PoducateMe: Practical Solutions for Podcasting in Education
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Visit the PoducateMe Web site to review a wide selection of Dynamics Processors listed
Software Plug-Ins
As stated earlier, in addition to outboard components, DSP effects are available as
software plug-ins. These applications may either be purchased separately or may come
bundled with your recording software or equipment. After installation on the computer
used for recording, plug-ins will become available through the host recording application
you’re using and will function in much the same way as their hardware counterparts.
Because of their relatively low cost and portability, software plug-ins present a great
alternative to outboard audio gear. However, unlike hardware components such as the
Behringer unit discussed previously, software plug-ins cannot prevent an audio signal
from clipping—this adjustment must be performed before your signal reaches the
computer. If your signal clips in the digital realm, it will stay clipped, no matter what. In
addition, the use of plug-ins will place more demands on your CPU, and some audio
engineers insist that quality hardware effects sound better than those mimicked by
software.
Software Plug-In Formats
Not all plug-ins are compatible with all systems and recording software, so be sure to
verify the requirements of any plug-ins you may be considering prior to purchase. The
following table lists the major plug-in formats and the operating systems on which they
will run.
Table 3: Software Plug-In Formats
Digidesign Pro Tools
Digidesign’s Pro Tools is one of the premier recording systems available on the
market today, but Pro Tools supports only Digidesign’s proprietary TDM (Time-
Division Multiplexing) and RTAS (Real Time AudioSuite) plug-in formats. In order to
take advantage of the award-winning Pro Tools products, you must commit to a
Format
OS
VST (Virtual Studio Technology, VSTi for instruments)
Mac/Win
AU (Audio Units, components)
Mac
DX (DirectX, DirectSound, DX, Dxi for instruments)
Win
LADSPA (Linux Audio Developer’s Simple Plug-in API
Linux
Digidesign TDM (Time-Division Multiplexing)
and RTAS (Real Time AudioSuite) for Pro Tools
Mac/Win
