What is RTAS?

RTAS stands for Real-Time AudioSuite, a plugin format developed by Digidesign (now Avid) for use in older versions of the Pro Tools digital audio workstation. RTAS plugins allowed audio effects and virtual instruments to run in real time within Pro Tools sessions.

RTAS plugins processed audio using the computer’s CPU rather than specialized hardware. They could be used for a wide range of tasks, including applying effects such as equalization, compression, reverb, and delay, as well as running virtual instruments like synthesizers and samplers directly inside a Pro Tools project.

RTAS was widely used in earlier Pro Tools systems but was eventually replaced by the newer AAX plugin format, which provides improved performance, better integration with modern systems, and support for both native CPU processing and dedicated DSP hardware.