[LAD] Lv2 port replication [for dummies]

[Fons Adriaensen]

On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 09:27:20PM +0100, Steve Harris wrote:

> On 13 Aug 2009, at 20:01, David Robillard wrote:
> >> I'm assuming the only ports to be replicated are those which have  
> >> say a
> >> multiPort property. I don't see why replication would not be the same
> >> in a plugin instance, across all ports with that property.
> >
> > Because larger plugins can have several completely different signal
> > paths.  Synthesis and effects, or several channels on a mixer, or...
> 
> That, IMHO, is a different problem space.

If the original problem is 'how to define a mono plugin so it can
be replicated for multichannel or polyphonic use' then I'd agree.

There is a world of difference between a plugin that is meant to
be a single-function module in a larger application (e.g. a filter
in a mixer, an envelope generator in a synth) and one that is really
a complete and probably complex application on its own, e.g. a mixer,
or a complete synthesiser.

The latter you can't 'configure' just by setting port types, unless
the concept is abused in some way to carry data that is not really
describing just a port.

And I'm not yet convinced that even the simple 'replicate a mono
plugin' problem can be solved by port types only.

How would a port type tell e.g. a multichannel limiter plugin if
it has to limit each channel separately, or use the same gain
reduction, based on the loudest one, on all ?

Ciao,

-- 
FA

Io lo dico sempre: l'Italia è troppo stretta e lunga.