Subject:some more VST questions

Posted by: wynton

Date:11/28/2006 5:29:14 AM

I have a few basic VST questions, with Music Studio 6.

1. Most importantly, I'm not sure when the VST effects are actually made and saved. I mostly use SoundSoap to clean up the recordings. Within SoundSoap there is an "apply button" to select after the various settings are made. Naturally, I hit "apply." But I'm not sure whether I then need to "save" the file within SoundSoap. If I hit "save" within SoundSoap. If I don't hit "save" and I close SoundSoap, will the track as it appears in Music Studio retain the Sound Soap effects?

2. Regardless of whether I save the effects in SoundSoap, after I close SoundSoap, should I then save the file again within Music Studio? And what am I saving exactly then? Am I saving an Acid project, as opposed to just the individual file?

3. When I access other VST effects through the "track fx" option, I can't tell when the effects are applied. There does not appear to be a similar "apply" button. The tutorial implies that the effect is applied once the box is closed, but that does not seem right to me. How can I be certain that an effect has been applied? Do I need to save the project again afterwards, before burning a CD?

As always, all advice is greatly appreciated.

Subject:RE: some more VST questions

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:11/28/2006 9:08:51 AM

> 1. Most importantly, I'm not sure when the VST effects are actually made and saved. ...I'm not sure whether I then need to "save" the file within SoundSoap. If I hit "save" within SoundSoap.

Doing a save with SoundSoap saves the preset to be used later by simply recalling it. ACID is saving the settings in your project anyway so unless you need to recall the settings later in another project there is no need to save in SoundSoap.

> 2. Regardless of whether I save the effects in SoundSoap, after I close SoundSoap, should I then save the file again within Music Studio? And what am I saving exactly then? Am I saving an Acid project, as opposed to just the individual file?

Yes you should save in ACID so that the FX parameters are saved with the project. You don't have to save after every time you apply an FX, you just need to save before you quit.

> 3. When I access other VST effects through the "track fx" option, I can't tell when the effects are applied.

The FX are applied when you add them to the track or bus. There is a checkbox in the FX name that allows you to bypass them individually. Unless they are bypassed, they are applied. The FX button will display green to let you know the affects are active.

~jr

Subject:RE: some more VST questions

Reply by: wynton

Date:11/28/2006 12:39:48 PM

Thanks. WIth regard to this:

"The FX are applied when you add them to the track or bus. There is a checkbox in the FX name that allows you to bypass them individually. Unless they are bypassed, they are applied. The FX button will display green to let you know the affects are active."

So after checking the box, I can close the FX window and the effects wil be made instantaneously? I find this somewhat counterintuitive because, when using Soundsoap (after accessing it through the options menu for "edit in Soundsoap"), there is an "apply" button and, after it's pressed, SoundSoap is clearly at work for several minutes. But if I access Soundsoap through the "track fx" button instead, that "apply" button does not appear.

Do you know why Soundsoap might operate differently depending on how it is accessed?

Subject:RE: some more VST questions

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:11/28/2006 7:48:21 PM

> So after checking the box, I can close the FX window and the effects wil be made instantaneously?

Yes this is how track and bus FX work.

> Do you know why Soundsoap might operate differently depending on how it is accessed?

Yes. When you "Edit in SoundSoap" you are actually calling SoundSoap as an external program. Just as if you were editing in Sound Forge. Effectively you are leaving ACID, editing the file with SoundSoap and coming back to ACID to reload the file. ACID has no knowledge of what stand-alone programs are doing so you MUST save before you return to ACID so that it can read the changed file. This save is permanent and modifies the source file forever!

When you add SoundSoap as an FX it is not permanent. We call this "non-destructive editing". You can go back and change the parameters and the source file is never changed. This is why there is no "apply' button. It is always on and never needs to be applied.

Most plug-ins only work in FX mode. SoundSoap is unique in that you can use it stand-alone (without ACID) or as a plug-in to ACID.

~jr

Subject:RE: some more VST questions

Reply by: wynton

Date:11/29/2006 7:07:27 AM

Johnny, this is very helpful. If I can just ask one more question about this:

Mostly, I've been accessing SoundSoap through the "edit in Soundsoap" option. After making the selections, I choose "apply" in Soundsoap. And then I've saved the file within soundsoap. At that point, I close Soundsoap.

Meanwhile, Acid has remained open in the background the entire time (without closing the file). At that stage, is the file that remains open on Music Studio the same that I just saved and closed in Soundsoap?

Subject:RE: some more VST questions

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:11/29/2006 4:50:24 PM

> Johnny, this is very helpful. If I can just ask one more question about this:

Nope no more questions. Three is the limit... Uh? what's that? You only asked two? OK, but just one more. :-D

> Mostly, I've been accessing SoundSoap through the "edit in Soundsoap" option...is the file that remains open on Music Studio the same that I just saved and closed in Soundsoap?

Yup! That is one of the greatest things about ACID. It allows you to open the file in another application and then ACID swaps in the altered file when you return. I wish all audio apps were like this. Most will not and the second application will complain that it can't open the file. I especially like the fact that ACID Pro 6 lets you define 3 "edit in" applications. I use it with Melodyne Uno too and it works great!

~jr