Hier ist Kapitel 28 aus der englischen Anleitung von Cubase SX. Das sollte erstmal einige Fragen beantworten. Die deutsche Anleitung habe ich leider nicht gefunden. Jedesmal wenn das CUBASE SX steht, dann ist das ein Seitenwechsel.
28
VST System Link
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Introduction
VST System Link is a network system for digital audio that allows you
to have several computers working together in one large system. Unlike
conventional networks it does not require Ethernet cards, hubs, or
CAT-5 cables; instead it uses the kind of digital audio hardware and
cables you probably already possess in your studio.
VST System Link has been designed to be simple to set up and operate,
yet give enormous flexibility and performance gains in use. It is capable
of linking computers in a “ring” network (the System Link signal
is passed from one machine to the next, and eventually returns to the
first machine). VST System Link can send its networking signal over
any type of digital audio cable, including S/PDIF, ADAT, TDIF, or AES,
as long as each computer in the system is equipped with a suitable
ASIO compatible audio interface.
So, why would you want to link up two or more computers? Well, the
added computer power gives you vast possibilities:
• Dedicate one computer to running VST instruments while recording audio
tracks on another.
• If you need lots of audio tracks, you may simply add tracks on another computer.
• You could have one computer serve as a “virtual effect rack”, running CPU-intensive
send effect plug-ins only.
• Since you can use VST System Link to connect different VST System Link applications
on different platforms, you can take advantage of effect plug-ins and
VST instruments that are specific to certain programs or platforms.
This chapter describes how to set up and use VST System Link in
Cubase SX.
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Preparations
Requirements
The following equipment is required for VST System Link operation:
• Two or more computers.
These can be of the same type or use different operating systems – it doesn’t matter.
For example, you can link an Intel-based PC to an Apple Macintosh without problems.
• Each computer must have audio hardware with specific ASIO drivers, installed
and working.
• The audio hardware must have digital inputs and outputs.
Of course, to be able to connect the computers the digital connections must be compatible
(i.e. the same digital formats and connection types must be available).
• At least one digital audio cable for each computer in the network.
• A VST System Link host application installed on each computer.
As of this writing, VST System Link is implemented for Cubase SX, Nuendo 1.6 and
Cubase 5.1 (System Link version). Any VST System Link applications can connect to
each other.
Additionally, we recommend that you use a KVM switchbox:
Using a KVM switchbox
If you want to set up a multi-computer network, or even a small network
in a limited space, it's a good idea to invest in a KVM (Keyboard,
Video, Mouse) switchbox. With one of these switchers you can use
the same keyboard, monitor, and mouse to control each computer in
the system, and switch between computers very rapidly. KVM switchers
are not too expensive, and very easy to setup and operate. It you
decide not to go this route, the network will function just the same, but
you may end up doing a lot of jumping from one machine to the other
while setting up!
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Making connections
Below, we will assume that you are connecting two computers.
Should you have more than two computers, it’s still best to start with
two and add the others one by one once the system is working – this
makes troubleshooting easier if you run into problems. For two computers,
you will need two digital audio cables, one in each direction:
1. Connect a digital audio cable from the digital output of Computer 1 to
the digital input of Computer 2.
2. Connect the other cable from the digital output of Computer 2 into the
digital input of Computer 1.
• If a card has more then one set of inputs and outputs, choose whichever
one that suits you – for simplicity usually the first set is best.
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Setting up clock sync
Before you proceed you need to make sure that the clock signals on
your ASIO cards are synchronized correctly. This is essential when
cabling any kind of digital audio system, not just VST System Link.
All digital audio cables by definition always carry a clock signal as well as
audio signals, so you don't need to use a special Word Clock input and
output for this (although you may find that you get a slightly more stable
audio system if you do, especially when using multiple computers).
The Clock Mode or Sync Mode is set up in the audio hardware’s
ASIO Control Panel. In Cubase SX, you proceed as follows:
1. Pull down the Devices menu and open the Device Setup dialog.
2. Select the VST Multitrack device and make sure the Setup tab is selected
to the right.
3. Click the Control Panel button.
The ASIO Control Panel appears.
4. Open the ASIO Control Panel on the other computer as well.
If you are using another VST System Link host application on that computer, check its
documentation for details on how to open the ASIO Control Panel. Hint: in Steinberg’s
Nuendo 1.6, the procedure is the same as in Cubase SX. In Cubase 5.1, you pull
down the Options menu, select System from the Audio Setup menu and click the Control
Panel button in the Audio System Setup dialog that appears.
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5. Now, you need to make sure that one audio card (and only one!) is set
to be the Clock Master, and all the other cards must be set to listen
for the clock signal coming from the Clock Master i.e. they must be
Clock Slaves.
The naming and procedure for this differs depending on the audio hardware – consult
its documentation if required. If you are using Steinberg Nuendo ASIO hardware, all
cards default to the “AutoSync” setting – in this case you must set one of the cards
(and only one) to “Master” in the Clock Mode section of the Control Panel.
• Typically, the ASIO Control Panel for an audio card contains some indication
of whether the card receives a proper sync signal or not, and
the sample rate of that signal.
This is a good indication that you have connected the cards and set up clock sync
properly. Check your audio hardware’s documentation for details.
It’s very important that one and only one card is the clock master, otherwise
the network cannot function correctly. Once you have set this up, all
the other cards in the network will take their clock signal from this card
automatically.
The only exception to this procedure is if you are using an external
clock – which could be from a digital mixing desk or special Word
Clock synchronizer for example. If so, you must then leave all your
ASIO cards in Clock Slave or AutoSync mode, and make sure that
each of them is listening for the signal coming from the synchronizer,
usually passed through your ADAT cables or Word Clock connectors
in a daisy chain fashion.
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Minimizing the latency
The general definition of latency is the amount of time it takes any system
to respond to whatever messages are sent to it. For example, if
your system’s latency is high and you play VST instruments in real
time, you will get a noticeable delay between when you press a key
and when you hear the sound of the VST instrument. Nowadays, most
ASIO-compatible audio cards are capable of operating with very low
latencies. Also, all VST applications are designed to compensate for
latency during playback, making the playback timing tight.
However, the latency time of a VST System Link network is the total
latency of all the ASIO cards in the system added together. Therefore
it’s extra important to minimize the latency times for each computer in
the network.
• The latency does not affect the synchronization – it's always perfectly in
time. But, it can affect the time it takes to send and receive MIDI and audio
signals, or make the system seem sluggish.
To adjust the latency of a system, you typically adjust the size of the
buffers in the ASIO Control Panel – the lower the buffer size, the lower
the latency. Generally speaking it's best to keep to fairly low latencies
(buffer sizes) if your system can handle it – about 12 ms or less is usually
a good idea.
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Setting up your software
Now it’s time to set up your programs. The procedures below describe
how to set things up in Cubase SX; if you are using another
program on the other computer, please refer to its documentation.
Setting the sample rate
The projects in both programs must be set to use the same sample
rate. Select “Project Setup…” from the Project menu and make sure
the sample rate is the same in both systems.
Setting up inputs and outputs
1. Open the VST Inputs window from the Devices menu.
2. Activate the inputs you want to use by clicking the buttons in the Active
column.
To make it simple you will probably want to enable all inputs available in the cable you
are using. For example, if you are using an ADAT connection this would mean clicking
on the first four buttons (i.e. activate the first eight inputs).
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3. Close the VST Inputs window and open the VST Outputs window
from the Devices menu.
4. Enable the output buses you need.
Usually these should match up to the input buses you enabled above. In our ADAT
example, this would mean the first four stereo outputs.
5. Repeat the steps above for all computers in the network.
• Note that at least one computer in your network needs to have more
than one physical set of audio outputs, so that you can hear what's coming
out of it!
gab es noch dat recorder, mit denen man (ich auch mal) ein 1/2 backup machen musste. das hat ewig gedauert...hehe.
