I think the state of this control should be able to be automated
In many cases there are easy workarounds like Muting the Track. But for VSTi’s that can generate sound internally (drums, arpeggiators, etc) this creates problems because it also Mutes any effects, like delay, you might like to continue hearing.
I think this is not a good idea. If you disable a VSTi it gets unloaded from the processing chain, but this can cause an interruption in audio. But it depends on the VSTi.
I have several Arturia instruments who create dropouts in such cases, sometimes.
Disabling is not muting, btw.
With a real synth you wouldn’t unplug it from the power supply or pull out the cables to make it stop sounding.
You will press the mute button on the mixer.
What would the ultimate result?
To prevent the output of audio, or to prevent the input of MIDI data coming in?
Seems like both those actions are both covered via MIDI part and audio channel mutes. The insert bypass makes sense as they are in a signal chain. But a VSTi is only reacting to the notes coming in, and pushing audio out the other side.
Trying to get my head around a real world use case for this that can’t be catered for with what’s there already.
Nope, there’s a third scenario that’s not covered: mute the output from the VSTi, but not the rest of the channel. Do note that this is only an issue with “self-generating” instruments, such as drum machines, arpeggiators, generative synths etc. Some of these respond to “instrument bypass” automation, but not all – and even those that do, do it differently. I’d really, really like a “mute instrument” parameter that is uniformly implemented for all instrument channels, ie. from Cubase itself, not according to the whims of the instrument makers.