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Synchronization
Once you have 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 do not have 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 do
not have enough hardware I/Os for direct audio transmis-
sion. For example, in a four computer scenario you could
send audio from computer 2 into a channel in the mixer in
computer 3, and from there to a channel in the mixer in
computer 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 AI, you would click the Monitor button in the Track list or In-
spector.
8. Start Playback 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. Do not forget that VST
System Link MIDI is also sample-accurate, and thus has
much tighter timing than any hardware MIDI interface ever
invented!
Creating a virtual effect rack
The effect sends for an audio channel in Cubase AI can
either be routed to an FX channel track or to any activated
Group or output bus. This allows you to use a separate
computer as a “virtual effect rack”, by setting things up in
the following way:
1. Go to computer 2 (the machine you will use as effect
rack) and add a new stereo audio track.
You cannot use an FX channel track in this case, since the track must
have an audio input.
2. Add the desired effect as an insert effect for the track.
Let’s say you add a high-quality reverb plug-in.
3. In the Inspector, select one of the VST System Link
busses as input for the audio track.
You want to use a separate System Link bus, which will only be used for
this purpose.
4. Route the channel to the desired output 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. Activate monitoring for the track.
6. Now, go back to computer 1 and select a track to
which you want to add some reverb.
7. Bring up the effect sends for the track in the Inspector.