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https://helpcenter.steinberg.de/hc/en-us/articles/4409561018258

My biggest question is... Will their existing VST 2 work in non Steinberg Daw environment?

"Steinberg's host applications and plug-ins across macOS and Windows will offer VST 3 compatibility only."


They should clarify what they mean by "and" and "compatibility". Since their plugins are soft license dependent and checks online for validation... I hope they do not mean revoking licence and bricking existing plugin(s) in 24 month. I am not talking about their hosts, just actual VSTs.

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good point - anyone have any clarifications?

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Another excellent reason to stick with Studio One Pro and avoid Cubase. What about the VST2 plugins you own that are no longer being actively developed or supported? Call the dev and ask for VST3 support? Not going to happen.

IMO, anyone having any VST2 plugins like that should migrate to a non-Steinberg host.


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"What about the VST2 plugins you own that are no longer being actively developed or supported?"

I wrote to support yesterday asking to clarify what do they mean by "compatibility". I have a few dozen projects in Cakewalk that have VST2 version of Halion. My worries, that projects will not open in later years, the ones that have VST2 version of plugin, since even if I retain copies of installers it might not authorize original license through their e-licencer, making plugin unusable.

Sonic Halion is the most advanced GM synth available today as far as I know, and quite a few people (including me) are using it within BIAB... and as we know BIAB does not support VST3... as of now.

I will share their answer if/when they reply.

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Thank you for this alert, and for keeping us posted.


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Very often "no longer being actively developed or supported" is less scary than it sounds. Very often it simply means that what's there will stay there, but it won't be grown any further, they won't do more bug-fixes, they won't promise to answer support question.


Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
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Gordon, I hope so.
It is their e-licenser I am worried about. If it will not authorize VST2 plugin in 2 years, it will not open VST2 instances within the projects they were saved in, even if you installed everything correctly from backups.

I spoke to Steinberg rep today, explained situation with Cakewalk / BIAB + VST2 + e-licencer... He agreed that wording is vague in their statement and escalated this case to their district office. Hopefully they will have an answer soon or at least clarification.

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Reading another thread where you may have already been, I'm reminded of the various VST hosts that are around, moist of which will host multiple standards/interfaces.

Mentioned there was Kushview's Element, but there are others like Cantabile. Hopefully if your worry with Steinberg doesn't go away, the VST hosts will support the interfaces.

Element is OpenSource, as is Carla which came from the Linux environment but is now also on a number of other platforms.


Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
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Thanks for posting this. Following.


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Got a reply today from Steinberg. Question was:

"Steinberg's host applications and plug-ins across macOS and Windows will offer VST 3 compatibility only."

Please explain what that "AND plugins" means? If I use Halion Sonic within another DAW, not made by Steinberg, will it still work after 24 month? Or your e-licenser intends to brick it / stop my VST2 from working?"

Answer:
I received this response from our District Support regarding the VST2 discontinuation:
There is no bricking involved at all. We just won't develop or support VST2 in the future for future releases anymore.
Thanks,
Steinberg US Support
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So that is that. However, probably it is a good idea to download and backup latest installer, which still includes VST2 the one, that works with BIAB and that might be gone at a later time. Perhaps things will change with BIAB as far as VST3 support.

Last edited by Rustyspoon#; 01/24/22 10:19 AM.
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