Now, I've never messed with VST- I hardly understand the concept, and it's driving me mad because quite a few people rave about it, so just a quick question about these packs- are they all stand alone then?
Thanks,
-Servetus
It's important to get the concept right from the start.
VSTs are plugins and by definition need a 'host' software to run. The host software can be any one of a range of programs (check out the hosts listed in
http://www.kvraudio.com/) but most commonly it's a sequencer like Cubase. Although VST is used as a shorthand, these plugins actually fall into two categories: VSTi's - which are instruments like synthesizers or samplers - and VST's which are effects - like delay or reverb.
VST is an acronym for 'Virtual Studio Technology' - and this is precisely what it intends to be: a software variant of audio effects and all kinds of instruments.
In a host, you can normally use the VST's like you would use hardware effects, appplying them to the audio on a track. The VSTi's you can actually play like you can a real synthesizer, except that they are pieces of software and (cpu power permitting) can be used simulateneously as much as you want. They also normally store their settings along with a saved song and most can be easily automated meaning that you can dynamically change their settings and store this information in your sequencer. Think of dynamically changing the feedback parameter of a delay, or the filter cutoff on a synth and then being able to later change it without disturbing the notes that were played.
Now, a lot of VSTi's can also be played stand alone - which means that you don't need a host program. In this case they either bring along a seperate standalone version of the plugin - or they contain some kind of mini-host which serves only to contain the plugin and receive midi data from your keyboard and send audio from the plugin to your audio outputs.
