VP-330 Choir/String Clone VST

[garranimal]

A preview of my Voice Synth Plus I'm working on. It's not going to replace the original VP-330 strings and choirs, but it's the next best thing and then some. Currently working on GUI, should have a video when it's ready soon.

[bhrama]

Wow! That sounds terrific, nice work.

[implant]

the preview sounds good is the vsti going to look vp330 like?

[garranimal]

Yep here is a preliminary screenshot I've been working on today


Features:
- Choir selectable Male 8', Male 4' and Female 4' across all keys.
- Strings selectable 8' AND 16' Bass (the 16' string was not on original)
- Built-in ensemble.
- Envelope attack for each Choir and String. Env release is shared like on the original.
- Choir and String level controls.
- I've got it set at 8-voice polyphony but will probably bump it up.
- Of course MIDI and patch save.

It looks simple, but it's CPU hungry and has a lot of processing going on behind the scenes. 10 filters and most w/ discrete leveling, 2-oscillators, 2-envelopes, and a delay unit. I really wanted to add the vibrato but this setup is maxed out on my PC.

[garranimal]

- Added Ensemble Mod on/off switches to choir and string.
- Changed possible polyphony up to 16 voices which will depend on your computer.
- Changed volume to a knob, reduced some font sizes.

Will post a download link soon if you would like to check out the VST. The audio in the video was recorded in Cubase SX3 on three tracks w/ no other processing added - ALL VSP-330! I added some pics of a real VP-330 to the video for fun.

[Ashe37]

sounds pretty good, are you thinking about putting more controls on the ensemble effect?

Also, is it synthedit?

[Jabberwalky]

Looks good. Wheres the download!

[bhrama]

HA! The pics from that youtube video are from an auction I lost a few months back!

This makes me want to venture into the softsynth/VS world! Keep up the good work!

[garranimal]

Ok this week you guys are my guinea pigs for the beta version. Please let me know any issues, fixes, suggestions.
- Beware the blank patches for some reason can have brief excessive levels when the String Balance first gets tweaked.
- It bears to repeat this plugin is CPU intensive, so flashy shredding probably won't be a go.
- There's a readme file w/ all kinds of useful bits.
- Be sure to set the panning hard left/right in your host DAW. It will sound like flattened mush otherwise.
(UPDATED 3.9.2011: link to beta version removed. Latest download here)

While you guys are trying out, I'll be rendering a nicer GUI for it this week.

Ashe37, yes synthedit was used. And that's a good idea to add some chorus controls. Like chorus I/II or amount/rate settings? I can do that. BTW I used BK_chorus, not a quad-ensemble AFAIK but sounds really nice. I tested Osiris Rochor but it didn't sound quite as good to me as the BK_chorus. But hey, that's why I added the chorus defeat buttons so you can all try out other choruses if you like.

Bhrama, I'll let the cat out of the bag. You lost that auction to me! But if it helps to know, yesterday suddenly something has gone wonky w/ the Pitch Set pot - erratic pitches are drifting all over the place. Hopefully w/ a good pot cleaning in order it will work itself out. But it's been absolutely indispensable to have the real deal for comparison while developing the vst.

When you get a chance let me know what you think! -g

[Ashe37]

Ashe37, yes synthedit was used. And that's a good idea to add some chorus controls. Like chorus I/II or amount/rate settings? I can do that. BTW I used BK_chorus, not a quad-ensemble AFAIK but sounds really nice. I tested Osiris Rochor but it didn't sound quite as good to me as the BK_chorus. But hey, that's why I added the chorus defeat buttons so you can all try out other choruses if you like.

a i/II would be nice, a rate control would be better, rate/depth would be best.

[implant]

i would like to try out your VSTi but for some reason cubase is acting stupid and will not recognize it. I have placed it in the common vst folder i use for everything and updated and no go. I'm not sure what the problem is but sometimes my ver2 cubase does not pick up all vst's at least on my pc.

[garranimal]

Hey thanks for having a go at this. Let's see what we can do to get it up and running. This plugin uses VST version 2.3 audio engine which I believe is supported by SX 2. Verify the .dll file ends up in a folder like this:
C:\Program Files\Steinberg\Cubase SX 3\Vstplugins

....and check where Cubase is set to look for vst folders using something like Plugin Information feature.

I'm not sure about SX 2 but in SX 3 it's:
(top menu) Devices-> Plug-in Information ->VST Plugins tab
and a pulldown menu of Shared VST Plugins Folder.

While you're on the VST Plugins tab VSP-330 should be on the list of plugins. If it's not there, it's not loaded. If it is there, but has a mustard yellow shading or something then it's registered but there may be an issue loading. Whatever the case let me know what's going on there.

Oh and make sure to install any necessary version updates for SX 2.

Has anyone else been able to open? Is it working at all?

[bhrama]

Bhrama, I'll let the cat out of the bag. You lost that auction to me! But if it helps to know, yesterday suddenly something has gone wonky w/ the Pitch Set pot - erratic pitches are drifting all over the place. Hopefully w/ a good pot cleaning in order it will work itself out. But it's been absolutely indispensable to have the real deal for comparison while developing the vst.

Well at least someone that truly appreciates it beat me! Sorry its not working properly.

[Ashe37]

it works here in REAPER but the UI doesn't come up. Sounds good tho!

[garranimal]

(EDIT: I'm now aware a development kit shouldn't be necessary to make VSTs open in a host. I feel so silly )
Just checking to make sure, have you installed the VST SDK in Reaper?
"REAPER supports VST plug-ins (up to version 2.4). VST is a standard defined by Steinberg Media Technologies GMBH. To get the VST SDK (which you will need to implement VST plug-ins), you will need to download it from Steinberg, as we cannot distribute it."
- from http://www.reaper.fm/sdk/vst/vst_ext.php

It would be great if it could work in Reaper!