Effects

This chapter is from the book

Adobe Audition CC Classroom in a Book, 2nd Edition

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This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book 

Adobe Audition CC Classroom in a Book, 2nd Edition

Learn More Buy

Third-party effects (VST and AU)

In addition to using the built-in Audition effects, you can load effects (plug-ins) made by third-party manufacturers. Audition is compatible with the following formats:

• VST (Virtual Studio Technology) is the most common Windows format and is also supported by macOS. However, you need separate plug-in versions for macOS and Windows. For example, you can’t buy a particular VST plug-in for macOS and use it with Windows.

  NOTE

  Many free, legal plug-ins in a variety of formats are available on the Internet. These range from poorly coded effects made by beginning programmers to plug-ins that are every bit as good as—and sometimes better than—commercially available, professional products.

• VST3 is an updated version of VST2 that offers more efficient operation and other general improvements. Although not quite as common as standard VST, it’s gaining in popularity.

• AU (Audio Units) is specific to macOS, was introduced with OS X, and is the most common format for macOS.

On either platform, plug-ins are installed in specific hard drive folders. You need to let Audition know where to find these plug-ins. The information in the following sections applies to both Windows and macOS unless otherwise specified.

The Audio Plug-In Manager

The Audio Plug-In Manager provides several functions:

• It scans your computer for plug-ins so Audition can use them and creates a list showing the name, type, status, and file path (where the plug-ins are located on your computer).

• It allows you to specify additional folders that contain plug-ins and then re-scan these added folders. Most plug-ins install to default folders, and Audition scans these folders first. Some plug-ins may install into a different folder, however, or you might want to create more than one folder of plug-ins.

• It lets you enable or disable plug-ins.

Check it out.

Click to view larger image

1. Choose Effects > Audio Plug-In Manager.

   NOTE

   Although rare, some plug-ins may be incompatible with Audition. This could be due to a nonstandard implementation, an older plug-in that was not updated, a bug within the plug-in that shows up only with particular programs, or a proprietary plug-in that’s not intended to work universally. If Audition encounters a plug-in it cannot load, the scanning process stops. If scanning doesn’t resume after a minute or so, click Cancel. Audition will enter the incompatible plug-in in the list of plug-ins, but it will be disabled. Run the scan as many times as necessary until the process completes.

2. Click Scan for Plug-Ins. Audition must inspect your hard drive, so this can take a while.

   When scanning is complete, you’ll see the plug-in listing and status, which usually indicates the manager is done. However, if needed, also complete the following steps.

3. To add an additional folder with plug-ins, click Add and navigate to the folder.

4. Select the check box to the left of the plug-in’s name to enable or disable a particular plug-in.

5. Click Re-Scan Existing Plug-Ins to re-scan the existing plug-ins.

   Note that you can enable or disable all plug-ins by clicking the appropriate button.

6. When you’re finished with the Plug-In Manager, click OK.

Using VST and AU plug-ins

VST and AU plug-ins appear as part of the same menu that opens when you click the right arrow for an Effects Rack insert. For example, in Windows you’ll see entries for VST and VST3 effects along with the other entries for Modulation, Filter and EQ, Reverb, and the like; macOS adds another entry for AU effects.

Click the effect you want to insert, as you would with any of the effects included with Audition.