How to optimize workflow for VSX and Speakers in Cubase/Nuendo

How to optimize workflow for VSX and Speakers in Cubase

In this article we are going to go over using VSX on a separate bus so that users can easily switch between the headphones and speakers without having to bypass constantly when trying to A/B.

The easiest way is to use Control Room. 

1. Add a new Channel in the Control Room tab in the "Audio Connections" preferences and route the output of the headphones to 3-4 of the Audio Interface.
   
2. Under the "Phones" section in the Control Room instantiate the VSX plugin. 
   
   
3. Route Output 3-4 to the Headphone output of the Audio Interface. 
   
   
4. VRS8: https://slatedigital.com/vrs-support/
   Apollo:  https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/universal-audio-sending-audio-to-apollo-headphones-with-console/
   Focusrite: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207546805-How-do-the-headphone-outputs-work-on-the-Scarlett-18i20-
   Apogee: https://knowledgebase.apogeedigital.com/ensemble/ensemble-routing/
   Presonus: https://answers.presonus.com/22686/setup-extra-headphone-from-line-outputs-quantum-interface

Now the speaker outputs on the Stereo Out will be "clean" and not have the VSX room models on it, while the headphones will always have the VSX effect making it very easy to switch between Speakers and Headphones. All mastering effects should be done on the Mix Bus / Send track so that the users are hearing the final master through the VSX plugin. If more plugins are added to the Master fader then these will not be heard through the VSX plugin return track. 

If users don't want to utilize the control room, it is also possible to use routing and aux tracks to setup a VSX monitor path. 

1. In the Audio Connections window create an output track called VSX and set the outputs to 3-4. 
2. Add the VSX plugin to the insert of this output track.
3. Create a "Mix Bus" track and route all audio and FX to this bus. 
4. Add a send on the "Mix Bus" that sends to the VSX output track and set it to Pre-Fader. 
5. Set the headphone output in the Audio Interface to listen to output 3-4 of the DAW. 

Now the speaker outputs on the Stereo Out will be "clean" and not have the VSX room models on it, while the headphones will always have the VSX effect making it very easy to switch between Speakers and Headphones. All mastering effects should be done on the Mix Bus / Send track so that the users are hearing the final master through the VSX plugin. If more plugins are added to the Master fader then these will not be heard through the VSX plugin return track.