Which modular host?

[gainstage]

Gig Performer is not available as a plugin, but it is an extremely flexible VST host. Although primarily aimed at live performers, it is used for many different use cases. As an example, check this: https://gigperformer.com/gig-performer- ... -and-more/

[chrisby]

I was just making my assessment based on ui screen grabs I found. Do you think it is as flexible as others I mentioned (if so I'll go back and have a second look)? I like the company and it def seems they are actively developing it which is a huge plus...

not as flexible but seems in Cubase this is the only reliable solution, no MIDI note time-sliding, able to pass 'space' key to the transporter of the host even from opened plugins (able to reopen previously opened plugins so has faster workflow), and multicore CPU support is very nice, so I was given up my flexibility needs ... a bit it doesn't have inbuilt oversampling as DDMF, if you need should use Reaper which supports it plugin based

btw. new features are very nice


I've asked for learning mode on the macro page and I've got it viewtopic.php?p=8493500#p8493500 so I can only recommend it has a friendly developer(team) for sure

ps. if you need flexibility then IMO Voltage Modular is the best

but it's a CPU hog

VCVRack also has host modules https://vcvrack.com/Host

but it was not too stable for me, but has better design for sure has a free forked version too https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal which uses different host

Thanks for all the good info. I should have said it in my original post (and will go add it now) but stability is a big one and reasonable cpu use as well. I get the rack approach, but for me visually the mux/element/etc approach to connecting stuff is just more intuitive...

[chrisby]

Gig Performer is not available as a plugin, but it is an extremely flexible VST host. Although primarily aimed at live performers, it is used for many different use cases. As an example, check this: https://gigperformer.com/gig-performer- ... -and-more/

Hmm, that's really good to know and probably a disqualifier for me. I like building out a chain and then being able to just recall that as one insert in a daw. Again though, even bad news is good to know just to narrow down the list of potential candidates...

[whyterabbyt]

Anyway, thanks for the reply, and as far as Bidule, does it work well for you? Any short comings?

Yeah, I find it works well. I use it more standalone, and its my default host a lot of the time, for testing, sound design, experimenting, noodling, and even recording (eg my eurorack straight into the audio interface, add some reverb inside, and then into the Recorder component).

For some, it maybe looks and works a bit 90's, but its a fairly comprehensive modular synth environment, not just a host. It does quite a lot of spectral stuff, which is rare in modular synths.

Things I find quite handy in Bidule are the fact that you can run multiple different tempo sources, so each plugin could sync to a different clock, the fact that you can tie any automation parameter of anything to some other automation parameter of anything else, and, obviously, the fact that its about the most flexible and universal subhost. Its very obviously not a linear DAW, so MIDI and audio editing arent its forte, but if I felt like I wanted to continue within the standalone, for audio editing I have Edison as a plugin, and for more linear sequencing, I have MuLab as a plugin. Alternately, I can open a project started from the standalone inside the plugin version. It feels as stable to me as a plugin as it does as a standalone host, ie very.

Its a wee bit more expensive than someone might want to pay if they're only wanting it as a wrapper/subhost, though. And Im not sure if you can demo the plugin version, think its just the standalone that works without an actual license.

[xbitz]

don't have too much experience with it(because PatchWork is good for me) but Unify also has visual chainer

Unify (Standard Edition) by PlugInGuru is a Virtual Instrument Audio Plugin and an Audio Plugin Host and a Standalone Application for macOS and Windows. It functions as a VST Plugin, an Audio Units Plugin, a VST 3 Plugin and a Standalone Application. It can host VST Plugins, Audio Units Plugins and VST 3 Plugins.

https://www.kvraudio.com/product/unify- ... pluginguru

[chrisby]

Anyway, thanks for the reply, and as far as Bidule, does it work well for you? Any short comings?

Yeah, I find it works well. I use it more standalone, and its my default host a lot of the time, for testing, sound design, experimenting, noodling, and even recording (eg my eurorack straight into the audio interface, add some reverb inside, and then into the Recorder component).

For some, it maybe looks and works a bit 90's, but its a fairly comprehensive modular synth environment, not just a host. It does quite a lot of spectral stuff, which is rare in modular synths.

Things I find quite handy in Bidule are the fact that you can run multiple different tempo sources, so each plugin could sync to a different clock, the fact that you can tie any automation parameter of anything to some other automation parameter of anything else, and, obviously, the fact that its about the most flexible and universal subhost. Its very obviously not a linear DAW, so MIDI and audio editing arent its forte, but if I felt like I wanted to continue within the standalone, for audio editing I have Edison as a plugin, and for more linear sequencing, I have MuLab as a plugin. Alternately, I can open a project started from the standalone inside the plugin version. It feels as stable to me as a plugin as it does as a standalone host, ie very.

Its a wee bit more expensive than someone might want to pay if they're only wanting it as a wrapper/subhost, though. And Im not sure if you can demo the plugin version, think its just the standalone that works without an actual license.

Thanks a ton for taking the time to reply. Bidule has been at the top of my list but to be honest somewhere I'd read a comment saying it wasn't all that stable and still not yet a "version 1" release. It was literally just one comment but it gave me pause as stability is pretty high on my list. Over the years I've had a few of the other Plogue plug-ins though and always had nothing but good experiences. Anyway, it sounds like you use it a lot, and similarly to how I plan on using it, so your comment on stability goes a long way to alleviating that as a concern. I don't mind spending the money (or the dated look) though I might wait and see if it drops at all during black friday (if I can wait!). Though I'll also have a look at Unify, which I'd not heard of, and was suggested by xbitz below.

But again, thanks for the info, I'm sure others will find it helpful in the future as well. Googling around, I was pretty surprised how little actual feedback there is on modular hosts. I've always found them really useful going way back...

[chrisby]

don't have too much experience with it(because PatchWork is good for me) but Unify also has visual chainer

Unify (Standard Edition) by PlugInGuru is a Virtual Instrument Audio Plugin and an Audio Plugin Host and a Standalone Application for macOS and Windows. It functions as a VST Plugin, an Audio Units Plugin, a VST 3 Plugin and a Standalone Application. It can host VST Plugins, Audio Units Plugins and VST 3 Plugins.

https://www.kvraudio.com/product/unify- ... pluginguru

Thanks a lot for this. As I mentioned above I'm sort of leaning towards Bidule but had not heard of Unify but will definitely check it out before making a purchase. From a very quick look it also seems to meet all the basic requirements I'm hoping for.

It sounds like you've maybe at least run the demo? If so any thoughts?

[xbitz]

^^^ was cumbrous to setup this is why I use Cubase/Bitwig, so multiple DAWS and do the modular/sound design things in Bitwig

XY devices have 4 pockets and can morph between them programmatically

CLAP format support poly modulation


which is unbeatable in this area (too)

so in Cubase I'm using BCPatchWork (composing and initial layering) and then moving the project to Bitwig (sound design)


then back the stems to Cubase, it was my conclusion after dunno how many years

[chrisby]

^^^^^^ That's impressive! Makes me feel a bit like an underachiever.... I'm mostly just wanting it to create different signal chains to mangle guitar sounds (as well as others, but mostly guitar). For some reason I've started listening to shoegaze again and just want an environment to experiment in. Though even back in the old days I liked using xlutop chainer and ART Teknika console. They were just good ways to come up with unique sounds. I really like the morphing you did. Very cool and seemless...

[xbitz]

^^^ then I would check guitar rig 6 and its competitors too

it has zillion effect devices and its own modulation framework, also can do parallel, freq, mid/side etc. splitting has macros etc.

[chrisby]

Yeah, thanks... I do have (from buying years ago and recently updating) Guitar Rig / Amplitube, and recently Blue Cat's Axiom. As well as a healthy collection of some less traditional effects. So that's really the main reason I want the modular environment. Just to have more flexibility in processing. Axiom actually hosts other vst's but still the routing is basically linear.

Thanks again for all your input. Especially the Unity tip. Long work day so still haven't had a chance to really look it over but it seems to be along the lines of what I'm after. I'm kinda thinking it or Bidule at this point...

[xbitz]

btw. you can check the actual state of the VST3 supporting of Reason too

Having fixed the issues in Reason 12, we are now working full throttle on VST3 support. Our VST3 hosting can already load and play instruments and effects, but many refinements are left, and we are expecting it to reach your hands end of year. Reason M1 native support development will start off with threading optimisations we believe will affect performance and battery life positively for all platforms including non M1-macs.

https://reasonstudios.com/blog/ceo-road ... june-2022/

ps, seem it's a hot topic, https://forum.reasontalk.com/viewtopic. ... 82#p620382 anyway if ReasonRack will able to support it then it also can be an option