Hello From time to time, I use VCV to process audio from Reaper. What is the difference between VCV as a VSTi and VCV as a VST FX? I’ve tested both and I don’t really see any difference. The VSTi can process audio just as well as the VST FX. Are there any use cases where one is really preferable to the other?
I have the hazy impression that it doesn’t make a difference in Reaper (at least not a big difference). There may be some MIDI pre-routing for the VSTi version but I think you can do everything in either. Some DAWs might have trouble routing MIDI to a VST FX or audio in to a VSTi, but I’m speculating–I only use a few DAWs and I haven’t tested this in any of them.
I’d say that if it’s doing what you want, no need to change it around. If you hit a restriction around routing, try the other version and see if that helps. Pretty sure there’s not any efficiency or quality difference, so if it works, it works…
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Thank you I just wanted to know if I was missing something, maybe interesting.
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I agree with @gc3
Thank, that confirm what I though
Ha yes, may be the use of the Vst FX is needed in just some DAWs.
Maybe the fact that reaper don’t make a difference between Midi and audio track may explain that the Vst FX is not really needed.
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IDK…if I have to use it as an FX I load the FX plugin, maybe a @moderators could tell us more
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I finally understood the difference between using vcv as VSTi or as VST FX.
if you use vthe VCV plugin as an effect direcly on an instrument track, there is no real difference
The difference appear when you use sends. Say you want use the same effect on three differents tracks. You can send the three track into an effects track. Usually you keep the send of the three track to the mastertrack and you set the effect totally wet, then you can set the volume of the respective sends.
Now if on the effect track, you use the VCV plug as VSTi. if you stop to send the instrument tracks to the mastertrack, and in the vcv fx you set the wet and dry to 0, or simply set the audio module volume to zero, you should’nt hear no sound anymore. And this were it’a bit tricky. If what you send is vsti instrument, all seem ok. No sound. But if you send audio… surprise, the audio signal is still there ! in fact it’s logic. You send audio to a track, and this track is send to the mastertrack. This is where you need to use a VST FX. With a VST FX the DAW “understand” that no signal should pass outside of the effect.
After understanding this, I did indeed notice that when using the VSTi in this kind of setup, the audio signal was doubled, which generates a very slight phase effect.
I’m not sure, but I hope I’ve been clear.
PS : I’m a reaper user, so maybe behavior can be different on other DAWs
So you’re absolutely right 
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