Hello,
I also miss that functionality at VST versions..
Just one thing – additional input channels (ones used for ext. sidechain) are definitely possible to implement also for VST 2.4, it isn't exclusive feature of VST 3. Sidechained stereo plugins just appears as 4in/2out.
There are quite few existing plugins, which uses that and works pretty well across multiple VST hosts. For example – NI Vintage comps, Softube comps, free ReaComp from Cockos's ReaPlugs http://www.reaper.fm/reaplugs/ etc.
As for VST3, I don't think it has some practical advantages besides Steinberg's world particularly for audio effects.. Maybe there is possible sample accurate automation (eg. plugin can get automation values update in between of DAW processing block boundaries), but I'm not sure if that is so significant.
Michal
Thanks for the info, Michal. We'll look into it.
Tom
