VST3 spec. Are you intrigued by it? Disappointed? Curious? Cynical?

[rasputin1963]

 

What do you make of the VST3 standard released by Steinberg a couple of years ago?    Are you cynical that it's just a vapid marketing ploy...    Or does it contain features that intrigue you with their possibilities?   Please share all thoughts.

 

Best,  ras

[philbo]

This is the first I've heard of it.

Here's what wikipedia says:

The VST interface specification was updated to version 3.0 in 2008. Changes included:

Audio Inputs for VST Instruments

• Multiple MIDI inputs/outputs
• Optional SKI (Steinberg Kernel Interface) integration

The VST interface specification was updated to version 3.5 in February, 2011. Changes included, among others, Note Expression where "each individual note (event) in a polyphonic arrangement can contain extensive articulation information, which creates unparalleled flexibility and a much more natural feel of playing."

I guess if this is stuff you need, it might be the right thing for you.

[Anderton]

The main improvements were audio inputs to VST instruments and sidechaining, although you could do sidechaining previously (just not as elegantly).

If  a company makes a VST3 plug-in, it won't work with DAWs that can't host VST3 plug-ins. So for example, Steinberg's PadShop works only with a limited number of programs (including Cubase, of course!). DAW companies take the position of "we're not going to go to the trouble to support VST3 if there aren't a lot of plug-ins," while plug-in developers say "we're not going to make VST3 plug-ins if there aren't a lot of hosts to support them." So it's your basic chicken-and-egg (or chicken McNugget and Egg McMuffin) situation.