FXpansion has announced a new plug-in adapter designed to enable users of Audio Unit-compatible applications to use VST effects plug-ins and instruments.
Jaguar provides users with a unified system architecture designed to handle more kinds of audio technology, including MIDI. The technology falls under the general heading of Mac OS X Core Audio, and digital signal processing (DSP) plug-ins to expand that capability are called Audio Units. A growing list of professional audio applications, like Apple’s own Logic Audio, for example, Digital Performer 4, Native Instruments’ product line and more already have or are adding Audio Units compatibility.
Developed by Steinberg, the VST format is an existing DSP plug-in specification. The software is widely supported by many of the same developers who have more recently adopted Audio Units support as well — and by many developers who haven’t yet begun to support Audio Units. VST plug-ins are supported by companies including Waves, TC-Works, Prosoniq, LinPlug, MDA, reFX, DSound, PSP and more.
FXpansion’s VST to AudioUnit Adapter bridges that gap by providing a way for Audio Units-capable software users to use VST plug-ins as well. It’s transparent to the user, according to FXpansion — VST plug-ins load and behave like native Audio Units. They do so with a minimum of CPU overhead as well — less than 0.1 percent per instance on a PowerBook G4/550MHz, for example.
FXpansion plans to ship VST to AudioUnit Adapter this month, and is accepting pre-orders from its Web site for US$75.
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