Real-Time AudioSuite

<h2 id="obsolescence">Obsolescence</h2>
<p>On April 7, 2013, Avid announced <a href="/facts/Pro_Tools/0dASXmcx">Pro Tools</a> 11. From this version forward, Avid has made the AAX plug-in the only format supported by Pro Tools. At launch, many third-party plug-in developers have yet to port their software to the new AAX format, so Avid will sell Pro Tools 11 with both an 11 and 10 license, allowing users to run Pro Tools 10.3.8, which is the last version that will support RTAS.
</p>
<h2 id="licensing">Licensing</h2>
<p>Most plug-ins employ some form of <a href="/facts/Copy_protection/kJLMvTU5">copy protection</a>, notably the PACE iLok <a href="/facts/Dongle/aSvsUF6X">dongle</a>. Though there are some plug-ins available <a href="/facts/Free_of_charge/YDd7Hjzm">free of charge</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Gratis_versus_libre/YDd7Hjzm">there is no</a> accompanying <a href="/facts/Source_code/o9J6Jv23">source code</a> or programming documentation available to the general public.
</p><p>Developers must contact Avid for the SDK.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> There are terms of disclosure on releasing information about Avid's development materials,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> making official RTAS development incompatible with <a href="/facts/Open-source_software/HzTaB8E9">open-source software</a>.
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<h2 id="virtual-studio-technology-rewrapping">Virtual Studio Technology Rewrapping</h2>
<p>FXpansion Audio produces a <a href="/facts/Virtual_Studio_Technology/gbzwJdQQ">VST</a> to RTAS converter which allows the use of plug-ins developed under <a href="/facts/Steinberg/0zklBzNE">Steinberg</a>'s development environment<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> inside of Pro Tools, expanding the <a href="/facts/Digital_audio_workstation/suXVXzKT">DAW's</a> processing capabilities.
</p><p>FXpansion has stated that an RTAS to VST converter can not happen "for both technical and legal reasons."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
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<h2 id="competing-technologies">Competing technologies</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Apple_Inc./oTJYta3k">Apple Inc.</a>'s <a href="/facts/Audio_Units/GaKmxPz9">Audio Units</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/LADSPA/5FUuNmpJ">LADSPA</a>, <a href="/facts/Disposable_Soft_Synth_Interface/9MdvdwT7">DSSI</a> and <a href="/facts/LV2/607lJFAm">LV2</a> for <a href="/facts/Linux/9FvCKSTq">Linux</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a>'s <a href="/facts/DirectX/jyy75wVN">DirectX</a></li>
<li>Steinberg's <a href="/facts/Virtual_Studio_Technology/gbzwJdQQ">Virtual Studio Technology</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Avid – Technology and tools that empower media creators". <a href="http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=115&itemid=4765&action=news_details" target="_blank">http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=115&itemid=4765&action=news_details</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Introduction to Pro Tools Plug-ins". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2010-10-24. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110927114542/http://www.avid.com/US/resources/introduction-to-pro-tools-plug-ins" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110927114542/http://www.avid.com/US/resources/introduction-to-pro-tools-plug-ins</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>List of Freeware RTAS Plug-ins <a href="http://www.dontcrack.com/freeware/software.php/id/7037/audio/Plug-ins/plugins/RTAS/" target="_blank">http://www.dontcrack.com/freeware/software.php/id/7037/audio/Plug-ins/plugins/RTAS/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>"Avid Audio Developer Registration". Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. Retrieved 2010-10-03. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101029232407/http://www.avid.com/US/partners/developer-program/AudioPlugin" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20101029232407/http://www.avid.com/US/partners/developer-program/AudioPlugin</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Avid Audio Plug-In Developer Program Archived 2010-05-01 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.avid.com/us/partners/audio-plugin-dev-program" target="_blank">http://www.avid.com/us/partners/audio-plugin-dev-program</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>VST to RTAS Adapter v2 <a href="http://www.fxpansion.com/index.php?page=15&tab=43" target="_blank">http://www.fxpansion.com/index.php?page=15&tab=43</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>VST–RTAS Adapter FAQ <a href="http://www.fxpansion.com/index.php?page=15&tab=64#168" target="_blank">http://www.fxpansion.com/index.php?page=15&tab=64#168</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Real-Time AudioSuite open-in-new

Real-Time AudioSuite