Live Tracking With Vst Plugins
VSTs revolutionized mixing music. A list of vst vocal plugins.
Instruments and effects that used to cost thousands became accessible to every musician with a computer.
- Anybody knows if there is any chance to control vst plugins with automation track? I am using a plugin called microtrance and what i would like to do.
- LiveProfessor is a free VST rack plugin developed by ifoundasound.
- The free VST vocal effects plugin gives you the ability to control reverb parameters (pre-delay, space, time, and width), damping (low and high), EQ (lows, mids, and highs), and output gain (both reverb and dry).
- This tutorial covered how to setup your VST plugins folder in Ableton Live, how to find plug-in devices and add them to a track, and how to change VST presets and paramters using both the Ableton Live and a plugin's custom VST editor. From here, you can use VST plugins as instruments in tracks, and create MIDI parts that trigger them.
- With that in mind, chiptune VST plugins have been created with the capacity to emulate sounds created by certain systems. Knowing what type of sound you want to create will greatly speed up the VST selection process and ensure you use something that you’re happy with. With these features in mind, let’s get started.
If you produce music in a DAW, VSTs are probably a key part of your workflow.
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But sometimes you want to use your plugins without launching a full fledged DAW. Maybe you just want your jam with your virtual synths, or play live with a VST rig on stage.
To run VSTs without the extra functionality of a DAW you’ll need a VST host.
In this article I’ll go through the 8 best VST host apps available today.
What is a VST host?
A VST host is a software program that can load VST instruments or effects plugins. A VST host can be a DAW or a dedicated software program just for running VSTs.
While a traditional DAW can be used for live performance, many musicians prefer the stability and ease of use that comes with dedicated VST hosts.
While a traditional DAW can be used for live performance, many musicians prefer the stability and ease of use that comes with dedicated VST hosts.
These purpose-built software programs don’t need the extra features and functionality of full recording apps.
That makes them simpler and more efficient for your computer to run.
Even if you’re just playing through a handful of instruments or effects, a VST host can help when a standalone version of the plugin doesn’t exist.
The 10 best VST hosts
With the basics out of the way, here are the 10 best VST hosts available today.
1. Apple Mainstage
Apple’s Mainstage is one of the most well-known VST hosts for live performance.
It includes many of the respected plugins, presets and effects from Apple’s flagship DAW app Logic Pro X.
Built specifically with live shows in mind, Mainstage has many impressive features for performers.
Guitarists will love the virtual pedalboards and amp rigs that come complete with tuner, tap tempo and spillover features.
And keyboardists can take advantage of the excellent built-in emulations of classics the Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes, Hohner Pianet and more.
Unfortunately, like all Apple software, Mainstage is only available on Mac OS X. But if you’re a Mac user looking to play VSTs live, Mainstage is probably your first option to try.
2. Topten Cantabile
Topten Cantabile is a high performance VST host that’s tailor-made for live playing.
Free vst tape echo. With robust MIDI routing and impressive real-time features, Cantabile is an excellent choice for using VSTs on stage.
Cantabile was purpose-built for the stage, so it’s among the most stable and efficient hosts you can find.
If you’re a keyboard player looking to ditch a heavy hardware rig for simple laptop setup, Cantabile could be your best choice.
It comes in three editions, including a free tier with Cantabile Lite.
Unfortunately, Cantabile is Windows-only, so you’ll have to choose another option if you want to turn your MacBook into the ultimate plug-in based synthesizer.
3. Your DAW
Any application that can run VSTs is a VST host.
That means your DAW is a perfectly good option for playing VSTs live.
Any application that can run VSTs is a VST host. That means your DAW is a perfectly good option for playing VSTs live.
DAWs are more complex than basic VST hosts, so your system will naturally have to do a bit more to keep the gig running.
But there are some upsides to using a DAW as a live VST host. You won’t have to learn a new program to be able to build your stage setup.
And you can easily translate your projects from tracking and mixing to live performance.
Some DAWs are lightweight enough that they’re well suited for live performance. For example, Ableton…Live is often used as a performance DAW.
4. Audiostrom LiveProfessor 2
Audiostrom LiveProfessor 2 is another feature-rich option for live VST use.
It features impressive preset capabilities, performance-oriented cue lists, flexible signal chains and impressive hardware control.
LiveProfessor 2 was developed in collaboration with industry professionals to create an app rugged enough for live use.
It’s popular among front-of-house engineers for mixing live sets with VST plugins.
5. Niall Moody Pedalboard 2
Niall Moody Pedalboard 2 is a simple and effective VST host that’s designed to work just like a guitarist’s pedalboard.
Set your I/O, load your VSTs and patch between them to create a pedalboard-style signal flow.
The best part? Pedalboard 2 is free, lightweight and easy to use.
If you’re looking to chain together a few virtual stompboxes and amp simulators in a digital guitar rig, Pedalboard 2 is a great choice.
6. Hermann Seib VSTHost
VSTHost is a simple but effective hosting app created by independent developer Hermann Seib.
The project started as a plugin testing platform but became popular among keyboardists for playing live in the early days of VSTs.
It’s still a great choice for a simple and effective VST host.
VSTHost lets you load plugins, edit them, send MIDI and save your setups to recall later.
7. Kushview Element
Kushview Element is a modular plugin host that can run VST and AU instruments in flexible configuration.
Its unique matrix style patchbay and graphical editor lets you draw in complex effects racks and signal chains with ease.
If you’ve ever tried to use your plugins in a live performance, you’ll know the challenges that can arise.
Element features easy integration with hardware controllers and easy external sync to MIDI clock sources.
It’s also free and open-source for you to experiment with and shape to your needs.
8. Tone2 NanoHost
Tone2 NanoHost is the most lightweight VST host on this list—in fact it’s barely a host at all.
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NanoHost acts as a wrapper to turn a VST plugin into a standalone application.
If your favourite VST instrument doesn’t come bundled with a standalone app, NanoHost will do the job—for Windows users only.
It’s perfect for those who just want to boot up a single VST without the hassle of a complicated program.
Play VSTs live
VST hosts may seem like an extremely specific type of software, but they fulfill an important purpose.
If you’ve ever tried to use your plugins in a live performance, you’ll know the challenges that can arise.
VST hosts can help, and if you’ve made it through this article you’ll have a handle on some of the best options available today.
Chordz is a VST plugin that allows you to trigger full chords by playing single notes. Each trigger note is associated with a separate chord. Each chord may consist of any number of notes. Play complicated chord progressions with one finger, with a MIDI keyboard or a drum-pad, or trigger chords from single notes added in your DAW’s piano roll.
A chord can be set up to include individual notes spread out over several octaves (two octaves both below and above the octave of the trigger note). This means you can easily create chord inversions and other custom chord voicings, for example double certain notes, both above and below the root note. The chord suggestion feature suggests diatonic chords based on the selected scale and root note.
When “easy mode” is enabled, you can play the chords in any scale using only the white keys, with “C” always being the I chord. The black keys can then be used for chord variations (for example “C#” to trigger a major seventh or ninth chord, while “C” triggers a regular major chord).
The keyboard can be divided into three zones, one for playing chords, the other two (one below, and one above, the chord trigger zone) for playing single notes. Each zone can be independently transposed up or down by any number of octaves. This allows you to play chords with your left hand, while your right hand plays the melody.
Optionally, single notes outside the chord trigger zone can be forced to stay within the selected scale. When easy mode is enabled, it will follow the chord trigger setup (for example, if scale is set to F minor and a C note will produce a F minor chord, a C note outside the chord trigger zone will play a F note). This will ensure that you will always stay in key, and never hit a wrong note.
The plugin supports optional velocity scaling and randomization for each note of the chord. Another feature is the start and end delay (this can also be randomized), which can be used to, for example, emulate strumming or to create more unpredictable results (works great with sounds with a long attack and/or decay, such as pads or strings).
Chordz comes with more than 40 scale/chord templates, and a chord library with more than 50 chord types. You can add your own custom templates, and new chord types by editing the relevant text file. And you can, of course, customize the chords directly in the GUI.
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Chordz can also work as an educational tool. You can use Chordz to better understand the various musical scales and corresponding chords, as well as to learn those scales and chords by following the visual guides on the plugin’s virtual keyboards display.