I am trialing a VST 3 Effect which has 6 outputs. ( it is a looping effect with 6 loops each of which can be assigned to a separate output inside the plugin ).
The plugin can be inserted on an Nuendo audio track, and records /played loops fine.
However I would like to be able to route each of the inserted plug in’s outputs to a separate Nuendo audio track as an input. Anyone know how to do this Nuendo 14 or 15? I can’t seem to make any additional track in the project show the outputs of the plugin. No matter what I do the plugin just delivers it’s internal stereo mix to the track it is inserted on.
Please note that I am well aware that VST3 Instruments with multiple outputs can have them activated in the VSTi Rack inspector. This is not my question. I am asking about VST3 Insert Effects.
Maybe you have better luck if you insert the plugin on an audio track with a 12.0 channel configuration. If there is no 12.0 channel configuration in Nuendo then chose whatever is giving you 12 streams.
In your mixer, load your multi-bus plugin in a pre-fader insert slot for your new group. In my case I’ll load up an instance of a third party multi-bus plugin called “bidule” where I can confirm the host and plugin have properly initialized the audio channels. In my case I’ve just routed bidule up as a straight passthrough of which I can monitor whatever comes in and goes out of the plugin. It’ll be up to your plugin to negotiate with the host as to the number and arrangement of audio channels. In my case Cubase let bidule know 12 channels are available and bidule let the host know it wants all 12 ins and outs. Bidule also informed the host of extra potential sidechain inputs of which I won’t be enabling and using in this case.
I end up with this in bidule:
12 inputs straight through to 12 outputs.
In each of your audio tracks use the Steinberg “Volume” insert to isolate the channels you’d like recorded in each track (or even create a mix of whatever channels you like into the track).
Note that you can establish whatever inputs you want coming into your group track using panning. In my case I’d simply directed a simple external rack instrument (An analog Tascam Mixer) I have plugged into my audio interface into the group track. Since I panned it full forward all input in this case comes in channels 1 and 2 of my bidule instance. Not sure about Nuendo, but Cubase Pro does provide a variety panner styles making it possible to route simple mono or stereo inputs into the group to whatever pair of channels you like.
Wow thank you SO much for going into such detail! I would never had figured it out! it doesn’t seem a bit obscure to me! If plug in makers are producing multi out VST3 effects, ( ie the format supports them ) and given Steinberg that invented VST3, the process would be a little more intuitive. Maybe it will come…
Anyway I replicated the set up with my effect plug in, and even though all the details look correct in my set up (matching your screen shots ) the plug In doesn’t deliver its separate outputs to the channels in the “Surround” channels within Neundo. I still just get the main mix of the plugin on each of the extra Nuendo tracks.
The thing is that the plugin maker is trying to do something that VST3 was not designed to do.
A plugin usually is loaded onto a track. The track has an audio channel, the channel has a certain configuration (mono, stereo, quad, etc.). The plugin asks the host about the configuration and then supplies the necessary amount of inputs and outputs.
it is not supposed to use an arbitrary amount of ins or outs.
That’s why you have to do a workaround.
That is for effect plugins.
If you use an instrument plugin, the plugin itself will determine the amount of audio (return) channels it will provide and the host (Nuendo in this case) will follow suit.
Probably true … the multiple outputs of a plug In are intended for Surround/Immersive effects I imagine?
As for the plug in it is called “Circa” by Audio Damage. Fairly recent… here is a link to a demo
If you are up for a routing challenge let me know how you get on!
I’ll also take it up with the developer. It would be better loaded as an Instrument, but perhaps those don’t have audio inputs, which a looper like this obviously requires.
Cubase can certainly route inputs into a VST/VSTi. It’s called side chaining.
There are also some creative 3rd party methods to run a VST in a VSTi slot and vice verse. I personally use bidule, but free options like Kushview Element also exist. Bluecat also has some interesting and powerful ‘host within a host’ style options.
Five minutes in and I’m very confused by this plugin. I’ve put a downline instance of bidule to monitor what passes through Circa, and no matter what I try in this plugin all output only comes through the Mains 1&2.
That’s a thought! Thanks for taking the time to double check me. Really appreciated ! Don’t bur any more of your time on this! You got the same result I did … I’m off to the dev with questions.
Whatever happens I learned about multi - output effects routing/returns!!
I’m not able to get Circa to work when hosted directly in a Cubase slot. Only pins 1 & 2 (mains) get connected inline. The others simply ‘pass through’. It could be that we simply need to set up a proper surround sound 6 output bus first…something I haven’t gotten around to trying yet.
If I use bidule I can fudge it in. It works if I host it in a bidule instance rather than trying to host it directly in a Cubase slot.
Routing: My Instrument (Tascam Monitor 1) > 7.4.1 group (bidule insert hosting Circa) > Six 7.4.1 audio tracks > a second 7.4.1 Group > Stereo Out.
I elected to sandwich it all between two groups simply to clarify that things ‘meter out’ on the mixing console properly. The “6 Chan 2 Stereo” group should be ‘optional’ in a real setup.
It would seem that the plugin isn’t properly informing Cubase that it has 2 inputs and 6 outputs, at least not when using this surround sound 7.2.4 bus configuration.
Somehow bidule finds them and also properly reports to Cubase what is needed. Somehow?
Another note. The Circa plugin also provides an extra set of Cue outputs that I simply left unconnected in my test above. There might be a way to fudge it in with an Ambisonic configuration instead if one really wants more channels. Ambisonic does some weird stuff with the input but there are ways to ‘sort it out’ I’d imagine. Perhaps by enabling some side chain channels and using those to get simple mono or stereo inputs going.
It’d be nice if Cubase would provides a ‘straight through’ option where we simply get to pick how many inputs and outputs we want, and instead of a ‘panner’ just give a mixing console (like Volume).
I can think of another possible way to use the plugin using ASIO Link Pro as a background matrix, but it gets pretty complicated.
