Audio Units, VST2, VST3 (AAZ, NKS)?

The Lounge Other Gear
1

I just took advantage of the Izotope Elements giveaway and when installing it asked me whether I wanted to install:

  • AAX
  • Audio Units
  • VST2
  • VST3
  • NKS

I don’t really know the difference, so I left all the boxes checked, as I’ve done before. But in Ableton Live, under Plug-Ins, I’ve got the same things under Audio Units, VST, and VST3. I probably use Analog Lab V from a different folder every time, for example.

What’s the difference between these? Does it matter which one I use in Ableton Live? Should I just be using one of them?

2

If you’re on Mac, I would stick with AU.

3

Is there a reason why it’s better than the others?

4

Not really. It’s just the native Apple format. I’m on Mac and always used AU until I switched over to Bitwig, which doesn’t recognise AU, so there I use VST3s.