Guitar

Overview

What are VST/VSTi?

VST plugins are generally run within a Digital Audio Workstation (like Sony Acid Pro; Audcacity; Cubase; etc.), providing the host application with additional functionality. Most VST plugins can be classified as either instruments (VSTi) or effects, although other categories exist. VST plugins generally provide a custom GUI, displaying controls similar to the physical switches and knobs on audio hardware. Some (often older) plugins rely on the host application for their UI.

This tutorial examplifies the usage and how to import third party VSTi plugins in Sony ACID Pro 4.0.

Step 1

Click on the "Insert Soft Synth..." button on the upper side of the Mixer. If you dont see the mixer go to "View" > "Mixer" (Alt + 3)

Step 2

If your VSTI is displayed on the list, select it, click OK and skip to Step 4 of this tutorial.
If your VSTI isn't displayed (case you are importing a new VSTI), click on "VSTI Preferences..."

Step 3

Clicking on "VSTI Preferences..." will show the next window:
Insert the path to your VSTI folders and then push "Refresh". Your VSTI will be displayed. Push "OK" to return to the previous window, select the VSTI from the list and click OK.

Step 4

ACID already ships with a VSTI called "DLS Soft Synth", so I've selected this one for ilustration purposes.
Double click on the VSTI icon next to the mixer (on the right) and the VSTI will be displayed (on the left).

Step 5

Go to "Insert" > "MIDI Track"

Step 6

Right click the new track and select "Properties":

Step 7

On the new window Select the "Piano Roll Editor" and paint some notes on the grid:

Step 8

After you are done with your MIDI you can now paint on the time line has a normal loop:

Step 9

The ACID PRO VSTI has many instruments available, if you are having problems sellecting a diferent instrument, note that earlier versions of this VSTI plugin had a bug that didnt allow you to do this. If this is your case, a workaround is:

• Rigth-Click the "MIDI track;
• Select "Properties";
• On the new window select the "List Editor";
• Right-click the list and select "Insert..."

Step 10

• Select "Patch" from the drop down list:

Step 11

• Refering to the VSTI panel (has shown on Step 4 - on the left side of the image) you can see the various intrumenst and their "Patch number" and "Bank MSB". Manually insert this values according to the desired instrument of your choise: