VST instruments in the FX Chain

Hi, guys and gals. I stumbled on to a feature I was not aware of. You can drag a VST instrument in to the ProChannel Inspector window and it automatically sets it in an FX Chain block. The instruments still respond to automation written in the controller lanes. By putting in the Inspector window instead the track FX bin, it cuts down on having to open and closing the track just to tweak something on the instruments!
This has cut my workflow almost in half. I suggest to try this if you have not already.

Cactus Music
That's weird. I didn't think we were supposed to put VST instruments in bins? In my world they have an audio track and you can leave the GUI open on your second monitor or simply double click the instrument icon to open. 

That's what I do too. I would be interested to see if them being in the PC inspector adds any functionality.

I will try this in the next coupe of days. !

"i.e. it will be inserted as a transformer so should only be used if its a synth that can pass through audio or is an fx processor itself."
 
What are some synths that "pass through audio or is an fx processor"?

Noel is correct. The only stumbling block is if you have say Kontakt with JayBass plus an amp simulator  in the same Chainer you can NOT save the FX Chainer to the library! The work around is drag Kontakt in to the ProChannel inspector, then drag the amp simulator as a separate Chainer under Kontakt Chainer. This has really cut down on the cumbersome and time burning process of opening and closing the track to access the FX bin just to tweak the instrument. With it in the Inspector, it's already there to just click and open. I have been experimenting with the controllers and they all are listed and work it seems. I have been using this technique the last several days with great results. My workflow has been substantially affected.

Sidroe
This has really cut down on the cumbersome and time burning process of opening and closing the track to access the FX bin just to tweak the instrument. With it in the Inspector, it's already there to just click and open.

When using the preferred method of adding softsynths to a project either by:

• Insert > Soft synth from the main menu bar
• Add Track menu
• Insert Instrument from the Track View Track Pane context menu
• Dragging a synth from the browser

employing an instrument track or audio/MIDI tracks with the audio input and MIDI output pointing to the synth, there is no need to open the track to access the synth UI. The synth UI will open when clicking the small icon between the track number and name. Also double clicking on the synth name in the audio input and MIDI output drop downs on the track strips in  the Console View open the synth UI.

It is a very old way of adding synths now only necessary when the synth needs to operate on an audio stream such as Pentagon I set up as a vocoder, certain Reaktor presets, FX versions of Z3ta+, Softube Modular, Moog and Arp emulations from GForce and Arturia to name a few.
 
In most cases, the methods to add a synth described in msg #11 are recommended.

It boils down to how UI's are opened when using the old method of adding synths to projects.
 
When a plug-in is loaded into an FX Rack, the track must be expanded to see the plug-in in order to open the UI. The FX Rack is also visible in the Inspector but the FX Rack in the Inspector is not visible when the PC Module is displayed.
 
So, in order to avoid expanding the track or toggling the PC in the Inspector to view the FX Rack, the OP moved the contents of the FX Rack to the PC. This way the tracks can stay collapsed and the PC open in the inspector.
 
I prefer adding synths using the recommended method and clicking on the small icon to open synth UIs in the Track View.