FabFilter Software Instruments has recently released two VST3-compatible plug-ins: Volcano 2 and the new Pro-C compressor which can now be downloaded from the FabFilter website, available for Windows Vista/XP and Mac OS X. In the near future, FabFilter expects to be able to offer VST3 versions of the whole product range.

FabFilter Volcano 2 is the successor of the popular FabFilter Volcano filter effect plug-in. With more filters and routings and practically unlimited modulation possibilities, FabFilter Volcano 2 is much more powerful. To make working with all this modulation as easy as possible, the new “what-you-use-is-what-you-see” interface concept ensures that, at all times, the plug-in interface only shows the filters, modulation sources and slots that are actually being used.

“At FabFilter, one of our goals is to always keep up with the newest developments in plug-in technology. Naturally we were very interested in the new VST3 standard as soon as the SDK was released to the public,” comments Frederik Slijkerman, founder of FabFilter Software Instruments. “With VST2, we were required to have up to four different plug-in files to accommodate both stereo and mono plug-ins and plug-ins with or without side-chaining possibilities. With VST3, a single plug-in does all the work,” he continues.

FabFilter's new high-quality Pro-C compressor plug-in employs those trend-setting technologies. Thanks to innovative VST3 programming, external side-chain input is available. One can select mono, stereo, or mid/side processing with completely customizable channel linking and routing. The clear compression displays for controlling how compression is applied to the signal round out the massive feature set.

Released by Steinberg in January 2008, VST3 is a next-generation audio interface standard that offers third-party plug-in and host application manufacturers new capabilities and tools for developing virtual instruments, effects and DAWs.

For more information about Volcano 2, the Pro-C compressor and other FabFilter products, please visit the FabFilter Software Instruments website at www.fabfilter.com.