Can I buy just one of the VST plugins or Audio Units in the Studio Setup?
Do you offer any discounts?
Why is the screen cut off?
What about Mac OS 9 versions of the VST plugins?
Why does the VST plugins stop to work after a couple of minutes?
I cannot find the effects in Acid Pro, where are they?
I've lost my registration details, can you resend them?
Would you like to swap the software with sounds I've made?
Do you want to exchange banners?
Do you offer any discounts, e.g. student discounts?
Would you like to send us NFR copies of the software?
When will you release new plugins?
What's VST plugins (or AU plugins)?
Which host or hardware should I use?
Is it best to use software or hardware?
Question: Can I buy just one of the VST plugins in the Studio Setup?
Answer: No. That'd create to much administrative work for us. However, the Studio Setup
has been priced so that you only have to pay what one plug-in would cost.
Question: Do you offer any discounts?
Answer: Yes, please go to the purchase page and select a couple of
products. Then scroll down and look at the price. You'll see how much discount
you've got. In general, we give discounts if you buy more than one product, for
example one synth and one soundpack.
Question: Why is the screen cut off?
Answer: You're probably using an adapter, either Cakewalk's adapter or the VST-DX adapter from Fxpansion.
These have a setting, where you can change the default size of the plugins screen. You need to change it.
Question: What about Mac OS 9 versions of the VST plugins?
Answer: No, Mac OS 9 is not even supported by Apple anymore, so you should upgrade to OS X and use
either the Audio Units or the VST plugins for Mac OSX.
Question: Why do the plugins stop to work after a couple of minutes?
Answer: You are using the trial version, which has a 3 minute limitation. Then you have
to close the instance and start it again in your host. Or you have not registered
properly. Type in your name and the registration code again, using the registration
tool.
Question: I cannot find the effects in Acid Pro. Where are they?
Answer: Acid Pro only supports VST instruments, and not VST effects. You may use an adapter though (e.g. Fxpansion's VST-DX or Tonewise's DirectiXer) to use the effects in Acid Pro.
Question: I've lost my registration details. Can you resend them?
Answer: No, we used to provide that service before, but it was abused by people coming back once a week asking for new links.
When you've bought a license it's your responsibility to take a backup copy on, say, a DVD-r or a second hard disk.
Question: Would you like to swap the software with sounds I have made?
Answer: No, we cannot do that.
Question: Do you want to exchange banners?
Answer: No.
Question: Do you offer any discounts, e.g. student discounts?
Answer: The current price includes a discount, and it's for everyone.
Question: Would you like to send us NFR copies of the software?
Answer: No, we don't give away NFR copies of our software.
Question: When will you release new software?
Answer: We cannot reveal any dates, because if we do and then realize that
we need more time, then we put ourselves in a very unpleasant situation. However, we're
here to stay so new products will definitely be released.
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Introduction to VST- and AU Plugins
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Introduction
to VST
and AU
Plugins
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Audio plugins are applications which run in your ordinary MIDI sequencer (or in your audio editor), for example Metro by Sagan Technology (Mac OS X) or Cubase SX on Windows. They're either instruments or effects. Instruments generate their sound and effects are used to process audio. Effects can be filters, delays, chorus units etc. In Apple's Audio Unit framework, the instruments are referred to as Music Devices.
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VST and AU Instruments
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The term VSTi is often used (i as in instrument). Audio Units can be effects and music devices. Usually both are just referred to as AUs or Audio Units.
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The technology
behind the
VST framework
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The software uses a framework, which was developed by Steinberg. You might have used some of their software,
such as Cubase VST, Cubasis, Cubase SX or Cubase SL.
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The technology
behind
Audio Units
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The Audio Unit framework was developed by Apple Inc, for Mac OS X.
It's is relatively comprehensive and supports all kinds of musical devices and synthesis.
Audio Units are becoming the preferred format for plugins on Mac OS X.
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AUs are
validated using
Apple's AU
validation tool
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The Audio Unit versions of MHC's plugins have been tested using Apple's AU Validation Tool
and all plugins pass the test without any errors. They are 100 percent compliant with
the Audio Unit framework. If you still have a problem, then it's most likely related
to the host you use. Try the demo versions just to be 100 percent sure.
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Running
(hosting) a
plugins
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There is software for Windows which doesn't support VSTs. These software packages
usually support the DXi standard and in those cases you can use an adapter.
The adapter "wraps around" the VST/AU synth (or effect) and makes the sequencer
think it's a DXi synth (or effect). Cakewalk, Tonewise and Fxpansion sell adapters.
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Hosts
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So ... which hosts accept VST and AU effects or/and instrument? On Mac OS X, you could use Emagic's Logic, Spark XL, Rax etc., depending on what you need. On Windows a number of different MIDI sequencers and audio editors were used for testing. They have also been tested with software which only accepts supports the DXi technology, for example SONAR 2.0. In that case the above adapters were used.
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Sagan Technology's Metro is a host for Mac OS X, which accepts both VST and AU plugins.
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Cubase SX
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Steinberg Cubase SX is a nice host for VST plugins on Windows.
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Logic
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Emagic's Logic can host Audio Units on Mac OS X. A great platform for
sequencing/recording on Mac OS X.
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Rax
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Rax is a small AU compatible host for Mac OS X
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Spark XL
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Spark XL supports Audio Unit effects on Mac OS X.
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Wavelab
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Steinberg's Wavelab is an audio editor on Windows, good for VST effects.
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Audio Mulch
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AudioMulch for Windows can host VST synths and effects.
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Muzys
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Muzys is a nice host on Windows, which is VST compatible.
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Magix
Music Studio
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Magix Music Studio for Windows can host VST plugins.
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Acid Pro
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Acid hosts VST instruments on Windows.
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Orion Pro
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Orion Pro for Windows can host VST plugins.
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SONAR 2.0
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Cakewalk's host only hosts DXi plugins, but they have an affordable and
good VST adapter.
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Renoise
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A combined tracker/sequencer for Windows, VST compatible.
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Steinberg
Cubasis
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A smaller version of Cubase VST which can host VST plugins.
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Steinberg
Cubase SL
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A smaller version of Cubase SX, which can host VST plugins.
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FL Studio (Fruity Loops)
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Originally a drum machine, which has basic VST support.
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Other Manufacturers of Music Equipment
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Sagan Tech
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Creators of Metro for Mac OS X, a very nice host for VST and AU plugins on Mac OS X.
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K-v-R
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Check out the reviews of the Space Synth on KVR-VST.
It's a web site, which hosts reviews and forums (also for AU plugins). Sometimes they have competitions and their forums are very popular, where people exchange thoughts about music software and music making in general.
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Keyboard
Magazine
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Keyboard Magazine
reports about interesting VST and AU releases, including the release of the Space Synth, Space Effect and Flex FX in the August 2002 issue.
This magazine is becoming somewhat of a legend. Many of their reporters have covered interesting topics throughout the
years. For example they've run a series of columns, which takes a look at different types of synthesis and
they interview leading producers to find out how they create sounds and work in the studio.
A couple of milestones are (IMHO)
the interviews with Isao Tomita, Mark Isham and Hans Zimmer.
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Emagic
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Emagic
develop the Logic software, which is a very nice host for the MHC software on Mac OS X. Emagic was bought by Apple back in 2002. That should ensure that they can continue developing Logic for Mac OS X.
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SonicCore
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Good sound cards from SonicCore,
in particular their DSP cards with multiple inputs. If you plan to get rid of
your mixing desk, replacing it with a multiple input sound card, then check
out their sound cards.
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Korg
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Good old Korg,
legends and still going strong. They have been in the business for 40 years and developed cult synths, such as the MS series, the Trident, Polysix, Mono/Poly, Wavestation and lately
the MS2000B and Micro Korg.
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Synthmuseum
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Your Vintage Resource - always fun to browse through the history.
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DTM
Magazine
Japan
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The Japanese DTM Magazine
included demo versions of MHC's software in their March 2003 issue.
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The
Fairlight
CMI
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There are plenty of pages on the web about
the incredibly fun Fairlight CMI, vintage series of samplers.
They are probably the most hyped keyboards in the history of keyboards.
But there's something with the Fairlight's samples, which is hard to describe.
Kind of magic. And each series was a milestone in keyboard technology.
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Apple-
Software
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Apple's software site is always interesting to browse through. There you find links to audio software, such as Logic and Soundtrack.
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Mark of the
Unicorn (MOTU)
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MOTU have a range of good sound cards. They have been around for many years and most of their sound cards
have a high quality. In addition they develop the Digital Performer software, for Mac OS X, which can host
Audio Units.
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MIX
Magazine
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Magazine for professional audio and music producers. They list the Space Synth, Space Effect
and Flex FX. Fatsondo and Voxynth in their (VST and AU) virtual instruments guide.
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CCRMA - Music
and Acoustics
Research
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CCRMA
(Centre for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics) is probably one of the US most vital and influential research institutes in music, acoustics etc.
If you're deeply involved in synthesis and want to know more about the research in this area, then this site is very exciting, including a software section.
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Hardware or Software?
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Hardware
or
Software?
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Many musicians are not sure whether they should use a external equipment, e.g. an analog synth and analog mixing desk, or a software setup. Usually it comes down to your budget and what you're trying to do. There are pros and cons with both alternatives.
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Do hardware
synths sound
better than
software
(e.g. VST)
synths?
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Most new devices use a computer to generate the sound. They are often referred to as DSP synths, because they contain a computer micro processor, which is a bit faster on processing signals (in this case audio signals) than the traditional PC and Mac computers are.
However, that's the only thing that is different from your Windows and Mac computer. The DSP processors
are just ordinary computers. That's why DSPs don't sound better than a VST or AU instrument (but it
might give you more voices). Instead it depends on which sound card the computer has and which sound
I/O the external gear has. If a filter sounds good on a DSP synth, then it's not because the hardware
is good, but because the actual filter algorithm (the code) is good.
A crappy sound card might be noisy, but it will still be able to play all those great software synths.
DSP processors might utilize the smartest algorithms ever to produce the sound, but if the D/A converters
are crappy you might suffer from a noisy output.
There's no difference in sound when you compare different frameworks, e.g.
VST vs AU, RTAS, TDM etc.
It all depends on whether the developers have done a good job or not. The surrounding framework doesn't
have anything to do with the actual sound generation. The sound generation depends solely on the DSP
algorithms (= the program code).
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Plugins
don't
require
cables
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Cables can be a nightmare. Imagine a 24 mixing
desk, effects with send/returns, three or four modules with separate outs, MIDI cabling
to all of these and power. This setup could easily require around 50-60 cables.
The more cables and the longer they are, the more noise you might pick up. A setup which is based around
a host such as Logic, or
Cubase SX, won't have
this problem. However, it can be fun to own one, two or three of your all time hardware favourites.
In that case, I'd recommend a multiple in sound card so you can mix using the computer. That has
several advantages.
- Less gear, plenty of free space in your studio
- Less number of cables and consequently less noise
- Instant recall - save your settings and recall everything 6 months later
There are sound cards, which have multiple ins and there are sound cards, which accept
for example an ADAT signal. With the latter type you can get a separate analog- to ADAT converter and
connect it to your sound card efficiently giving you 8 analog ins. Such a setup can be used to mix
your favourite vintage synths with your favourite VST or AU instruments.
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Plugins
can't
be used
live,
can they?
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If you perform live, then external gear might be the preferred choice because they
- have zero boot time
- are easy to transport
- don't require a heavy monitor on stage and
- have a built-in keyboard (no need to mess with MIDI connections)
More and more artists have started to use computers with AUs or VST instruments on stage though.
After all, a monitor might look quite cool or a small laptop might even be hard to recognize.
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I want
knobs, a
software
synth
doesn't
have
that
...or?
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Old analog synths usually have lots of knobs and sliders and that's definitely a bonus.
However, you can get a cheap a controller, such as the
Knobby controller from Encore Electronics, and use it
with your sequencer.
Or use a keyboard, rather than a controller, which has lots of knobs and use is in combination
with your favourite virtual instrument on the PC/Mac.
The knobs may usually control the synth itself and the software.
Just switch off local mode in the synth and redirect the MIDI messages, in the sequencer, to the
correct MIDI channel.Old analog synths usually have lots of knobs and sliders and that's definitely a bonus.
However, you can get a cheap a controller, such as the
Knobby controller from Encore Electronics, and use it
with your sequencer.
Or use a keyboard, rather than a controller, which has lots of knobs and use is in combination
with your favourite virtual instrument on the PC/Mac.
The knobs may usually control the synth itself and the software.
Just switch off local mode in the synth and redirect the MIDI messages, in the sequencer, to the
correct MIDI channel.
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Updates
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Although some hardware uses "flash memory" to make upgrading possible by sending
MIDI System Exclusive messages,
it's not as easy or common as with PC or Mac based software synthesizers. In the latter case, the manufacturer usually provides the customer with (at least minor) new versions. Hardware manufacturers in general (there
are exceptions) tend not to produce as frequent updates, if any.
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CPU load
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With external gear, your computer is left completely free for other things, such as recording MIDI,
recording audio or processing audio tracks with effects. That is definitely an advantage.
On the other hand, ordinary computers are getting so fast that you won't have much problem to use half
a dozen
AUs or VST instruments, lots of audio tracks with effects and a complete mixer section. Or get a DSP
based sound
card, such as the Creamware Pulsar, and run the mixer and
perhaps a couple of effect plugins on the DSP card and your VST or/and AU instruments on the computer.
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