DirectX plugins have an open standard architecture for connecting audio synthesizers and effect plugins to audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. DirectX plug-ins are based on Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) which allows plugins to be recognised and used by other applications via common interfaces. Plugins connect to applications and other plugins with pins via which they can pass and processes buffered streams of audio (or video) data. Architecturally, DirectX plugins are DirectShow filters.
Kontakt Player is a FREE, the most fully featured sample player. It has the same engine as famous Native Instruments Kontakt 4 and hence supports all it's native formats. Kontakt Player also provides reasonable control over the sound.