Standalone VST Host for Win XP

[iain010100]

Hello,

I just spent an hour on this site searching and another 30 minutes googling.

I plan on building a rack mount PC to use as a live synth connected to my MIDI controller to use for gigs. I am looking for the right software to use as a VST host. I have read about EnergyXT, Chainer, Console, and demoed Orion, but these don't seem to do the job I need. I am willing to go with sequencer program (Cubase, Sonar 5 - I have Sonar 3) if what I want to do can be achieved with these, but my idea is to use stand alone.

Here's an what I'm trying to accomplish with the VST host: I'd want to create a bunch of setups, each with various combinations of synth plugins and effects. I would then like to have each of the setups preloaded in memory by name so I can between them quickly. Each setup should be able to handle layers and splits between different VST instruments. Each layer and split should be adjustable in terms of volume, octave +/-, and pitch +/- (in case I want to throw in a couple of drum notes on a specific key), etc.

So for example, in song 1, I want to set the 1st (lowest) octave of my controller to play a bass sample from a VST synth connected to a VST EQ. The bass note would play one or two octaves higher in pitch than the key I'm hitting. Then the octaves 2 - 6 will contain a piano sample from another VSTi processed through some reverb from another VST plug in. The top octaves will contain a pad, tuned a couple of octaves lower, with a lower than the default volume, and will be process through both a VST delay, and the same VST reverb used by the piano split. Then for song 2, I would click something with a mouse and the next setup would give me an entirely different combination of instruments and effects.

To summerize, I need:

- standalone centric (don't need a sequencer)
- works under Windows XP
- stable (won't crash live)
- won't impeded low latency
- allows layering and splitting of any VST synths
- ability to adjust the octave or pitch of any split or layer
- ability to save and load whole sets
- quick switching between patches or setups
- ability to reuse effects or synths between setups to save resources
- a mixer for sharing effects between instruments with in a setup
- routes multiple MIDI ins to VST instruments
- easy to load the setups into memory

These are the ones I've researched:
energyxt
- Reviews say its not as stable as a standalone (though may be for an older version)
- I can't find which OS this works under

Chainer
- Doesn't work in XP
- No mention of split capability

Console
- Doesn't work in XP

Orion
- No split/layer capabilities that I've seen

Any help is appreciated
-- Iain

[deastman]

I think energyXT would be perfect for this. Personally, I've never run into any stability problems with it, and I'm running WinXP. You might also consider a Muse Receptor instead of building your own PC. And another alternative would be Native Instruments Kore- who knew that it was actually useful for something?!?

[birrbits]

I agree that energyXT would be perfect for this, but also would like to point out that Chainer and Console DO WORK in XP (in fact its alot harder to get Console to work in 9x)

[allofdrab]

Though it's still in beta, you may also want to check out Bidule, as it was designed to handle these sorts of tasks.

[Sascha Franck]

After all you're asking for, it seems to me that you *need* to check out Brainspawns Forte.
It is designed with exactly that in mind: Live useage.
http://www.brainspawn.com/

Alternatively you may want to check NIs KORE, but it comes at a price:
http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=kore_en
On the upside you get an excellent controller for your VSTis, so you can keep the laptop entirely closed.

And of course there's Receptor. But it comes at quite a price as well.

And btw, both Energy XT and Chainer are working fine under Windows XP.

[stag]

Console works on XP too.
I'm planning to use Amplitube on stage, but i'd better not to hold my breath while waiting for the Stomp I\0.
So the other day i saw a guitar pedal board who alledgely controls any Hardware Guitar Processor, really cheap... well, it was Behringer's.
So i wonder if any of you knows if it could control Amplitube(change presets, volume and wha at least), I fear not because Amplitube can't run in stand alone mode and i don't know how those hosts handle these controllers.

I'm not familiar with Forte, btw SpinAudio and Steinberg have VST host too but i can't say how they perform at all.

Bye.

[asseca]

energyxt
- Reviews say its not as stable as a standalone (though may be for an older version)
- I can't find which OS this works under

Chainer
- Doesn't work in XP
- No mention of split capability

Console
- Doesn't work in XP

energyXT, Chainer and Console all work fine in winXP ...

... as Sasha mentioned, I think you should look seriously at Brainspawn Forte or KORE ...

... one small "problem" with KORE though KORE does not work without the KORE hardware(copy protection), so if KORE hardware breaks down during a performance ...

[Joseph Burrell]

Bidule or VSTHost.

[alex zonder]

Be sure to try out (the still free) PHRAZOR from Sonicbytes as well:

http://www.sonicbytes.com/phrazor/phrazor.htm
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2257.html
http://www2.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=39

In Hermann Seib's Savihost it's not different from a standalone application:
http://www.hermannseib.com/english/savihost.htm

[Sascha Franck]

... one small "problem" with KORE though KORE does not work without the KORE hardware(copy protection), so if KORE hardware breaks down during a performance ...

Unfortunately, that's not a small problem at all but a serious one.

[nutsadamus]

Most of the hosts mentioned already sound like they'do the trick but Brainspawn Forte probably would be most suitable for your needs since it's been developed specifically for handling VST's for live performance.

However, what you'll find challenging is finding Vsti's that can handle rapid-fire program changes without glitching, especially if you require program changes mid-song or even mid-phrase.

[iain010100]

Do any of these hosts support GigaStudio? It would be nice to combine that with VST synths.

oh, never mind. I just noticed that GVI is now available (GigaStudio as a VSTi)!

[Sascha Franck]

However, what you'll find challenging is finding Vsti's that can handle rapid-fire program changes without glitching, especially if you require program changes mid-song or even mid-phrase.

That's actually what makes Kore such a great host.
You can preload a patch and then switch between performances - with just the on/off/level status of things being altered.
Of course, it's always only going as far as your machine allows - but Kore is actually not reserving resources for the muted plugins, so it can be fast and efficient at the same time.

Fwiw, you can set up an almost identical scenario in Energy XT. There's cable switchers that you can switch via program changes or controllers without altering anything else.
But again, it might bring your machine down to its knees rather quickly, when dealing with a lot of complexed things (so far, on/off things can't be switched easily, from what I know).

[Newbie Brad]

Be sure to try out (the still free) PHRAZOR from Sonicbytes as well:

http://www.sonicbytes.com/phrazor/phrazor.htm
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2257.html
http://www2.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=39

In Hermann Seib's Savihost it's not different from a standalone application:
http://www.hermannseib.com/english/savihost.htm

No disrespect to any other platform or developer but I agree with Alex, you should try Phrazor, not yet released but public beta. Not standalone yet but will be by release, with the easy temporary fix Alex noted. It has a performance emphasis, the developer is doing great things with it and there's a public beta development thread, the latest iteration (beta 6) http://www.sonicbytes.com/phrazor/laboratory.htm has the thread http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... sc&start=0 in the Sonicbytes forum here at KVR.

[bobsled]

+1 Phrazor "Soon" to feature live on-the-fly preset changes with morphing (!?! )