[LAD] Lv2 port replication [for dummies]

[David Robillard]

On Thu, 2009-08-13 at 23:53 +0200, Fons Adriaensen wrote:
> 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 ?

I have no idea what you're trying to describe with this "port type"
thing...

-dr