Using Your Old Computer as a Plug-in Slave
Once you're happy install FX Teleport and choose "Slave" as the install option. The FX Teleport Server will run ready to be accessed by the master computer.
Figure 4
Click on the hammer and spanner icon to open the options window.
Figure 5
Add your plug-in folders. If you're not sure then the usual suspects are:
C:\Program Files\Vstplugins
C:\Program Files\Steinberg\Vstplugins
C:\Program Files\Steinberg\Cubase\Vstplugins
Tick the "Auto start" box which means that it will run on Windows startup and click "OK". The FX Teleport Server will then sit there waiting to be scanned by the master computer.
For the master computer I'm going to use Vista Ultimate but the process is the same or possibly easier on an XP machine.
Install FX Teleport and this time choose "Master". Once installed we will need to punch a hole in the Windows Firewall to allow FX Teleport to send and receive data through it. You can access the Firewall settings through the Network and Sharing Centre or through the Security Settings window.
Figure 6 - Click to englarge
Select the "Allow a program through the firewall" option on the left and click on "Add Program". First you can choose Cubase (or your DAW software) as that will be using FX Teleport but you'll need to browse to locate the FX Teleport program. You'll find it in C:\Program Files\FX Teleport\ and the file is called "Configure", although in the list it comes up as "Install Effects". Make sure both are ticked and click "OK".
Now, click on the Vista Start button and start typing "install effects" and the FX Teleport application called "Install Effects" should appear, press enter to open it. This program scans your slave computers for plug-ins and displays them in a list in the left hand column. You select which ones you want to install and click the "Install" button. This will create a "wrapper" which is like a virtual plug-in file that references the plug-in on the slave machine.
Figure 7 - Click to englarge
This is potentially where you get problems if the plug-ins are not installed correctly on the slave machine - it will just appear to hang. If nothing comes up in the left column then check your network connections, the Firewall and check the slave machines to see if any pop-up windows have appeared.
Once you've installed all the plug-ins you want to use you can quit the program.
FX Teleport is so easy, so integrated, that it quickly becomes part of your natural way of working. It's a great way to use old and once powerful computers that you might of otherwise thrown away.
Using FX Teleport in Cubase
On the first time you load Cubase after installing the plug-ins it will scan through the new arrivals. Again there's some possibility of hiccups and occasionally it might not find a plug-in or two. Often the "Update" button in the "Plug-in Information" window will sort that out. Once you're into Cubase then you'll find the plug-ins and instruments in the usual places under a heading of FX Teleport.
Figure 8 - Click to englarge
When you select the instrument or plug-in FX Teleport runs a test to detect the network latency.
Figure 9 - Click to englarge
Once done you can then play it like any other instrument. The MIDI is being routed over to the slave machine - including any controller data from external knobs and sliders you might have - and then the audio is generated and routed back into Cubase. With effects plug-ins the audio from the track is routed out to the slave computer and returned via the FX Teleport wrapper.
Figure 10 - Click to englarge
If you need to edit the instrument then simply logon to Remote Desktop.
Figure 11 - Click to englarge
FX Teleport is so easy, so integrated, that it quickly becomes part of your natural way of working.
Each time you move to a new computer, or each time you need to expand your studios power you simply
buy another license for instant access to another plug-in server. It's a great way to use old and
once powerful computers that you might of otherwise thrown away. Do be aware though that the sounds
and plug-ins reside on the other machines so if, for instance, you use a laptop and take it away from
the network you'll find that all your FX Teleport plug-ins are disabled.
Figure 12 - Click to englarge
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