Mr. mosso (and other helpers). Here are my results:
Allow me to remind you that in using Cubase and VE, starting from the desktop window, I open the slave computer which asks for a password and allows me to log on. A VE server window has me copy the slave number from the left side to the active box on the right, a password and a connect box. That taken care of, I minimize the VE window which automatically returns me to the desktop where I can load Cubase and open a project window. It sounds trivial, so what's the point?
Understanding.
In the above action, I have activated the first VE instance (instantiation). [ Please place four-month overdue light bulb here! ]
Please relish this with me as the virtual amateur. In Cubase>Devices>Vst Intruments>select an Ensemble plug-in>Pop up window appears asking if i want to create a MIDI track assigned to plug-in VE. There is a create box, a cancel box and the X (close window) box. > Select create. THERE IS ALSO A VE SERVER INTERFACE POP-UP showing NOT CONNECTED. My habit is to just close the window, after all, I have already assigned the slave number and connected it in the VE window when I opened VE as described above.
Please insert second light bulb here. WRONG
The NOT CONNECTED server interface is where any and all added instances must have the SLAVE NUMBER ASSIGNED each time for each instance (you recall asking me that mosso, yes?) - ahh, yahh, um, sure ok.
That's it. That was mental block preventing me from getting the instances to appear on the bottom tool bar and listed as active in the server window.
Of course, there is one more little snag...the VE interface window is larger than my monitor screen, so I have to scroll down to see the tool bars at the bottom of this window otherwise I don't see the instances to access.
And by the way, VE keyboard keys register one octave higher than Cubase keys, so when assigning keyswitches, C#1 in VE is C# in Cubase (thank you Beat Kaufmann).
So the chase is over. I thank you sincerely for putting aside the helpless feeling of exasperation you experience when the instruction you are giving should solve the problem - but doesn't. If this website had ratings for helpfullness from moderators, mosso would have to be a perfect ten. Thank you mosso. I appreciate the others who chimed in as well. Who knows what word or thought or combination helped to break my mistaken mid-set? Thanks to you all.
Now I wonder what the created MIDI track for the ensemble instance is for... and is there a way to insert an Altiverb reverb room setting so I can compose with the instruments sounding truer to their tone in MIDI before converting to audio...
????
tony h