VST and DirectX plugins are software components than can be used in "Host" Software (such as Cakewalk Sonar, Steinberg Cubase or Wavelab, Sony Vegas...) in order to perform some MIDI and/Or Audio real-time Processing tasks. To be more precise what we usually call directX plugins is actually a "DirectShow Filter". VST is owned by Steinberg, and DirectX by Microsoft.

Download and install a host software, then download and install the plugins from our page. They will appear in the host "effects" menu. If you are using a DirectX host with our MIDI controllable plugins and they do not show up in you host list, you might need to use our freeware DXi Manager.

There are many commercial or freeware hosts that will suit your needs. You can find a long list of applications here. You can also use demos of Cubase, Wavelab, Ableton Live, Tracktion, or Sonar software, which are usually available on the companies websites.

VST is a protocol that works on several platforms (Mainly Windows, MacOS, BeOS, and some Linux platforms use it as well) whereas DirectX in Microsoft Windows Only. VST is dedicated to Audio processing whereas DirectX (DirectShow) enables you to manage any kind of streamed media (audio video, compressed data...).

DXi effects are MIDI controllable DirectX plugins. It's the same as DX effects plus MIDI control.

Here is a list of host software and the version (DX or VST) we recommend you to use. Many other applications are supported, check your application user manual to choose the best version.

Host Application	Plug-in Version
Cakewalk Products (Sonar, Project5...)	DX
Sony Products (Vegas, ACID, Soundforge)	DX
Steinberg Products (Cubase, Nuendo, Wavelab)	VST
Ableton Live	VST
Adobe Audition	DX
EnergyXT	VST
Magix Samplitude	VST
Digidesign Pro Tools	any (RTAS adapter required)
...

• www.steinberg.net
• www.microsoft.com
• www.kvraudio.com

Because there are many host applications and system configurations, and there might be compatibility issues for some products. We don't want you to have issues with our software after your purchase.

You buy a personal lifetime license to use the software. If the plug-in exists in VST and DX versions you get a license for both at the same time. You can install the software on several machines if you whish, as long as you are the owner and only user of the software on these machine. You also gain free upgrades to minor versions of the software and discounts on future major versions of the software. You will benefit from our support if you have any trouble with our software. For more information, please read our our terms and conditions. Note that we also usually have special offers on new products for existing customers.

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From a few minutes to 48 hours in the worst case. It depends on the availability of people here to validate the order (it can be night here when it's day somewhere else in the world.). If you have not received your order within 48 hours, please contact us.

Send us an email to ask us for your code. If your email address has changed since your registration, please include your former email address. We will send the code back to you within a few days.

Please use the Forum to exchange information and discuss about our software.

On the Forum. If users whish, a newsletter can be created. (ask on the community forum). All announcements are also visible on the Welcome Page of this site: Blue Cat Audio Home Page.

To improve the software quality and have your requirements implemented in next versions. We appreciate user feedback and good ideas are usually rewarded when possible.

Post a topic on the Forum. (Please check that the same topic does not already exist before creating it). It will be examined and added to the whish list. If you really have very specific requirements, you might as well want to look at our Services offer.

Post a topic on the Forum. (Please check that the same topic does not already exist before creating it). It will be examined and you will be warned when it's solved. If the bug is really an urgent issue, contact us directly.

No. Our software uses our own DSP architecture. All our products are written in C++ for performance reasons: the Digital Signal Processing (DSP) code is optimized to reduce the CPU consumption. This enables us to provide efficient and stable plug-ins without any external dependency.

Yes. For more information about the skinning capabilities, please check our Skins page. You can also download free skins for your plugin on this website and submit your own skins.

We can do a custom skin for you or even modify and customize any software we sell for you. See our offer.

Most software you can purchase on this website is plugins for host applications. It means you need another application to use it. See the "DirectX and VST" section in this FAQ for more information.

First check that you application supports DirectX or VST plug-ins.

If you are using the DirectX version, check that your host application supports DXi plug-ins (MIDI enabled DirectX plug-ins). If it does not, it may remove it from the DirectX plug-ins list (some applications such as Sony Vegas 5 and Cool Edit Pro are known to do this). In this case, use our DXi Manager free utility and disable the MIDI capabilities of the plug-in. You may need to reinstall the software again before it shows up into your host application. For more information about this topic please read our DXi in Sony Vegas tutorial (it is applicable to other applications than Sony Vegas).

If you are using the Direct X version and your host application supports DXi, check that the plug-in does not appear in the 'virtual synth' or 'synthesizers' category. If you wish not to use the MIDI capabilities of the plug-in and use it as a regular Direct X plug-in, you can download the freeware DXi Manager and disable the MIDI capabilities of the plug-in.

"Mono effects" (which are effects that do not make any difference between left and right channels) are bundled this way for performance reasons. Some developpers just deliver a stereo Version which also processes (twice) mono streams. The "(Mono)" plug-in is to be used with mono streams, and the (Stereo) one with stereo streams. The effect itself is the same in both cases but the number of processed channels is different: this may drastically improve performance for CPU intensive plug-ins.

Open the Windows configuration panel/ Add Remove Programs, and choose 'Remove' on the corresponding plug-in. If you have installed the VST plug-in zip file version, just delete the corresponding dlls.

Our plugins require several additional files for default settings, skins and miscalleanous data. We provide an installer for our customers convinience. Our installers do not modify the system settings settings or the Windows registry, except for the DirectX versions registration. Our installers won't harm your system.

You can see the version information in the about box: right click on the background of the plug-in user interface and select "About". The product version is also available in the Windows Add/Remove Programs Window.

Because newer versions improve previous ones. When a new version is released, older versions are not supported anymore. In some cases the new versions may be installed as new products (compatibility reasons, major changes...), but it is explicitly documented on the product page.

The new version can be downloaded from the same place where you downloaded the original version. All information is in the email you received when you purchased the product. Your registration number did not change either.

When you purchased the plugin, an email containing the information to download and register your software has been sent to you. You can download the new version from the exact same location as the first time.

No, you don't, except if it's specified on the product page, in the "history" section. Just run the installer and it will upgrade your software.

Today PCs running Microsoft Windows are supported (from Windows XP to Vista). MacOS X platforms are not supported yet.

• VST Plug-ins: no specific prerequisite except a VST host application
• DirectX Plug-ins: DirectX 8.1 at least is required. A DirectX-enabled host application

The parameters of an effect can be automated in most host software. It means that you can record the changes you do during playback or recording so that it's replayed when playing back again. It's a way of sequencing parameters changes the same way you do with Audio or MIDI data.

Yes they do. We offer a precise definition of the MIDI to parameters mapping: you can adjust both the channel and CC number as well as the response curve of the control. Since some of our plug-ins are also capable of creating MIDI CC from the audio signal, they can all be connected for real time signal-dependent audio effects. See our MIDI Control in Sonar tutorial for more information.