This post is just to praise the work of some "new" developpers. They have recently make or announced a great support for multichannel / surround sound with astonishing products (you already know them) :
USINE, realtime modular environment and plugin host (16 channels)
http://www.sensomusic.com/
REAPER, audio / MIDI multitrack which has just introduced the multichannel support, but is already full functionnal for surround sound (up to 64 channels !)
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/
CANTABILE (1.2), scratchpad VST host with simple audio / MIDI recording (24 channels and more)
http://www.toptensoftware.com/cantabile/
I must add that they have some of the best developpers' support and are free or very cheap !
With this 3 hosts and some adequate plugins (
) we have (or will have) a complete powerfull environnment for multichannel creation (of course, this does not remove the merits of the older ones).So people have no more excuse to continue to make (only) stereo music
.Thanks to them and long life to their work !