Time for a virtual modular standard...?

[Kriminal]

So you're making an assertion about what is 'usually' the case without any kind of statistics to back that up? Guess we can discount what you said completely then.

Its based on experience.

Fairly limited experience then.

No.

[trimph1]

Hi guys,
In the real-world we have eurorack modules and API format comps and EQs (correct me if I'm wrong, I try to avoid hardware forums!), and these are standard formats that 3rd party developers can design and manufacture modules for.

Isn't it time for something similar in VST land?

Let's say I want to put together a modular synth that has Largo's wavetable osc's, Cytomic's filters, Diva's Moog envelopes, a couple of MSEG LFOs, a distortion module from Amplitube's stomp collection, and a Valhalla LV246 algo to top it off.

This may very well cripple my computer with one note, but if it sounds gorgeous who cares? It would be aimed squarely at the tweakheads, not the real musos

I've placed this in the 'hosts' forum because it would require a shell, which then would be inserted into a DAW as a VSTi. But the shell would provide the module rack GUI format/orientation, the modulation matrix of loaded modules, midi and/or audio in, audio out, and not much more. Preferably open source.

Modules like osc's, filters, step sequencers, LFOs, envelopes, FX would all be provided by 3rd party developers. And I'm talking really specific modules, like a distortion with 3 algos from Amplitube, or a Valhalla reverb with 3 algos.

You could argue that this is all possible with existing modular hosts, or that it's essentially what Reason RE's provide, but it's not, I'm thinking real modular piece by piece sub-set modules.

You could argue that this is unnecessary with all the many synths already available, it will just take up more of the dev's time supporting a new format.
Or it could be an added stream of revenue for the devs to sell subsets of their existing products. They could even introduce a gear-credits discounting system, where if you bought Diva's Moog osc, and the u-he Roland filters, and some u-he envelopes, you could buy Diva at a discounted price determined by how many components of Diva you already own.

Or the dev's may see it as an unwanted format which chips away at their main product sales.
Anyway, what say ye? Open for discussion now...

Hello...this is what the OP has, for those who just stepped into this brouhaha without realizing what it was about...

I boldly went and bolded the area that I wanted to focus on myself....

I'd love to see something like that happen myself. I'd actually like to see a standalone version if at all possible...

[risome]

How about the euro /frac hardware community build virtual versions of there modules as developers do for VST /AU for starters

Which part of that community do you expect to have the programming skills, and knowledge of audio DSP required to do that, let alone the inclination to redirect resources from their existing business model (physical sales of short-run boutique analogue hardware) in favour of one pretty much diametrically opposite to it?

Well it happened with hardware synths by 3rd party developer , why cant it happen with the modular ones?

[trimph1]

How about the euro /frac hardware community build virtual versions of there modules as developers do for VST /AU for starters

Which part of that community do you expect to have the programming skills, and knowledge of audio DSP required to do that, let alone the inclination to redirect resources from their existing business model (physical sales of short-run boutique analogue hardware) in favour of one pretty much diametrically opposite to it?

Well it happened with hardware synths by 3rd party developer , why cant it happen with the modular ones?

Or a malcontent like me who thinks he could do something like develop individual oscs and the like...

[VariKusBrainZ]

Reading the thread title makes me think of reason and its plugin standard.
It won happen in VST format under the current implemetation for the reasons already outlined unless someone comes up with workarounds that are accepted by all.

Ive thought of this idea before so no doubt more educated muscicians than I have in the past too yet still no standard. Says it all.

But yes, I think a plugin standard for a software modular synth would be great.

Different devs specialise in different areas.
Eg we could have sequencers provided by Sugar Bytes, Filters from Cytomic etc

[whyterabbyt]

How about the euro /frac hardware community build virtual versions of there modules as developers do for VST /AU for starters

Which part of that community do you expect to have the programming skills, and knowledge of audio DSP required to do that, let alone the inclination to redirect resources from their existing business model (physical sales of short-run boutique analogue hardware) in favour of one pretty much diametrically opposite to it?

Well it happened with hardware synths by 3rd party developer , why cant it happen with the modular ones?

I never said it cant happen, I said its unlikely that the people who make modules are going to start making plugin versions of their modules. If all along you actually meant 3rd party developers making plugin versions of other companies hardware modules, that's a different case from how it reads. And I can imagine that licensing would be an issue if they're unassociated with the original hardware module developer, as it does with software.

So again, it makes me wonder which part of 'the euro/frac community' you're talking about? Im kind of suggesting that the overlap of people (modular owners/audio software developers) who could do it is microscopic, and the number who would is smaller still.

There are tens of millions more guitar owners in the world than modular synth owners, and yet remarkably few modelled guitars. Why not ask why the guitar community doesnt build more plugins?

[whyterabbyt]

So you're making an assertion about what is 'usually' the case without any kind of statistics to back that up? Guess we can discount what you said completely then.

Its based on experience.

Fairly limited experience then.

No.

That would be the Dunning-Kruger talking.

[xalama qo]

Obligatory XKCD:

http://xkcd.com/927/



Peace,
Andy.

LOL...just doing my little bit

[Kriminal]

So you're making an assertion about what is 'usually' the case without any kind of statistics to back that up? Guess we can discount what you said completely then.

Its based on experience.

Fairly limited experience then.

No.

That would be the Dunning-Kruger talking.

Nope.

[trimph1]

Obligatory XKCD:

http://xkcd.com/927/



Peace,
Andy.

LOL...just doing my little bit

ROFLMAO!!!!!!

Now I need to clean my monitor screen.....

[whyterabbyt]

So you're making an assertion about what is 'usually' the case without any kind of statistics to back that up? Guess we can discount what you said completely then.

Its based on experience.

Fairly limited experience then.

No.

That would be the Dunning-Kruger talking.

Nope.

Convincing.

[xalama qo]

Looks like Krim went to bed. That's a good boy.

what are you rolling you eyes at? your guess as to my whereabouts or your little dig?

what a fucktard

Why would I roll my eyes at my own little dig?

I really did think you'd gone to bed, really. Interacting online like a little boy, calling people names. You mean you're not 9 years old?
My apologies sir, and I'll refrain from rolling my eyes... oops, sorry, I did it again.

You got upset cos i called you a snob.... so you big comeback was saying i had gone to bed and calling me boy...

Who's childish?

Fuckin prick....

Actually, it started like this...

SynthEdit

missing the plot

Why? Anyone who can code can create modules for it...

Snob

No need for name calling, naughty Krim.

What I should say is you're missing the paradigm. Please read the original post again. It's quite easy to understand.

As you can see I was not upset, just a little intolerant of your obvious lack of comprehension of my original post, and the fact that "SynthEdit" is not really discussing the proposed concept, is it? In fact none of your one word answers could be considered discussion. It just creates the impression that you are closed-minded.

BTW I can handle whatever you have to offer, it just seems to me that you get pretty heated when I yank your chain in return.
I'd much rather you contribute something meaningful to these discussions instead of coming off looking like an obnoxious d*ck just for the sake of it.

Call me crazy.

[toothnclaw]

I'd much rather you contribute something meaningful to these discussions instead of coming off looking like an obnoxious d*ck just for the sake of it.

But he's fully entitled to act in such manner. In expression of his true self. And I'm fully entitled, but not going to, defend to the death his right to act like one.

[trimph1]

All I can say is hopefully nobody gets banhammered over a simple question...sheeesh

[xalama qo]

I'd actually like to see a standalone version if at all possible...

+11...you'd probably need to have a dedicated comp to run it on initially!