[LAU] Digits VST for Linux

[Leigh Dyer]

On 26/05/12 11:47 PM, Len Ovens wrote:
>
> On Fri, May 25, 2012 3:28 pm, Louis Gorenfeld wrote:
>> I might, but there's also limited time I have to improve it. I guess
>> it depends on how in-demand it'd be, and how much I'd have to
>> rearrange existing code. I'd hoped VST support on Linux would be doing
>> well in general, but maybe that's not the case..?
>
> VST is one of those things that sits odd in some parts of the Linux
> community. It is not GPL, it is an owned spec. So while the average audio
> user might like to have a VST plug in. There are some Distributions that
> will not ship with either VST plugins, VST containers or VST support. It
> also means some of the people who do a lot of audio coding and maintain
> binary packages don't care too much about about improving VST support.

For plugins, I believe this is still the case, but for hosts, use of the 
reverse-engineered Vestige headers means that the official VST headers 
are not needed. There should be no trouble including these VST-enabled 
hosts in distributions.

> Many people who do audio have a 64bit OS. I know the windows VSTs are all
> 32 bit, but I think (someone correct me if I am wrong) The Linux VST is
> the same.

VSTs do need to be compiled for the same CPU architecture as the plugin 
host. The same applies for other plugin formats, too, but it's obviously 
much less of a problem with open-source plugins that you're free to 
rebuild. Most Windows VSTs are 32-bit but an increasing number of them 
are available in 64-bit format, and many Linux VSTs are available in 
64-bit format also.

> The most commonly used DAW in Linux does not support VST. It can be
> compiled with VST support... but, it requires the tools to build and once
> you have done so you will not be able to get support from the Ardour devs
> if you have problems. They will first want you to install their pre-built
> image.

Ardour 3 and Qtractor both support Linux VSTs, without needing the 
official VST headers or any special build options. The Ardour 3 beta 
builds include this.

> In the end, it is up to you how much time you want to spend on your
> project. You are not charging for it, some people will find a way to use
> it so my thought is thank you for making it available on whatever terms
> you choose. If you have the time (and interest) try LV2, but don't feel
> you must if that will make it feel like a chore. Perhaps if someone else
> finds they like it, they will add an LV2 version. (if your  licensing
> allows that)

For cross-platform plugins, VST definitely does make some sense, just 
because you're not dealing with different plugin formats on different 
platforms. The other way to tackle that is with a toolkit that supports 
multiple platforms and plugin formats, such as JUCE, which falkTX has 
been adding LV2 support to.

Thanks
Leigh