Using VST Instruments

1. From the Insert menu, choose Soft Synth, or click the Insert Soft Synth button in the Mixing Console window. The Soft Synth Chooser is displayed.

2. Select the VST instrument from the list and click the OK button.

TIP If the VST instrument you want to use isn't displayed in the Soft Synth Chooser dialog, you can use the Plug-In Manager window to indicate where your plug-ins are installed and scan for plug-ins.

The soft synth bus control is added to the Mixing Console window using the default settings, and the Soft Synth Properties window is displayed. You can load new presets or banks or use the instrument's interface in the Soft Synth Properties dialog to adjust its settings.

When you insert a VST instrument that supports multiple output ports, Acid creates a soft synth bus for the VSTi's main output in the Mixing Console window.

You can add soft synth bus controls for each of the VSTi's output ports to mute, solo, add effects, and adjust volume for each soft synth bus control individually. For more information, see "Add or remove soft synth busses for multiport VST instruments" in this help topic.

NOTE If you change the number of outputs from within a multiport VST instrument after adding the soft synth to your Acid project, the Acid Mixing Console window will not reflect the change if the VST instrument does not notify host applications of dynamic port changes.

When you insert a VST instrument that supports multiple output ports, Acid creates a soft synth bus for the VST instrument's main output in the Mixing Console window.

You can add soft synth bus controls for each of the VSTi's output ports to mute, solo, add effects, and adjust volume for each soft synth bus control individually.

1. Right-click the VST instrument's soft synth icon in the Mixing Console window.

2. Choose Insert/Remove <Synth Name> Outputs from the shortcut menu, and then choose a command from the submenu.

NOTE Deleting the main output's soft synth bus control will remove all of the VST instrument's ports.

When you're using a VST instrument as a soft synth, you can use the Soft Synth Properties window to load or save settings for an individual instrument.

NOTE Some VST instruments may not support loading or saving presets through the Acid interface. These instruments may have their own methods of saving presets and banks, or saving may not be available in a demonstration or limited version of the instrument.

Loading an instrument preset

1. Click the Open Effect Preset button . The Open VSTi Effect Preset dialog is displayed.

2. Browse to the .fxp file that you want to use.

3. Click the Open button. The current VST instrument settings are replaced with the settings stored in the preset.

Saving the current settings as a preset

1. Click the Save Effect Preset button . The Save VSTi Effect Preset dialog is displayed.

2. Browse to the folder where you want to save the .fxp file and type a name in the File Name box.

3. Click the Save button. The current VST instrument settings are stored in the preset.

When you're using a VST instrument as a soft synth, you can use the Soft Synth Properties window to load or save banks of settings.

Loading a saved bank

1. Click the Open Effect Bank button . The Open VSTi Effect Bank dialog is displayed.

2. Browse to the .fxb file that you want to use.

3. Click the Open button. The current VST instrument settings are replaced with the settings stored in the bank.

Saving the current settings as a bank

1. Click the Save Effect Bank As button . The Save VSTi Effect Bank dialog is displayed.

2. Browse to the folder where you want to save the .fxb file and type a name in the File Name box.

3. Click the Save button. The current VST instrument settings are stored in the bank.

Select the Enable button on the Soft Synth Properties window to enable a VST instrument so you can hear its output, or click again to bypass the instrument.

NOTE When you change the soft synth bus control to use a different VST instrument, it will be enabled automatically.

Routing MIDI tracks uses the same process whether you're routing to a VST instrument, ReWire 2.0 device application, or MIDI port. For more information, see Routing Tracks to Soft Synths or MIDI Devices.

1. Double click a soft synth icon in the Mixer window. The Soft Synth Properties window is displayed.

2. In the Soft Synth Properties window, click the External MIDI Input Port button and choose a port from the menu.

   If the port you want to use isn't selected, you can choose External MIDI Device Preferences to display the MIDI tab in the Preferences dialog, where you can make devices available for MIDI input.

NOTE Notes:

1. Step 2 is necessary only if the Auto MIDI input routing check box on the MIDI tab of the Preferences dialog is not selected.

2. If you're using a VSTi soft synth, select the Enable button on the Soft Synth Properties window to allow real-time MIDI playback.

3. Play your MIDI controller, and it will use the current program settings from the Soft Synth Properties window.

For more information about using external MIDI devices, see Using External MIDI Devices.

You can use the soft synth bus track to control parameter automation for VST instruments using envelopes.

For more information about adding and adjusting parameter automation envelopes, please see Automating VSTi Parameters.