Are there stand-alone VSTs ?

[spantini]

I'm using a Tascam DP-03SD and would like to have more options with EQ and Reverb - a band graphic EQ with 6 to 10 frequencies would be nice.

Is there a VST like this which I don't have to plug into DAW software?

If there is, is it possible to export a .wav from the DP-03 to my PC and run it through this VST, then back to the DP-03 for mix/mastering?

I've never used DAW software or VSTs - I'm an analog guy getting into digital.

 

[Chili]

The only standalone VSTs I've seen are virtual instruments. Never seen a processing plug as a standalone.

But, it's not a far stretch to go from standalone concept to a DAW and host the plugs there, as if the DAW was the standalone for a bevy of VSTs. You can look at Reaper which has an a full-function, unlimited time demo mode. Import your tracks, process as needed, export back to your DP-03. After a while, you just might find you won't want to export back and just mix within Reaper.

 

[GeoffB17]

Well, I don't know much avout DAWs or VSTs, I'm still pretty much analog too.

I've understood that VSTs are 'plug-ins', and that means they have to plug into something. I assume there's not much point in making a something for them to plug into that's NOT a DAW as many DAWs do it anyway. And I'd assume the instrument type referred to above is more of a virtual instrument (like a virtual synth) that, by the way, can be used as a VST/plugin as well?

As you're already analog, have you looked at something like the Alesis Quadraverb which does loads of reverb things, and has EQ facilities as well (3 band, 5 band and 11 band). All nice analog as well!! I assume your Tascam unit has some sort of effect send/receive? I've seen another comment here, on another thread, suggesting that VST effects aren't THAT great anyway??

Geoff

 

[ashcat_lt]

...Alesis Quadraverb...All nice analog as well!!

Derp!

But then neither is a Tascam DP-03SD...

 

[spantini]

The only standalone VSTs I've seen are virtual instruments. Never seen a processing plug as a standalone.

But, it's not a far stretch to go from standalone concept to a DAW and host the plugs there, as if the DAW was the standalone for a bevy of VSTs. You can look at Reaper which has an a full-function, unlimited time demo mode. Import your tracks, process as needed, export back to your DP-03. After a while, you just might find you won't want to export back and just mix within Reaper.

Thank you, Chili. I think I'll check out Reaper as you suggest. I have already come across another free offer: PreSonus Studio One 3, offered as an unlimited free stripped down version.

Well, I don't know much avout DAWs or VSTs, I'm still pretty much analog too.

I've understood that VSTs are 'plug-ins', and that means they have to plug into something. I assume there's not much point in making a something for them to plug into that's NOT a DAW as many DAWs do it anyway. And I'd assume the instrument type referred to above is more of a virtual instrument (like a virtual synth) that, by the way, can be used as a VST/plugin as well?

As you're already analog, have you looked at something like the Alesis Quadraverb which does loads of reverb things, and has EQ facilities as well (3 band, 5 band and 11 band). All nice analog as well!! I assume your Tascam unit has some sort of effect send/receive? I've seen another comment here, on another thread, suggesting that VST effects aren't THAT great anyway??

Geoff

Well, my equipment is digital (Tascam DP-03SD). I used to have an analog home studio, now I'm slowly re-entering with digital. There are no effects send/receive provisions on my Tascam. It's looking as if it would be easier and probably better to just begin with a free version of a good DAW and go from there. The above reply has two I'm going to look into. Thanks, Geoff.

 

[Paj]

I seem to remember being able to use T-Racks in standalone mode.

Paj
8^)

 

[spantini]

I seem to remember being able to use T-Racks in standalone mode.

Paj
8^)

I just had a look at T-RackS website - pretty cool stuff there.

I can be dense at times, this may be one. They say their modules can be used as stand-alone and give an example of using it with another one of their packages. That sounds like it's a plug-in and they're not stating specifically that these can be used stand-alone and not within the shell of another controller.

They've got a very nice 10-band graphic EQ, which is exactly what I'm looking for. If this will work as a true stand-alone I can go for it.

Thanks for the tip, Paj.

 

[SeaGtGruff]

If there's a VST effects plug-in you want but it doesn't have a standalone option, you could always try running it with VSTHost. It's a handy little program!

VSTHost

Or you can use SAVIHost to run a single VST plug-in:

SAVIHost

 

[ashcat_lt]

I'm more concerned that you actually seem to want a graphic EQ! There is very little chance that the fixed bands on that (or any) graphic EQ are actually going to sit at the frequencies or with the bandwidth that you actually need. You should be looking for a decent parametric.

Just get Reaper. It has all the plugins you'll need, and when your conscience catches up to you, it's only $60 for the liscence.

 

[spantini]

If there's a VST effects plug-in you want but it doesn't have a standalone option, you could always try running it with VSTHost. It's a handy little program!

VSTHost

Or you can use SAVIHost to run a single VST plug-in:

SAVIHost

Thanks, SeaGtGruff. Reading everyone's input here, I'm leaning in the full package direction since some of the plug-ins I've seen are twice the cost of the low budget DAWs.

I'm more concerned that you actually seem to want a graphic EQ! There is very little chance that the fixed bands on that (or any) graphic EQ are actually going to sit at the frequencies or with the bandwidth that you actually need. You should be looking for a decent parametric.

Just get Reaper. It has all the plugins you'll need, and when your conscience catches up to you, it's only $60 for the liscence.

I'm not trained on Parametric EQs, I've always adjusted at random by ear... I could get lost in all the fine tuning. I like to use a graphic EQ to quickly shape tunes to suit my car's stereo, since that's where I do most of my listening. Reaper looks like a good deal for the individual user. I'm seriously considering this one - thanks, ashcat.

 

[spantini]

I just checked out a couple of YouTube tutorials: Beginner's Tutorial for Reaper and How to Import / Rip CD Audio Files.

Almost 20 minutes of great beginner info.

 

[ashcat_lt]

TI'm not trained on Parametric EQs, I've always adjusted at random by ear... I could get lost in all the fine tuning. I like to use a graphic EQ to quickly shape tunes to suit my car's stereo, since that's where I do most of my listening. Reaper looks like a good deal for the individual user. I'm seriously considering this one - thanks, ashcat.

ReaEQ is parametric, but with a graphical interface. You literally just grab the little dots and move them where you want them - listening the whole time until it sounds good. Much like a graphic, except that you can move each one side-to-side as well us up and down. You can have as many (or few) bands as you want/need. There's a slider to set how wide of a swath each band controls. There are other filter types and crazy crap you can do with ReaEQ, but you don't have to mess with any of that until you're ready. I think you'll find it (or a similar "paragraphic" eq) pretty intuitive once you get your hands on it.

 

[Paj]

I just had a look at T-RackS website - pretty cool stuff there.

I can be dense at times, this may be one. They say their modules can be used as stand-alone and give an example of using it with another one of their packages. That sounds like it's a plug-in and they're not stating specifically that these can be used stand-alone and not within the shell of another controller.

They've got a very nice 10-band graphic EQ, which is exactly what I'm looking for. If this will work as a true stand-alone I can go for it.

Thanks for the tip, Paj.
View attachment 97446

When I originally purchased T-Racks, it came with a standalone module that you could drag/import a wave file into. I have no idea if the latest update still does this (it's supposed to) because, in true IKmedia fashion, T-Racks won't start, tells me it has to be reinstalled, crashes the heck out of Reaper rescans, can't find this, now needs that, etc. I can think of no vendor over the past 10 years that has forced more re-installs, re-authorizations, etc. WHO wants to click on something to open it and go through all of this crap. No other vendor has interrupted my workflow more than IKmedia. I have a ton of their stuff that I no longer use, or even desire to, because I can't depend upon it to open and run when I need it---because they have concentrated on their software to market rather than to perform. Really good stuff that you can't depend upon because of their ridiculously unstable authorization routines. I did get my individual T-Racks plugins to function again (Custom Shop has a dropdown menu item called "Reauthorize) but for how long. KV331 (Synthmaster) seems to be going this route and v9 of WAVES software turned out to be a nonfunctional nightmare (they modified their folder icon so I can easily locate all of my now non-functioning plugs). I love it when something you put your hard-earned $$$ into no longer works because the manufacturer makes a non-consumer "improvement." Their security issues should not interfere with products I've already purchased---FROM THEM! Well, the one thing it has reinforced for me is that, no matter how good the vendor thinks they are, there is always an alternative.

Paj
8^)

 

[Paj]

I'm more concerned that you actually seem to want a graphic EQ! There is very little chance that the fixed bands on that (or any) graphic EQ are actually going to sit at the frequencies or with the bandwidth that you actually need. You should be looking for a decent parametric.

Just get Reaper. It has all the plugins you'll need, and when your conscience catches up to you, it's only $60 for the liscence.

+1

Paj
8^)

 

[spantini]

ReaEQ is parametric, but with a graphical interface. You literally just grab the little dots and move them where you want them - listening the whole time until it sounds good. Much like a graphic, except that you can move each one side-to-side as well us up and down. You can have as many (or few) bands as you want/need. There's a slider to set how wide of a swath each band controls. There are other filter types and crazy crap you can do with ReaEQ, but you don't have to mess with any of that until you're ready. I think you'll find it (or a similar "paragraphic" eq) pretty intuitive once you get your hands on it.

The parametric EQ was demonstrated in the video - exactly as you say... just drag the points around. Nice.

When I originally purchased T-Racks, it came with a standalone module that you could drag/import a wave file into. I have no idea if the latest update still does this (it's supposed to) because, in true IKmedia fashion, T-Racks won't start, tells me it has to be reinstalled, crashes the heck out of Reaper rescans, can't find this, now needs that, etc. I can think of no vendor over the past 10 years that has forced more re-installs, re-authorizations, etc. WHO wants to click on something to open it and go through all of this crap. No other vendor has interrupted my workflow more than IKmedia. I have a ton of their stuff that I no longer use, or even desire to, because I can't depend upon it to open and run when I need it---because they have concentrated on their software to market rather than to perform. Really good stuff that you can't depend upon because of their ridiculously unstable authorization routines. I did get my individual T-Racks plugins to function again (Custom Shop has a dropdown menu item called "Reauthorize) but for how long. KV331 (Synthmaster) seems to be going this route and v9 of WAVES software turned out to be a nonfunctional nightmare (they modified their folder icon so I can easily locate all of my now non-functioning plugs). I love it when something you put your hard-earned $$$ into no longer works because the manufacturer makes a non-consumer "improvement." Their security issues should not interfere with products I've already purchased---FROM THEM! Well, the one thing it has reinforced for me is that, no matter how good the vendor thinks they are, there is always an alternative.

Paj
8^)

Interestingly, T-Racks' own website mentioned (about one of their packages) that everything will work fine until the next upgrade - which seems to be a frequent thing with them.

Don't users get pop-ups when updates are available? Many of my programs and apps nag me with pop-ups for updates. Your situation sounds more like your leasing the product.

 

[Paj]

Yeah, it acts like I'm on an expired subscription but they're all purchased outright. IK's Custom Shop took over everything and it may be IK's marketing dream but, from my standpoint, it's just a lot of complicated suck. WAVES just sent me an Update Plan offer and I asked them if they had an update plan that will actually allow me to run any of my plugins again and did they seriously think I would pay to have everything rendered useless? I await their reply but I'm moving on from both of these vendors---they remind me a looking at a Bugatti, sitting by the side of the road, disabled. Too many other vendors have good stuff that works and keeps working.

Paj
8^)

 

[spantini]

Yeah, it acts like I'm on an expired subscription but they're all purchased outright. IK's Custom Shop took over everything and it may be IK's marketing dream but, from my standpoint, it's just a lot of complicated suck. WAVES just sent me an Update Plan offer and I asked them if they had an update plan that will actually allow me to run any of my plugins again and did they seriously think I would pay to have everything rendered useless? I await their reply but I'm moving on from both of these vendors---they remind me a looking at a Bugatti, sitting by the side of the road, disabled. Too many other vendors have good stuff that works and keeps working.

Paj
8^)

I checked a little deeper into Reaper's DAW and there was mention of some limits on user's access as upgraded versions progress. Some users said they had bought the package as Version 3.0 and it will be good through Version 5.0 (which I believe is out now). Sounds like a new purchase is only good for a certain number of free updates/upgrades, then...? I have no idea how much extra is required to upgrade and maintain the program.

The low price of $60 is nice, but I'd pay more for a program I didn't have to keep dumping money into just to keep it running. I guess everyone is heading down the "pay as you go" road these days.

 

[ashcat_lt]

I checked a little deeper into Reaper's DAW and there was mention of some limits on user's access as upgraded versions progress. Some users said they had bought the package as Version 3.0 and it will be good through Version 5.0 (which I believe is out now). Sounds like a new purchase is only good for a certain number of free updates/upgrades, then...? I have no idea how much extra is required to upgrade and maintain the program.

The low price of $60 is nice, but I'd pay more for a program I didn't have to keep dumping money into just to keep it running. I guess everyone is heading down the "pay as you go" road these days.

Most DAWs make you pay to upgrade at least at every major version number. Reaper gives you three, so you won't have to pay again until v8 comes out, which is probably years down the road. I think it's $60 again at that point, but honestly it's not like it stops working when they release a new version. Most of my machines are back on 4.x and working fine. OTOH, the demo is unlimited and free, and you just have to wait the 5 seconds for the nag screen to go away at startup, so...

 

[Bobbsy]

Pondering this question, I think that a stand alone VST would, in fact, be any rack hardware for reverb, EQ or whatever.

Most of these units are digital on the inside--the have A to D and D to A converters on the inputs and outputs and front panel knobs and switches to control things.

A VST plug in works exactly the same way but eliminates the need for the converters and delegates the various controls to pictures on the screen controlled by your mouse and keyboard.

(Yeah, I know there are still boutique bits of rack gear that are analogue all the way but I don't think that's what we're talking about here.)

 

[Paj]

I checked a little deeper into Reaper's DAW and there was mention of some limits on user's access as upgraded versions progress. Some users said they had bought the package as Version 3.0 and it will be good through Version 5.0 (which I believe is out now). Sounds like a new purchase is only good for a certain number of free updates/upgrades, then...? I have no idea how much extra is required to upgrade and maintain the program.

The low price of $60 is nice, but I'd pay more for a program I didn't have to keep dumping money into just to keep it running. I guess everyone is heading down the "pay as you go" road these days.

I wasn't referring to Reaper, which, outside of MIDI editing, I use extensively and have no complaints about. I think it is one of THE modern bargains and has certainly caused me no expense or upgrade headaches since v3. To the contrary, it just gets better, stronger and more capable without altering the basic workflow. Just so much stuff under the hood that I'm surprised and happy to find when I need it.

I'm also less upset about IK, WAVES, and KV331 than it might appear because they do have great stuff but I learned to wean myself off of depending on them. Right now I have them pushed to the back of the cue and, being blessed, it's a long line. I'm having too much fun with other things that work without issues.*

Paj
8^)

*Of course, if SeGtGruff had not posted that time-saving tip on the iLok manager, I'd probably have a lot more vendors on my s-list.