Post Purchase Question, AU, Core Audio

Question

So following my previous post about whether or not I should buy LP8, I went out and bought it yesterday.
I have another question:
What's the difference between Core Audio and Audio Units and which is better?? Coming from Cubase I understand that VST is the Cubase/Platform interface, but I was looking at how many of my plugins are compatible with LP8 and some list Audio Unit compatibility and others list Core Audio and Audio Unit.
I'm a little confused
Cheers
T.
Message was edited by: Tony for Grammar

Answer 1

Core Audio and Audio Units are two different things.
Core Audio is the way Mac computers running OSX communicate with the software, like Logic (in layman's terms). Prior to OSX, there was ASIO, among others.
Audio Units are the format for the plug-ins used within Logic. Just like Cubase uses the VST format.
You can't use VST's in Logic directly, but you can use an VST wrapper, like the one FXpansion makes.
All that to say, most plug-ins are available in VST and Audio Unit formats, and it's just a matter of selecting which format you need, when you install them.
If you bought and downloaded a VST plug-in directly online, many times you can get the Audio Unit for free, just by supplying proof of purchase. Or some companies charge an small fee, but it's usually pretty nominal.