What is VST Instruments

What is VST Instruments and why they are needed

Recently, became extremely popular audio effects processing and virtual instruments implemented by software and working in real-time.They can be either a stand-alone application, and plug-ins for use in other applications - application hosts.

The plug-ins are separate, and can be plug "appendage" to the program or device, making it a program or device receives a new opportunity. The application host - this is a program that allows you to connect to their plugins. For example: plug-ins can be connected to the DAW software. The interaction of the site with the plugin interface is regulated applications (Application Programming Interface - API). Currently, the most popular "music" API on the PC platform can be considered as VST and DX. 

DX - is technology that allows applications to interact with the virtual hosts effects and tools (synthesizers, samples, effects, controlled by MIDI, etc.) through the application programming interface Microsoft DirectX. After installing the DX-plug in as they become available from any application, allowing the use of this technology.

VST - Virtual Studio Technology - API of Steinberg.

Virtual Studio Technology was originally developed for use in software products Steinberg (particularly in Cubase VST). So there is nothing surprising in the fact that the program is focused on Cubase to work with VST-plugins.

In general, with the support of various plug-ins in Cubase SX standards situation is as follows:
fully supports VST-plug-ins (and the effects and instruments - VST). DX-plugins are supported with restrictions. Cubase does not distinguish DXI-effect plug-ins from the plug-in tools DXi, so the use of Cubase DXi us it is not possible. is not supported by automation parameters DX-plugins.

All plug-ins support the standard firm Steinberg VST. The most powerful in features and sound quality (and therefore the most popular) of third-party plug-ins support both standard: and DX, and VST. Therefore, we will only talk about the use of VST-plugins.

Installation internal VST-plug-ins included in the delivery Cubase, made during the installation of the program Cubase, and you do not need to put any effort in order to make these plug-ins are available in the future. If you want to install additional plug-ins, it should be understood that for Cubase is important that the software modules are plug-ins in a specific folder. The default is:  C:/program files/steinberg/vstplugins. If necessary, you can specify a different folder is used to store plug-ins, Cubase and give the command to update the information about plug-ins. The fact that the configuration of each host application is the path to the VST-plug-ins. For different applications, this default path is different. And if you want to use the same VST-plug-ins from different applications, the settings of each of them should be given the same folder. VST-instruments (VSTi) - Is, in essence, plug-ins, controlled via MIDI.

In order to use in Cubase a virtual instrument, is required to perform the minimum number of actions: VST plug-in to connect to the project and select one of the MIDI-tracks as the output port of a virtual MIDI-port of the instrument.

Each VST-instrument has its own peculiarities. Most of the tools unique: they use various types of sound synthesis, they are different architecture and methods of processing the generated sound. Many of them have their own, usually with nothing set of MIDI-compatible controllers. However, the list of these controllers, banks and patches can be passed to the application host. In this case, you turn to the controller is not required by number, but by its name. Select and adjust the timbre is most convenient in the window of the VST-instrument. All settings VST-instrument made in this window are stored directly in the project. Multitimbral VST-instruments can be controlled by several MIDI-channels with a MIDI-tracks. In order to minimize the delay between the arrival of the team MIDI-VST-instrument and its implementation in the sound, it takes quite a powerful processor and a sound card with ASIO-drivers. However, if you are not going to play the VST-instrument with a keyboard, the delay does not matter. On the MIDI-track, VST-instrument control, you have a party to this instrument, by writing notes or using the fingerprint keyboard. You can record a lot with MIDI-keyboard to another track, dubbed a hardware synthesizer, and then move to the track, managing VST-instrument. When you play the project will take into account a host application that the VST-instruments respond with a delay, and will send a MIDI-commands to them a little earlier than other MIDI-instruments. As a result of VST-instruments will sound in sync with the whole song. With regard to the subjective quality of sound generated by the synth (VST-instruments and, in particular), it depends entirely on the developers. There are many software synthesizers with the different possibilities. But there are also some that are not inferior in quality to its sound hardware prototypes, and on the capability and flexibility in the management of leave them far behind.

If you are working with a hardware synthesizer, then "transfer» MIDI-parties to this instrument or audio track in WAV-file is required to make the internal peresvedenie: you have to play MIDI-tracks related to this synthesizer, and simultaneously record the sound of a synthesizer on the audio track. The record quality depends on the synthesizer, connecting cables and the quality of the ADC sound card. A digital outputs are not all iron synthesizers. It is quite another thing - virtual instruments. You are free to determine the format of the audio data of the project Cubase. Accordingly, all of the virtual tools will work in the specified format. In this case, nothing prevents you to use 24 bits for the representation of the audio signal. And no noise. And so you can use VST-instruments and to achieve significant results, having only a computer with a powerful processor and a sound card with minimal features. The cost of such home studio is much smaller than the studio with a few hardware synths and samplers. The only two requirements for a sound card are that it should provide a high-quality analog-to-digital conversion for recording vocals and live instruments and high-quality digital-to-analog conversion for monitoring (you should hear the results of their actions).