VST and VST3 are both plugin formats developed by Steinberg for use in digital audio workstations (DAWs). The main difference between the two formats is their level of compatibility and the features they offer.
VST (Virtual Studio Technology) was first introduced in 1996 and is the older of the two formats. It is compatible with most DAWs and has been widely adopted by plugin developers. VST plugins use a single processing thread and can only run on one processor core. This can result in lower performance and increased CPU usage compared to newer formats.
VST3 is a newer format introduced in 2008 and offers a range of improvements over VST. It has better support for multi-core processors, which allows for better performance and reduced CPU usage. VST3 also offers better compatibility with modern operating systems and DAWs, as well as improved MIDI functionality and side-chain support.
Another key difference between the two formats is the way they handle presets and settings. VST3 plugins store presets and settings in a standardized XML format, which makes it easier to manage and share presets between different plugins and DAWs.
Overall, while VST is still widely used and supported by many plugins, VST3 offers improved performance and functionality, making it a better choice for modern music production workflows. However, not all DAWs support VST3, so it’s important to check compatibility before choosing a plugin format.