VST3 is the latest update version of the Virtual Studio Technology (VST) format for audio plug-ins: improvements over previous versions, including: CPU efficiency: VST3 plugins only use CPU resources when processing audio or MIDI data, which allows for more plugins to be used without affecting the DAW’s performance.
VST3 was released in 2008 by Steinberg, the company behind Cubase.
VST plugins have a file extension of .vst3
VST3 files are installed in a folder VST3.
VST3 has an improved graphical user interface (GUI) that can be resized and has cross-platform compatibility. VST3 works with Windows, macOS, and Linux