Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro includes VST3/AudioUnit/AAX plugins, allowing you to run the software within a DAW that supports these formats.
¶ Plugin Types and Usage
Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro includes two types of plugins: Instrument and ARA.
- Instrument Plugins: These appear in your DAW's list of instruments.
- ARA Plugins: These appear in your DAW's effects list or ARA plugins list.
These can be used in three ways:
- Insert the Instrument Plugin individually into a DAW track.
- Set up both Instrument plugin and ARA plugin and use them with ARA Bridge Mode (Only available for DAWs that support ARA2)
- Attach an ARA plugin to an audio clip and use it with Full ARA Mode (Available for select DAWs only)
ARA (Audio Random Access) is a standard developed by Celemony and PreSonus that is now supported by many DAWs.
ARA allows plugins to access audio within a DAW, as well as to exchange transport information in a sophisticated way that was not possible with previous plugin standards.
¶ Plugin Usage Differences
- To convert recorded vocals to Synthesizer V notes, it is recommended to use Full ARA Mode.
- For other cases, it is recommended to use a combination of instrument plugins and ARA plugins in ARA Bridge Mode.
- If your DAW does not support ARA2, use the Instrument Plugin as a standalone.
¶ Use the Instrument Plugin Individually
Instrument plugin is used by inserting it into a DAW track, just like typical VSTi/AU/AAX software instruments.
However, enter notes within the editor of the Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro plugin, not in a DAW's piano roll editor. Alternatively, import a MIDI file exported from your DAW into Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro.
For more details, please see "Instrument Plugin Setup".
When using the Instrument plugin individually, there are functional limitations due to technical constraints. This means that the DAW and plugin cannot synchronize tempo or time signature, and playback within the plugin may not be reflected in the DAW.
Using ARA Bridge Mode can resolve these issues.
¶ Use ARA Bridge Mode
Setting up both Instrument plugin and ARA plugin strengthens the connection between the Instrument plugin and your DAW through the ARA plugin.
This enables more convenient usage, such as controlling DAW playback from within the plugin and retrieving tempo markers inputted in your DAW.
ARA Bridge Mode is only available for DAWs that support ARA2.
For more details, please see "ARA Bridge Mode Setup".
¶ About FL Studio Link
Through a joint development effort with Image-Line, FL Studio can synchronize tempo and playback linkage even without ARA plugins.
When using the Instrument plugin in FL Studio, the FL Studio Link button will automatically light up.
When using FL Studio Link, please switch FL Studio to Song mode.
Please note that with FL Studio Link, only tempo synchronization is supported. Time signature will not be synchronized.
¶ Use Full ARA Mode
Full ARA Mode allows you to use the ARA plugin as a standalone tool.
The ARA plugin accesses audio within your DAW and creates note groups corresponding to the placement of audio clips on your DAW timeline.
Additionally, Full ARA Mode allows you to directly use the Voice-to-MIDI Conversion feature on the audio clip to which the plugin is attached, eliminating the need to import audio files into the plugin.
Full ARA Mode is only available in a limited number of DAWs.
For more details, please see "Full ARA Mode Setup".
Please note that an audio file loaded on the track is required to use Full ARA Mode.
Additionally, since the tracks and note groups in Full ARA Mode are linked to the audio clips in your DAW, operations such as creating, copying, or pasting note groups and tracks within the plugin are not supported.As Full ARA Mode differs in usage compared to the traditional standalone version or Instrument plugins, please choose between Full ARA Mode and ARA Bridge Mode according to your needs.
¶ Plugin Installation
During the installation of Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro, you will have the option to select whether or not to install the plugins.
For more details, please see "Editor Installation and Activation".
¶ Install Location
¶ Windows
- VST3 (VSTi) Plugin:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 - VST3(ARA) Plugin:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3,C:\Program Files\Common Files\ARA - AAX Plugin：
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins
¶ macOS
- VST3 (VSTi) plugins:
Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3. - VST3 (ARA) plugins:
Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3,Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/ARA. - Audio Unit plugins:
Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components. - AAX Plugin：
Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins
To use the plugins, the standalone version must also be installed on the same device.
The plugins cannot be moved to a different device for use independently.
¶ Use MIDI Devices
Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro can connect to MIDI devices in the following two ways:
Setting up both methods simultaneously may lead to signal conflicts and instability. Therefore, we recommend setting up only one method.
- Opening the Settings panel from the sidebar and selecting a MIDI device in the Audio & MIDI section allows the plugin to receive signals directly from your MIDI device.
- Setting up MIDI input on your DAW side and enabling recording or input on the DAW track allows you to receive MIDI signals via the DAW. Additionally, it will also receive MIDI events such as notes entered into the DAW.
¶ Unsupported Features
The following features are currently unsupported or unavailable depending on the DAW specifications. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.
¶ About Track Freeze Functionality
Track freeze and similar features found in some DAWs, which temporarily render tracks to reduce load, may not function correctly in certain environments.
¶ Unsupported DAWs
Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro plugins cannot be used in environments that do not support VSTi, AU, or AAX plugins.
ARA plugins cannot be used in DAWs that do not support ARA2, such as Ableton Live.
Full ARA Mode is currently only available in a limited number of DAWs. Even if a DAW supports ARA2, such as Logic Pro and Nuendo, Full ARA Mode may not be usable. For more details, please refer to "Full ARA Mode Setup".
¶ Other
- In Cubase, empty audio events created with the Pencil tool are currently not loaded into the ARA plugin.
- In Cubase, recording new audio on a track where the ARA plugin is attached will not load the new audio into the ARA plugin.
- In Cakewalk, sharing note groups via clip linking functionality may not work as expected at this time.