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VST instruments and instrument tracks
Introduction
VST instruments are software synthesizers (or other sound
sources) that are contained within Cubase. They are played
internally via MIDI. You can add effects or EQ to VST instru-
ments, just as with audio tracks.
Some VST instruments are included with Cubase, others
can be purchased separately from Steinberg and other
manufacturers. In Cubase AI and Cubase LE, the VST in
-
strument HALion Sonic SE is included.
This chapter describes the general procedures for setting
up and using VST instruments. The included VST instru-
ments and their parameters are described in the separate
PDF document “Plug-in Reference”.
Ö Depending on the VST version the instrument is com-
patible with, an icon may be displayed in front of the in-
strument name, see “About VST 3” on page 132.
VST instrument channels vs.
instrument tracks
Cubase allows you to make use of VST instruments in two
different ways:
• By activating instruments in the VST Instruments window.
This creates a VST instrument channel, which can be played by one (or se-
veral) MIDI track(s) routed to it.
• By creating instrument tracks.
Instrument tracks are a combination of a VST instrument, an instrument
channel, and a MIDI track. You play and record MIDI note data directly for
this track.
Both methods have their advantages and should be se-
lected according to what best suits your needs. The fol-
lowing sections describe the two approaches.
VST instrument channels
(not in Cubase LE)
You can access a VST instrument from within Cubase by
creating a VST instrument channel and associating this
channel with a MIDI track. Proceed as follows:
1. On the Devices menu, select “VST Instruments”.
The VST Instruments window opens.
2. Click in one of the empty slots to open the instrument
pop-up menu and select the desired instrument.
3. You will be asked if you want to create an associated
MIDI track connected to the VST instrument. Click Create.
The instrument is loaded and activated, and its control panel opens. A
MIDI track with the name of the instrument is added to the track list. The
output of this track is routed to the instrument.
In the Preferences dialog (VST–Plug-ins page), you can
specify what happens when loading a VST instrument in
an instrument slot. Open the pop-up menu “Create MIDI
track when loading VSTi” and select one of the available
options:
• When you select “Always”, a corresponding MIDI track will al-
ways be created.
• When you select “Do not”, no track will be created and only
the instrument will be loaded.
• Select “Always ask to” if you want to decide whether a MIDI
track is created whenever you load an instrument.
You can also use modifiers to specify what happens when
you load a VST instrument (overriding the Preference set
-
ting):
• When you hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] while selecting a VST
instrument for an instrument slot, a corresponding MIDI track
with the name of the instrument is automatically created.
• When you hold down [Alt]/[Option] while selecting a VST in-
strument for an instrument slot, no MIDI track will be created
for the instrument.
!
In Cubase LE, the VST Instruments window is not
available. Only instrument tracks and the related
functions can be used in this program version.