Virtual Studio Technology(VST) is an interface for integrating instrument plugins and effect plugins with audio editors and hard disk recording systems .This technology is licensed from its creator,Steinberg.

VST plugins contains two forms:

Virtual instruments and effects

Virtual instruments allow you to load and play sounds using MIDI keyboard or MIDI controller to your computer.They are like pianos,drum kits,orchestral instruments,synthesizers and much more.

Effect plugins come in endless types as well: EQ,compression,delay,reverb,filters etc.

To use a plugin,you load it into a host program.

when you are buying a plugin you must have to consider some points:

• Ease of use

• Interface of the plugin

• Quality of sound

BEST PLUGINS FOR MUSICIANS:

There are so many good plugins but these are some best plugins for serious musicians.

• Spectrasonics Omnisphere:

This is an 'epic synth' breaks completely new sonic ground by combining a wide variety of hybrid realtime synthesis techniques, an epic library of remarkable 'psychoacoustic' sounds.It needs 50GB of free disk space.

Platforms: Windows xp/vista and Apple macintosh OS X 10.4 (or) later

• Ultimate Sound Bank(USB) X-treme Fx:

USB X-treme Fx is a sound library dedicated to sound effects,foleys and atmospheric sounds.For sound designers it means having a brand new sound bank.It needs 8GB of free disk space.

Platform:Windows xp, mac OS X 10.4(or)higher.

• Spectrosonics Stylus RMX:
  

Stylus Rmx is a completely new groove-based virtual instrument plugin for Macintosh and Windows.Stylus Rmx is the first product to offer the combined power of Groove control with Spectrasonics Advanced Groove Engine(S.A.G.E)technology giving users dramatic new control over groove production and performance.It needs 7.4GB of hard disk space.

• East West Pianos:
  

This virtual instrument includes four of the world's finest grand pianos a Bechstein D-280,Steinway D,Bosendorfer 290,Yamaha C7.The PLAY interface includes impulses form the same hall the producers used to record symphonic orchestra and Symphonic choirs so the pianos can blend with those collections.Up to 263GB free hard disk space is required.Each piano can be loaded and used individually.

(Bechstein -73GB ,Bosendorfer-87GB,Steinway-58GB,Yamaha-46GB)

Platforms:Windows xp/vista, mac OS X 10.4(or) newer.X

• Motu machfive:

Mach five2 delivers the very latest cutting-edge sampling technology by merging four worlds of advanced sound design:

samples,loops,synthesis,process and play multi-sample instruments,loops and phrases in Machfive's unified,intuitive environment.It needs 32GB of disk space.

Platforms:Windows xp/vista, mac OS X 10.4(or) newer.

• East West/Quantum leap Symphonic orchestra:

The Eastwest/Quantumleap Symphonic orchestra eclipses all others with the highest level of fidelity ad realism.Get the big "Hollywood sound" film/tv/games directors and producers seek"out of the box",no other orchestral collection comes close or is as easy to use.

Four versions available:

EWQLSO PLATINUM COMPLETE PLUS 24-BIT AND 16-BIT(194GB)

EWQLSO PLATINUM COMPLETE 24-BIT(117GB)

EWQLSO GOLD COMPLETE 16-BIT(33GB)

EWQLSO SILVER COMPLETE 16-BIT(11GB)

Platforms:Windows xp/vista, mac OS X 10.4(or) newer

• East West/Quantum leap Symphonic choirs:

Imagine typing words into your computer,in any language,and hearing a world class symphonic choirs sing those words in any key you play"live" on your keyboard controller.well imagine no more,that's exactly what this revolutionary "award winning" virtual instrument does.In addition this is the first 24-bit choir virtual instrument to include these simultaneous stereo mic setups(close,stage,and hall) so users can mix any combination of mic positions to control ambience.The choirs were recorded in the same concert hall,by the same team as the Eastwest Quantumleap Symphonic orchestra and blend perfectly with EWQL Symphonic orchestra.It requires 40GB disk space.

Platforms:Windows xp/vista, mac OS X 10.4(or) newer

Spectrasonics Triology:

Spectrasonics Triology-total bass module is a programmable sample based sound module plugin that integrates a massive 3GB core library of hundreds of new bass sounds with a powerful interface for creating you own patches.

Platforms: Windows xp/vista, mac OS X 10.4(or) newer.

• Quantum leap Stormdrum2:

Quantumleap Stormdrum2 is over twice the size of the original stormdrum,featuring over 12GB of acoustic percussion instruments.The unique selection of drums and percussion included exceeds all other collections.As a sequel to STORMDRUM it sets new standards that will exceed the exceptions of everyone who uses a QUANTUMLEAP PRODUCT.it requires 13GB of disk space.

Platforms:Windows xp/vista, mac OS X 10.4(or) newer.

• Native instruments Guitar Rig :

Native instruments raises the bar on sonic authenticity with new speaker emulation technology,and further expands on nearly all aspects that set GUITAR RIG apart as the most capable digital guitar solution.The advanced speaker emulation is also the basis for the versatile new "control room" module ,which allows users to freely mix and match up to eight phase-aligned studio microphones for each cabinet, providing an unlimited range of high end studio recording tones.

• Waves musician's bundle:

This plugin bundle is one of the best values for the money with Waves exceptional renaissance compressor,EQ,delay,multitap,and some incredible vocal plugins.

• Anartes Autotune :

Autotune corrects intonation problems in vocals or solo instruments,in real time without distortion or artifacts,while preserving all of the expressive nuance of the original performance with audio quality so pristine that only difference between that goes in and what comes out is the intonation.All with a user-interface that is "mode of clarity,speed and ease of use.

Platforms:Windows xp/vista, mac OS X 10.4(or) newer

• Audioease Altiverb:

Altiverb 6 is a convolution reverb plugin for mac os x and windows xp.It uses top quality samples of real spaces to create reverb,ranging from sydney opera house to the cockpit of a jumbo jet.Altiverb 6 offers the most extensive set of parameters,it supports all professional plugin formats including protools TDM on the mac,parameter automation and surround.Altiverb 6 gives you a choice between ilok smartkey or challenge/response copy protection , it lets you sample your own spaces(currently mac only) and Altiverb is efficient on your CPU.