VST Plugins not appearing in Plug-in Information or VST Inst

ajbillig · New Member Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 6

Hi all,

I'm running Cubase 4 on a MacPro 2GB RAM, OS X. I've installed Halion Symphonic Orchestra and have a number of other VST instrument plug-ins, none of which appear in the VST Instruments window, nor the Plug-in Information window (both from Devices menu). This is despite me adding the path in the VST Plugins section of the Plug-in Information window and clicking Update. I've also tried copying the .vst files to a folder on my Desktop and directing Cubase to that. Have also re-installed Cubase after reading similar posts to this, but all to no avail. The only VST Instruments that appear are Cubase 4's 4 synth Plug-Ins, and the only non-Instrument plugins in Plug-In Information window are those that come with Cubase 4. Halion works fine as a stand-alone instrument, so it appears to have installed fine. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Alex

daveporter · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:19 pm Post subject:

All plugins used in C4 on a Mac Pro (or any Intel Mac) MUST be UB versions or they will not show up and are not useable.

So, you need to make sure that your using the UB versions of all your plugs. If they are not UB you need to upgrade them to UB. If UB versions are not avialable for the plugin you are out-of-luck until a UB version becomes available (if it ever does). If the plugin author does not plan to offer a UB version of the plugin you will need to replace it with a new UB plugin from another company.

Dave
_________________
Mac Pro 2.66 GHz Quad Core Xeon, MOTU UltraLite, UAD-1e, BCF2000, Cubase 4.5.2, Logic Pro 9.0, OSX 10.6

hps909 · Junior Member Joined: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 78

funny issue that i too have a problem with 2 plugins IK amplitude and IK ampeg svx both work fine in ableton and peak pro but not in cubase both are in the blacklist file ....

on a side note is there a way to open AU's in cubase? i have a few fx that are AU only that i would like to use

ajbillig · New Member Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 6

Dave, many thanks for your help. The main plug-in I want to use is Steinberg's own HALion Symphonic Orchestra .. will need to find out some more about UB. Cheers,Alex

BBBrookes

HI All,

I've got some interesting info fron FXpansion, in reply to my query about their BFD drum module (UB) I've cut and paste Q&A:-

[i]"BFD intel demo doesn't work in Cubase 4.01
I have downloaded the Universal Binery Demo BFD for my Mac mini 1.66 Core Duo, running Cubase 4.01 and BFD will not open properly, though Cubase does recognise the plugin in my plug in folder.

I have done some research on cubase 4 and other plugins and it seems there is a big problem with Universal Binery 3rd party plugs not even being recognised in Cubase 4(Amplitube 2,Wavearts Powersuite 5, to name a couple)

Is there a compatibility problem with BFD running in Cubase 4? If so I would like to know as I am seriously considering buying BFD but will not if the demo cannot even run. I open the plug and where the plug in graphic should display, is blank instead....

I am aware that Steinberg now have the VST 3 technology which reduces CPU load and allows plugs to run more smoothly. Also Cubase 4 should be able to run VST 2.4 plugs with ease too. Is BFD 2.4 /3 compatible?

I would love a reply!

Bev

Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:09 am

Hi,

BFD is not yet VST2.4 compatible. Cubase SX, unlike other hosts, requires 2.4-compatibility (2.3 is 'not good enough') on intel macs. We're working on 2.4 compatibility, but it's not ready for BFD yet.

VST3 technology doesn't exist yet - they are talking about it, but the specs will apparently not be made available to plugin developers for several months.. as far as I'm concerned, a plugin technology which is not available to any plugin developers, might as well not exist.. it certainly makes no sense for Steinberg to announce it to the public when, even once developers do have it, it will likely be several months before developers are able to release plugins supporting it.

javascript:emoticon('

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Rolling Eyesjavascript:emoticon('

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Exclamation
_________________
--- Angus F. Hewlett -- Managing Director / CEO -- FXpansion Audio UK Ltd. ---"

END OF CUT and PASTE
[/i]

Now, I am equally frustrated as all other users of the NEW CUBASE 4 and I really feel that it is Steinberg's responsibility to be honest about the limitations of this new VST3 technology. Would it not be better for Steinberg to create their own Patch that enables Cubase 4 users on the Mac Intel UB to use NOT JUST VST 3 and VST 2.4 but plugins b4 VST 2.4.........it appears that these 3rd party software developers are releasing Universal Binery products that still use pre-VST2.4 and this defeats the object of these plugins being able to run in Cubase 4.

Surely its the responsibility of Steinberg to create the patch for usability and NOT the 3rd party developers......
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Evil or Very Mad
Come on Steinberg give us the truth about what's REALLY GOING ON!

_________________
Quad Core pc with vista 32 4gb ram - running cubase 4.1 and Alesis Multimix 16 Firewire

Arne Scheffler · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:40 pm Post subject:

The information that Cubase 4 on MacIntel will not support plug-ins lower than 2.4 was givin to all VST developers as we released the VST 2.4 SDK and that was in January 2006. This was long before BFD UB was released.
I like it when the finger always points to steinberg Wink

cheers
arne

cj · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject:

We are customers, not developers, and you did NOT tell customers a single word about no backward compatibility for pre VST 2.4 plugs on C4 and macintel. If I am wrong post a link to Steinberg website or this forum where I can read an official statement about this topic. BTW, my problems are on Amplitube 2 and Ampeg SVX, released as UB about a couple of month ago

regards

claudio
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Cubase 4 & 5, Hypersonic 2, Groove Agent 3, HALion 3, Amplitube 2, Ampeg SVX on Mac OSX 10.5.x on a MacBookPro@2,5Ghz 4GB Ram

BBBrookes · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:44 pm Post subject: VST 2.4

So, 3rd party developers basically have not been quick enuff OR, not bothered to implement the VST 2.4 SDK in their lastest Univeral Binery updates and maybe us customers were not advised of the SDK VST2.4 issue in the first place because Steinberg were hoping the 3rd party developers would have had their UB VST 2.4 plugs ready B4 the release of Cubase 4?

Am I right?

I still think as per previous posting, Steinberg could work on a patch to allow PRE-VST 2.4 plugs to work in Cubase 4..Is that possible at all?Backwards compatibility sure would be the cream on the top.

Thanks
Bev
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Quad Core pc with vista 32 4gb ram - running cubase 4.1 and Alesis Multimix 16 Firewire

cj · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject:

I wish I could find a (saint) developer that writes a wrapper for this, I'll pay 50€ for such a shareware.
_________________
Cubase 4 & 5, Hypersonic 2, Groove Agent 3, HALion 3, Amplitube 2, Ampeg SVX on Mac OSX 10.5.x on a MacBookPro@2,5Ghz 4GB Ram

BBBrookes

Quote from Steinberg:

The information that Cubase 4 on MacIntel will not support plug-ins lower than 2.4 was givin to all VST developers as we released the VST 2.4 SDK and that was in January 2006. This was long before BFD UB was released.
I like it when the finger always points to steinberg

reply FXpansion:

Yes, but because of the enormous screw-ups and changes they made with 2.4, it was a much bigger issue than Steinberg are making it out to be. The AU spec did not have to be changed to work on Intel, and nor did the VST spec, but Steinberg did it anyway -- and didn't even release anything like a host for us to test against until June (actually, we couldn't really start the work until Cubase 4 was released in October - we didn't have access to betas, and it's crazy to do this kind of work without something to test it against). Not to mention, it wasn't til after that that we discovered how to make 2.3/2.4-crosscompatible plugins - again because of very shortsighted decisions by Steinberg, 2.3 and 2.4 are not automatically cross-compatible.

I have a great deal of respect for Steinberg as a company BTW, and I wouldn't be saying this kind of thing if there weren't MASSIVE technical shortcomings in how the whole 2.4 thing has been handled.

Quotefrom BBBrookes

Okay, so you are not up on the VST 3 which is due to be sent to all VST developers 2nd quarter of 2007 as an SDK. But you received the VST 2.4 SDK in January 2006---a year ago. So WHY was this not implemented in your LATER released Universal Binery BFD?

Reply from FXpansion

Because 2.4 is seriously flawed - we spent a lot of time and effort putting pressure on Steinberg to reconsider - and because there wasn't any way of testing BFD-for-VST2.4 until recently.

Quotefrom BBBrookes

When are you going to release a VST 2.4 patch seen as the info was released to all developers a year ago?

reply from FXpansion:

We are working on it. My guess is, it will be possible to release it next month, but that is a best-guess and not a promise. What you should understand is that Steinberg created months of additional work for developers like ourselves, for something that has zero technical merit or benefit to end users. To put it another way, they burned tens of thousands of dollars of developers and, eventually, end users' money, for something that had no merit. There were clear and obvious ways of avoiding this, but they simply refused to do so.

_________________
--- Angus F. Hewlett -- Managing Director / CEO -- FXpansion Audio UK Ltd. ---
_________________
Quad Core pc with vista 32 4gb ram - running cubase 4.1 and Alesis Multimix 16 Firewire

garyboozy · Member Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 153

ajbillig · New Member Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 6

Thanks all for your help, at least I know now that I can't do anything more to get these plug-ins working until UB versions are available!

peterfitz · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:51 pm Post subject:

Bump, This is vitally important and needs to stay a visible topic
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PeterFitz
Studio . . .| http://www.bluecrystalcreative.com/services/audio/index.php
Band . . . .| http://www.karthartic.com/
Recording | Tascam DM3200 >MOTU2408mk3 >Mac Pro Quad 2.66GHz, 4gig ram, 1tb h/disk> Cubase 4
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ECmaj7 · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:38 pm Post subject:

How hard would it be to make Cubase 4 compatible with VST 2.3?
Wouldn't that be in Steinberg's best interest?
Could it be the spaghetti code is getting a bit too tangled?

Emilio

"What we have here...... is a failure... to communicate." Cool Hand Luke

cj · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject:

shlomada · Member Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 129

Seems like this problem has effected almost all respected developers. Novation for example will not be releasing what I think is the coolest product to come along since plug-ins have existed. The novation remote SL Automap Universal. I was so excited to get it it's even a free download to anyone who already has a remote SL. It's a plug in wrapper that makes it so you can control any plug in, in a perfect way which you can research on novations web site, on the home page. My excitement was deflated becasue it will not be available for VST on a Mac in version 1, hmmmm I wonder why? I am not positive this is steinbergs fault but what other possible explanation could you give for this. This is going to take longer than I thought to get all my toys up and running with cubase 4. By the time I do will they be obscolete. It's not that I don't think it will happen it's that I think it is starting to take way to long.
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Cubase 4.03\Motu 828\Motu 8Pre\PPC G5 dual 1.8\UAD-1\Kontakt 2\Battery 2\Reaktor 5\WavesNPPV5\Absynth 3\Sonic Synth 2\PSP Mixpack\Arturia Mininmoog V/Rapture/OS10.4.8

Raindog · Member Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 336

I swear, it´s the first time I´m whining here on the Cubase forum (being a long time Cubase user) but this time Steinberg has really caused trouble. As a Mac user I have been not too amused about Apple´s technology changes and the costs which are linked to this. The developers charged (which they had the right to imo) for conversion of OS9 to OSX plugins then from PPC plugins to UB plugins (e.g. Absynth 3 was not developed for UB so I have to upgrade to Absynth 4 when I want to use it with a MacBook). All this has been accepted with a gringe of the teeth.
But NOW making a new standard without desperate need and making Cubase 4 not able to work with plugins which worked perfectly well for years or alternatively making AU plugins possible for Cuabase on a Mac is a sign of ignorance and arrogance which is hardly understandable by (so far) loyal users.

I´m not willing to wait (and pay) again for 3rd party updates. Downloaded the Logic Express and tracktion trial. I´ll check these 2 DAWs out. I´m not sure if any other form of protest works as Steinberg´s developers seem to have hidden in an ivory tower (or maybe Yamaha locked them there).

best regards
Raindog
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MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz, 4 GByte RAM, 200 GByte internal SATA drive, 250 GByte Firewire Disk. RME multiface (PCie), UAD card. 867 MHz G4 Powerbook, 60 MByte, 7200 rpm internal HD, 80 GByte external 2.5" HD, Edirol PCA 30. Cubase 4, SX3, RAX.

AlteredMoods

cj · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:51 pm Post subject:

I am bumping this post just to tell I've downloaded a demo of Live 6.0.3 to check if it supports pre VST 2.4 UB plugs and I discovered that Live does NOT, just as Cubase 4 (obv on macintel).

I can see FreeAlpha ( http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/audio/freealpha.html ) but there's no way to see Amplitube 2 UB

bye
cj

statikcat · Member Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 200

You know it stinks I can not use BFD on my Macbook Pro so I am using EZdrummer for the time being. But this makes me think

"How is it a company like Toontrack can make their plugin 2.4 already but Fxpansion can't?"

There are plenty of companies smaller than Fxpansion who have had 2.4 plugins for MONTHS. If Ezdrummer can be 2.4 then so can Fxpansion.. whatever reason FXpansion has delayed the release is not Steinberg's fault. Same for Waves, etc. I have plenty of fx plugins working in C4.. meanwhile Waves (a larger company) takes longer. You can't blame Steinberg .. I was using a lot of 2.4 plugins the day I got C4 when it was released. If a plug-in company wants to drag their feet then that is their fault. Especially since this is FEBUARY..any company STILL pointing fingers at Steinberg for not having 2.4 plugins is totally ridiculous.