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© S. Wilkins 9 April, 2005
Using VST Instruments
Introduction
Activating a VST Instrument in Cubasis VST
About Latency
Introduction
VST = Virtual Studio TechnologyVST Instruments are software synthesizers and digital sound effects that are used in VST compatable software packages such as Cubasis. They are played internally via MIDI, and sounds are generated by the computer's CPU in real time. VST instruments produce an audio output that can be mixed in with other MIDI and audio sound sources. They are treated like audio tracks.
Cubasis VST can use up to FOUR different VST Instruments at once.
Included with Cubasis are four VST Instruments:-
- Neon - a software synthesizer
- LM-9 - a drum machine
- Universal Sound Module - a GM (General MIDI) compatible sound module with over 70 MB state of the art sampled sounds
- VB-1 - a virtual bass instrument built on real-time physical modelling principles.
ABHS students also have access to THREE additional VST instruments created by Computer Music Magazine. These include:-
- CM-101 - a software anologue synthesizer
- SR-202 - a drum machine / sample player
- DR-404 - a fully blown programable sampler
Activating a VST Instrument in Cubasis VST
- Click
on the PANELS menu and select VST INSTRUMENTS; OR
Click on the VST INSTRUMENTS icon on the TOOLBAR. (It looks like a little keyboard)
The VST Instruments window will open - Click on the drop down menu that appears and choose an instrument.
- Make sure that the RED BUTTON on the left is on.
- Click
in the OUTPUT column next to the TRACK you want to use the instrument.
A list of instruments available will appear.
V1 = VST Instrument slot one.
The track will play whatever instrument you choose here.
Cubasis screen dump showing the VST instruments window,
the instrument screens and output selection menu
About Latency
Latency is the time it takes for the instrument to produce a sound when you press a key on your MIDI keyboard. There is usually some delay involved when using VST instruments which can make playing and recording using a keyboard with a VST instrument difficult.
If this is the case, a workaround is to play and record your parts with an-other MIDI sound source selected (such as the sound cards MIDI synthesizer), and then switch to the VST Instrument for playback after the track has been recorded.