VST (Virtual Studio Technology)

What is a Digital Audio Workstation?• A digital audio workstation, or DAW, is a virtual studio system that consists of

host computer hardware, audio interface hardware, MIDI software and audio multitrack software. A home computer with these components can be considered as a digital audio workstation, but the term is usually used for computer systems with professional quality audio processing software and hardware.

The Origin of the Term• The term digital audio workstation first referred to computer-based systems that

used hard drives for data storage instead of using tapes. Back in the 1980's, digital audio workstations were used to play, record and edit digital audio tracks. These computer systems were extremely expensive and had a very high learning curve. That is the reason why early digital audio workstations were only used by professional musicians and producers. Modern digital audio workstations are now more accessible to the public.

Types of Digital Audio Workstations• there are only two general types of digital audio workstations: computer-based

digital audio workstations and integrated digital audio workstations. Computer-based DAWs are composed of a computer, a sound card and digital audio processing software. Integrated DAWs use a mixing console, an audio converter, a control surface and a data storage. All these components are included in one device. DAWs were commonly used before home computers developed into a more advanced technology to serve as DAWs.

The VST (Virtual Studio Technology) system was developed by Steinberg to enable a complete studio to be created in software. it allows third-party developers to produce real-time effect modules that could 'plug in' to the host application DAW. It is possible to send MIDI data to and from such effects.

You need a suitable VST 2.0-compatible host application. A soundcard and a fairly powerful CPU, since the sounds are created in real time using some of the processing power of your computer --each extra note you play needs more calculations, and thus consumes additional CPU cycles. As a rough guide, you should add together the minimum specifications quoted by both your MIDI + Audio sequencer and the VST Instrument, since you will obviously be running them both simultaneously.

To install. All you need to do is to drag the DLL file into your plug-ins folder, and then the next time you launch your sequencer the new instrument should appear in your list of available VST Instruments.

Most VST instruments install via a .exe file

• To select and connect a VST Instrument?

• depends on the individual host application. In the case of Ableton you first need to launch the appropriate panel by selecting the VST Instruments option in the Audio or Prefrences menu, Once a VST is loaded it can be treated with EQ and effects in exactly the same way as would a normal audio track.

Most VST Instruments specialise in one type of sound, the most popular being analogue synth simulations, but you can already buy simulations of Hammond tone wheel organs, Mellotrons, and Wavetable synths -- no doubt many more will follow.

Most are multi-timbral – They can play more than one sound at a time

The biggest advantage of VSTs is that they are considerably cheaper than their hardware equivalents, At a more general level this freedom allows developers to create user interfaces with a separate control for every parameter. Users can configure VSTs fit in with their DAW workflow.

Hardware Keyboard and Effect units may not be as versatile to configure.