VST Audio | VST Audio Effects And Metasounds | UE5

This tutorial explains how to load and use VST3 effects in Unreal Engine 5 using the VST Audio plugin and MetaSounds.

Download UE5 VST Audio Plugin

Before continuing, ensure that:

  • The VST Audio plugin is installed

  • You have already scanned for VST plugins using the VST Plugin Manager

The MetaSound effect node relies on the Plugin Manager’s cached plugin data.

Example Metasound: VST Effects Metasound

To help you get started quickly, the plugin includes a preconfigured MetaSound Source.

				
					VstAudio/VstEffectsMetasound
VST Effects Metasound

This MetaSound is configured with the following signal chain:

  • Stereo Output

  • Wave Player (audio source)

  • VST Audio Effect Node

  • Output connected to the MetaSound Source Output

Setting up the Metasound

First, assign an audio file to the Wave Player.

Steps:

  1. Open the VST Effects Metasound

  2. Select the Wave Player node

  3.  assign an audio asset to the Wave parameter

This audio signal will pass through the VST Audio Effect Node.

For testing, short loops or music clips work well because they allow continuous playback while adjusting effect parameters.

The VST Audio Effect Node

The VST Audio Effect Node allows you to load and run any VST3 effect plugin inside a MetaSound graph.

This node:

  • Loads the selected VST3 effect

  • Processes incoming audio in real time

  • Outputs the processed audio signal

  • Supports GUI interaction and parameter editing

Multiple VST effect nodes can be chained together to create complex processing pipelines.

Vst Audio Effect Metasound Node Configuration

To select a VST effect plugin:

  1. Click the VST Audio Effect Node in the MetaSound graph

  2. In the Details panel, locate the General section

  3. Find the dropdown labeled Select Audio Plugin

  4. Click the dropdown and choose a VST3 effect plugin

The dropdown list is populated from the VST Plugin Manager.

If the list is empty, ensure you have completed the plugin scanning process.

Once selected, the node will automatically load and initialize the effect.

Press Play to hear the effect applied to the Wave Player audio.

Launching the VST Effect Plugin GUI

You can open the VST plugin’s native GUI to adjust parameters in real time.

Steps:

  1. Locate the Open GUI button on the VST Audio Effect Node

  2. Click Open GUI

The plugin’s GUI window will appear.

While the MetaSound is playing, you can:

  • Adjust parameters

  • Change presets

  • Modify effect settings

All changes are applied in real time.

Saving Effect Settings

When you adjust parameters in the plugin GUI, those changes are stored in the MetaSound asset.

To save the changes:

  1. Close the plugin GUI window

  2. Click Save in the MetaSound editor

The effect state will be embedded in the MetaSound node.

The next time the MetaSound loads, the effect will initialize with the saved settings.

Next Step

We’ll cover using VST3 Presets in another tutorial. For now take a look at other tutorials.

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