tutorials: starting a simple project in several hosts

  Reaper - Ardour - Bidule - Audiomulch - VSTHost - SAVIHost - Usine Hollyhock

Reaper

Win VST2-32 / VST3-64 - Mac AU-64

1. install the plugins
The VST3 and the AU must have been automatically scanned at start.
For the VST2, just tell to Reaper where the folder containing the plugins is located.
 

2. select the audio interface with the appropriated driver.
In the Windows version of Reaper you can also select a range of inputs / outputs in the Preferences panel.

2. configure the Master track, its number of channels and the same for the hardware output :

3. create a track (double-click on an empty space in the track list) and set its channel number (among the available possibilities...),
all the channels are by default automatically connected to the Master (Parent channels) :

4. Drag a plugin from the FXBrowser window and drop it on the Track header,
all its available inputs and outputs are automatically connected, if there is more they are simply ignored :

5. insert a wave file
you can drop it from the Explorer / Finder, or from Reaper's Media Explorer window,
its two channels will be processed by the plugin and sent through its 12 outputs to the Master :

and just play with the plugin (automation will be seen later...) :

6 : render / export the multichannel file (menu File / Render to File)
You will have to type the correct channels number since "12" will not be available in the default list ;-)

Ardour

Win VST2-32 & 64 - Mac AU-64

1. install the plugins :
AudioUnit (Mac) : they must be scanned automatically at start
VST3 (Windows) : Ardour does not support the VST3 format, but the Acousmodules can nevertheless work by changing the ".vst3" extension of the file in the plugin's folders to ".dll"
VST2 32 bits (Windows) : you will have to add their folder to Ardour's VST paths

2. choose the audio interface when creating a new Project :

3. you are prompted to set the Master channel format "12" :

you have to bypass the useless "circle panner" that appears in the Mixer (right click on it)

4. create a track (right-click on an empty space in the track list) and set its channel number to "12",
be sure to set the Pin Mode to "Flexible-I/O"
like previously you have to bypass the circle panner which otherwise will prevent the plugin to work correctly,
all the channels are by default automatically connected to the Master :

5. insert a plugin : right click on the empty Plugins space in the Mixer, and select the plugin :

5. insert a wave file
you can drop it from the Explorer / Finder (its two channels are internally converted to mono files),
and play with the plugin (automation will be seen later...),
the audio will be processed by the plugin and sent to the 12 inputs of the Master :

 6 : render / export the multichannel file
set a Range in the Loop/Punch Ranges in the top of the Tracks window,
then (menu Session / Export)

Bidule

Win VST2-32 / VST3-64 - Mac AU-64

1. install the plugins
The VST3 and the AU must have been automatically scanned at start.
For the VST2, just tell to Bidule where is the folder containing the plugins.

2. select the audio interface with the appropriated driver
Pick the Audio Device from the Palette, all the available outputs will be visible :

 

3. insert the plugin and connect it to the outputs
Pick the plugin from the Palette list and drop it :

 To connect its outputs to the audio interface just pull a wire between the 1st slots while pressing the Ctrl/Cmd key :

4. Insert a wave player from the Palette and connect it in the same way :

5. Open a file and play with the plugin (double click on the boxes to open their respective pannels) :

 6. Insert a 12 channels File Recorder,
connect it in the same way and record !

Audiomulch

Win VST2-32

1. install the plugins
Just tell to Audiomulch where is the folder containing the 32 bits Acousmodules, for instance :

2. select the audio interface with the appropriated driver

After selecting the driver, you will have to activate the outputs you need :

3. set the outputs on the Patcher
By default, Audiomulch places a stereo output ready to use :

 Then you have to add other Auxiliary stereo outputs from the left hand list, here 5 to make the 12 outputs we need :

4. insert a plugin
 Get it from the list and drop it in the Patcher

You will have to connect its outputs two by two (hold the control key)
 

5. insert a file player and a sound
Grab it from the list and connect it to the plugin's inputs

6. play with the plugin (automation will be seen later...)
Double-click on the Player and the plugin's boxes to open them in the Properties window :

 7 : record the multichannel file
Grab the "16FileRecorder" in the list and drop it below the plugin while pressing the Shift key : all the necessary inputs / outputs connections will be done automatically !

Open the FileRecorder panel, click on the box near the number "1" and select "12" to make a 12 channels file ;-)
 

VSTHost

Win VST2-32 / VST3-64

1. select the driver and the audio interface :

2. insert a plugin :
You can grab the file directly from the Explorer (VST2 = .dll, VST3 = .VST3), or if you have scanned previously the folder from the Plugins menu.
In either cases all its channels will be automatically connected to all the available inputs and outputs :

You see only one wire between the boxes, but it is normal since all the channels pass through it (why using multiples wires when only one is needed ?)

3. configure the Wave player to be placed together with the Audio Input so it can be processed by the plugins :

then load an audio file :
 

4. set the recorder to 12 channels :
 

5. play with the plugin, record the audio output and save the file !
 

VSTHost is certainly not the sexiest host, but it is without any doubt the lighter and the faster to use... until you have tried SAVIHost ;-)

 SAVIHost

Win VST2-32 / VST3-64

1. "install" the plugin
VST2 : place the plugin file (.dll) in the same folder than the SAVIHost application, and rename the application to the same name than the plugin file :

VST3 : place the SAVIHost application IN the folder plugin, where is the vst3 file, and rename the application to the same name than the plugin file :

The plugin is "embedded" with SAVIHost in a unique perfectly autonomous folder :

You can now follow the same steps n° 3 / 4 / 5 than VSTHost !

Usine Hollyhock

Win VST2-32

(1. install the plugins)
Give Usine the path where the Acousmodules folder is :
 

2. choose the audio interface and select the audio outputs you need :
 
 

3. create a 12 channels Audio Out Device :

 
You will have to add the "Audio from Usine" modules one by one, then name you Device for instance "12 OUTS"

4. create an Empty Worskpace which contains a Rack with a Stereo Out :
 

5. drag the "12 OUTS" device you have created in the Rack out, then delete the default Stereo one :

 6. drag the plugin from the Browser Panel into the Patch :
 

Double-click on the patch to open its editor :

then replace to two Audio Out by a 16 channels Audio Out and connect its inputs to the plugin outputs :

 to be continued...