What plugin format(s) do you use currently?

VST, AU, AAX, CLAP, etc. Plugin Virtual Instruments Discussion

What Plugin format(s) do you use currently?

Standalone version
15
4%
VST2
69
16%
VST3
191
45%
AudioUnit
48
11%
AAX
7
2%
CLAP
81
19%
LV2
5
1%
Other
5
1%
 
Total votes: 421

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As I am a Cubase user forced vst3

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digitalboytn wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 3:12 am
mixyguy2 wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 3:06 am VST3 is a classic case of people chasing it because it's newer, illogically thinking that means better. It offers little if anything for about 99.9% of users.
VST3 offers one big advantage for me...

ALL of the presets are saved in one folder,so backup is easy and saves a lot of time :wink:
That's one of the biggest nightmares with vst3 for me.
When a plugin gets renamed there's no f**king way to load the older presets anymore.
For example when Falcon lost the 64 in the name i could throw all of my presets into the bin. Nothing helped, even copying them over to the new folder and rescan didn't show them up anymore. Steinberg are such morons...

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rasmusklump wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2026 6:56 am For example when Falcon lost the 64 in the name i could throw all of my presets into the bin. Nothing helped, even copying them over to the new folder and rescan didn't show them up anymore. Steinberg are such morons...
What is interesting, you blame Steinberg, not UVI.

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Because it's with every plugin that's got a name change for some reason.
Was never a problem with vst2 where you had a real folder selector box.
With vst3 you only get what steinberg preselects for a certain plugin. If I was able to chose the preset I am sure falcon would load it.

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Tone2 Synthesizers wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 3:21 pm People frequently ask us this.
All formats got advantages and disadvantages. The best choice depends on your individual demands. We created a website with an overview of all relevant advantages and disadvantages here:
https://www.tone2.com/plugin-formats.html
But there is inaccurate information on your chart for example you absolutely can run VST2 in Cubase even the most current versions

Open Cubase 15.
Go to the Studio menu and select VST Plug-in Manager.
Click the VST 2 button within the manager to allow scanning and loading of VST2 files.

Boom it will run VST3

Your chart can't be trusted as an accurate source of information

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VST2: Steinberg does not longer license VST2 to new developers to push their own VST3 format. They also dropped VST2 support from Cubase on the Mac (M1 native). However competing DAW developers still support it and will most likely continue to do it in the future.
https://www.tone2.com
Our award-winning synthesizers offer true high-end sound quality.

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I primarily use CLAP, but if that format isn't available, I use VST3.
I don't currently use any VST2 plugins.

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Wish I had four options, because de facto I'm using four formats: Standalones, CLAP, VST3 and VST2.

Because it's a Tone2 thread, I'm still silently hoping for an updated version of nanoHost with support for VST3 (maybe also CLAP).
Nowadays some Synths come as VST3 only and without Standalone version (thinking i.e. of the one by Mr.Duda). Modern Soft-Synths are so feature-packed that I often really only need the Synth in front of me. In the past nanoHost often came to the rescue.

(Though I'm aware, according to the poll, not too many folks are into Standalones. BUT: due to the 3-vote-limit I'm fairly sure quite a few people were simply forced to leave out Standalones. I voted for it, but had to leave out VST2 for it, which I'm still using very often, so...)

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VST 2 when I can, as I can order them in folders as I please ( by developer). VST 3 when I there is no alternative, as I have no control over how the VSTs are organised as far as I can tell (this is in Cubase 14).

Arcvidean.

Edited for clarity.

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Arcvidean wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 3:20 pm VST 2 when I can, as I can order them in folders as I please ( by developer). VST 3 when I there is no alternative, as I have no control over how the VSTs are organised as far as I can tell (this is in Cubase 14).

Arcvidean.

Edited for clarity.
I just copy all VST3 and VST2 plugins I use to two separate folders (vst2-64 and vst3-64) where I organize them in subfolders by developers, and point my DAW to these two folders. All default folders are ignored. Do not know if Cubase has this option.
I also use KSM to scan for updates of my plugins.

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VST3 in Cubase for Windows, no option.. VST2 doesnt work with new Cubase features like modulators, macros and some festures in midi controller setup. So Im not installing VST2 versions, only got one or two ancient plugins, special ones, with no other option though..

CLAP first for Bitwig. Vst3 if CLAP isnt available, but only CLAP for Bitwig on Linux since all CLAP plugins I got also got linux native support.

HOWEVER, i have a virtual plugin server where i run audiogridder server (and sometimes bluecat connector), so I can basically use whatever in whatever.
But use it mostly for very cpu hungry plugins that cant use multiple cores.

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I don't see any reasons to mix the different formats. I have completely ditched VST2, and until all plugins support CLAP, I will use VST3 only. Though in Logic Pro I use AU.
Mac Mini M4 Pro | 14 Cores (10P/4E) | 48GB RAM | Studio One | Reason | Bitwig Studio | Logic Pro | FL Studio | Cubase Pro | Waveform | Reaper | Renoise | ~1000 VSTs/AUs | ~350 REs

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No vst2, just AU and vst3

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Arcvidean wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 3:20 pm VST 2 when I can, as I can order them in folders as I please ( by developer). VST 3 when I there is no alternative, as I have no control over how the VSTs are organised as far as I can tell (this is in Cubase 14).

Arcvidean.

Edited for clarity.
Cubase has a really good Plug-in Manager, that allows you to organize all your plugins into folders you can name what you want and organize however you want

You can do this internally with "virtual folders" and externally with folders organized on your hard drive, you just have to tell Cubase where to look and scan and you do that right in Cubase

This page will explain how to do it all

https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ar ... -in-Cubase

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would prefer CLAP if several formats are available.
also, AU is needed for Logic Pro.

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