Motu Plug-ins, How do the plug-in formats differ? Options

[glaader]

I´ve got a MOTU 828 MK II, and I run my studio on a G4 Dual 1,25 under OS X.
I´ve understood that OS X won´t accept VST plug-ins, but what if they are available in MAS-format? Will they:
1. Work under OS X?
2. Take load off the cpu and put more load on the MOTU-hardware?
What is MAS exactly? Is it better than VST? Does it work under OS X?

[formatj]

1) OS X does support / use VST plugins for hosts that use VST plugins ast thier main format, like Cubase and Logic

2) Digital Performer does NOT use  (or support) VST plugins (without using some wrapper technology which to me is crap at best, so we are back to square one DP does not use VST as their plug in technology

So OSX with Audio Units is a good thing, it unifies the Mac audio plug in community, but you still have a huge VST following because certain plug ins are VST format and may never be developed for MAS or Audio Units, this is a way for companies (really only Cubase now to get DP or Logic customers).

It is interesting, because you can see it this way. MOTU software wise is really a Mac (only) developer DP only runs on Mac and probably always will, Now that Apple owns Emagic, Apple has announced its adoption to AU and all must follow

Not sure if Apple / Emagic will take VST out of Logic, probably not in the short term.

So to answer more of you question if you want to use VST plugins you have to use Cubase or Logic or a host that support VST (not DP)

Logic does not support VST plug-ins in OS X, it never has (only in OS 9).

Logic and Performer can both however use VST Plug-ins using fxpansions VST to AU adapter.
http://www.fxpansion.com/products_auadapter.html
This works very well in Logic (I have over 20 VST plug-ins working) and also supposedly works well in Performer.

The VST plug-ins must be carbonised i.e. re-written for OS X. You can't run OS 9 versions of your VST plug-ins.

DP and Logic will be totally AU at some point and MOTU will eventually cease MAS, no more need to continue it.

Not so sure about Performer ceasing MAS development.
Logic has its own format of plug-ins written into the program itself e.g. ES2, EVOC20, Space Designer Reverb, EVB3, EVD6 etc....
MOTU can write its own unique plug-ins for Performer in MAS format.
These program specific plug-ins may perhaps entice new users to a particular sequencing platform.