Audio Plugins

Audio plugins are software components that enhance digital audio workstations by letting producers apply different sound processing techniques and add new capabilities. The plugin developers create virtual instruments in a few main ways, like sampling real instruments, making sounds from scratch with synthesis, or using physical modeling to simulate how an instrument actually behaves. Sample based plugins start with real recordings of instruments, then process and map those recordings so each note trigger corresponds to the right sound, letting you play them like a keyboard. Those sounds can be further shaped with effects and then triggered by MIDI devices, which are the standard tools used to control virtual instruments. Overall, it’s an easy way to use a huge variety of different instruments without needing the actual physical gear.