Steinberg VST Live 1.0 User manual

The Steinberg Documentation Team: William Evans, PhD

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VST Live_Pro_1.0.0_en-US_2022-05-1

 
 
Table of Contents 
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... 5 
PLATFORM-INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTATION............................................................................................................................. 5 
PDF AND ONLINE DOCUMENTATION ....................................................................................................................................... 5 
DOCUMENTATION STRUCTURE ................................................................................................................................................ 6 
CONVENTIONS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 
INSTRUCTIONAL MARKERS...................................................................................................................................................... 6 
META COMMENTS................................................................................................................................................................ 7 
MARKUP ............................................................................................................................................................................. 7 
PROPER NOUNS ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 
ZONES ................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 
KEY COMMANDS .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 
GETTING STARTED ................................................................................................................................................ 9 
OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 
INTERFACE.........................................................................................................................................................................10 
COMMAND HISTORIES .........................................................................................................................................................15 
THE TRANSPORT PANEL .......................................................................................................................................................16 
THE HUB...........................................................................................................................................................................17 
VST LIVE PROJECTS ............................................................................................................................................................20 
SOUNDS............................................................................................................................................................................21 
MOBILE APPLICATION .........................................................................................................................................................21 
SETLIST............................................................................................................................................................... 22 
SETLIST PANEL ...................................................................................................................................................................22 
VISIBILITY ..........................................................................................................................................................................22 
SETLIST HIERARCHY .............................................................................................................................................................22 
MULTIPLE SETLISTS .............................................................................................................................................................23 
SONGS..............................................................................................................................................................................25 
PARTS ..............................................................................................................................................................................29 
LAYERS & ZONES ................................................................................................................................................ 34 
VISIBILITY ..........................................................................................................................................................................34 
ZONES ..............................................................................................................................................................................44 
INTERFACE.........................................................................................................................................................................46 
STACKS............................................................................................................................................................... 49 
TRACKS .............................................................................................................................................................. 57 
HIERARCHY ........................................................................................................................................................................57 
INTERFACE.........................................................................................................................................................................57 
TRACK TYPES .....................................................................................................................................................................67 
NATIVE TRACK EDITORS ...................................................................................................................................... 78 
LYRICS ..............................................................................................................................................................................78 
CHORDS ............................................................................................................................................................................80 
METRONOME ....................................................................................................................................................................83 
BEAT ................................................................................................................................................................................85 
NOTES ..............................................................................................................................................................................88 
AUDIENCE .........................................................................................................................................................................89 
DMX ...............................................................................................................................................................................89 
MIXER ................................................................................................................................................................ 93 

 
 
INTERFACE.........................................................................................................................................................................93 
CHANNEL TYPES .................................................................................................................................................................96 
RIGHT ZONE ....................................................................................................................................................... 97 
MEDIA BAY .......................................................................................................................................................................97 
PLUGINS ...........................................................................................................................................................................98 
DEVICES MENU ..................................................................................................................................................100 
AUDIO SETUP ..................................................................................................................................................................100 
CONNECTIONS .................................................................................................................................................................100 
VIDEO MONITORS ............................................................................................................................................................101 
ACTIONS .........................................................................................................................................................................102 
VIRTUAL KEYBOARD ..........................................................................................................................................................104 
MIDI MONITOR ...............................................................................................................................................................104 
PLUGIN INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................................................104 
PREFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................................105 
AUDIO ............................................................................................................................................................................105 
TRANSPORT .....................................................................................................................................................................106 
STUDIO ...........................................................................................................................................................................106 
LAYERS ...........................................................................................................................................................................107 
COLORS ..........................................................................................................................................................................107 
INTERFACE.......................................................................................................................................................................107 
MESSAGE ........................................................................................................................................................................107 
MOBILE APPLICATION ........................................................................................................................................108 

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Introduction

This is the Operation Manual for Steinberg’s VST Live. Here you will find detailed information about

all the features and functions in the program.

Platform-Independent Documentation

The documentation applies to the operating systems Windows and macOS.

Features and settings that are specific to one of these platforms are clearly indicated. In all other

cases, the descriptions and procedures in the documentation are valid for Windows and macOS.

Some points to consider:

• The screenshots are taken from both macOS® and Windows®.

• Some functions that are available on the File menu on Windows can be found in the program

name menu on macOS.

PDF and Online Documentation

The documentation consists of several documents. You can read them online or download them

from Steinberg.Help.

You can reach Steinberg.Help from the program by selecting Help > VST Live Help.

Operation Manual

The main VST Live reference documentation, with detailed descriptions of operations,

parameters, functions, and techniques.

HALion Sonic SE

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument, HALion Sonic SE.

Retrologue

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument, Retrologue.

Padshop

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument, Padshop.

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Steinberg Library Manager

Describes how you can register and manage your VST Sound libraries.

Documentation Structure

In our documentation, we divide information into three different types of topics, according to their

content.

Descriptions of the User Interface

Topics that describe the functionality of user interface items and list the options and settings of

dialogs, panels, or other items.

Descriptions of Basic Concepts

Topics that describe concepts and explain the functionality of a specific software feature.

Descriptions of Procedures

Topics that provide step-by-step instructions for how to perform a specific task. These topics often

provide an example for why you might want to follow the steps and a brief summary of the result,

including consequences to be aware of.

Because of this division of information, our documentation structure functions as a reference you

can consult for specific information or instructions as required, rather than a guide you must read

from start to finish.

TIP

Descriptive topics do not describe how to perform a task, and procedural topics do not explain what

something is. To find general information about items or concepts, we recommend searching for

them by name, such as “events”. To find instructions for performing Particular actions, we

recommend including a relevant verb in your search, such as “recording”.

Links at the bottom of topics guide you to further relevant content. You can also check the sidebar

for nearby, related topics in the documentation structure.

Conventions

In our documentation, we use typographical and markup elements to structure information.

Instructional Markers

Markers regarding procedures and additional information about them are as follows:

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PROCEDURES

Commentary types regarding procedures are enumerated and styled as below

PREREQUISITE

Requires you to complete an action or to fulfil a condition before starting a procedure.

PROCEDURE

Lists the steps that you must take to achieve a specific result.

RESULT

Shows the result of the procedure.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK

Informs you about actions or tasks that you can perform after completing the procedure.

RELATED LINKS

Lists related topics that you can find in this documentation.

Meta Comments

Commentary types on the documentation, itself, are as below:

Important

Informs you about issues that might affect the system, the connected hardware, or that might

bring a risk of data loss.

Note

Informs you about issues that you should consider.

Tip

Adds further information or useful suggestions.

Insight

Indicates a jumping off for further consideration.

Example

Provides you with an example.

Markup

Bold text indicates the name of a menu, option, function, dialog, window, etc.

EXAMPLE

To open the Stacks screen, click the Stacks icon at the top of the screen

If bold text is separated by a greater-than symbol, this indicates a sequence of different menus to

open.

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EXAMPLE

Select Song > New Song.

Proper Nouns

Features, Functions, Widgets and Concepts native to VST Live are capitalized and rendered in

boldface. This includes common terms that are recontextualized for specific functionality in VST Live.

EXAMPLE

Layers and Stacks are both elements of Parts.

Zones

The term “Zones” is used within two contexts:

• User Interface Zones: Areas of the Project Window dedicated to a specific functionality.

• MIDI Layer Zones: Areas of a MIDI demarked by note and velocity range.

Key Commands

Many of the default key commands, also known as keyboard shortcuts, use modifier keys, some of

which are different depending on the operating system.

When key commands with modifier keys are described in this manual, they are indicated with the

Windows modifier key first, followed by the macOS modifier key and the key.

EXAMPLE

Ctrl/Cmd - Z means: press Ctrl on Windows® or Cmd on macOS®, then press Z.

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Getting Started

Welcome to VST Live. Let’s get started!

Overview

VST Live provides flexible tools to power your performance. At the top level is the Project file, which

contains the data you create in VST Live to perform a Setlist. Like its real-word counterpart, a digital

Setlist is a list of Songs you intend to perform.

Song Components

Each Song can be configured with dedicated components optimized for live performance.

Parts

Parts are the building blocks of songs. They can be structured traditionally as arrangement

(“Verse”, ”Chorus”, “Outro”) or however you wish. Parts contain Layers and Stacks.

Layers

Layers are virtual MIDI devices. Each Layer can be configured as either a VST Instrument, a MIDI

effect, or a routing from MIDI input to output. They process either an internal MIDI track or a live

MIDI input.

Stacks

Stacks are the audio equivalent of Layers. Each Stack contains a Stack of up to four VST plugins,

along with two FX sends. The audio to Stacks is from live inputs, such as vocal microphones or

guitars.

Lyrics

The lyrics for each Song can be synched with precision to your Song’s transport to cue you in

real-time.

Notes

Use as scratchpad to plan each Song. Or as reminders for you, your bandmates or your crew.

Tracks

A powerful DAW is built into the heart of VST Live. There are types of tracks, inspired by their

Cubase counterparts, and one exclusively for live performance:

• MIDI

• Audio

• Video

• Lyric

• Sampler

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• DMX

• Chords

Metronome

A guide to each bar’s tempo in the correct signature—visually and as a click track.

Beat

A set-sequenced drum machine embedded in each Song.

Audience

Visualizations of real-time VST Live data for both you (the performer) and the audience.

DMX

Program and control lighting devices using the DMX protocol for each Song.

Hierarchy

The internal hierarchy of a VST Live Project provides a logical delineation of performance data

musical and content.

Interface

Each VST Live Project has one Project Window. It displayed when you open or create a new Project.

NOTE

When the Hub is open, the Project Window is not visible.

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Zones

The Project Window is separated into panels called Zones. Each Zone is a self-contained area for the

display and editing of data.

The Four Zones

VST Live’s Zones are Left, Project, Lower and Right.

Note

When you create a new project, the Left and Project Zones are open; they cannot be closed.

Left Zone

The Left Zone is always displayed. The available Module is the Setlist.

Project Zone

The Project Zone is VST Live’s primary Zone; it is always displayed. User can access these

Modules: Layers, Stacks, Mixer, Chords, Lyrics, Metronome, Beat, Notes, Audience and DMX.

Lower Zone

The Lower Zone is optional. Its contents are determined by the Module chosen by the user for

the Project Zone. Depending on situation, the available Views for the Lower Zone are:

• Multiple: The user can select any of these Views at any time.

• Single: If there is only available View, then no Views are shown as selectable.

• None: The Lower Zone is empty.

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Right Zone

The Right Zone is optional. Its Views are independent from all other Zones.

Showing/Hiding Zones

You can show/hide the Zones in the Project Window according to your needs.

PROCEDURE

Do one of the following:

• To show/hide the right Zone, click Show/Hide Left Zone on the Project window toolbar.

• To show/hide the lower Zone, click Show/Hide Lower Zone on the Project window toolbar.

NOTE

The Project and Left Zone are always displayed.

Zone Focus

One and only one Zone is always in Focus. When a Zone is in Focus, any user input or data that could

be ambiguous, with respect to all open Zones, is resolved according to the Zone in Focus.

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Zone Awareness

You can tell which Zone is in Focus by looking at the graphic border surrounding the Focus. If the

border is green (instead of grey), then the Zone in Focus.

Selecting a Zone

When you begin working in a Zone, VST Live will usually put that Zone into Focus automatically.

If you need to set a Zone’s Focus manually, select an on-screen item in the Zone. You will see the

Zone’s border turn green.

EXAMPLE

If the Tracks View is open in the Project Zone, you can transfer Focus to the Project Zone by

selecting a Track.

Tearing-Off Project Zones

At any point, the Project Zone can be torn off into its own floating window. You can continue

working in the new window, and the VST Live Project Window, independently. This includes tearing

off additional new windows.

Note

New windows can be moved to additional desktops, screens, or wirelessly-connected mobile

devices, depending on operating system and specific device support.

Tearing Off a Zone

Click the Tear-Off icon.

Result:The Project Zone will now float in its own window; the Project Zone in VST Live’s Project

Window is unchanged.

Closing a Torn off Window

Torn-off windows are closed using the standard controls for window management in your operating

system.

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RESULT

The floating window is closed; VST the Project Zone in VST Live’s Project Window is unchanged.

Returning a Torn-off Window

A window that has been torn off can be returned to the Project Window by clicking the Tear-off icon

in the window you wish to return. (The icon’s color in the torn off window will have an inverted color

scheme to indicate that it is a floating window.)

RESULT

The contents of the floating window are moved to VST Live’s Project Zone in the Project Window.

The floating window is closed.

Example

In this example, the user has set the Project Zone View to Stacks.

The user tears off the Stack View to become a floating window. Then, the user sets the Project’s

View to Beat.

Views

A Zone may be empty or contain a View. If multiple Views are available for a Zone, they appear as

icons in a ribbon above the Zone’s toolbar. To a select a View for Zone, click the View’s associated

icon.

Viewsets

Viewsets store the states of windows, Zones, and other aspects of the user interface.

Saving

To save the current interface state as a Viewset, choose View > Save Viewset.

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Loading

To load a Viewset (replacing the current interface state), choose View > Load Viewset.

Command Histories

VST Live has two command buffers: Tracks History and Main History.

Tracks History

The Track history contains only operations performed on Tracks. This means any operations

performed in the Project Zone with the View set to Tracks.

Availability

There are some areas in VST Live where you can always undo or redo Tracks commands, and others

that are context sensitive—they depend on what you’re currently doing.

Always Available

• Choose Song > Undo Tracks or Song > Redo Tracks.

• Choose Song > Tracks History.

Available if the Project Zone’s View is set to Tracks

• Click on the undo or redo icons in the Project Zone Toolbar.

Available if the Project Zone’s View is set to Tracks, and the Project Zone has Focus:

• Choose Edit > Undo Tracks or Edit > Redo Tracks.

• Choose Edit > Undo Tracks or Song > Redo Tracks.

• Choose Edit > Track History.

Main History

The Main History contains all commands that are not performed on Tracks. The Main History is only

available if a Track is not selected in the Tracks View of the Project Zone.

Availability

The Main History is not always available.

Available if the Project Zone’s View is not set to Tracks (and has Focus)

• Choose Edit > Undo Tracks or Edit > Redo Tracks.

• Choose Edit > History.

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The Transport Panel

The Transport panel contains the primary transport functions, and other playback/recording options.

Functions

The controls on the Transport are as follows:

1 Position Reference

Click to toggle between the Transport’s position reference expressed in time (e.g., minutes/seconds)

and measures (e.g., bars/beats).

2 Position

The current position of the Transport Bar.

3 Rewind

Rewind the Transport Bar

4 Fast Forward

Fast forward the transport bar.

5 Cycle

Toggles Cycle mode (on or off).

6 Stop

Stops the Transport.

7 Play

Engages the Transport.

8 Record

Engages the Transport and records.

Note

Tracks must be record-armed to be written to.

9 Tempo

The current tempo.

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Note

The tempo cannot be changed in this field. Tempos are set according to the current Song’s tempo.

10 Time Signature

Displays the time signature of the current song. To change the current Song’s time signature, double-

click inside the field, type full time signature (e.g., “3/4”) and press RETURN.

11 Metronome State

Toggles the Metronome on or off.

12 Transport Focus

Give Focus to the Transport Panel.

Usage

The Transport can be engaged through the panel, which is always visible in the Project window.

The Hub

The Hub provides one convenient place to get started. It up to date with the latest information,

assists you with organizing your Projects, establish default settings, and configure your audio and

MIDI setup independently by Project.

• When you launch VST Live, the Hub opens automatically.

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Project Settings

To use VST Live, you must set up your audio, and if required, your MIDI system. Each Project in VST

Live has its own audio and MIDI configurations. The settings you provide here will be used in the

next Project you create.

NOTE

Once you have created your Project, additional audio and MIDI settings are accessible in the Devices

menu.

TIP

Audio and MIDI preferences can be set in Preferences.

• To open the Preferences dialog, select Edit > Preferences.

Audio Setup

In the Audio section, you select your Project’s audio driver and sample rate.

Audio Driver

Choose the audio driver for your sound interface here. By selecting an audio driver, you allow VST

Live to communicate with the interface.

NOTE

On Windows® operating systems, we recommend that you access your hardware via an ASIO driver

developed specifically for the hardware. If no ASIO driver is installed, contact the manufacturer of

your audio hardware for information on available ASIO drivers. If no specific ASIO driver is available,

you can use the Generic Low Latency ASIO driver.

Sample Rate

Once you have chosen an audio driver, you may choose the sampling rate. The sample rates

available will be those supported by your audio driver.

IMPORTANT

Some audio interfaces provide additional configuration options, some of which may be necessary for

successful operation. These settings are normally gathered on a control panel that can be opened

from within VST Live or separately, when VST Live is not running. For details, refer to the audio

hardware documentation.

Main Audio Output

Once you have selected your driver and sample rate, you can add a stereo output from your audio

interface to your Project. You can think of this as your primary audio output.

• To choose an output, click inside the right-side oval in the Main Audio Output section. A

pop-up menu will display a list of available outputs on the audio interface that you chose

the driver for. An additional option is labelled “nc” (non-connected); choose this option to

deactivate the output.

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• The default name for this output is “Main”. To rename it, click on the word.

NOTE

Additional audio input, output and buss configurations can be managed by selecting Devices >

Connections.

MIDI Inputs

When creating a Project, in addition to choosing an audio output, you also choose two MIDI inputs.

By default, both inputs are set to the first two available MIDI Inputs (if applicable).

Assigning

To choose your inputs, click inside the corresponding right-side oval. A pop-up menu will display the

available inputs.

Two types of MIDI Inputs are always available to assign:

• Virtual MIDI: A virtual MIDI bus can be used to create MIDI routings within VST Live.

• Non-Connected (“nc”): The Midi input is inactive.

If you have physical MIDI interfaces connected to your computer, they are also available for

selection.

Naming

The default names for these inputs are “MIDI In 1” and “MIDI in 2”.

• To change it, click on the existing name.

Coloring

Each MIDI input in VST Live has a color assigned to it. The default color is blue.

• To assign a different color, click on the eye icon.

News and Tutorials Section

The News and Tutorials section displays Steinberg news, tutorial videos as well as links to the user

forum, downloads, and the Help Center.

Note

Ensure that you have an active Internet connection to access this material.

Recent Projects

Your most recent Projects will be listed under Projects, with the newest Project at the top. Click a

Project to load it.

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Local File Storage

You can set a default location where Projects are saved by clicking the folder icon. If this option is

checked when you create a new Project, it will be saved in that directory. Alternately, you can select

Prompt for location; the next Project you create will be saved there.

Existing Projects

The Open Other button allows you to open Projects stored on your computer. This is identical to

using the Open command on the File menu.

Exiting

The Quit button will exit VST Live. It is identical to the Quit command in the File menu.

Creating the Project

When you have configured your Project, click the New Project button to create it.

VST Live Projects

The Project window provides an overview of your set. From here you can navigate your Setlist, set

up your digital gear, prepare your show, and then perform it.

Project and File Management

VST Live Projects and their files can be managed using the File menu.

VST Live Projects

Project files contain all the information that you create and edit, including all MIDI data. They do

not contain audio or video files.

• To open a Project, select File > Open.

• To create a new Project, select File > New Project.

Media (Cubase) Projects

Media (Cubase) Projects contain the tracks of a Song.

• To import a Media (Cubase) Project, select File > Import Media Project.

• To export a Media Project, select File > Export Media Project.

Importing Individual Files

To use pre-existing files in your Project import them into your VST Live Project.

• To import a MIDI file, select File > Import MIDI File. The MIDI file will then be embedded

within your VST Live Project file.

• To import an audio file, select File > Import Audio File. This procedure will not embed the

audio file within the Project file—it will only store a reference to it.

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