Steinberg Updates VST Live 3 - Adds DMX

Steinberg has just introduced VST Live 3 which bundles audio playback, instruments and FX, video switching, DMX and streaming into one timeline. The idea is to cut the number of programs running on tour.

edit:VST Live 3 is a host that allows you to bring all your elements together into a single application - such as VST instruments, audio playback, processing, video inputs and lighting cues to enable a show to be run from a single machine.

The Video Director track stores camera cuts as automation (number of live inputs is limited by the system and hardware inputs). You can cross-fade or snap between inputs, and the same feed can be sent to OBS without extra routing. It tops out at 1080p/60, so a recent quad-core laptop keeps up.

DMX channels appear next to audio strips. Patch is pulled from a 3 000-fixture library; three universes run over Art-Net or sACN. You can write scenes to the timeline or busk live.

Monitor mixes are now network-synced. Musicians get a phone app; changes show on the FOH screen within about 40 ms. Latency for in-ear mixes is under 3 ms at 96 kHz on a Core i7.

Shared plug-in instances mean one copy of Flux or Halion serves every song, so RAM use drops. Input channels are visible in the main mixer, and VST3 scan happens in the background.

Each performer can see only their own lyric or chord track; the display follows song position. PDF import is included, so existing charts still work.

VST 3 is aimed at covers bands, small theatres and houses of worship that already run everything from a single laptop as well as larger productions. 

There is a demo which is limited only by a 20-minute noise burst every hour.

It's a serious contender for Apple's Mainstage which for many tours runs the virtual instruments and playback. With these extra integrations, VST 3 Live can handle more.

Availability and pricing
VST Live 3 is available through the Steinberg Online Shop for 149 euros or 149.99 US dollars.
 

Updates from previous versions of VST Live are also available through the  Steinberg Online Shop.

Customers who have activated VST Live 2 or earlier versions from November 12, 2025, are eligible for a free, downloadable grace period update to VST Live 3.

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