Cross Platform

Refers to hardware or software that is capable of working on, or is compatible with, multiple platforms. Generally the term is used in the computer world and means that a device or software package is compatible with two or more fundamentally different systems, such as PC and Macintosh. Programs that work on both Windows NT and Windows XP, for example, would not be considered “cross platform” as it is understood that those two platforms are very similar. Sometimes the term is applied to more audio specific products such as soundware for synthesizers and samplers, where it signifies that a given package works on more than one brand of instrument. For example, a sample library might be compatible with both Roland and Kurzweil samplers. It is more common, however, to see the specific brands and type of instruments listed since there are so many potential distinctions to be aware of.