VSTHost
by Hermann Seib
by Hermann Seib
4.3 / 5
(54 votes)
VSTHost is a VST-compatible host that's capable of:
- loading VST effects.
- parameterizing / editing them.
- sound output for VSTis.
- MIDI input and output.
- loading / saving .fxb / .fxp files.
- I/O through either Windows MME or ASIO drivers.
- Wave Player / Recorder.
- MIDI Player.
Downloads
Win 32 VST
(5.5 Mb)
Win 64 VST
(5.9 Mb)
Why I can not load new plugins .dll to this VSt Host?
(5 / 5)
Very cool amazing program gets you very very famous for free. Please doownload the program cus it is free :) 2333/10
(5 / 5)
The interface may not be fancy but this host is extremely complete, with a detailed help. It works in 32 or 64bit, VST2 or VST3.
I use it for more than 10 years.
Doesn't seem to support VST3? Disappointing to say the least.
It does support VST3 as well as VST2, I tried it both with synths and pre-/post effects :) wonderful piece of software
(5 / 5)
Thank you!
(5 / 5)
Amazing, state-of-the-art software with endless possibilities
(5 / 5)
pdf TUTORIAL VSThost https://www.hermannseib.com/documents/VSTHost.pdf in English.....
(5 / 5)
The best.
Is there a tutorial on how to use this? Cant seem to figure this out.
There is a help that is very dense and complete...
(4 / 5)
Still looking for ways to use 2 midi channels.
One word:- Reaper. Not freeware, but a fully functional DAW, with a fully-functional, non-expiring demo'(It'll nag you to buy it for 5 seconds on startup, but that's all). I was first drawn to Reaper becuase it was then the ONLY DAW I could find that could deal with multiple concurrent hardware MIDI controllers, each routed through to their own VSTi....
Yes. Reaper. And for people looking for stuff on non commercial sites one more yes. Reaper is the best daw
(5 / 5)
I cannot set audio input device in windows 10. Works fine in win 7. Is it not compatible with win 10? Same problems with Savihost too. I select input port selecting audio device and closes box. Then I open box again and it says "No wave" The problem seems to be with win 10. Can anyone help??
(5 / 5)
Very good ! Just what I was looking for! Thanks !
I landed here looking for a better alternative for Microsoft's GS Wavetable Synth. I am a total Noob.I do not find a manual for this software anywhere and I am unable to figure out how to use this software. I am on Windows 7. I want to use the Yamaha Softsynth from https://veg.by/en/projects/syxg50/ It appears the VSTs need a host and this program does that. I dragged and dropped the DLL and I could play the virtual keyboard. But then I need this Synth in a midi player program that I am experimenting with. How do I get it to appear in the my list of Midi devices? Can someone help me out ?
Use VirtualMidiSynth. It's free and it works with soundfonts.
i am unable to open the accompanying skins for the vst plugins im trying to use ! theyall work, but i am not able to load the skins so cannot set my preferred preferences for the hammond organ simulators im interested in ! any ideas why this ??
(4 / 5)
This thing is great... all except that (at least in win 10) it doesn't completely unload everything from ram between "performances".. so after using a bunch of vsts, vsthost hit's the ram ceiling and crashes (im on a tablet with limited rams so). :( - but maybe that's this 'being left behind in ram' issue is the fault of the vsts, no vsthost. not sure.
(5 / 5)
The best things in our life are free! Thank you...
This is easily the best designed and easiest to use host for VST-instruments. Once you start the program, it is best to hit Ctl-Alt-Del and find vsthost.exe process running there, then set its process priority to REALTIME. Any competing process hogging CPU should be lowered in priority. This can be important for reducing latency.
(5 / 5)
I'm a student... for the hardwork you have done, you really deserve more, sorry as I can't donate you as i dont have any cards or stuff like that..... but I must say this is an undercover great software piece
This a great piece of software. It plays all my VSTis and it can be used with Audacity. As a guitar and guitar-synth player, I don´t need anything else.
(5 / 5)
Free & easy to use! I love it!! :-)
I have learned more about MIDI with this tool than anything or anywhere else. It gives you the basics in a way that you must learn principles of routing MIDI signals through out MIDI controllers, VST Instruments and effect.
Excellent job.
(5 / 5)
Amazing host! I use it as a synth "rack" for MPC 2500 which is acting as a MIDI sequencer. Multiple vst-synths at a time, no problems at all. This is what I was looking for!
(5 / 5)
Leggero,intuitivo,amichevole. Per me il migliore.
(5 / 5)
Best Live Host Favorite
How do you link midiplayer to any vst?
(3 / 5)
Works flawlessly on Windows 7. I am running Windows 64bit edition but, still able to run 32b dlls. The main thing I like about this host is that it is simple to operate. It isn't bulky and you're able to get in and play by just tweaking a few settings. I am using a Williams Legato digital piano connected to USB as an input.
(4 / 5)
Simply the best VST host I've found. It just works. Brilliantly. I load up a single instrument VST (usually MrRay73) and a single multi-fx VST and then I can drag and drop any number of other VSTs to trial, either as instruments through my FX VST or as effects using my MrRay. It's so easy to connect and chain and/or disable VSTs. Great utility.
This version here is V.1,54 but HERMANN Seib has done some updating since then, it's now V.1,56 that is available on his own website... Thanx to you Hermann, I whish I had spare money to paypal you some, u greatly deserve it because you made us here a great tool, so easy to use n yet so powerfull in possibilities... Just a little nag so, the connector squares wld do with double their size, so that no need to do chinese eyes to connect things to each others....BUT OVER AMM A BRILLIANT PIECE OF DEVELOPMENT, your sure understand the resolving the complex to offer us the simple n efficient... ALL THE BEST TO YOU MAN...
This one is an awesome little piece of software, indeed. I use it to play guitar with amp plug ins, and drums with Addictive Drums. It basically makes every DDL file feel like it is a stand alone. And there is the "younger" brother SaviHost, that though more limited, it is wonderful as well.
(5 / 5)
Excellent. Thanx to the developer! Tip: You can download some very stylish skins for VSTHost : http://www.hermannseib.com/english/vsthostskins.htm - Just extract the zip- folder into the VSTHost folder and select your favourite GUI via VSTHost.
(5 / 5)
5 Stars for You.+++++ :)
(5 / 5)
Great DAW for Live playing VST-Plugin!!! Best Choice!!!
(4 / 5)
Like this software, makes a lot of sense for hosting plugins, but having some trouble with the audio occasionally becoming distorted, and have to reboot the program. Running Winders 7 on a 64 bit machine. Yes, I downloaded the 64 bit version. Also tried increasing the number of samples. Any thoughts from you wizards out there?
(5 / 5)
5 stars for you
(5 / 5)
Hermann SEIB is the best, he managed to keep it simple, yet full of possibles (if you are creative enough), his VSTHOST really rocks, a great DAW for FREE, this guy deserves the GOLD MEDAL of DEVELOPPERS.
Would be cool if you could just load vst without launching a application, like a right mouse click and that VST loads because the app is running already as a windows process. I imagine it would be used strictly for test and would load a pop up keyboard window.
You can drag and drop the plugin dll on the VSThost icon or in its window to open it.
(5 / 5)
Not bad , now if it could just look nice. And maybe someway to bring up the plugins full screen (made to fit) one at a time or in any combination. Small difference in audio when switch A/B from direct. What would be neat is to up sample. Am I dreaming ?
(5 / 5)
Works great! Excellent if you are sorting that large library of VSTs that are unorganized and need to "See" what it does by name. I big issue with me :-P
Works free and easy.
Please not that any commercial (in your studio?) or public (a public performance?) is strictly forbidden by the licence. I also don't see any way to buy a commercial license. An excerpt from the license: This free VSTHost is intended exclusively for private use. You may copy the complete program package and pass it on to others for private use only.
The free VSTHost may not be used for commercial or professional purposes.
(5 / 5)
Really great software! Compatible with just about every VST I've tried, and the ones that didn't work were broken for most other Hosts as well. Whether you're professional or just a beginner noodling about (which I am the latter) this is a great program for music. Simple and easy to learn.
Can you connect a midi keyboard to the computer and play through this program?
It is made for this... Enjoy !
(5 / 5)
somehow the record button is not functioning in my vsthost.win 7 32 bit. though it was working fine previously. then suddenly it has stopped working..i keep on pressing the red dot record button but nothing happens. tried all options of chaning realtek.. asio.. etc in device drop down.. reinstalled... but it will just not record.
(5 / 5)
Very stable. I tested this app and it hosted 99% of the VST plugs i gave it. A little barebones compared to some Hosts but it has a very straight forward interface and it is intuitive enough for new users and capable for advanced users as well.
(Win 7) Fails to load modules..
It says it is a midi player. How does it play midi files?
In the engine menu there's a midi player section.
I select my MIDI device, from Devices, but it will still not operate any of the VSTi's I open. Am I missing something obvious?
It should work straight after you select the correct midi input device (hardware I mean...). Maybe your vsti require a specific midi channel, or your keyboard is not setup correctly. Here is the manual:http://www.hermannseib.com/documents/VSTHost.pdf
Thanks for replying. I read the manual, and nothing. Then, after much head scratching, I found that under "Devices" - "MIDI" - "MIDI Input Devices" - "Filter Settings" all 16 channels were ticked. Once I cleared all these (click "None") everything now works fine. Not sure why these were all ticked in the first instance, but there you go. This might be one to check for anybody else who cannot get their controller to work.
I am a electronic music engineer and teacher, I totally recommend this freeware, learn to use for your practical applications, set up your keyboards for live performances in the save banks... you can switch to each between songs on stage, your settings are saved and when you open your named configuration, even the KNOBS and SLIDERS all the settings on the synth are there, you just play... I record live performance using the WAV recorder, hundreds of riffs from the synths I get here or where ever and I make banks that I archive like LOOPS, then when working in my DAW tracker, I import the WAV files and arrange in my songs, I flip through all the different ones I made prior and select, I build songs this way... I can make hundreds of riff, little measures fast and easy with out having to open and use my DAW, it's hard to just shuffle through VSTi in the DAW (you open one, insert midi track, play, the bounce to tracks, then erase or delete off,-you know the process, with this it's so much easier to make your wav files). With this, you can be a PRO BAND on Audacity by just importing in your recorded wav files...
(4 / 5)
How do you hook up midi keyboards???
if you haven't figured out yet, your keyrigs need to have the driver installed on your computer, then in VSTHost, on the command bar, go to devices, look for midi, if your keyboards on hooked up to computer and turn on, the driver for the boards are instal properly, you should see your midi devices name, click on it then click ok. All my keyrigs are USB powered, the ones for stage performance atleast, but a few of my older synths I cant use as controller for this host or any VSTi hosting application like DAW systems. Only the banks in the synth itself can be used. You can use a logitech game controller on this host...LOL, I do live on stage...
I'm having problems using this, my guitar is already working with my PC, I still can't get audio for my Free Amp 3 plugin. I have a realtek audio driver if that helps.
Since I am a guru at midi and electronica... I will tell you... You need to record your guitar live plugged into your tracker DAW, from the guitar to your mic jack... don't USE a pre amp or you will blow out your soundcard, split off on a Y adapter one to mic jack one to pre amp, Audacity does this too, it will record the vibrations from your pick ups just fine, sound sort of like a acoustic...sort of, like how you played your guitar without a amp, after you made your recording, and saved, disabled the record, then add the free AMP PLUG IN on your EFFECTS CHAIN, you can then tweak the amp to sound like your hardware amp if you have any more questions.... hit me up at "liam labelingtheia" on FB, i will answer you and help you...just no spam.
(5 / 5)
People usually call it as vst tester, but I say it is more and more than this with its wide possibilities and stability especially in live performance.
I love THIS-you can set up the tools bars..you can record what vsti then save it to your desk top, record many different synth parts from many vsti save all to the desktop folder (it records as a wav.) then you can open your DAW and insert the wav. files into a audio track, from there you can tweek it, beat mapper, cross fade, what ever you want to do to it. A better way to make your own loops with your midi controller than FL
감사합니다 to developer! Great program.
(5 / 5)
Sans doute le meilleur logiciel pour tester les vst instruments...
(5 / 5)
very usefull for trying out new VSTi's. thanx!
(5 / 5)
Amazing amount of filtering control, great for setting up performance.