1. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Virtual Instruments and Effects Devices

2. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Agenda Overview of Technologies Virtual Instruments Effect Modules System Resource Requirements Examples

3. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Overview of Technologies Virtual instruments and effect devices are usually ‘classic’ audio hardware devices or real instruments recreated in software. They typically plug-in to a ‘host’ application such as Logic and may be used as ‘standalone’. Two main technologies Virtual Studio Technology (VST) (PC and OSX) developed by Steinberg Labs, and Audio Units (AU) developed by Apple Computers. Virtual instrument types available include synthesizers, pianos, guitars drums and other acoustic and electronic instruments

4. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Virtual Instrument: Synthesizer Korg Legacy Collection: MS-20

5. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Virtual Instrument: Grand Piano Synthogy : Ivory

6. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Virtual Instrument: Organ Native Instruments: B4 II

7. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Virtual Instrument:Drum Kit Toon Track: EZdrummer

8. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Virtual Instrument:Modelling Synthesizer Logic Studio: Sculpture

9. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Virtual Effect:Pitch Correction Logic:Pitch Correction

10. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production Virtual Effect:Guitar Amp Pro Logic: Guitar Amp Pro

11. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production System Requirements Virtual instruments and effect devices based on VST plug-ins are normally stored in a common folder on a PC’s system drive. On OSX Audio Units are stored in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components. Plugins VST or AU will normally be created for a particular version of the host operating system e.g. some plug-ins may not work with earlier or later versions. System memory (RAM) will also determine how many instruments and effects a host application can manage to support at the same time. If the virtual instrument is based on audio samples then plenty of disk space is usually required - especially for virtual pianos - and disk access time (latency) will also influence performance and ‘playability’. Many manufactures provide ‘demo’ versions that have limited functionality or time-out after a certain period e.g. Native Instruments.

12. UFCEXR-20-1Multimedia Sound Production References MS 20 Synthesizer: http://www.korg.co.uk http://www.korg.co.uk Ivory Piano: http://www.synthogy.com http://www.synthogy.com B3 II: http://www.native-instruments.com http://www.native-instruments.com EZdrummer: http://www.toontrack.comhttp://www.toontrack.com Sculpture: ‘Logic Studio Instruments and Effects’ page 151 Pitch Correction: ‘Logic Studio Instruments and Effects’ page 455 Guitar Amp Pro: ‘Logic Studio Instruments and Effects’ page 21