Plug-in Formats
VST3, AU, AAX and CLAP decide whether a project opens on another machine.
Related
The question
A plug-in must load inside a host, and formats differ in packaging, licensing and compatibility. A project that will not open on another machine usually lacks a format, not a file.
How it works
VST3 runs across platforms, supports sidechains and multiple ports, and is widely used. AU is the macOS system format, and Logic loads only AU. AAX belongs to Pro Tools, in native and DSP versions. CLAP is newer and open, with polyphonic modulation and cleaner threading. The format changes no algorithm, only whether a host loads it, how parameters appear and whether offline rendering works.
Settings and practice
List every plug-in and version before handover, and prefer makers who ship both VST3 and AU. Do not install several versions of one plug-in. Test upgrades on a copy. When the other side may lack a plug-in, freeze tracks or export stems.
What to listen for
The same preset should sound the same in any format. If the tone changes, suspect a version or default-parameter difference, not the format. In a many-plug-in project, first hear whether the missing track vanishes.
Common misconceptions
AAX does not sound better; it is simply how Pro Tools loads. VST is not Windows-only. Installing more is not more professional; it only adds conflicts and scan time. Nor does the format set sample rate or bit depth.
Listen in the library
All tracks from midicn-lib — inline badge is the license tier (C1 commercial / C2 non-commercial / C3 study only).
Sources
- VST3、AU、AAX 与 CLAP 的定位，依各格式公开规范核查，未抄文本
- 工程交接中的插件缺失问题，依制作实务通识核查，未抄文本
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.