Re: [LAD] State of Plugin API's

Hi all, On Oct 28, 2009, at 8:59 AM, Jörn Nettingsmeier wrote: Consensus? Right. I know of several talented linux audio developers who consider DSSI to be obsolete -AND- I also know of a similar number who have said they'll never use LV2. Recently I've seen more new open-source synth plugins being released as VSTi's than either LV2 or DSSI. GMPI doesn't exist, because people couldn't reach consensus. Sounds familiar. ALSA versus OSS vs PulseAudio vs JACK. C vs C++ vs <fill-in-the-blank>. Emacs vs vi. XML vs everything else. They all suck, some just suck more than others -- and which suck the least depends on what you want to use them for. For simple effects, it does seem like LV2 may eventually supplant LADSPA. But for softsynths, I don't see any one of the current plugin APIs (LV2, DSSI, or VSTi) obsoleting the others any time, well, ever. There's just too much difference in personal tastes. My advice: write to the API that appeals to you most. The playing field is level and slow-changing enough at the present time that far more important than someone else's idea of what is "current" or "deprecated", is * what will feed your creativity and joy the most? * because no single API is ever going to please everybody, no one's going to pay you for your work, and only a fraction of those who use it will even take the time to say thank you. My point is, be clear about your motivation. Choose an API that fits your tastes. Then go create some killer plugins. I'm looking forward to trying them. ;-) -Sean