Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual
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VST Instruments VST Instruments Window 601 3)Freeze Instrument Freezes the instrument. This allows you to save CPU power. 4)Instrument Selector Allows you to select another instrument. Double-click to rename the instrument. The name is shown in the VST Instruments w i n d o w i n t h e Output Routing pop-up menu for MIDI tracks. This is useful when you work with several instances of the same instrument. 5)Input Options This lights up when MIDI data is received by the instrument. Click this button to open a pop-up menu that allows you to select, mute/unmute, and solo/unsolo for tracks that send MIDI to the instrument (inputs). 6)Activate Outputs Allows you to activate one or more outputs for the instrument. 7)Preset Browser Allows you to load or save an instrument preset. 8)Load Previous/Next Program Allows you to load the previous/next program. 9)Select Quick Control Layer Allows you to select a program. 10)Read/Write Automation Allows you to read/write automation for the instrument parameter settings. The following controls are available on each rack: 1)Show/Hide VST Quick Controls Allows you to show/hide the VST Quick Controls for the instrument. 2)Set Remote-Control Focus for VST Quick Controls Allows you to activate the VST Quick Controls to remote-control the instrument. VST Instruments Window Context Menu The following functions are available in the VST Instruments window context menu: Always on Top If this option is activated, the VST Instruments window is always on top.
VST Instruments Adding VST Instruments 602 Add Track Instrument Opens the Add Instrument Track dialog that allows you to select an instrument and add an instrument track that is associated to this instrument. Add Rack Instrument Opens a selector that allows you to add a VST instrument. Instruments Context Menu The following functions are available in the instruments context menu: Copy/Paste instrument Setting Allows you to copy the instrument settings and paste them to another instrument. Load/Save Preset Allows you to load/save an instrument preset. Default Preset Allows you to define and save a default preset. Switch to B Setting Activates the setting B. Copy A to B Copies the effect parameters of effect setting A to effect setting B. Activate Outputs Allows you to activate one or more outputs for the instrument. Remote Control Editor Opens the Remote Control Editor. Adding VST Instruments PROCEDURE 1. On the Devices menu, select VST Instruments. 2. Right-click on an empty area of the VST Instruments window. 3. From the context menu, select one of the following: •Add Track Instrument •Add Rack Instrument 4. From the instrument selector, select an instrument. •Click Add Track, if you chose to add a track instrument. •Click Create, if you chose to add a rack instrument.
VST Instruments Presets for Instruments 603 RESULT If you chose Add Track Instrument, the instrument control panel opens, and an instrument track with the name of the instrument is added to your project. If you chose Add Rack Instrument, the instrument control panel opens, and the following tracks are added to the track list: • A MIDI track with the name of the instrument. The output of the MIDI track is routed to the instrument. NOTE In the Preferences dialog (VST–Plug-ins page), you can specify what happens when you load a VST instrument. • A folder with the name of the instrument that is added within a VST Instruments folder. The instrument folder contains two automation tracks: one for the plug-in parameters, and one for the synth channel in the MixConsole. Presets for Instruments You can load and save presets for instruments. These contain all the settings that are required for the sound that you want. The following presets for instruments are available: •VST presets include the parameter settings of a VST instrument. These are available from the VST instruments window, from the instrument control panels, and from the Programs field in the Inspector. •Track presets include the instrument track settings and the settings for the corresponding VST instrument. These are available from the Inspector or the track list context menu. Loading VST Presets You can load VST presets from the VST instruments window, from the instrument panel, or from the Inspector. PROCEDURE 1. Do one of the following: • Select the track that contains the VST instrument and in the Inspector, click the Programs field. • In the VST Instruments window, click the Preset Browser button for the instrument, and select Load Preset. • In the control panel for the VST instrument, click the Preset Browser button, and select Load Preset.
VST Instruments Presets for Instruments 604 2. In the preset browser, select a preset from the list and double-click it to load it. RESULT The preset is applied. To return to the previously loaded preset, open the preset browser again and click Revert to Last Setting Saving VST Presets You can save your settings on VST instruments as VST presets for further use. PROCEDURE 1. Do one of the following: • In the VST Instruments window, click the Preset Browser button for the instrument, and select Save Preset. • In the control panel for the VST instrument, click the Preset Browser button, and select Save Preset. 2. In the Save Preset dialog, enter a name for the preset. 3. Optional: Click Show Attribute Inspector and define attributes for the preset. 4. Click OK to save the preset and close the dialog. Loading Track Presets You can load track presets for instrument tracks from the Inspector. PROCEDURE 1. Do one of the following: • Select the instrument track and in the Inspector, click the Load Track Preset field. • Right-click the instrument track and from the context menu, select Load Track Preset. 2. In the preset browser, select a preset from the list and double-click it to load it. RESULT The track preset is applied. To return to the previously loaded preset, open the preset browser again and click Revert to Last Setting.
VST Instruments VST Quick Controls 605 Saving Track Presets You can save your settings on instrument tracks as Track presets for further use. PROCEDURE 1. Do one of the following: • Select the instrument track and in the Inspector, click the Save Track Preset button. • Right-click the instrument track and from the context menu, select Save Track Preset. 2. In the Save Track Preset dialog, enter a name for the preset. 3. Optional: Click Show Attribute Inspector and define attributes for the preset. 4. Click OK to save the preset and close the dialog. VST Quick Controls VST Quick Controls allow you to remote-control a VST instrument from within the VST Instruments window. To show the VST Quick Controls on the VST Instruments window, activate the Show/Hide all VST Quick Controls button. Connecting Quick Controls with Remote Controllers Quick Controls become powerful when used in combination with a remote controller. PREREQUISITE Your remote device is connected to Cubase via MIDI. PROCEDURE 1. Select Devices > Device Setup. 2. In the Devices list, select Track Quick Controls or VST Quick Controls. This opens the respective section on the right. 3. From the MIDI Input pop-up menu, select the MIDI port on your computer. If your remote controller has its own MIDI input and supports MIDI feedback, you can connect your computer to the device input. Select the corresponding MIDI port in the MIDI Output pop-up menu. Alternatively, you can select All MIDI Inputs. 4. Click Apply. 5. Activate Learn.
VST Instruments VST Quick Controls 606 6. In the Control Name column, select QuickControl 1. 7. On your remote control device, move the control that you want to use for the first quick control. 8. Select the next slot in the Control Name column and repeat the previous steps. 9. Click OK. NOTE In addition to using the Learn function to set up the table in the Quick Controls section, you can modify the values manually. The available options are identical to the ones available for the Generic Remote device. RESULT The quick controls are now associated with control elements on your external remote controller. If you move a control element, the value of the parameter that is assigned to the corresponding Quick Control changes accordingly. The remote controller setup for Quick Controls is saved globally, that is, it is independent of any projects. If you have various remote controllers, you can save and load several Quick Control setups using the Export and Import buttons. RELATED LINKS The Generic Remote device on page 630 Activating Pick-up Mode for Hardware Controls Pick-up Mode allows you to change configured Quick Control parameters without accidentally modifying their previous values. Often, the parameter settings of your Quick Controls are initially different from the settings of your hardware controls, for example, when the hardware controls control, different Quick Controls on different tracks. In this case, you will notice that moving a hardware control changes the previous value of a parameter in a way that it is initially set to the zero position, before it is changed. Thus, you always lose your previous setting of the parameter. To avoid this, you can activate Pick-up Mode. This has the effect that when you move your hardware control, you can only change the parameter once the control reaches the parameter’s previous value. The control “picks up” the parameter at the value to which it was last set. NOTE This only applies to hardware controllers whose controls use specific ranges. PROCEDURE 1. Select Devices > Device Setup. 2. In the Devices list, select Track Quick Controls or VST Quick Controls.
VST Instruments Playing Back VST Instruments 607 3. Activate Pick-up Mode. 4. Click OK. Playing Back VST Instruments After you have added a VST instrument and selected a sound, you can play back the VST instrument using the instrument or MIDI track in your project. PROCEDURE 1. In the track list, activate the Monitor button for the track that has the VST instrument loaded. 2. Press one or more keys on your MIDI keyboard or use the virtual keyboard. The corresponding sounds are triggered on your VST instrument. 3. Select Devices > MixConsole to open the MixConsole and adjust the sound, add EQ or effects, assign another output routing, etc. VST Instruments and Processor Load VST instruments can consume a lot of CPU power. The more instruments you add, the more likely you will run out of processor power during playback. If the CPU overload indicator in the VST Performance window lights up or you get crackling sounds, you have the following options: • Activate Freeze for instruments. This renders the instrument into an audio file and unloads it. • Activate Suspend VST3 plug-in processing when no audio signals are received for VST 3 instruments. This ensures that your instruments do not consume CPU power on silent passages. RELATED LINKS Freezing Instruments on page 608 Suspend VST3 plug-in processing when no audio signals are received on page 1085
VST Instruments Playing Back VST Instruments 608 Freezing Instruments If you are using a moderately powerful computer or a large number of VST instruments, your computer may not be able to play back all instruments in realtime. At this point, you can freeze instruments. PROCEDURE 1. Do one of the following: • Select Devices > VST Instruments. • Select the instrument track and open the top Inspector tab. 2. Click the Freeze button. 3. In the Freeze Instrument Options dialog, make your settings. 4. Click OK. RESULT • The instrument is rendered to an audio file and on playback you hear the same sound as before freezing. • Less CPU load is used. • The Freeze button lights up. • The MIDI/instrument track controls are grayed out. • The MIDI parts are locked. NOTE To edit the tracks, parameters, or synth channels again, and to delete the rendered file, unfreeze the instrument by clicking the Freeze button again. Freeze Instrument Options The Freeze Instrument Options dialog opens when you click the Freeze button. It allows you to specify exactly what should happen, if you freeze an instrument. The following controls can be found in the Freeze Instrument Options dialog: Freeze Instrument Only Activate this option if you still want to be able to edit insert effects on the synth channel after freezing the instrument. Freeze Instrument and Channels Activate this option if you do not need to edit the insert effects on your synth channels. NOTE You can still adjust level, pan, sends, and EQ.
VST Instruments About Latency 609 Tail Size Allows you to set a Tail Size time to let sounds complete their normal release cycle. Unload Instrument when Frozen Activate to unload the instrument after freezing. This makes the RAM available again. About Latency The term latency stands for the time it takes for the instrument to produce a sound when you press a key on your MIDI controller. It can be an issue when using VST instruments in realtime. Latency depends on your audio hardware and its ASIO driver. In the Device Setup dialog (VST Audio System page), the input and output latency values should ideally be a few milliseconds. If the latency is too high to allow comfortable realtime VST instrument playback from a keyboard, you can use another MIDI sound source for live playback and recording, and switch to the VST instrument for playback. RELATED LINKS Selecting a Driver on page 14 Delay Compensation During playback Cubase automatically compensates any delay inherent in the VST plug-ins you use. You can specify a Delay Compensation Threshold in the Preferences dialog (VST page) so that only plug-ins with a delay higher than this threshold setting are affected. Constrain Delay Compensation To avoid Cubase to add latency when you play a VST instrument in realtime or record live audio, you can activate Constrain Delay Compensation. This minimizes the latency effects of the delay compensation, while maintaining the sound of the mix as far as possible. The Constrain Delay Compensation function is available on the toolbar and in the MixConsole on the Functions menu.
VST Instruments Import and Export Options 610 Activating Constrain Delay Compensation turns off VST plug-ins which are activated for VST instrument channels, audio track channels that are record enabled, group channels, and output channels. VST plug-ins which are activated for FX channels are disregarded. After recording or using a VST instrument Constrain Delay Compensation should be deactivated again in order to restore full delay compensation. Import and Export Options Importing MIDI Loops You can import MIDI loops (file extension .midiloop) in Cubase. These files contain MIDI part information (MIDI notes, controllers, etc.) and all the settings that are saved in instrument track presets. This way, you can reuse instrument patterns in other projects or applications, for example. PROCEDURE 1. Select Media > MediaBay. 2. Optional: In the Results section, open the Select Media Types menu, and activate MIDI Loops and Plug-in Presets. 3. In the results list, select a MIDI loop and drag it to an empty section in the Project window. RESULT An instrument track is created and the instrument part is inserted at the position where you dragged the file. The Inspector reflects all settings that are saved in the MIDI loop, for example, the VST instrument that was used, applied insert effects, track parameters, etc. NOTE You can also drag MIDI loops onto existing instrument or MIDI tracks. However, this only imports the part information. This means this part only contains the MIDI data (notes, controllers) that is saved in the MIDI loop, but no inspector settings or instrument parameters. RELATED LINKS Presets for Instruments on page 603