I thought it'd be good to list and discuss various programs that can be used to ";host"; virtual instruments such as VDL2. As there are several of these types of programs, I'm sure more will surface as we discuss...

V-Stack (VST Hosting - Windows/Mac)
http://www.steinberg.de/ProductPage_sbf95b.html?Product_ID=2130

Bidule (VST Hosting Windows/Mac) (also AU hosting on Mac)
http://www.plogue.com

Granted Software RAX (Mac AU hosting)
http://www.grantedsw.com/rax/
Thanks to bsark for the tip on this one!

EnergyXT (Windows VST hosting)
http://www.xt-hq.com/

AU Lab (on the Mac OSX ";developer tools"; disk for Mac AU hosting)
Thanks to ";timpnazi"; for suggesting this!

Forte (Windows VST hosting)
http://www.brainspawn.com/

Chainer (Windows VST hosting)
http://www.xlutop.com/html/products.html

FL Studio (Windows VST and DX hosting)
http://www.flstudio.com/

Virtual Mixing Console (aka: VMC) (Windows VST hosting)
http://www.spinaudio.com/

V-Station (Windows/Mac VST hosting) (Mac AU hosting)
http://www.novationmusic.com/

Please feel free to discuss any pros/cons you've found from using any of these programs. If you've discovered some that haven't been listed, this thread would be a good place to add them. If you're still in the market for a host program like this, many of these companies offer demo versions.

Don't forget the ever popular ProTools (VDL2 used as an RTAS plugin).
[url=http://www.digidesign.com";][color=Maroon]www.digidesign.com[/color][/url]

Maybe one of these days I'll get around to sending in Marimba Spiritual that I did using strictly VDL2. My professor here at WSU thought I had recorded all the accompaniment percussion by myself and was playing along with them. Boy was he amazed to hear it was all ";MIDI";.

(scratch that, I don't have any copyright clearance so I can't submit)

-brent

Bidule

I have been using Plogue Bidule with mac os X and have had incredible success with running multiple instances.  The fact that you can save all of the adjusments you make within Kompakt or VD2 and having one program bring up everything you need to get rolling is a real time saver.
My friend just bought VD2 and I was helping him set it up (Sibelius, Plogue Bidule, VD2, Windows XP) and realized (through help in the Bidule forums) the windows version of Bidule does not automatically  bring up the Bidule 1, Bidule2, Bidule3, Bidule4 virtual midi ports in the MIDI Devices- inputs folder on the palette.  Has anyone out there used bidule with windows?  What do you need to do to create the correct inputs?  Right now the only input showing up is his Oxygen 8 keyboard.
Thanks for any assistance!!

[quote author=Eric link=topic=672.msg2803#msg2803 date=1121350755]
Bidule

I have been using Plogue Bidule with mac os X and have had incredible success with running multiple instances.�� The fact that you can save all of the adjusments you make within Kompakt or VD2 and having one program bring up everything you need to get rolling is a real time saver.
My friend just bought VD2 and I was helping him set it up (Sibelius, Plogue Bidule, VD2, Windows XP) and realized (through help in the Bidule forums) the windows version of Bidule does not automatically�� bring up the Bidule 1, Bidule2, Bidule3, Bidule4 virtual midi ports in the MIDI Devices- inputs folder on the palette.�� Has anyone out there used bidule with windows?�� What do you need to do to create the correct inputs?�� Right now the only input showing up is his Oxygen 8 keyboard.
Thanks for any assistance!!
[/quote]

I think Bidule works slightly differently on Windows. You'll need to have a ";virtual MIDI cable"; such as Maple MIDI Tools or MIDI Yoke, and simply select them from the pallette of MIDI-In devices, rather than Bidule 1, Bidule 2, etc. Other than that, setup would work exactly the same way as it does on your Mac. Glad to hear your good success with Bidule. Indeed, loading VDL2 settings in a host environment like this is a major time saver!

I downloaded Bidule over the weekend, and that program rocks.  I had been loading individual instances of VDL:2.  The built in recorder is very handy, too.  I would very much like a better quality recording eventually, but this lets the kiddos hear their music a little bit.  I'll have to wait for a new machine in the next year or so to have better memory and sound card.

Thanks, Jim, Murray, and crew for putting together this board for us MIDI newbies to get some help.  I have spent hours on here learning more about this not-so-easy process!

All the best,
Mike

There are a lot of powerful, mainstream programs which are not on this list.�� All support VST instruments (or AU or DXi; like VDL:2) and can sequence MIDI:

Ableton Live 5
Sonar
Cubase
Logic Pro 7 (Mac only)
MOTU Digital Performer (Mac only)
Mackie Traction 2
Acid Pro/Acid Music Studio

Would Kontakt 2 fall into this category?  How do the programs listed differ from sequencing or sampling software, or do those programs also support hosting?

J. Peter Wolk-Laniewski
George Fox University

Kontakt 2 would not be considered a ";host"; program, because it does not allow you to host plugins. It can be hosted (as a plugin) within a host program though.

Without trying to confuse matters too much, it's importatnt to realize that different programs are created for different reasons.

Samplers are just that. Samplers. They allow you to create playable midi instruments out of live recorded sounds. Kontakt, GigaStudio, EXS, Halion are all examples of samplers.

Sequencing programs are popular with composers because they tend to offer the most flexible set of midi options and most allow you to also work with audio. These are also commonly referred to as DAW's (digital audio workstations). In addition to the multitude of midi/audio options, these programs allow you to host plugins. The most popular examples of these would be Logic Pro, Sonor, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Cubase.

The original reason this thread was started was to draw some attention to the lesser known ";host"; programs which primarily serve as just that - an environment to host your VIs (virtual instruments). By using host programs, you can (in one location) load several instances of VDL2 for example, save your session, etc. It can be helpful for efficiency.

However - since Kontakt 2 came out and is capable outputting 64 channels, I think many people (myself included) have opted to run the VDL sounds within Kontakt. This isn't ";hosting"; because you're not launching the VDL2 plugin within Kontakt. All you're doing is loading the sounds in Kontakt. Since VDL was written in Kontakt format, you can do this.

Hope this helps shed some light.

Of the host programs listed so far, what is the cheapest?

[quote author=nervoustic link=topic=672.msg6550#msg6550 date=1163877581]
Of the host programs listed so far, what is the cheapest?
[/quote]

I don't think it was mentioned in this topic yet, but AU Lab is free. It's included with Mac OSX. If you're using Windows, V-stack is around $50-60 I believe, and I think it has a version you can download from Steinberg. I'm not sure about some of the others. The original message has some links to the manufacturer's pages, so you can probably find more pricing info directly from them.

What about reason?

Reason is not a VST host program.  Although it has MIDI sequencing features, you are locked to the instruments that Reason comes with (although you can load your own samples).  You might be able to get away with loading the samples by hand, but you'd be limited.  Most people use Reason as a Re-Wire application into another DAW.

It's better to think of Reason as a virtual rack of gear.

Reaper?

Jaybee,

I have played around with Reaper some, and while it was free and fairly simple to use, I was not to fond of the interface. I was able to use VDL2 with it, and I kinda figured out how to get VDL2.5 working with it, but it took some trial and error stuff.

Someone on here is bound to have more knowledge than me on this program. In the words of Qui-Gon Jinn ";There is always a bigger fish.";