This tutorial will teach you how to install a VST plugin for different audio recording and music notation software. VST is a very useful feature that extends the audio processing functionality of existing software. For example Notion 3 does not include an EQ in its mixer by default; but Notion 3 allows VST plugins. So you can simply install and add EQ to Notion 3 mixer using a VST plugin. Another example is that Audacity does not include a parametric equalizer by default.
I have Audition CS 5.5 on my Mac (OSX Sierra) and I have an Audient iD22 audio interface. This has a DI input into which I've connected my guitar. Because the DI input is actually on Input 2 of the iD22 I've changed the Channel Mapping in Audition so that now Channel 1 is from Audient iD22 Channel 2. Waves Plugins Adobe Audition 1.5 Nov 6, 2017 - Effects plug-in support is limited to plug-ins that are included with the Adobe Audition CC installation and the VST and Audio Units technologies. Antares Autotune is one of most wanted plugin on market.
But since Audacity allows VST plugins, you can add a parametric equalizer using third party plugins. This tutorial is illustrated using Windows 7 and Windows XP although concepts and principles can be applied to other OS versions. VST plug-in offers additional sets of effects which are not otherwise included in the default Adobe Audition list of effects as well as other DAW like REAPER.
Installation Procedure of VST in Adobe Audition
Step1: Searching for free VST plug-in. – in this case, you may want to visit KVR Audio and search for available VST plug-ins. Follow the rest of the procedure until you will be able to download the VST exe file which will act as the installer.
This is the sample download page of the VST plug-in: Aodix v4 plug-ins
Step2: Double check the integrity of your file. Some VST plug-in developers includes an MD5 hash to their software. So after downloading, you need to double check the MD5 hash to make sure it matches with the provided by the developer. You can read this tutorial on checking the file integrity using MD5 checksum. The MD5 checksum method can be applied to any downloadable assets such as WAV or MP3 files.
Why do you need to bother checking the MD5 checksum?
a.) If the original authors/developers provide a checksum; you will always ensure that the file you have downloaded is not corrupted or altered intentionally by other parties (if your checksum results matches with the one provided).
b.) Downloading files from the Internet can easily become corrupted or injected with other codes not included with the original installer.
Another big issue that you need to deal with is to ensure that it does contain any viruses or malware. You can upload the exe file here to be checked by the scanners.
Step3: Once it is clean, double click the installer to start the installation process. It is suggested to close all open programs to avoid conflict during installation.
You might see a warning before continuing the installation such as this:
VST plugin in Adobe Audition
It says that your system (audio interface and digital audio workstation/multi-editor/recorder) should support ASIO. These are low latency audio drivers that is very different from the one used and installed by Windows in default. Windows is using WDM; however if you are using professional audio interface; they have ASIO drivers on it. For more details about ASIO and WDM audio drivers, you can read this article on ASIO vs. WDM. If you are using older versions of Adobe Audition such as the 1.5 version, it does not support ASIO. Read for more information here: Will Adobe Audition 1.5 or 3.0 record a Firewire audio interface.
You should pay attention to some warnings to make sure the VST plug-in will work without problems. Example of these warnings are common when the VST plug-in is not freeware. In this case, it requires license key or authorization code during the installation.
If you encounter this problem, read the tutorial section on the installation of proprietary VST plug-ins.
Step4: Launch Adobe Audition – go to Effects – Add/Remove VST Directory. Navigate to the folder where the VST plug-in has been installed. If you find many folders under the plug-in, make sure to select the general path, example: C:Program FilesAodix.
Based on the screenshot above, Adobe Audition will automatically scan the sub-directories under the main folder for VST plug-in related files.
Step5: Once added, go to Effects – and click “Refresh Effects Lists”. The VST plug-in should then be added to Adobe Audition.
This is just one example, there are countless of VST plug-ins available in the internet for downloading. I also recommend the plug-in reviews before proceeding with the installation to determine if it is great or not.
The good thing is that Adobe Audition support both VST and DirectX plug-in. So it is your choice what type of plug-ins you need to install. Although most of my Adobe Audition plug-in is DirectX based, I am still using Steinberg VST plug-ins.
If you are using DirectX plug-ins, you can refer to the following tutorial below for the installation steps:
General Procedure of installing VST plugin in Windows operating system
Step1.) Make sure you have an installer (.exe file) of the VST plugin you need to install. There are lots of VST plugins available, some a free and some requires you to have a license. For illustration purposes, supposing you need a free and complete VST plugin that already includes the following important effects: parametric EQ, compressor, etc. In addition to the one provided in the previous section; another great free VST plugin that will run in Windows is the Reaper VST audio plugins. Download the installer here.
![Adobe audition 1.5 vst plugins Adobe audition 1.5 vst plugins](/uploads/1/1/9/8/119893503/526017951.jpg)
Step2.) After downloading the installer, double click the exe file to install it to your Windows 7 OS. Make sure to select all effect plugins during installation.
Step3.) Confirm that you have properly installed the Reaper VST plugin. Go to your C:Program Files, you should see a directory named as “VSTPlugins”. If you visit that folder, you should see the “ReaPlugs” folder with the following contents:
Installed Reaper VST plugins
As you can see after installation, the actual VST plugin that is very important are those with .dll extension. For example this dll file: reaeq-standalone.dll is the actual ReaEQ plugin. And also reacomp-standalone.dll is the application extension of ReaComp Compressor. Take note that these programs are standalone so it can be move to other directories and would still work.
Add/Enable VST Plugin to Notion 3
Now you have successfully installed the VST dll plugin files, it is time to integrate it with your recording or music notation software. Let’s start with Notion 3:
Step1.) Launch Notion 3 music notation software.
Step2.) Open any existing Notion 3 project that you are working which you would like to apply VST effects
Step3.) Click “Mixer” in the Notion 3 menu.
Step4.) You should see different tracks in the mixer representing different instruments in your project. Take note that this mixer works exactly like a real mixing console. To connect an EQ to a mixer, you should be using Inserts.
In Notion 3, each track or channel allows you up to 4 effects to be added as “Insert”. Click “Insert” on any tracks or channel. Start with the top most insert of the channel.
Step5.) After clicking on it, it will show two options in the dropdown: “None” and “VST Manager”. Currently “None” is checked since Notion 3 is not yet configured to use any VST plugins, so you need to check “VST Manager”. You will then see all the VST effect plugins automatically discovered by Notion 3 based on installed VST plugins in Windows 7.
Step6.) You will then need to click “Enable” for example the ReaEQ parametric equalizer (ReaEQ-standalone) to use it and then click “close”.
Step7.) Now go back to the mixer in Notion 3, click again “Insert” and select “ReaPlugs”. You can then click “reaeq-standalone”. Finally you can see the EQ options where you can apply desired settings.
VST plugin in Notion 3 mixer
The effects will then be highlighted on the Insert section of the Mixer as shown below (for example- Oboe, Violin I, Violin II and Viola are applied with the EQ effect):
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This is a short guide on how to do mastering using Cool Edit Pro (now called Adobe Audition). Particularly, this is written based on older Adobe Audition 1.5. But I do believe the techniques outlined here can also be applied to later Adobe Audition versions such as Adobe Audition 3.
Mastering is the last stage of the audio production process, next to mixing. So make sure that before you start mastering, your audio wave must pass the following properties:
1.) It is a mix down wave. This is single waveform, which is summation or the final result of the mixing process. It should only be one waveform but containing all musical instruments mix (vocals, drums, guitars, etc). See examples below:
Sample photo of the audio mixdown after mixing process
2.) No EQ and Compression is still applied. It should be completely fresh, the single waveform is still NOT being adjusted with any mastering EQ and compression settings.
3.) The maximum peak of the audio wave (Peak amplitude) should not exceed -3dB. An allowance is needed for EQ and Compression adjustments in mastering. If the wave is already peaking at the loudest level (0dB), then there is no room for EQ and Compression adjustments.
It is a good practice in mixing that the completed mix down should have some headroom for EQ/mastering adjustments. You can measure the peak amplitude by going to Edit View –> Analyze –> Statistics.
For details, read this tutorial on the specifications of your audio mix required before mastering.
Step1. Trimming of start and ending. I give a 0.3 second allowance before the start of the audio wave and 0.6 second allowance at the end of the wave. If the wave exceeds 0.3 second from the moment it started playing, cut it. Below is the sample screenshot of the trimmed wave at the start (it was exceeding 0.3 seconds before and I cut it to 0.3 seconds standard).
Step2. EQ stage – The objective of EQ stage is to shape the final sound of the recording, apply presence, boost hi frequencies and lows as well as removing muddiness.
Use the Adobe Audition Parametric Equalizer to adjust settings. You can as well apply EQ plugins like those from Wave. Refer to this following good tutorial on mastering EQ using Audition:
EQ Settings for Mastering
How to use a parametric equalizer
How to use a parametric equalizer
Step3. Compression stage – The overall objective of the compression stage is to make the audio wave as loud as possible without creating distortion. In this case, I am using the L2 Waves plug-in for Adobe Audition 1.5:
Go to Effects –> DirectX –> Waves –> L2 and adjust the following:
Waves Plugins Adobe Audition 1.5
Under factory preset change to: Hi Res CD Master then adjusts the following:
Threshold: -7.5
Out of Ceiling: 0.2
Out of Ceiling: 0.2
Click OK, this will maximize the volume of the recording to around -13dB (average RMS power) which is considered OK for master recordings. You can check the loudness in terms of average RMS power by Analyze –> Statistics.
Fine tune the mastering and use your ear. You can use this technique to remember your settings in the mastering FX chain.
Bear in mind that mastering in Adobe Audition is a destructive audio editing process, so make sure you have backup the original mix before you proceed.
Best Adobe Audition Plugins
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