Hermann Seib

I just loaded "Knif Audio Knifonium", my ableton live is stuttering because of too much CPU use when I play this synth. VSTHost performs with about 3-7 % CPU (i7 10700)!!.

This may be an oldie, but it's a goodie.

In looking for a real time VST host, this one came up, at first it seemed simple, but using it and learning it, it has really good functionality, is not a CPU pig, and runs reliably.

Herman keeps updating it once in a while, making it even better. I run it on a Dell laptop running Win7 and use it to perform. There might be better VST hosts out there, but for the price (free), this one does everything I need it to.

It's crazy that SAVI host hasn't got a review yet.

This is one of the best free tools around, like a Swiss Army knife, it's perfect to quickly check out a VST instrument without the need for a DAW, or to use a VST instrument without a DAW.

Here's basically what one needs to do:

1: Download SAVI host
2: Unzip/Unrar downloaded file
3: Place unpacked "SAVI.exe" file in same folder as "X-VST.dll"
4: Rename "SAVI.exe" to exactly the same name as "X-VST.dll", in other words = "X-VST.exe"
5: Double click renamed "X-VST.exe" to start instrument

The programme got lots of features, like recording of perfomances that can be saved as wav files.

MIDI is supported, and have worked well with my interfaces. The latest version of the host allows up to 3 MIDI controllers to be connected at once, so you can for instance use your big 76 key MIDI controller for playing, and add to that a little AKAI mini for knob twiddling (via right-click MIDI learn). Both will work at the same time.

But there is even no need for a MIDI keyboard, in SAVI host one can use the regular computer keyboard as a two octave piano keyboard. This is a programme that just keeps on giving!