A plugin format developed and maintained by Apple for the macOS. AU is an equivalent of VST. AU is a core part of Apple’s Core Audio framework, a low-level system for handling Mac audio. This tight integration gives AU plugins some advantages in terms of performance and efficiency. Some characteristics include:
- Mac-exclusive: Unlike VST, which is cross-platform, AU plugins only work on macOS.
- Similar to VST: Just like VSTs, AU plugins come in two main types:
- Instrument plugins: Synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, etc.
- Effect plugins: Reverb, delay, EQ, distortion, etc.
- DAW support: Most DAWs on macOS support AU plugins.
AU is a robust and efficient plugin format that provides macOS users with a wide range of virtual instruments and effects within their DAWs.