4.0

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Audio effects
• Username/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/
“Username” above is the name you use to log on to the computer (the
easiest way to open this folder is to go to your “Home” folder and use the
path /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/ from there). Plug-ins installed in this
folder are only available to you.
When you launch Cubase AI again, the new effects will
appear on the effect pop-up menus.
Ö An effect plug-in may also come with its own installa-
tion application, in which case you should use this.
Generally, always read the documentation or readme files before install-
ing new plug-ins.
Installing VST 3 plug-ins under Windows
Under Windows, VST 3 plug-ins are installed simply by
dragging the files (extension “.vst3”) into the vst3 folder in
the Cubase AI application folder. When you launch Cu-
base AI again, the new effects will appear on the Effect
pop-up menus. In the VST 3 protocol, the effect category,
sub-folder structure etc. is built-in and cannot be changed.
The installed new effect(s) will show up in the assigned
category folder(s) on the Effect pop-up menu.
Installing VST 2 plug-ins under Windows
Under Windows, VST 2.x plug-ins are usually installed
simply by dragging the files (with the extension “.dll”) into
the Vstplugins folder in the Cubase AI application folder,
or into the Shared VST Plug-in folder – see below. When
you launch Cubase AI again, the new effects will appear
on the Effect pop-up menus.
Ö If the effect plug-in comes with its own installation ap-
plication, you should use this.
Generally, always read the documentation before installing new plug-ins.
Organizing VST 2 plug-ins
If you have a large number of VST 2 plug-ins, having them
all on a single pop-up menu in the program may become
unmanageable. For this reason, the VST 2 plug-ins in-
stalled with Cubase AI are placed in appropriate subfold-
ers according to the effect type.
• Under Windows, you can rearrange this by moving,
adding or renaming subfolders within the Vstplugins folder
if you like.
When you launch the program and pull down an Effects pop-up menu,
the subfolders will be represented by hierarchical submenus, each listing
the plug-ins in the corresponding subfolder.
• Under Mac OS X, you cannot change the hierarchic ar-
rangement of the “built-in” VST plug-ins.
You can however arrange any additional plug-ins you have installed (in the
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/ folders, see above) by placing them in sub-
folders. In the program, the subfolders will be represented by hierarchical
submenus, each listing the plug-ins in the corresponding subfolder.
The Plug-in Information window
On the Devices menu, you will find an item called “Plug-in
Information”. Selecting this opens a dialog listing all the
available VST compatible plug-ins in your system (includ-
ing VST Instruments).
Managing and selecting VST plug-ins
To see which VST plug-ins are available in your system,
click the “VST PlugIns” tab at the top of the window.
• To enable a plug-in (make it available for selection),
click in the left column.
Only the enabled plug-ins (shown with a check mark in the left column)
will appear on the effect menus.
• The second column indicates how many instances of
the plug-in are currently used in Cubase AI.
Clicking in this column for a plug-in which is already in use produces a
pop-up showing exactly where each use occurs – select an instance to
open the control panel for the plug-in.
Ö A plug-in may be in use even if it isn’t enabled in the
left column.
You might for example have opened a project containing effects that cur-
rently are disabled on the menu. The left column purely determines
whether or not the plug-in will be visible on the effect menus.
• All columns can be resized by using the divider in the
column header.