[LAU] LV2, DSSI and the future of plugins

[linuxdsp]

Q wrote:
> Ken Restivo wrote:
>> I can't stand the whole idea of closed-source VSTs and plugins and 
>> synths.
>>
>> Yeah, I'm one of THOSE guys.
>>
>> Seriously, I'm using linux becuase of the freedom, the open source, 
>> and the political aspect of it. That's why I run it. I wouldn't bother 
>> with it otherwise.
>>
>> If I wanted to use proprietary, closed-source software, why would I 
>> even try to get it running on Linux at all?
>>
>> Taking this a bit father: if convenience, "user experience", time, 
>> availability, commercial support, etc were REALLY important, why 
>> wouldn't I just get a MacBook Pro like everyone else has, and run that?
>>
>> -ken
>>
> 
> I'm very happy that there are closed-source VSTs and VSTi's, although 
> all the ones I use are non-native using Wine. Long may this be possible.
> 
> Yeah, I'm one of those OTHER guys ;-)
> 
> To be honest, I don't use any VSTs; I've only ever used LADSPA and LV2 
> effects.
> 
> Also, I'm using fewer and fewer VSTi's these days as I get more and more 
> hardware. But there are some things I'll never have the money or space 
> for and the only software alternative, or the best alternative (for me) 
> is some VSTi.
> 
> Only one of those VSTi's was bought before I started using Linux and I 
> don't use it any more as I have its successor. All the other plugin 
> instruments were bought knowing that they would work using Wine and 
> wine-asio. Yes, I've money invested and a bit of time to get them to 
> work initially, but it's not a throwback to mythical pre-conversion days.
> 
> In fact, I've never used Windows for music-making. I tried a little when 
> I was first starting out and didn't get far or get anything remotely 
> serious done, but very quickly moved to Linux, first DeMuDi and then 
> Ubuntu Studio. There are a number of things that attract me to Linux, 
> but most of them are probably pragmatic reasons rather than ideological 
> (although there are some of those).
> 
>  > If I wanted to use proprietary, closed-source software, why would I 
> even try to get it running on Linux at all?
> 
> For me, it's all about running what I find to be the best (instrumental) 
> tools for the job, using the best (OS and software) tools for the job. 
> It's all about choice.
> 
> I hope Linux generally, and the Linux audio world specifically, never 
> becomes closed off, only open to those who want it to be totally free 
> and who want vigorously to maintain the purity of that essence :-)
> 
> Q
> 
I think there is (and should be) room for both commercial and open 
source projects to coexist  for linux, that way there is always the 
freedom to make the choice about what to use depending upon 
requirements, ideology, financial constraints etc.
As a commercial developer, linuxDSP has had to go down that particular 
(commercial) road because we have significant costs associated with 
maintaining the infrastructure required to produce, distribute and 
develop the software, however, we started making audio software for 
linux, first and foremost as enthusiastic linux users - who just wanted 
to make some great tools to do what we wanted to do, and to bring them 
to a wider audience in a way that enabled us to continue their development.
That said, we realise that although our software and applications 
themselves contain no GPL'd code, they are indirectly dependent on many 
projects (e.g. DAW applications) which may be open source, and where 
possible we support those projects and - revenue permitting - hope to be 
able to contribute some financial support back to some of those projects 
too.