Steinberg V-Stack Operation Manual

V-STACKVST Instruments 6 – 61
Depending on the selected VST Instrument, you may also need to 
send MIDI on a specific MIDI channel. For example, if the VST Instru-
ment is multi-timbral (check its documentation for details) it can play 
back different sounds on different MIDI channels:
•If you are using VST System Link, select the desired MIDI channel for 
the MIDI track in the host application.
•If you are using V-STACK by itself, make sure your MIDI keyboard is 
connected to the correct MIDI port and...

V-STACK6 – 62 VST Instruments
Setting a key zone and transposition for your VST Instrument
When loading a VST Instrument, you can specify a key zone that will 
be used to play the notes for the VST Instrument and also its transpo-
sition. The key zone setting works like a filter (similar to the settings for 
the MIDI port and channel): only notes falling into the specified key 
zone will be routed to the VST Instrument. These notes will be played 
using the transposition settings. Proceed as follows:...

V-STACKVST Instruments 6 – 63
A note about VST Instruments and CPU power
You can have up to 16 VST Instruments activated at the same time, dif-
ferent models or several instances of the same instrument. However, 
software synthesizers can consume quite a lot of CPU power – keep 
an eye on the VST Performance window to avoid running out of proces-
sor power.
• Although it’s possible to deactivate a VST Instrument by clicking its 
“power button”, it will still require some processor power. To minimize...

V-STACK6 – 64 VST Instruments
Editing VST Instruments
To access the parameters for the VST Instrument, click the Edit (“e”) 
button in the VST Instruments window or in its channel strip (at the 
bottom of the fader strip) in the Mixer. This opens a “control panel” for 
the VST Instrument where you can view and adjust the parameters.
For details about the parameters, see the documentation of the VST 
Instruments.
•Please note that all VST Instruments can be edited using a simplified 
control panel...

V-STACKVST Instruments 6 – 65
Common settings in the control panel
Although the parameters are different for different VST Instruments, all 
control panels have a common area at the top (Windows) or bottom 
(Mac OS X). Here you can do the following:
•Turn the VST Instrument on or off by clicking the power button.
•Select a patch by using the patch pop-up menu or the arrow buttons.
These are the same as in the slot in the VST Instruments window.
•Name a patch you have created by typing a new name in the...

V-STACK6 – 66 VST Instruments 

7
The Mixer 

V-STACK7 – 68 The Mixer
About this chapter
This chapter describes how to mix the sound from your VST Instru-
ments, adjusting level and pan and adding EQ.
• Effect handling is described on page 105.
About the signal flow
The following figure shows a simplified diagram of the signal flow:
The sound from a VST Instrument goes to one or several channels in 
the Mixer (depending on the instrument). Each channel can have up to 
five insert effects and an equalizer with up to four bands. There are 
eight...

V-STACKThe Mixer 7 – 69
A word about window handling
All the “VST windows” (Mixer, VST Instrument windows, effect win-
dows, etc.) are available on the Devices menu.
•To show or hide a window, select it from the Devices menu.
You can also use key commands, as listed on the Devices menu.
•If you like you can also manage the windows from the Devices panel, 
opened by selecting “Show Panels” on the Devices menu.
To hide or show a window, click on its button on the Devices panel. 

V-STACK7 – 70 The Mixer
Mixer overview
There are three different basic elements in the mixer: 
• The channel strips. This is where you mix and adjust the sound of the VST 
Instruments. Here you will also find four group channels, for submixing several 
instrument channels.
• The common panel. This panel to the left of the channel strips contains global 
settings for the Mixer and the channels.
• The Master section. This is where you adjust the master level.
Below you will find separate overviews of these...