Audacity VST Enabler is a program that allows the VST plugins to work. Visual Studio Technology (VST), on the other hand, is a plug-in software that adds several effects in an audio recording and editing tool.

• Free Vst Plugins For Audacity

It provides a variety of functionalities including virtual instrument sounds. However, VST enabler is no longer required for Audacity’s latest version. You can now download the VST plugins and directly add it to the Audacity audio recorder to enable the effects.

Virtual studio technology (VST) is an audio plug-in software interface that integrates a software synthesizer and effects into digital audio workstations. It uses digital signal processing to simulate a traditional recording studio’s hardware in software. There are both commercial and freeware versions of VST plug-ins available in the market. VST and AudioUnits (AU) are the two native plugin formats for Mac OS X. Although there are other DAW specific formats for plugins, VST and AudioUnits are more common and compatible across various DAWs like Cubase, Logic, etc. There is an abundance of VST and AU plugins for expanding your DAW and building your collection of effects.

WDL-OL makes it very easy to turn our standalone app into a VST or AudioUnit plugin. To build a VST version, change your scheme to VST2 → My Mac 64-Bit. Hit Run and you shouldn’t get any errors, but nothing is being run! Open a Finder window and go to /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/ VST and you should see MyFirstPlugin.vst there. Like VST/AU plugins, installing plugins from unknown sources may compromise your computer and personal information. VCV is not responsible for plugins that may damage your computer or invade your privacy. By purchasing a plugin on the VCV Library, you agree to the End User License Agreement and Refund Policy.

If you are using an older version of Audacity (e.g. v. 1.3), you might need to get the Audacity VST Enabler. But it has been removed in the Audacity’s official site since the release of the newer version. The only choice you can have is to update your Audacity and download the VST plugins.

To check the version of your Audacity, go to the Help menu and click About Audacity. Or, you can update it to the latest version by clicking the Check for Updates and it will redirect you to the download page. Please see the article on How to Use Audacity for a complete guide.

Contents1 Installing Audacity VST Plugins

Installing Audacity VST Plugins

Since Audacity supports thousands of plugins, VST provided an array of plugins that you can get for free. These plugins are available in Audacity for Windows, Audacity for Mac, and Audacity for Linux. Here’s a tutorial on how you can install them.

Download VST for WindowsDownload VST for Mac OS X

Step 1. Download the VST plugin you want to add to your Audacity. you can click on any of the buttons above, depending on the operating system that you are using.

Step 2. Open the Download folder on your computer and find the plugin you downloaded. Step 3. Extract all the files or install the plugin.

Step 4. Find the .dll file on your computer and copy it to the Audacity’s directory. To open the directory for Audacity, just go to the Program Files on your computer, find Audacity and locate the Plugins folder. Paste the copied file inside the plugins folder to add the plugins to the library.

Step 5. Open the Audacity and click on Effects, the plugins will appear in that tab. If you can’t find the downloaded plugin, click the add/remove plugin command under the Effects menu.

Step 6. Look for the plugin you have downloaded. Enable it and click OK.

To see if the plugin you have downloaded works

1. Open the Audacity application on your computer.
2. Record an audio or import a prerecorded sound from your computer.
3. Select the part of the audio you want to enhance.
4. Go to the Effect menu and click the effect you want to add.
5. Some of the effects can be added automatically on your project once you click them. Some require you to set the parameters for the effects to work.

Note: If you want to add Audacity plugins, you must see first if these are compatible with your device or operating system. Otherwise, it will not work even if you follow the installation process correctly. Some of the VST plugins you can get are:

• Antares Auto-tune – best for pitch correction.
• Antress Modern plugins – use to create a fake stereo
• Dominion v.1.2 – to control the signals for attack and sustain phase
• DtBlkFx – for manipulating frequency and harmony
• Acon Digitals – best for livening the vocal sound

Conclusion

It is simple to add effects to produce good sound. You just have to be resourceful and creative on using these free plugins. With the latest version of Audacity, you need not get the VST Enabler. All you have to do is find the plugins, download them, and add them directly to Audacity’s library.

Virtual studio technology (VST) is an audio plug-in software interface that integrates a software synthesizer and effects into digital audio workstations. It uses digital signal processing to simulate a traditional recording studio’s hardware in software.

There are both commercial and freeware versions of VST plug-ins available in the market.

Think of VST plugins as an affordable way of making your home studio sound like an expensive commercial studio setup.

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What are the Best Tools to Develop VST Plug-ins?

I have listed a couple of libraries and frameworks that can handle most of the coding required in developing VST plug-ins.

JUCE Cross-Platform C++ Library

It is supported by the following platforms: OSX, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. It is free for non-commercial releases, but the commercial license works our best. It also covers 64bit systems.

Pricing of its commercial license

• Commercial license for a single product – $521
• Commercial license for any number of products – $912
• Upgrade from single-product version to unlimited version – $455
  Despite the cost of the license for retail releases, it is the only library/framework option for a 64bit cross-platform.

Watch this video on how to create an awesome distortion VST/AU Plug-in using C++ / JUCE Framework

SynthEdit

SynthEdit is a framework and a visual circuit design that allows you to create your own synths with only drag & drop without programming. Therefore giving you the flexibility of using your DSP algorithms inside the modules.

At the time of writing this the 64-bit version is in Alpha and its creator Jeff McClintock is working on the ability to exporting it to AU. It’s got a ton of community-produced modules and works great with the 32-bit version. It is soft on your wallet – goes for $70.

Check out this video how SynthEdit work –

FL SynthMaker

FL SynthMaker aka flowstone comes free with FL studio.
It has a straightforward drag-and-drop graphical interface and a wide range of components. You can use it to code modules and DSP in Ruby and comes with loads of examples to get started quickly and its ability to assist you in creating a prototype within a short time is a plus.

How Are VST Plugins Made

You’ll be required to source for information from different sources depending on what your specific goals are.

For beginners, before learning how to code VST plugins, I would advise you to check out these environments:

• SynthEdit, SynthMaker, Reaktor, Max/MSP, PureData
• CSound, SuperCollider, Bidule, Usine

These environments allow you to build something unique without having to write low-level code which most people find difficult to master. You’ll be required to know different areas, and if you already have some, then you’ll only require to fill in the gaps.

Check out this video to learn how to build and design your VST Plugin using JUCE

Audio Basics

Understanding sound and its properties are essential before embarking on the development of VST plug-ins. I have outlined a couple of online resources you should go through them:

Fundamentals of Digital Audio Processing

The Scientist and Engineer’s Guide to Audio Signal Processing

Discrete-time systems, sampling theorem, audio DSP, maths, psychoacoustics, sound analysis, and sound modeling.

Signals, Sound, and Sensation by William M. Harmann

The book got an introductory text on psychoacoustics and the readers on a journey through the mathematics of signal and processing from its beginnings.

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Programming

Many professional VST plugins available on the market have been written in C++.

There are also several other languages you can use, but each got their pros and cons.

Learning how to develop VST Plug-ins as you’re learning to program isn’t easy. I usually recommend learning how to program before starting to create VST plug-ins.

The Audio Programming Book by Richard Boulanger – This book comes highly recommended for those who want to learn audio plug-ins.

BasicSynth by Daniel Mitchell – This one shows you how to create a custom synthesize in software using C++ programming language.

For more further information about VST development, you should definitely check these resources:

Audio Software (VST Plugin) Development with Practical Application

JUCE framework for VST-plugin development

Maths

You should have some basic engineering mathematics such as linear algebra, complex analysis, among others. Visit this website to get practical algebra lessons: www.purplemath.com.

Digital Signal Processing

You must know what an FFT routine is and why it is useful. Advanced content focusing on audio will usually require you to have at least a conversational level of DSP understanding.

Check out these resources on DSP:

Online and Free:
The Scientist & Engineer’s Guide to Digital Signal Processing

Print:
Understanding Digital Signal Processing by Richard G. Lyons

Audio Digital Signal Processing

Audio DSP extends on core DSP concepts to include the way digital signal processes apply to digital audio. It covers subjects such as audio filters, delays, and non-linear effects; think compression.

DAFX by Udo Zolzer is a book that comes highly recommended and covers many aspects of audio DSP technique.

Check out these online resources to get more info:

DSP Audio Classics
DSP Audio Algorithm Notes by XOXOS

Below are threads on VST Plug-ins I found from a couple of online discussion forums:

Advice for someone with ZERO experience
Developing a Vst Effect Plugin Where To Start?
What is your development setup?

Books

I have listed some books that can serve as a resource in your pursuit of learning how to make VST plug-ins.

Check them here:

Designing Audio Effect Plug-Ins in C++: With Digital Audio Signal Processing Theory
1. Designing Software Synthesizer Plug-Ins in C++: For RackAFX, VST3, and Audio Units

Audio Plug-ins frameworks

JUCE

JUCE is a highly recommended and all-encompassing C++ class library for developing cross-platform software. JUCE includes components for VST, AU, and RTAS. You should have at least a basic grasp of JUCE if you intend to use C++ for the development of your VST plug-in.

IPlug

This is a C++ framework for developing audio plug-ins and GUIs.

VST.NET

It allows VST Plugin developers to write Plugins in any .NET language. It also eases the transition between the C++ and .NET world and its framework built on top of the interop layer provide a clear and structured architecture. Feel free to check this Delphi library for creating VST plugins, VST hosts but also ASIO applications:

Delphi ASIO and VST

It also includes the algorithm for filters and dynamics.

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What is the best programming language for the VST plugin?

C++ is one of the best programming languages for creating VST Plug-ins, and the reason for this is that C++ has a wide range of frameworks and libraries that work so well in creating VSTs. Read more What’s the Best Way How To learn C++?

The WDL-OL library makes C++ an attractive programming language for VST plugins because it helps you with the following:

• Creating multiple formats (VST, AudioUnit, VST3, and RTAS) from one codebase: Just choose the plugin format and click “run.”
• Create both 32-Bit and 64-Bit executables.
• Run your plugin as a standalone application (Windows or Mac). It means you don’t technically need a DAW to use the plugin.
• Most GUI controls used in audio plugins (knobs, buttons, visuals).

Free Vst Plugins For Audacity

Understanding what VST Plugins are and their role within the music production industry provides you with the knowledge of identifying the most effective tools for your music production outfit. It makes your music sound like it was produced in a million-dollar music studio.