digital audio workspaces (DAWs) / VST synthesizers

see also:

• keyboard synthesizers
• sound
• audio cables, adapters, bluetooth speakers, karaoke for camping
• battery powered speakers for synths and PA

• MIDI is a standard introduced for synthesizers (and computers) to work with MIDI-controllers such as keyboards
• it allows 16 concurrent channels
• uses special MIDI cables
• thus a keyboard playing notes on channel 1 will send that and any connected synthesizer which has channel 1 enabled will then output the channel 1 sound
• basic MIDI has all MIDI effects such as pitch bend or after touch sent as channel-wide messages which effects all notes currently being played on that channel
• MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) is an extension to MIDI that lets each individual note in a performance have its own independent expressive control for more realistic playing of guitars and string instruments in particular
  • MPE repurposes the 16 MIDI channels so that one channel (often 1) is a “master” for global messages like sustain pedal, and the remaining channels (typically 2–16) are used for individual notes. This gives up to about 15 notes of fully independent expression at once on a single MIDI port.

• these are software programs for computers to create and manage music creation

• Cubase Elements
  • 64bit engine (hence does not support 32bit plugins!), 192kHz audio
  • 64 Midi tracks, 48 audio tracks, 24 VST instrument tracks, 3 VST instruments (HALion Sonic SE 3 basic set, Groove Agent SE 5, Prologue), >1000 instrument sounds,
  • 46 audio effect plugins, 24 physical in-out, 16 group channels, 8 FX send-receive; 16 rack instruments;
  • BUT NO: VST MIDI effect channels, MIDI plug-in insert slots & sends, Audio Warp Quantize, Comping
  • $US149
• Cubase Artist
  • allows much more tracks, I/O, group channels than Elements and 64 receive channels
  • 18 VST MIDI effect channels; 4 MIDI plug-in insert slots & sends;
  • additional 7 VST instruments (Retrologue 2, Padshop 2, Spector, Mystic, LoopMash 2.0, Trip for HALion Sonic SE and Flux for HALion Sonic SE) BUT not the Pro set of HALion Sonic SE 3 which is in Cubase Pro.
  • includes Audio Warp Quantize, Comping, WaveLab file exchange, Workspaces; tempo track, signature track, track versions, global transpose track, note expression, advanced metronome, list editor, MPE support,
  • $US497 including the required USB-eLicenser ($US332 for upgrade from Elements)
• Cubase Pro
  • unlimited tracks
  • VST instruments as per Artist but adds Pro set of HALion Sonic SE 3
  • can have up to 76 VST audio plugins instead of 57
  • 256 group channels
  • in addition to Artist: VariAudio 3; Control Room; Project Logical Editor; ARA 2 / AAF / OMF support; Profiles; music XML import/export; time warp; spectral comparison EQ, VCA faders, wave meters

• require USB-Licenser €24
  • Every computer that runs a VE Pro SERVER (and lets you load plug-ins in that server) will need one license and one ViennaKey or other USB eLicenser (you can also use a Steinberg Key, if you already have one or can get it faster).
• Vienna Ensemble Pro
  • mixing and hosting application enables you to set up a multiple computer network with both Macs and PCs without the need for extra MIDI and audio interfaces – all you need is a ethernet cable!
    • allows one computer to contain the sound samples while the other has the DAW
  • v7.0 includes 73Gb Epic Orchestra 2.0 Sample Pack worth € 105
  • €195 1st licence
  • https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Vienna_Software_Package/Vienna_Ensemble_PRO
  • VIENNA INSTRUMENTS PRO 2
    • sample player available as a standalone or as a VST3 plug in
    • € 55
  • Vienna MIR Pro
    • a reverb surround sound software add on to Ensemble Pro
    • can add in RoomPacks such as Vienna Konzerthaus
    • €645 plus room packs €115-€275 each
  • Vienna Studio Pro
    • High-Precision Stereo & Surround Audio Plug-ins
    • €260

• VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology, a software plugin standard developed by Steinberg in 1996 for integrating virtual instruments and effects into digital audio workstations (DAWs)
• they may be either virtual sound instruments, effects or MIDI effects (which alter MIDI data)

• Vienna Imperial Bösendorfer Imperial 290-755 Grand Piano sample VST
  • 47Gb; 100 velocities and 1,200 recorded samples per key!
  • perhaps the best sampled VST piano available in 2020
  • requires USB-Licenser
  • € 295
• VI Labs Ravencroft 275
  • comes with its own sample player, the UVI Workstation 3
  • no dongle needed; can be used on up to 3 computers;
  • 5.5Gb; 17,000 samples; 19 velocity layers;
  • $US199
• Pianoteq 6
  • modeled piano (not sampled)
  • €129 for 1st 2 instrument packs with “Stage version” but this is only 48kHz instead of 192kHz then €49 each extra one
  • “Standard version” €249 adds mic setting, piano model tweaking, advanced tuning and allows 3 instrument packs of your choice
  • “Pro version” €369 gives 192kHz audio, note-per-note editing of overtones, and 3 instrument packs of your choice

• Absynth 6
  • cinematic sound synth
  • https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/synths/absynth-6/ $AU299
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6dIhbPJ1M4
• Arturia pigments
  • sound design synth
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H6kmHAxEy8
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Czs2Y3DX4
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV8LdvQAieE
  • https://www.arturia.com/store/pigments $US99