Reference Guide

1425
VST enhancements
New features in SONAR X3
Background scanning allows SONAR to launch much faster, and you can begin working on a project
without having to wait for the scan to finish. Any newly-installed VST plug-ins are also detected
automatically without having to restart SONAR.
The background scan is efficient and intelligent, and only scans changes to your VST folders instead
of scanning all plug-ins.
See:
“File - VST Settings” on page 1812.
VST3 support
In addition to VST2 plug-ins, SONAR also supports VST3 audio effects and instruments.
VST3 plug-ins provide several benefits over VST2 plug-ins, including:
• Improved CPU performance. VST3 plug-ins can detect silence and automatically disable
processing if there is no input signal. This allows for more efficient CPU use because processing
is only used when needed.
• Logical parameter grouping in automation menus. VST3 plug-in parameters are organized
into a hierarchical, categorized list in all automation menus, such as a track’s Edit Filter.
• Sample-accurate automation. Plug-ins that support VST3 sample accurate automation data,
allow for rapid and accurate automation changes.
• Resizable plug-in property pages. VST3 plug-ins can support dynamic resizing of windows,
which allows for more flexible use of screen real-estate.
• Automated bypass. SONAR supports the VST3 automated host bypass parameter, which
allows you to enable/disable a VST plug-in via automation. If a VST3 plug-in exposes this
parameter, a host bypass parameter will be available in track’s the Edit Filter, and a Bypass button
appears in the top left corner of the VST property page.
• 64-bit processing. Most VST3 plug-ins can process 64-bit audio data.
Note: The features listed above are functions of the plug-in, and only apply if the plug-in itself
supports them. Just because a plug-in is VST3 format does not automatically mean it supports
all of these features.