User manual

184
VST Instruments and Instrument tracks
• If you don’t want the plug-in control panels to open every
time you load a plug-in, open the Preferences dialog
(VST–Plug-ins page) and deactivate “Open Effect Editor
After Loading it”.
You can open a plug-in panel at any time by clicking the “e” button of the
corresponding plug-in slot.
4. If you now look in the Project window track list, you will
find that a dedicated folder for the chosen instrument has
been added, within a “VST Instruments” folder (where all
your VST Instrument channels will be listed).
The separate folder for the added VST Instrument contains two or more
automation tracks: one for automating the plug-in parameters and one for
each mixer channel used by the VST Instrument. For example, if you add a
VST Instrument with four separate outputs (four separate mixer channels),
the folder will contain five automation tracks. To keep the screen less clut-
tered, you may want to close the folder for the VST Instrument until you
need to view or edit any of the automation tracks. For more about automa-
tion, see the chapter “Automation” on page 203.
• When you select the MIDI track routed to the VST in-
strument, you will see that the Inspector contains a sepa-
rate section for the instrument.
This section contains the audio channel settings for the VST Instrument
(inserts, EQs, Sends and fader settings). The tab has two buttons for
opening the Channel Settings window (for the VST Instrument channel)
and the Edit Instrument button which opens the control panel for the VST
Instrument.
5. Depending on the selected VST Instrument, you may
also need to select a MIDI channel for the track.
For example, a multitimbral VST Instrument can play back different
sounds on different MIDI channels – check the documentation for the
VST Instrument for MIDI implementation details.
6. Make sure the option “MIDI Thru Active” is activated in
the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).
7. Activate the Monitor button for the MIDI track (in the
Track list, Inspector or mixer).
When this is activated (or when the track is record enabled), incoming
MIDI is passed on to the selected MIDI output (in this case the VST In-
strument), see the chapter “Recording” on page 65.
8. Open the mixer.
You will find one or more channel strips for the audio outputs of the VST
Instrument. VST Instrument channel strips have the same features and
functionality as group channel strips, with the addition of an Edit button at
the bottom of the strip for opening the VST Instrument control panel. You
will also find output routing pop-up menus at the top of the channel strips,
for routing the VST Instrument channels e.g. to output channels or
groups. Routing is described in detail in the chapter “VST Connections:
Setting up input and output busses” on page 13.
9. Play the VST Instrument from your MIDI keyboard.
You can use the mixer settings to adjust the sound, add EQ or effects, etc.,
just as with regular audio channels. Of course, you can also record or man-
ually create MIDI parts that play back sounds from the VST Instrument.
• VST Instrument channels give you full access to multi-
timbral instruments.
You can have several MIDI tracks routed to the VST Instrument, each
playing a different part.
• Similarly, you can route channels to any available output
provided by the VST Instrument.
The VST Instruments window
When a VST Instrument is loaded, six controls are dis-
played for this slot in the VST Instruments window.
• The button on the far left is used for the Freeze function,
see “Instrument Freeze” on page 188.
Opens the Channel
Settings window
Opens the control panel
for the VST Instrument
!
You can have up to 64 (32 in Cubase Studio) VST In-
struments activated at the same time, either different
instruments or several instances of the same instru-
ment. However, software instruments can consume a
lot of CPU power – keep an eye on the VST Perfor-
mance window to avoid running out of processor
power. See also “Instrument Freeze” on page 188.
Instrument
on/off
Instrument
Freeze
Activate outputs
Bypass
instrument
Open instrument panel
Event received