Au Vs Vst Options

[mikedobell]

As a musician new to the mac environment (used pc for years) I am unfamiliar with AU. Is this another format like VST DXI? how do they compare in terms of performance?

Thanks

Mike

[coldharbour]

As a musician new to the mac environment (used pc for years)  I am unfamiliar with AU.  Is this another format like VST DXI?  how do they compare in terms of performance?

AU is the native format of OS X, developed by Apple and introduced together with OS X operating system. It is considered superior to VST. It is also the only format supported by Logic (apart from the plug-ins that come with Logic, they're just integrated with Logic.)

You can read more about AU vs. VST here. (Check out the post #8 by Marc.)

This post has been edited by coldharbour: Tue 31 May 2005, 10:10

[mikedobell]

thanks!

[celsius]

It is considered superior to VST. It is also the only format supported by Logic (apart from the plug-ins that come with Logic, they're just integrated with Logic.)

In what way is AU considered superior to VST?
I'm just switching from PC to Mac (bought myself an 20" iMac 2.0GHz today ) and will be running Cubase SX 3 with a number of VSTi/VSTfx-plugins. Hence my question since I still have time to change from Cubase to Logic (delivery in two weeks)...

If you want to runt VST-plugins in Logic you can alway use a VST to AU-wrapper. I believe Fxpansion (http://www.fxpansion.com/product-auadapter-main.php) got a great one...

[azusa]

In what way is AU considered superior to VST?

There articles written about this, but I don't have the links at the moment.
One thing for sure you can use AU mono for softsynth instead of VSTi stereo.

[MIDImodesitt]

VST is the "old-school" plugin, and they are used for both Macs and PC's so there are tons of them out there.

AU's (Audio Units) use Mac OS X's native Core Audio... basically the sound produced by an AU is considerably higher quality sound. Also, since AU's are compatible with OSX's native architecture, it's a lot more CPU efficient.

You can have more AU's running on a 1.5ghz G4 than VSTs on a 3ghz PC.

[sberkley]

Correction: the sound quality of an AU is not superior to a VST effect or instrument. Both generally use 32-bit floating processing internally.

Best wishes,
Steve Berkley

[pmmg]

VST is the "old-school" plugin, and they are used for both Macs and PC's so there are tons of them out there.

AU's (Audio Units) use Mac OS X's native Core Audio... basically the sound produced by an AU is considerably higher quality sound. Also, since AU's are compatible with OSX's native architecture, it's a lot more CPU efficient.

You can have more AU's running on a 1.5ghz G4 than VSTs on a 3ghz PC.

VST and AU sound exactly the same and tax the CPU equally.

I run SX3 and LogicPro6 and there's no difference.

[Metro SE]

VST and AU sound exactly the same and tax the CPU equally.

That is not true. While they both have their advantages and disadvantages they do not tax the cpu equally. I would explain in greater detail if I weren't obliged by NDA's.

[MIDImodesitt]

ok, I'm a noob and I stand corrected