User manual

188
VST Instruments and Instrument tracks
In the instrument track, however, you have one track that
includes the MIDI data, the VST Instrument and the chan-
nel you wish to automate. Therefore, the information on
the automation track will move with the MIDI part.
For more information on track automation, see the chapter
“Automation” on page 203.
What do I need? Instrument channel
or Instrument track?
• If you need a particular sound without knowing which
VST Instrument to use, create an instrument track and use
the preview features to find the sound you want.
• Do likewise if the Instrument track restrictions described
above do not matter.
• If you are planning to create an instrument track preset,
complete with inserts and EQ settings, you have to use an
instrument track.
• If you need to use multitimbral parts and/or multiple out-
puts, set up a VST Instrument channel.
Instrument Freeze
Like all plug-ins, VST Instruments may require a lot of pro-
cessor power. If you are using a moderately powerful com-
puter or if you are using a large number of VST Instruments,
you may come to a point where your computer cannot han-
dle all VST Instruments playing back in real time (the CPU
overload indicator in the VST Performance window lights
up, you get crackling sounds, etc.).
Enter the Instrument Freeze function! This is how it works:
• When you freeze a VST Instrument, the program renders
an audio file of the instrument output (taking into account
all unmuted MIDI parts routed to that VST Instrument). This
file is placed in the “Freeze” folder within the Project folder.
• All MIDI tracks routed to the VST Instrument, or the in-
strument track associated with the VST Instrument, are
muted and locked (the controls for these tracks will ap-
pear “grayed-out” in the track list and Inspector).
• When you start playback, the rendered audio file is
played back from an “invisible” audio track, routed to the
VST Instrument’s mixer channel. Thus, any effects, EQ or
mixing automation will still be applied.
• You can also freeze the mixer channel of the VST Instru-
ment. This freezes any pre-fader insert effects for the chan-
nels, just as when freezing audio tracks (see “Freezing
(rendering) insert effects for a track” on page 168).
The result of the Freeze is that you get exactly the same
sound as before, but the computer processor doesn’t have
to calculate the sound of the VST Instrument in real time.
Performing the freeze
The instrument freeze function is available in the VST In-
struments window, and in the track list and the Inspector
for instrument tracks.
1. Set up the project so that the VST Instrument plays
back the way you want it to.
This includes editing the MIDI tracks routed to the VST Instrument, or ed-
iting the instrument track, and making parameter settings for the VST In-
strument itself. If you have automated parameter changes for the VST
Instrument, make sure the Read (R) button is activated.
2. Open the VST Instruments window from the Devices
menu, or, if you are using an instrument track, select the
track and open the top Inspector tab.