Hardware
Hardware VST hosts can load special versions of VST plugins. These units are portable and usable without a computer, although some of them require a computer for editing. Other hardware options include PCI/PCIe cards designed for audio processing, which take over audio processing from the computer's CPU and free up RAM. Examples of hardware VST hosts are:
- AudioStation (Seelake)
- RECEPTOR (Muse)
- Plugzilla
- V-Machine (SMProAudio)
- WERSI Expander
- EX-1,OPEN LABS
- Chameleon Synth Net
- Origin (Arturia)
- LIONTRACS Arranger
- iPad
Some above can host VSTs and VSTis, and either run windows music applications like Cubase, Live, Pro Tools, Logic etc. or have their own DAW inside. Other are VST Hosts only and you shall have a separate DAW application to run together with them. Origin from Arturia is a hardware DSP system that houses several VST software synthesizers in one machine like Jupiter 50/80 from Roland.
Raspyberry Pi is an emerging cheap VST Host Hardware considering the following developments: MIDI input via GPIO (since MIDI over USB "eats" up a lot of resources). Software: Non-WINE VST host such as JOST (http://www.anticore.org/jucetice/ or LinuxSampler: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinuxSampler or other like: http://wiki.linuxaudio.org/apps/categor ... d_samplers.Output. The only option for good audio right now seems to be via HDMI.
Audio data can also be sent over a network using appropriate software, allowing the main host to run on one computer and VST plugins to run on peripheral computers.
Read more about this topic: Virtual Studio Technology
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