A VST3 file is a plugin used by various digital audio workstations DAWs, such as Steinberg Cubase and Image-Line FL Studio. It contains information about an instrument or audio effect typically used to modify recorded sounds. VST3 files are saved in the VST 3 (Virtual Studio Technology 3) standard.
VST3 files were introduced when the VST 3 plugin standard was released by Steinberg in 2008. Previously, .VST files were used to store plugins saved in the VST and VST 2 standards. You can open VST3 files with various DAWs, such as Steinberg Cubase and Image-Line FL Studio. However, the .vst3 file extension may not be used in the Windows versions of select DAWs, such as FL Studio. Instead, the .dll file extension may be used in Windows. In these cases, you must change the .vst extension to .dll in order for the plugin to be used.
In macOS, VST3 files can typically be found in one of the following locations:
- [Macintosh HD]/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST
- [Macintosh HD]/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST3
- [Macintosh HD]/Users/Username/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3
In Windows, VST3 or .DLL files can typically be found in one of the following locations:
- \Program Files\Common Files\VST3
- \Program Files\VST3
- \Program Files (x86)\Common Files\VST3
- \Program Files (x86)\VST3