User manual

437
Synchronization
tem Device Setup panel (see “ASIO Direct Monitoring” on
page 73). Most modern ASIO cards support this function.
If yours doesn't you may want to change the Offset value
in the VST System Link Setup panel to compensate for
any latency issues.
Setting up a larger network
This is not much more difficult than a two computer net-
work. The main thing to remember is that VST System Link
is a daisy chain system. In other words, the output of com-
puter 1 goes to the input of computer 2, the output of
computer 2 goes to the input of computer 3, and so on
around the chain. The output of the last computer in the
chain must always go back into the input of computer 1, to
complete the ring.
Once you've done this, the transmission of all the trans-
port, sync, and MIDI information to the whole network is
handled pretty much automatically. However, where you
may run into confusion in a large network is in the trans-
mission of audio signals back to a central mix computer.
If you have lots of hardware inputs and outputs on your
ASIO cards you don't need to send audio via the chain at
all, but can transmit it directly to the master mix computer
via one or more of its other hardware Inputs. For example, if
you have a Nuendo Digiset interface or 9652 card on com-
puter 1 you could use ADAT cable 1 for networking, ADAT
cable 2 as a direct audio input from computer 2, and ADAT
cable 3 as a direct audio input from computer 3.
You can also transmit audio via the ring system if you don't
have enough hardware I/Os for direct audio transmission.
For example, in a four computer scenario you could send
audio from computer 2 into a channel in the mixer in com-
puter 3, and from there to a channel in the mixer in com-
puter 4, and from there back to the master mixer in
computer 1. This can certainly be tricky to set up, so gen-
erally it is recommended that if you want to set up a com-
plex network, you should make sure to use ASIO cards
with at least three separate digital I/Os.
Application examples
Using one computer for VST instruments
In this example, one computer will be used as main record
and playback machine, and another computer as a virtual
synth rack.
1. Record a MIDI track into computer 1.
2. Once you have finished recording, route the MIDI out-
put of that track to System Link MIDI port 1.
3. Now go to computer 2, open up the VST Instrument
rack and assign an instrument to the first slot in the rack.
4. Route the VST Instrument channel to the desired out-
put bus.
If you are using computer 1 as your main mixing computer, this would be
one of the VST System Link output busses, connected to computer 1.
5. Create a new MIDI track in the Project window of
computer 2, and assign the MIDI output of the track to the
VST Instrument you created.
6. Assign the MIDI input of the track to be VST System
Link port 1.
Now, the MIDI track on computer 1 is routed to the MIDI track on com-
puter 2, which in turn is routed to the VST Instrument.
7. Now activate monitoring for the MIDI track on com-
puter 2, so that it will listen and respond to any MIDI com-
mands coming in.
In Cubase, you would click the monitor button in the Track list or Inspec-
tor.
8. Press play on computer 1.
It will now send the MIDI information on the track to the VST Instrument
loaded on computer 2.
Even with a slow computer you should be able to stack a
whole bunch of extra VST Instruments this way, expanding
your sound palette considerably. Don't forget that VST
System Link MIDI is also sample-accurate, and thus has
much tighter timing than any hardware MIDI interface ever
invented!