Installation instructions

Chapter 8 of the pdf main guide explains the installation in Reaper as an example.

Generally, the installation consists of 2 main steps:

- installing a VSTi host application, if you don't have one already

- copying the fretboard plugin file to the proper directory, typically (but not necessarily) called ''VST Plugins''

Running it with a lesson example consists of:

- loading a set of 2 files: one mp3, one midi

- loading and linking the fretboard plugin to the midi track

- set the right tempo, as specified in the main guide, and play it**.

Oncy you have set a lesson example up, you can save it under any name so that the next time you can simply open it and play.

The first time it may seem complicated, but after setting up it is pretty easy to use.

The first video is the latest instruction video (with spoken instructions), the next is an older one (without voice) , but it is also still valid.

If, after seeing the video, you think this is too complicated for you, you can always decide to go for the CD version, which has fretboard videos as well, so you don't need the software. This solution is also good for Mac users, as the software is for Windows only. By the way, even without the visualizer, the lesson package is still very useful, as it contains explanations, notes and TABS, backing tracks etc. You can use all that without setting up any special software.

** if the midi and audio are not in sync, it's probably one of two things:

- the tempo is wrong; the midi plays at any tempo, but the mp3 tempo is fixed, so you have to set the tempo as specified in the manual, for each tune, see page 28. Do this by entering the right BPM value, e.g. 120, 140 etc.

With recent versions of Reaper, best way to avoid these problems, is to load the midi file first, and check that Reaper has adopted the correct BPM value automatically, otherwise correct it using the BPM control. Then, load the audio (mp3) file. This way, Reaper will not try to change the tempo of the audio in any way, and all should be OK!

OR

- the track time base is wrong: use the Track menu to set the time base to Time

Watch it on YouTube (click bottom-right) to watch full screen.

What is a VSTi host? It is any midi and audio recording and editing software that supports the VSTi plugin format:

VST plugins are effects (like reverb, compressor etc) and VSTi plugins are virtual instruments. There is VSTi host software from very cheap to very sophistated and expensive. Reaper is cheap but you can even use it for free for unlimited time! That's why Reaper is used here for demonstration.

Matt uses Cubase SX as main recording/editing software.

Using a guitar sound plugin can be handy, check Matt's comments