments (and a smaller complement of audio effects), it has always been expandable by adding Audio Unit (AU) plugins. In the discussion of Audio Unit vs VST format plugins, one could simply conceptualize that AU is Apple’s native equivalent to VST. What Are AU plugins?ĪU “Audio Unit” is a plugin format developed by Apple for Mac OSX and iOS systems. VST plugins are commonly supported by Ableton, Sonar, Cubase, and more. On the other hand, VST and VST2 format plugins are constantly processing, regardless of whether the audio signal is present or not. The main difference is that VST3 format plugins are better at shutting off to save CPU when not in use. VST3 is the latest version and is becoming more common. It is worth noting that both VST2 and VST3 plugins exist. The majority of VST format plugins are designed for use within Digital Audio Workstations and tend to be more associated with PC than Mac. Like AU plugins, VST plugins can be either audio effects, instruments, or MIDI processors. VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology and was developed by Steinberg Media Technologies (now owned by Yamaha). Of course, there will always be arguments about whether digital emulations of analog equipment sound as good as the real thing. These days, a single computer takes up far less space than all the gear it can emulate. First we saw digital rack gear, but in the 90s the power of home computers had improved to the point where we could have this same processing power in our own PCs. Over time, as digital technology became more prominent, it made more sense to have computers perform these tasks. Engineers and producers would utilize the services of beautiful analog consoles, tape machines, and racks of outboard gear to hone their craft and bring their productions forth into the world. There are three common plugin formats: VST, AU, and AAX.įor decades, music production existed in an entirely analog world. What Are Audio Plugins?Īudio plugins are modules used in Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) to perform the functions of instruments, effects, and sequencers. VST plugins are more universal and are not tied to a specific operating system. AU plugins work best with Logic and Garageband and most popular DAWs. VST vs AU Plugins – What’s The Difference?ĪU plugins are “Mac-only” as the format is designed by Apple. In this article, we will be discussing audio plugin formats, specifically the concept of Audio Unit vs VST plugins in the modern production workspace. When caught up in all of this plugin passion, it is worth noting the relationship between these utilities and their compatibility with different operating systems. Regardless of what DAW you use, be it Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, Pro Tools, Reaper, or Cubase, there’s a good chance that plugins are very important to you as a producer. Plug-ins are more or less essential for modern music production, and as producers we all have favorites that we use religiously. Also, check out our guide to AAX plugins, and our guide to RTAS plugins.
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