Some things to check and look out for when using VST System Link

– The first thing to check is that you are using the latest CubaseSX/SL/VST5.2* or Nuendo version.

– It is essential to configure the audio clock between the systems correctly. One(!) machine must be the clock master, all others must be properly configured for clock slave operation! This is essential for VST System Link.

– All machines/projects with loaded projects have to use the same sample rate.

– The computers must be set up so that every computer is visible in the list of connected computers on each computer in the System Link, without errors such as wrong naming for the individual computers. The key here is ensuring that everything is properly locked and clock synced.

– Make sure to use digital cables when connecting via S/PDIF, normal analog RCA (audio) cables will not work.

– There may be hardware which fails, because VSL relies in 100% data integrity (means all bits must be passed without any modification). This also means you must not attach anything that alters the digital data (like DSP volume/pan etc.) in the audio cards control panels (e.g. channel volume/pan in RME’s HDSP Totalmixer).

– Always use 32 Bit ASIO drivers. 16 Bit drivers will most likely not work. Some ASIO drivers have different bit depths when using certain buffer sizes, e.g. when using VST System Link with RME Digi96/8 cards make sure to use 256kB (6ms) or 1024kB (23ms) ASIO settings.

– Check that >Transport >Sync Setup… >Timecode Source is set to “VST System Link” and >Machine Control is set to “None” !
You can’t use MMC together with System Link, in Nuendo 9-Pin Sync should also be disabled !

– There are problems with some audio cards when using auto dithering and copy bit mode on their SPDIF ports.

– We have checked VSL with RME hardware, Midiman Delta 1010, Event Layla 24. Further tests will be done. MOTU and Layla20 cards tend not to work reliably for System Link. Steinberg cannot influence this, so please contact your audiocard manufacturer.

– Because we cannot test every combination of audio cards available, there may be some combinations which do not work with VST System Link. If you have a combination of cards which is not listed here please let us know, after you have double-checked that everything is configured correctly and the problem is not related to the audio hardware or drivers themselves.

– With “good” audio hardware, well-written ASIO drivers and the proper settings, VST System Link works perfectly. VST System Link relies on a correct implementation of ASIO2. Only a correct ASIO2 driver provides time-stamped sample buffers, and VST System Link relies on these to determine the system-wide “real time”.
–
* not yet available

Knowledge Base