Virtual Studio Technology plugins were invented by Steinberg. These are software versions of traditional recording studio hardware, e.g echo, reverb, overdrive etc. Before VST you had to pay big money for these pieces of hardware, now you can buy the software version much cheaper. There is also a growing number of free and shareware plugins available. Recently VST Instruments have become available, SynthEdit supports these too. It is now possible to produce professional music using no hardware other than your PC.
Copyright notice: öVST is a trademark of Steinberg Soft- und Hardware GmbHö
There are many plugins available on the Internet, check out the
SynthEdit VST Page for some links.
You need to save them to your VST Plugins folder, usually
C:\Program Files\SynthEdit\VSTPlugins\ . The "Audio-Preferences"
menu sets this.
Once installed, the Plugin appears on the 'Insert' menu, sub-menu "VST
Plugins". To classify your plugins by type, create sub-folders in the
VSTPlugins folder, these appear as new headings on the 'Insert Menu'.
SynthEdit doesn't come with any VST plugins, you need to buy/download them yourself. A good start is Steinberg's web site, which offers some free downloads.
Download the VB-1 Virtual Bass Plugin from http://service.steinberg.net/webdoc.nsf/show/download_e
Or, if the link has moved, you should be able to locate it from here...
http://www.steinberg.de/ (look for the demo software page)
You will be prompted to save the file to disk, Note the folder you are saving
to.
Use the Windows Explorer to locate the downloaded file.
'Unzip it' - If you have an unzip utility, just double click the file to open
it, then select 'Extract', you should be prompted for a destination folder,
select your VST Plugins folder: usually C:\Program Files\SynthEdit\VSTPlugins\
Note: A very good free unzip utility is 'PowerArchiver', you can get it from
http://www.efront.com/
In SynthEdit, Choose menu "File-New" to create a blank workspace. If the Plugin installed OK, you should be able to use it, menu "Insert-VST Plugins-VB-1".
To see the plugin's controls, Click "EDIT"...
Drag the Bass Controls window out of the way...
To use the Plugin you need two more modules, the Sound Out module
("Insert-Input/Output-Sound Out"), and a keyboard ("Insert-Controls-Keyboard").
Wire them like so.... (to connect them, click and drag on the colored text).
OK!, Push the red 'Play" button and click the on-screen keyboard to play it.
Other options:
Any Plugin parameter can be automated via MIDI controller messages, for example the modulation wheel on a keyboard, or the MIDI controller functions of most sequencers. To see a plugin's automation settings: Right-click the Plugin, choose 'Properties'..
Select the Controller number from the drop down list. Controllers 98 and 100 are 'Registered Parameter Numbers', these are used in conjunction with the RPN number box to provide more than the 95 standard controllers. For example you could control one parameter with NRPN number 1, and another independently with NRPN number 2.
To enable automation click option 'MIDI Automation'..
VST plugins don't always behave as they should. Some make assumptions about the 'Host' (SynthEdit in this case). If you encounter a plugin that doesn't work, or crashes, you can try the two options in the Properties screen:
Process Replacing Fix - This setting is known to fix problems with Steinberg's VB-1 and Neon plugins.
Data Alignment fix - This is for plugins that expect particular sample block size or alignment. This is known to work for 'SC Virtual Sampler', and 'Sampletank'.
These fix's can be used together of separately. You may need to experiment. Don't use a fix if you don't need to, they do reduce performance a little.
SynthEdit's "Auto-Reload" feature makes testing your plugins easy. From the SynthEdit's File menu, choose 'Options...', and tick the "VST Auto-Reload" box.
SynthEdit scans your VST plugin folder every 15 seconds. If your plugin's file date changes (because you have compiled a new version) SynthEdit reloads the plugin. To let you know, The Plugin displays the file creation time..
To make the process relatively painless, you should be able to configure C++ to compile directly to your VST Plugins folder. (menu 'Project' - 'Settings'-'Link'-'Output File Name')
Notes: Auto-Reload must be activated BEFORE you insert you plugin. Otherwise you can Save, Close and Re-Load your SynthEdit file to activate Auto-Reload.