Compatibility with Pro Tools LE/HD v7 and v8, and with ProTools 9 and 10, has been validated by Longcat, with 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000, 176400 and 192000 Hz samplerates. Other similar configurations are probably also compatible.

Automatic delay compensation in ProTools HD or ProTools 9 and 10 is not usable with AudioStage because it only supports delays up to 4000 samples. ADC is also not available in LE versions of Pro Tools (v8 and below).

The audio flow routing technology used by Audiostage requires that the plug-ins have a delay, audio going through AudioStage will therefore be delayed. To avoid a delay between the tracks processed in AudioStage and those that are not, the AudioStageDelay plug-in is available: it is to be inserted on every track that do not have any AudioStage plug-in (Bus or Track) inserted, and acts as specially crafted “TimeAdjuster”.

Check the latencies

In the mix window, check that every active track has the same latency (Ctrl-clic on the LCD below the track’s fader, until it prompts “dly [...]”, which gives delay in samples). If the latency is not the same everywhere, find the greatest and delay all tracks that have a smaller latency using an “AudioStage Delay” plug-in.

Never deactivate tracks that have AudioStage Track or Bus plug-ins inserted

This would cause malfunctions in AudioStage. Be aware that every audio track with an Audiostage plug-in should have at least one send or one output, because ProTools automatically deactivates tracks without sends and outputs. If you played a project with deactivated AudioStage plug-ins, you can get a normal functioning back by quitting both ProTools and AudioStage, and launching them again.

Pre-fadering and post-fadering

In ProTools, plug-ins can only be inserted in pre-fader slots (except for “Master” tracks), so the track’s fader gain is not taken into account for the audio signal sent to through the Track plug-in. In order to control the gain of audio sent to AudioStage, you can either insert a gain plug-in on a previous slot to the Audiostage Track plug-in, use an auxiliary input track in ProTools, or use gain faders in  AudioStage.

Pyramix’s support is validated by Longcat with samplerates of 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000, 176400 and 192000, using Pyramix 6.2SP1 and 7.0SP2. Other similar configurations are probably compatible.

In “Pyramix Settings” : “All Settings > Project > Mixer > Mixer Settings”, set the following :

• Mode : “Full Delay Compensation”
• Automatic Delay Compensation : ON
• Max Mixer Delay Compensation : set a value greater or equal to 15336 samples or 350 milliseconds.

AudioStage Track and Bus plug-ins require the activation of the automatic delay compensation to work properly. Be aware that in some configurations (a Pyramix track not connected to a physical input), the automatic delay compensation is not activated for the track.

At least one track with an inserted AudioStage plugin must have an active “send”. Make sure that the “ON/OFF toggle switch” is “ON” for at least one of these tracks.

Copying plug-ins from a track to another

The copy (CTRL+drag-drop) of an AudioStage plug-in from a strip to another may cause a malfunction of AudioStage. Moving plugins between strips or copying entire strips works correctly though.

Crashes when launching Pyramix

With some versions of Pyramix, if you encounter crashes when launching Pyramix while AudioStage is already running, try to restart AudioStage after the project has been loaded in Pyramix.

No audio returning from AudioStage

If after loading your projects, no sound is sent back through the AudioStage Bus plug-in, restart AudioStage.

Before the mix down, in the “Mix Down” dialog, “Processing” option group, check “Real time”.

Longcat validates the support of Logic 8 and 9 with samplerates of 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000, 176400 and 192000. Other similar configurations are probably compatible.

When adding an AudioStage Bus plug-in to a track, specific settings need to be done, due to Logic’s limitations and specificities.

Adding an AudioStageAUBus plug-in

A Bus plug-in must be inserted as input “AU Generator” in a “Software Instrument” Logic track in order to get the audio flow back properly from AudioStage.

Bouncing a Logic/AudioStage project

Before bouncing a project, please check that the Realtime mode is enabled. This mode can be chosen in the Bounce window.

Surround channels are lost when using a stereo output

Logic only considers the L and R channels of a surround track with an AudioStageAUBus plug-in inserted, if a stereo output is set. The surround track with the Bus plug-in receives the surround audio flow from AudioStage, but only the L and R channels are present on the output of the track.

Specific problems of other AU-compatible hosts

The following problems are found with other hosts compatible with Audio Unit plug-ins:

• some hosts do not support the AudioStageAUBus plug-in (Reaper, Live)
• some hosts do not recognize the AudioStageAUBus plug-in with the right number of channels (Ardour2)
• hosts working in permanent signal flow are not compatible with AudioStage plug-ins since they do not provide a compatible time base (Apple AU lab).

Please note than when using Export Audio Mixdown in Cubase/Nuendo, the “Real-Time Export” check box must be checked in order to have AudioStage working properly.

Direct recording of the AS Bus plugin is not possible in Cubase. You'll have to use the FX Tracks Cubase feature. In order to do so:

• Devices Menu > VST Connections, Group/FX tab, "Add FX", choose AudioStageVSTBus and the needed speaker layout.
• The FX Track appears in the «VST Connections» window ; do not forget to route this new AudioStage plugin in AudioStage itself («Audio Routing», Outputs tab).
• If you want to record the plugin's output, just route the FX Track to "No Bus", create a new audio track with the needed speaker layout, using the previously created FX Track as an input, and click on the "Monitor" button. The AS Bus plugin can now be heard.
• The recording can be enabled using the track's record button (as well as Cubase/Nuendo's global record button). An audio clip appears on the track during the recording. After the recording, in order to listen to the recorded take, disarm the "monitor" feature on the track.

Note: some Cubase editions (especially Cubase Studio) don't allow free routing between an FX Track and a standard audio track.

Playing after a loop, when loop playing is activated (Cycle button)

A Cubase bug (in versions prior to 5.5.3) shifts the AudioStage transport when playing after the end of a loop, if the cycle button is activated in Cubase. Update Cubase 5 to 5.5.3 to prevent this issue.

Inserting AudioStage Track plug-ins in pre or post-fader slots

You can insert an AudioStage Track plug-in  in a pre-fader slot as well as in a post-fader slot. Use slots i1, i2, i3, i4, i5 or i6 for pre-fadering; slots i7 or i8 for post-fadering.

Inserting AudioStage Track plug-ins as effects on Cubase busses

Cubase busses can be used to insert AudioStage Track plug-ins on post-fader slots or on pre-mixed signals : in Cubase, Devices menu > VST Connections > Group/FX tab, Add FX button, choose the AudioStage Track plug-in and the number of channel you want ; in the table, “Output Routing” column, choose “No Bus”  rename the effect channel in order to distinguish it ; you will find the FX track in the “FX channels” folder located in Cubase’s timeline, with an AudioStage Track inserted ; for each track you wish to mix together then send to AudioStage, set a send to the FX bus > .

Longcat validates the support of Reaper 32 bits from version 3.4 upward. Other similar configurations are probably compatible.

When adding an AudioStage Track or Bus plug-in to a track, specific settings need to be done, due to Reaper's limitations and specificities.

Number of channels of the plug-in

In the plug-in's interface, choose the right number of channels (corresponding to the number of channels of the track) by clicking on "? channel(s)" and using the list displayed.

This operation is necessary because Reaper does not allow automatic detection of this parameter. Be careful when entering the number of channels as Reaper could become unstable if the wrong number of channels is set.

VST plug-ins or AU plug-ins ?

On Mac OS X, the AudioStageTrack plug-in is available in both VST and AU format. Always use the VST AudioStageTrack plug-in. The compatibility of Reaper with the AU plug-in has not been implemented.

In File > Render, check the “1x Offline” or “Online Render” options instead of the “Full-speed Offline” option.

Another way to mix down is to record the return on the track that has the AudioStageBus plug-in. To do so, choose the ”Record: output” option in the “Select Recording Mode” menu in the corresponding track.

On windows, it is not possible to edit a name with a space in it, for the AudioStage plug-ins. This comes from the fact that the space command is intercepted by Reaper and interpreted as a play/stop command.

Reaper's pause function is not supported by AudioStage

When Reaper is "paused", AudioStage keeps playing. When the pause stops, AudioStage synchronises back with Reaper.

Reaper's scrub function is not compatible with AudioStage

If you have to use this function, it is possible to soft-bypass the AudioStage plug-ins.

Longcat validates the support of Samplitude 11 with samplerates of 44100 and 48000. Other similar configurations are probably also compatible.

AudioStage will work properly only if Samplitude uses an ASIO driver. MME and WDM drivers are not supported.

Every professional audio card includes an ASIO driver. If none are installed, please be aware that an ASIO driver named “Magix Low Latency”is installed by default with Pyramix. You can also use the ASIO4ALL driver.

Starting order

We advise to open the project in AudioStage before launching Samplitude.

When adding an AudioStage Track or Bus plug-in to a track, specific settings need to be done, due to Samplitude's limitations and specificities.

Number of channels of the plug-in

In the plug-in's interface, choose the right number of channels (corresponding to the number of channels of the track) by clicking on "? channel(s)" and using the list displayed.

In Samplitude 11 (not Pro), tracks are by default stereo. Tracks can be changed to mono using the Track Editor.

This operation is necessary because Samplitude does not allow automatic detection of this parameter. Samplitude might become unstable if the wrong number of channels is set.

Plug-in options setting

In the plug-in's interface, in the menu "Plug-in > Permanent Options", tick the "Force calculation for silent input" box ; if this option is not ticked, Samplitude only processes sound if the cursor is over an audio segment in the track, which is not suitable.

Adding an audio segment

An audio segment must be added to every track that has an AudioStage plug-in (Bus or Track) inserted (if there is none, generate a silent audio segment) ; this is mandatory because Samplitude does not process a track without any audio segment. Even if you don't intend to use the track on which an AudioStage plug-in is inserted, this operation is necessary to make Audiostage work properly.

Processing delay of an AudioStage Bus plug-in

After adding an AudioStage Bus plug-in on a track, you have to set the "Delay" to -14336, in the "Audio" folder corresponding to the track, then press "enter" (or return) key and check that the right value has been set.

Despite our efforts, some of Samplitude's specificities are causing troubles.

• Never deactivate Samplitude tracks (right-click on Mute or Ctrl+Alt+M) that have AudioStage plug-ins. AudioStage malfunctions are to expect if tracks have been deactivated. Instead of deactivating a track containing an Audiostage plug-in, you can softbypass the plug-in with the button found in its interface.
• Samplitude does not support the "soft-bypass" (i.e. bypass processed by the plug-ins) ; when Samplitude's bypass is activated, the delay displayed by the plug-in is not applied to the audio flow, thus audio segments are not synchronized. To avoid this problem and to ensure that AudioStage works properly, we placed a "soft-bypass" in the plug-ins' interface, which allows to delay the audio flow without processing it. For good functioning of your project and AudioStage, bypassing AudioStage plug-ins (Track or Bus) using the Samplitude's "bypass" button should be avoided.
• The sound is jerked for about half a second when the playing starts or at the beginning of a loop. We recommend you always start playing a few seconds ahead, and leave a silent space at the beginning of the project.
• The stop command cannot be detected immediately ; a few seconds will pass before AudioStage is actually stopped. This will not damage the audio flow.

In the Tools menu > Track Bouncing, please check the checkbox: Realtime Boucing (Mix to file) before launching the mixdown process.

AudioStage was tested with Adobe Audition CS5.5 on Windows and MacOS. Audition 3 is probably compatible but isn’t officially supported.

On MacOS, do I use AU or VST plugins?
Audition will only work with AudioStage VST plugins. AudioStage AU plugins are not supported.
Tracks and plugins formats
AudioStage plugins can be found in various submenus of the “VST” menu (eg. “Mono”, “Stereo”, “5.1”, “7.1”). All this entries correspond to the same AudioStage plugin and can be used no matter the track format.
AudioStage Bus return track
The track you will insert AudioStage Bus on is only active if it contains at least one audio clip. You just have to create and insert a small silent audio clip anywhere on this track. Another possibility is to insert the AudioStage Bus plugin on a “bus”-type Audition track, which doesn’t need a silent audio clip in order to work properly.

Mixdown of an AudioStage-based Audition project
Audition doesn’t allow to mixdown sessions in realtime, neither can it record post-insert (postFX) audio signals. In order to bounce the AudioStage Bus output, you may use:

• a software audio loopback.
• an hardware audio loopback, at the soundcard driver level if possible or using an external audio cable.
• VST recording inserts such as Tape-IT or similar

Prerendering in Audition
Do not use that functionality for tracks that have AudioStage plugins inserted.
Deactivating effects
Make sure that AudioStage plugins are always activated. Do not deactivate them or switch off the whole FX rack, as it may prevent AudioStage from working properly. Just use AudioStage plugins “Soft-bypass” feature.
Locating in Audition
When Audition is stopped, locating in the timeline doesn’t get transmitted to AudioStage, as Audition doesn’t give AudioStage any information about the current timecode position.