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The following are commonly asked question about VST technology.
VST Instruments are high quality instrument samples and audio effects that load directly into your MIDI sequencer. Jesse Hopkins answers the most common questions about this new portable sampling technology.
Only a few years ago, the only options for musicians who needed high quality synthesis and sample banks were offered by expensive hardware synthesizers and samplers. External effects processors were a must-have item for anyone who wanted their studio
to be up to the highest quality of digital processing. VST Instruments finally allow composers to take advantage of their personal computer’s audio processor to do the work of many high quality hardware synthesizers and effects processors. In recent
years, many products have been developed using VST technology. Overture 4 can link directly to these instruments and effects for the ultimate integration of your computer music studio.
Q
What is a VST Instrument?
VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology and was developed by Steinberg to take advantage of the powerful synthesis capabilities of your computer’s soundcard. With VST technology, a sequencer such as Overture 4 becomes a virtual studio without the
need for expensive rack mounts or other hardware synthesizers. VST’s are not limited to musical instruments, but also include effects, such as reverb, equalization, compression, flanger, echo, etc.
Q
What do I need to be able to use VST Instruments?
VST Instruments require a VST compatible host application. Overture 4 is a full VST 2.0 compatible host application. With Overture 4, you can load VST Instruments directly into the "Instrument Rack" and assign them to the staves and voices in the
score. You will need to already own or purchase a VST sample library, VST synth, or a VST sampler.
The minimum computer requirements for running VST Instruments will vary depending on the synthesizer, sampler, or library you plan to use. VST Instruments usually require about 1GB RAM, a Pentium 4 or Mac G4 processor, and a soundcard with Standard
DirectSound, MME or ASIO drivers. There is a direct correlation between the number of instruments that can be loaded and the amount of available RAM. You will also need to have enough room on your hard disk for all the samples. An orchestral library
can require anywhere from 2 Gigabytes to much higher, while a standard rock instruments library can be somewhat smaller. It all depends on library you plan to use with Overture 4. Check with the Library manufacturer’s requirements before purchasing a
large sample library.
Q
How do I install a VST Instrument?
VST Instruments are run by the host application (Overture 4). For installation, all you need to do is place a copy of what is called the VST Instrument’s "DLL" file in the application’s designated VST plug-ins folder. This file will enable the instrument’s use
from within the Overture 4 on its next launch. No computer restart is necessary. It is a good idea to keep an additional copy of your DLL files outside of the designated folder in case they accidentally deleted during program updates.
Q How do I connect a VST Instrument?
Most host applications have different methods of assigning the VST Instruments, but the basic premise of assigning them to different channels available to the sequencer is universal. In Overture 4, you need to first launch the VST Instruments Rack.
From the dropdown menu, you can select one of the synthesizers that is installed in the VST plugins folder. VST output is an audio signal, so it can be altered with effects and EQ. When you activate your synth, you will be able to choose your synth
and MIDI
channels from Overture’s Tracks Window to identify the instrument. Once configured in the Tracks window, you can play the VST Instrument from a MIDI keyboard for real time or use step entry and mouse entry in Overture 4.
Q
What types of sounds are available in VST format?
VST Instruments can generate both analogue and digital sounds. This means you can emulate both your favorite classic Moog synth from the 1970s, or you can take advantage of huge, state of the art sample libraries that contain real recordings from
each note any given instrument. Analogue VST Instruments have been created that emulate many of your favorite old synthesizers with amazing accuracy. There are high quality VST sample libraries of all genres from pop/rock and world instruments to
orchestral and jazz. Popular orchestral VST sample libraries include Garritan Personal Orchestra, EastWest Symphonic Orchestra and Synful, which include most orchestral instruments. VST compatible Software Samplers, such as Kontakt
allow you to go one step further and load instruments from your old Sample CDs or SoundFonts directly into them for use with Overture’s VST Instrument Rack. You can even create your own instruments and have the full access to the most advanced
sampling technology available right inside your sequencer. You should purchase samples that are right for the goals you want to achieve in your music. Once you have VST sample support at your fingertips, you will be able to mix and match samples from
different libraries in Overture 4 to create the ultimate sound bank for your personal composition style, and even save it into a template or score you are working on.
Q Are there any VST Instruments which allow sampling?
The primary VST samplers in today’s market are Native Instruments Kontakt and
IK Multimedia's SampleTank. These software samplers are actually more advanced than their hardware counterparts, enabling you maximum control over compositions. You can assign
whatever MIDI controllers you desire to trigger different playing styles within an instrument and control them from Overture 4, your VST host application. The possibilities of tweaking your sounds, or even creating new ones in a VST sampler and
triggering them via Overture’s powerful MIDI functions, are limitless.
Q Do VST Instruments have any advantages compared to stand-alone software synths?
Affordability and portability are the clear advantages that VST Instruments have over stand-alone software synths. Aside from that, there has been a clear migration of third part sample developers to the VST format, meaning that some of the most
detailed and cutting edge sample libraries and analogue synths are available primarily in VST format. The cost and portability of the modern composing studio has dropped considerably, and the demand for more products being made for this format is
very high. Developers have also improved the interface through being able to use screen displays instead of a limited array of buttons and knobs to control your instruments. With VST your sounds can be saved within your host application’s document
(Overture file) so you know that your setup will be available the next time you open your score.
Q Can VST Instruments damage my computer?
It is possible that if you download them from unofficial sources on the internet that you might infect your computer with a virus, but generally VST Instruments are unable to create problems within your system. Trying to load too many instruments and
play them at once can result in a crash, but if you make sure your computer’s specifications fulfill the minimum requirements for what you want to do, then this should not be a problem. Some composers stick to chamber music or use small ensembles
until they can afford a faster computer with more RAM and a better soundcard. One way of increasing polyphony is to shorten decays and turn off release samples. Some VST samplers allow you to cap the maximum polyphony. You can optimize CPU usage by
reducing the maximum number of voices until you can hear all the notes in your song.
Q
How can I decrease the delay that occurs between pressing a note on my MIDI keyboard and hearing the sound generated by the VST Instrument?
Depending on you computer’s capabilities, you may need to increase the latency of your VST Instruments in your soundcard driver. You will want to try to get the smallest delay possible. For an unnoticeable delay of 20 milliseconds or less, you should
be running ASIO or EASI drivers. If your soundcard does not support those, then the next best thing is probably using DirectX drivers, but you will not be able to record audio while they are enabled. Latency only really will effect you when recording
MIDI in real time, because the MIDI data will actually be happening before you hear the sound. This can effect your performance negatively and will sound different when you play it back. One workaround is to play in your MIDI tracks using a hardware
synth, so you will not hear a delay, and then direct the output of the track to the VST Instrument for playback. Not ideal, but it works for those of us not ready for a computer upgrade.
Q Is the response of VST Instruments as fast as that of hardware synthesizers?
Timing accuracy will be determined by your soundcard drivers, and your latency settings. Your timing can be just as tight as on a hardware synthesizer. The next generation of soundcards allows latency as low as 1 millisecond and 0% CPU load for an
affordable price.
Q Can I use MIDI to change VST Instrument parameters in real time?
As long as the VST Instrument you are trying to control has such parameters programmed into it, yes. Most VST Instruments respond to the basic pitchbend, modulation and aftertouch. Many VST Instruments have highly specialized and extensive parameter
controls such as timbre, vibrato, attack speed, legato, etc. Overture 4 can playback these parameters via its accents and slurs, making for a fluid creation process. Another way Overture 4 controls MIDI data is through the Graphical window or the
MIDI Data Editing view. Here is where you can draw minute changes to MIDI data and velocity values. You can also record these parameters with your MIDI keyboard in real time, or record just one parameter over the notes you’ve already entered for
greater improvisational control.
Q How do VST Instruments which are based on classic analogue synths stack up to the originals?
Developers have captured the unique attributes of envelope shape, oscillator waveforms, and filter response that gave the originals their unique character. Although analogue synths usually went through refinements, their VST counterparts will be
easily recognized by enthusiasts and enjoyed as variations on the originals. Analogue VST Instruments have three advantages over the originals. They don’t go out of tune, they are more portable in live performance, and you won’t have to pay
collectors’ prices for a working model.
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