Plug-in
A software effect or instrument module that runs inside a host
Related
A plug-in is a software module that runs inside a host DAW, either an effect or a virtual instrument: EQ, compression, reverb, synthesizers and samplers all load as plug-ins. Common formats are VST, AU and AAX, which are not interchangeable, so check host support before buying.
A plug-in is not a standalone program: it uses the host's audio stream, clock and automation, and the project stores its parameter state rather than audio. Plug-ins can add latency and CPU cost, and stacking several heavy ones strains the buffer; freezing or rendering to audio lightens the load.
The usual mistake is to assume more plug-ins make a sound more professional. They are tools; listening and judgement decide the result, and the same plug-in behaves differently at different levels and on different material.
Related → DAW
Sources
- 插件格式与宿主关系，参 Huber & Runstein, Modern Recording Techniques 与通行 DAW 文档；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.