Ju-X

After switching from PC to Mac, I was lost (not having my old reliable VSTHost) I wanted a program that I could download an (Audio Unit) and test it without having to load Logic Pro ... I have AUM on my iPad, and use it to quickly test AUv3's.

But I wanted something I could open and start looking at the list of (Instruments) verses (Effects) I was a little skeptical at first, because I tried a few others for the Mac M1-M2, but most of them either didn't locate the majority of the plugins or they would only locate VST2/VST3.

But this program is the BEST I have used... It blows all the 'Paid' programs out of the race, and leaves the 'free' programs looking like a lot of the 'free' programs made by college kids for a grade! (nothing wrong with those programs, there are MANY fine plugins built by students) But some "programs" need that extra knowledge to play nice with ALL the plugins they make.

I say ALL that because this AU Host is my go to program, I use it when playing "guitar" live, when playing "electric drums" live, as well as "Keyboards" live.

So, I use it to test out different effects on both my rhythm and lead guitar, Rhythm in track 1 and Lead in track 2 and then effect both with the open effects strip (which is the last strip visually).

This way before opening Logic or Cubase and laying drown tracks. I can test and hear what plugins I want to use on each track! Having the ability to have dedicated channel strip for effects, and the option to have effects directly below the loaded instrument, makes it easy to understand because the visual concept makes sense! To me this is a MUST! I will open channel 1, and open a guitar pre-amp and then hop over to the next channel and open another pre-amp for lead. Then I can go to the last channel and load up effects that I want on BOTH Lead and Rhythm: So maybe Reverb (from khm) distortion (from ArouraDSP) and a compressor (from Hofa).

I will use that set of effects for BOTH guitars! Track one and Two!! But then (and the BEAUTIFUL thing about JU-X Mini Daw AU Host) is....I may load up more effects for each channel directly below both of my guitar pre-amps... a Filter and chours effect in the 1st strip, (my rhythm channel) and Delay and a Hi pass filter on my lead guitar in the 2nd strip ! So now visually I have the 3 plugins in the "effects" lane that I load up, and then directly under both my guitar tracks I have plugins for the 2 individual.

Thank you SO VERY MUCH, to this Developer for making the VERY BEST AU Hosting app for Mac! My MacBook Pro M-1 is now the ONLY thing I need to practice and make AMAZING music! But NOT only making such a great app but for GIVING IT AWAY! Because we as musicians don't make a TON of money (or NONE at all actually in my case!).

Recently, I grew tired of Logic and it's massive set of features. Sometimes I just want to jam a little or try a little sample in TAL's Sampler and improvise on that loop. Hosting AU is perfect for this: it launches in an instant, is very easy on the eyes with little distraction and is rock solid. As all of my plugins are AU only (or both AU and VST), non-availability of VST slots is not an issue for me whatsoever.

I wish the Ju-X guys came up with an immediate and simple MIDI looper like the Midiphy LoopA in software with support for external MIDI gear, that would make my dream jamming rig on a laptop and I'd be willing to shell out €€ for that. Actually, I'd be willing to pay for Hosting AU - the fact that it's free makes this an even more invaluable tool. Highly recommend.

Hosting AU is hands down the most lightweight and low-resource DAW out there. Despite being limited to AU plugins only it is very useful - I'm using it to host virtual instruments and it beats everything else with its simplicity and low overhead.

This is exactly what I was looking for, hosting an AU plugin for apps that don't support it on output, like iTunes & Reason. Just install Soundflower, send system output to "Soundflower (2ch)", select that as input in Hosting AU under the fourth channel as illustrated, and add your plugin.

It looks however like it's much more powerful than that, as a quick way to riff with virtual instruments and adding effects in real time at the touch of a key. Clean no-clutter interface. And so lightweight - 600kB.