What types of sounds can VST Instruments produce?
Most VST Instruments specialise in one type of sound, the most popular being analogue synth simulations, but you can already buy simulations of Hammond tonewheel organs, Mellotrons, and Wavetable synths — no doubt many more will follow. It’s perfectly possible to design them using physical modelling as well — Steinberg’s VB1 is a virtual bass guitar whose sound can be altered by moving pickup, plectrum, and mute positions. While you can certainly create many drum and percussion sounds using analogue synths, you’ll probably find it easier to use a dedicated Instrument for this function, such as the LM9 bundled with Cubase version 5, or the more advanced LM4. These let you load various sets of sampled drum sounds for more realism, and respond to velocity for greater expression. Also bundled with Cubase is Universal Sound Module — a General MIDI VST Instrument with a complete range of sounds for general purpose use.
