If you have been recording or producing music via a computer, you may have heard the term VST. What is VST and how does it figure in to playing, recording, and editing music?
What is VST?
VST, Virtual Studio Technology, is an interface standard for connecting synthesizers and effects to audio editors and recording systems. Invented and developed by Steinberg, makers of the Cubase audio recording programs; VST replaces traditional audio recording hardware with software equivalents. So instead of having to route your audio out of your computer into your hardware effects units and then back into your computer, all the routing is done internally. If you have a powerful enough computer, you can do real time effects processing, utilizing either a MIDI controller or through envelope tweaks using MIDI.
There are 2 different types of VST plug-ins, with thousands of different varities, making it the most widely used plug-in type. The 2 main types are:
VST instruments - Also know as a VSTi, they take the form of synthesizers and sampler units. They can be played in real time, or also used in conjunction with MIDI for live performance. They are basically a software version of a piece of hardware. I have and use the Master Hammond B3 VST soft synth very often, which is the software version of the Hammond organ. Let me tell you, lugging the soft synth version of the B3 around in my laptop is a whole lot easier than having to carry around the hardware version!
VST effects - VST effects are used to process audio, like any other type of audio effect. These can also be used in real time, most effectively when coupled with an appropriate low-latency soundcard. There are VST equivalents to every type of audio effect available as hardware. I use all of the standard VST effects that come with Cubase SX, plus quite a few standalone units as well. One great VST effects bundle is the WaveLab 6 package offered by Steinberg.
VST instruments and effects must be used in conjunction with a VST host to be used at all. A VST host is usually a software application or a hardware device. I use Cubase SX as a host for my VST instruments and effects, and I recommend the program not just for its VST support. As a multi-track recording program that supports MIDI and VST technologies, there aren't many other programs out there as robust and user-friendly as Cubase SX.
As a computer savvy musician, if you aren't familiar with VST technology, I suggest that you get acquainted. It will cut down on your equipment costs and potentially streamline your recording and editing processes.
This is a guide to basic sound synthesis which will help you in creating music with software and virtual instruments like Cubase and Fruity Loops.
The basic sound that you hear in the patches is produced by the oscillators, and is then fed through the synthesizers signal path. If you set oscillation to a very low pitch, you'll end up with gaps because the wave form is unceasingly dependent on the speed pitch of the note. And so the different sounds are produced by the shape of the waveform, which is the product of oscillation.
Here're the standard wave form.
For a sharp biting type sound, you need the saw wave. Its named as this because its shape is identical to those on a saw blade
To get a soft mild tone then you'll want the Sine Wave, which's shaped like a horizontal S; it has a smooth up and down shape to it.
A specified colour of noise will produce noise even though it is not truly a wave-form
To get that sound that simulates a hollow reed you need the square-wave. This's distinguishable by its near perfect square out-look.
A variance to the square wave is the pulse-wave, although its merely half as wide. It has the interesting ability to have a modulated width. Perhaps you've heard this as being related to as the Pulse Width Modulation.
To find a glad medium between the saw wave and sine wave you would need the triangle-wave, which's the shape of a triangle.
Most often a synthesizer has 2-3 oscillators. Being as that is the case, you can do a couple of fascinating stuff by mixing the waveforms together. Plus you can tune them so they're different from one another. It can be tuned in semitones, octaves or in cents. A swirling untuned sound is produced by many oscillators which are cents apart from one another. Cents is a hundredth of a semi-tone.
There is an oscillator recognise as a low frequency oscillator. Its frequencies are undetectable unless you physically tune it into a standard hearing range. Its job is to tone the pitch of the oscillator or the filter frequency.
The start and stop of the waveform is quite evident because the LFOs are like the oscillators in that they all the same use regular wave forms. When utilized the right way for instance the sine-wave allows you to hear an increasing or decreasing sound of the wave shape. Animation and moving texture will be the end result for your synthesizer sound if done properly.
You can harness the full power of an actual synth stack using VST plugins and Cubase. Go ahead. Ride volume on multiple tracks simultaneously. Explore sounds and effects with VST plugins. Mute,solo and record tracks with the push of a button. Open and tweak virtual insutrments and effects plugins easily. Music creation can't get any easier than this.
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