u-he

daddylongleggaren · Post by **daddylongleggaren** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 10:59 am

Hi,

I have a work computer where I do not want to install my private Ableton copy. I do however want to fiddle around with Diva when I am on trips etc.

Do you have any suggestions for an open source DAW that can play VST instruments (in windows)?

Thanks,
d

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:06 am

Doesn't have to be open source, I suppose? Check out Reaper. It's portable and very capable. It's only keyfile protected, and you can easily run it right from the USB thumb drive. (Protip: u-he plugins are also portable, so you can have them on the thumb drive as well!)

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:11 am

Doesn't a open source DAW and proprietary standards like VST exclude each other? I know of at least one virtual instrument, Hexter, where the VST version was dropped, because the author saw a issue with VST being a proprietary standard, thus wasn't able to support with the license he chose for the plugin. As far as i understood it, you can't implement VST in a open source DAW. But of course, as common in the Linux world, there'll always be a dirty workaround somehow.

psycha0s · Post by **psycha0s** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 1:44 pm

chk071 wrote:As far as i understood it, you can't implement VST in a open source DAW.

This is not correct. You cannot use some opensource licenses with VST. For example (L)GPL requires distribution of all sources, which are need for building the licensed program. And VST SDK license prohibits to distribute SDK in any way. So you cannot use (L)GPL for the VST host, but you can use other opensource licenses: BSD, MIT, CC, etc.

core · Post by **core** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 2:02 pm

Do you really need open source, or just free? Maybe LMMS or Mulab Free, or if you just need to load the plugin and fiddle you could get Cantabile Lite, VSTHost/Savihost...

daddylongleggaren · Post by **daddylongleggaren** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 2:30 pm

Thanks for all the replies. You are right, there is no value in itself that it is open source. I just want it to be 1) free 2) secure from malware etc. and 3) usable with vst instruments.

I thought open source was the most reliable bet but perhaps there are other alternatives. I will check out your suggestions.

Thanks again!

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:20 pm

The best "value for no money" should have Podium Free. The only real restriction IMO is the lack of multi core support, so it will only use one of your CPU's cores. Dunno if that's still the case though, or if newer versions of it support multiple cores now too. At least it's a pretty complete host for free afaic.

u-he

KVR Audio

Open source Windows DAW with VST