Could a mobile OS run a plugin host?

[ras.s]

Hey,


I was wondering, if a mobile OS (Android, Windows, iOS..) could run a plugin host? The hardware problems set aside, I wonder if this is possible? Could a Windows Mobile system for instance run (already existing) VSTs or a Android system run LV2 or VSTs - or is the architecture so different, that its not feasible or atleast would need recompiling of every plugin.. Not a programmer here, but would love to have quality synths and effects on a handheld (even though I don't even own one ).

[steff3]

for WP7 (do not know if you meant Windows Phone 7 or Windows Mobile OS) and iOS - no. Currently, there is no way to install/add code that comes from outside the app itself - therefore you cannot insert plugins into apps. Due to security I do not think that this will change.
For iOS there are AUs (as it is a mobile OSX) but currently no way to register custom or third party AUs with the OS. So, the framework is there and principally it seems to be analogous to OSX, but there are too many restrictions.

For Android it could be possible - not sure. But Android is much more open, although there is also the idea of a sandbox. Not sure if Android has a concept of media processing units (like iOS has AUs), but also there I think the way would be for the OS to manage plugins and offer it to the app - so, do not think in terms of plugin host, but in terms of a pluggable OS.

Also, as the CPU is not the same, and plugins are normally compiled and not running in a virtual engine (like Java or .Net) - no, you cannot use existing plugins without recompilation (and probably quite some changes due to the CPU) anyways. Your smartphone and tablet - at least at the moment - do not use Intel CPUs. The same as trying to but guitar strings in a grand piano and wondering why you run into trouble.

hope that helps

best

[distant_signal]

The architecture for android suggests its not possible to run audio apps,plugins or any kind of latency related audio. This isn't a hardware issue,purely software.

[SingleCell]

The architecture for android suggests its not possible to run audio apps,plugins or any kind of latency related audio. This isn't a hardware issue,purely software.

Android's latency only affects what you hear from the moment you request it, not the communication between apps and their plugins. Once an external plugin is loaded, it effectiveley becomes part of the app, same as on Mac or Windows with VSTs/AU.

Yes you could load plugins from an Android app, a few apps do load plugins, but no music apps that I know of.

So let's say the VST is an effect and not a synth with latency requirements, and the VST got compiled for ARM chips, and didn't bring the small processor to its knees, then yes in theory it is possible on Android.

Funny how the only mobile OS that can do this is also the worst for music apps in terms of latency and market.

[steff3]

Yes you could load plugins from an Android app, a few apps do load plugins, but no music apps that I know of.

Well, not sure if that is the case. sure, android has a modular design, but there is a great difference if you pass a few bytes of text or even an image or if you want to steadily pass a media stream. Of course, the principle is a bit the same (always passing a chunk of data) but the idea of audio plugins include that the possibility for introduction of gaps etc. is as minimal as possible, which might not be the case for the modular design used by Android.

just my thoughts

best

[UltraJv]

Well maybe the people in a position to change this are Image Line with Fruity Loops on Android. They have been working on this for a while and could possibly port plugs they have across as well. Guess it would mean creating a new plug standard?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/fl-s ... beats-too/

[SingleCell]

Yes you could load plugins from an Android app, a few apps do load plugins, but no music apps that I know of.

Well, not sure if that is the case. sure, android has a modular design, but there is a great difference if you pass a few bytes of text or even an image or if you want to steadily pass a media stream. Of course, the principle is a bit the same (always passing a chunk of data) but the idea of audio plugins include that the possibility for introduction of gaps etc. is as minimal as possible, which might not be the case for the modular design used by Android.

just my thoughts

best

I don't mean passing data between apps, I agree there's no way the OS could do that reliably. What I'm talking about is plugins. Android supports the equivalent of DLLs loaded into the apps memory.

Now I don't think any company will start porting their VSTs to Android anytime soon, there's no market.