.VST File Extension

A VST file is a plug-in used by Steinberg Cubase and other digital audio workstations (DAWs). It contains information about an instrument or effect that can be used to modify recorded audio. VST files are often accompanied by .FXP and .FXB files.

Steinberg developed the Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plug-in interface to allow Cubase users to create and install custom audio effects. For example, users can install VST plug-ins that emulate various instruments or produce unique reverb effects. Many other DAWs, including Ableton Live, Image-Line FL Studio, and Audacity, also allow users to install effects saved in the VST format.

Many VST files are packaged with accompanying FXP and FXB files. FXP and FXB files contain effect presets, which can be loaded in their associated plug-in. These presets allow editors to quickly begin using a polished version of the effect a VST file contains.

NOTE: The VST format was replaced by the .VST3 format.

You can use VST files to add additional audio effects in many Digital Audio Workstations, including:

• Steinberg Cubase
• Image-Line FL Studio
• Ableton Live
• Audacity

You can also open VST files with LMMS (Linux MultiMedia Studio) using VeSTige. However, you must change the file's extension to .dll before opening it.

A VST file may also be a template created by Microsoft Visio, a technical drawing application. It contains a default layout and settings for a drawing that Visio users utilize to create multiple Visio drawings (.VSD and .VSDX files) from the same starting point. Microsoft replaced VST files with .VSTX files when it released Visio 2013.

You can open a VST file with Microsoft Visio (Windows). Visio is the best option for opening VST files because it fully supports the templates' formatting, including images, charts, and text spacing and alignment.

You can also open VST files with third-party applications, such as Draw, which is available in the free LibreOffice suite (multiplatform), and The Omni Group OmniGraffle (macOS).

Several applications, including Microsoft Visio, The Omni Group OmniGraffle, and LibreOffice Draw, can convert VST files to other formats.

For example, Microsoft Visio can convert VST files to one of the following formats:

• .VSDX - Microsoft Visio Drawing
• .VSD - Microsoft Visio Drawing (Legacy)
• .VSTX - Microsoft Visio Drawing Template
• .JPG - JPEG Image
• .PNG - Portable Network Graphic
• .GIF - Graphical Interchange Format
• .SVG - Scalable Vector Graphics File
• .EMF - Enhanced Windows Metafile
• .PDF - Portable Document Format
• .XPS - XML Paper Specification

Raster image based on the Targa Truevision format; can store data up to 32 bits per pixel, with 24 bits for the RGB information and 8 bits for the alpha channel; may also incorporate lossless RLE compression to reduce the file size.

Targa image files most often use the .TGA file extension.