Steinberg Cubase Studio 4 Operation Manual Studio Manual

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Audio effects
The other columns show the following information about 
each plug-in:
Update button
Clicking this button will make Cubase re-scan the desig-
nated VST folders for updated information about the plug-
ins.
VST 2.x Plug-in Paths button
This opens a dialog where you can see the current paths 
to where VST 2.x plug-ins are located. You can freely 
Add/Remove folder locations by using the corresponding 
buttons. If you click “Add”, a file dialog is opened, where 
you can select a folder...

14
VST Instruments and Instrument tracks 

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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.
ÖThis chapter describes the general procedures for 
setting up and using VST Instruments.
ÖDepending on the VST...

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VST Instruments and Instrument tracks
If you don’t want the plug-in control panels to open every 
time you load a plug-in, open the Preferences dialog 
(VST–Plug-ins page) and deactivate “Open Effect Editor 
After Loading it”.
You can open a plug-in panel at any time by clicking the “e” button of the 
corresponding plug-in slot.
4.If you now look in the Project window track list, you will 
find that a dedicated folder for the chosen instrument has 
been added, within a “VST Instruments” folder (where...

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VST Instruments and Instrument tracks
The second button is used to activate or deactivate the 
VST Instrument.
When an instrument is selected from the instrument pop-up menu, it is 
activated automatically, i. e. the on/off control lights up in blue.
For some instruments you may also bypass the instrument by clicking the 
Bypass button to the right of the on/off button.
Click the Edit (“e”) button to open the control panel for 
the VST Instrument. 
Below the Edit button is a small LED that will light...

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VST Instruments and Instrument tracks
Restrictions
Instrument tracks have no MIDI Sends.
MIDI volume and pan cannot be controlled (there is no 
“MIDI fader” tab in the Inspector); instead, the VST Instru-
ment volume and pan are used (via the “Channel” tab in the 
Inspector). This applies also to the respective automation 
parameters.
ÖDue to there being only one volume and pan control for 
the instrument track, the Mute button will mute the com-
plete track including the VST Instrument. (As opposed...

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VST Instruments and Instrument tracks
Exporting instrument tracks as MIDI file
You can also export instrument tracks as standard MIDI 
files, see “Exporting MIDI files” on page 458.
Please note: 
As there is no MIDI patch information in an instrument 
track, this information is missing in the resulting MIDI file.
If you activate “Export Inspector Volume/Pan”, volume 
and pan information of the VST Instrument will be con-
verted and written into the MIDI file as controller data.
Comparison
Since...

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VST Instruments and Instrument tracks
In the instrument track, however, you have one track that 
includes the MIDI data, the VST Instrument and the chan-
nel you wish to automate. Therefore, the information on 
the automation track will move with the MIDI part.
For more information on track automation, see the chapter 
“Automation” on page 203.
What do I need? Instrument channel 
or Instrument track?
If you need a particular sound without knowing which 
VST Instrument to use, create an instrument...

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VST Instruments and Instrument tracks
3.Click the Freeze button for the VST Instrument (the 
button to the left of the VST Instrument slot), or the Freeze 
button in the Inspector for the instrument track.
The Freeze Instrument Options dialog appears with the 
following options for the Freeze operation:
Select “Freeze Instrument Only” if you don’t want to 
freeze any insert effects for the VST Instrument channels.
If you are using insert effects on the VST Instrument channel(s) and want 
to be able...

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VST Instruments and Instrument tracks
Using presets for VSTi configuration
About track presets and VST presets
Track presets and VST presets allow you to quickly set up 
tracks or instruments with all the settings required for the 
sound you want. Cubase provides various types of pre-
sets for various purposes. Two of these are of relevance 
for VST Instruments:
Track presets for instrument tracks store the parameter 
settings of a VST Instrument together with all track/chan-
nel settings (applied...