Anything in development for a box that lets you play VSTi's live without a computer?

Anything about hardware musical instruments.
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Thanks for all the responses. In the interest of simplicity, and since all I need are a few useful keyboard sounds to play from a controller, I'll probably revert to the game plan in my mind before the VSTi player became the bee in my bonnet, and that is to find the right old module in classifieds. Odd that it's such a not-in-demand product that such things are either 20 years old or made in Europe and never seem to make it to the states, or they're cheesy GM widgets. Ironically, if I hadn't sold off a few modules decades ago (Roland piano module, Korg NS5R, Proteus) I might've been able to just use one or two of them. Except the reason they were sold was that I didn't want to hear them any more :)

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Roland Integra-7 or Fantom XR. If I’m understanding correctly what you’re looking for, it’s more likely in a keyboard, such as a Yamaha MODX or CK, or a Nord Stage.

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cryophonik wrote: Fri Dec 05, 2025 5:32 am Anybody still using a Muse Research Receptor? Any chance that would work for the OP, or is it too outdated now?
Didn't KVR originally start with some connection to the Muse Receptor? Either as a support forum or because Ben or other staff had involvement?

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Muse owns KVR now.

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Winstontaneous wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 6:01 am Didn't KVR originally start with some connection to the Muse Receptor? Either as a support forum or because Ben or other staff had involvement?
No, no connection when KVR started in 2000. Muse did buy up KVR, and one source says that looks to have been 2003, though I actually thought it was a bit later than that, and that source has the wrong starting date for KVR.
An idiot on Set Theory:
"In some cases there is an object called red that contains everything that is red. In much the same way a pot is a plate."

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I think fx boxes usually come with the specific software but don't load any vst, for that you'd usually need a computer. If you dont want a computer then use a multi effect processor like the yamaha spx900 but that won't load any vst

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j wazza wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 11:28 am I think fx boxes usually come with the specific software but don't load any vst, for that you'd usually need a computer. If you dont want a computer then use a multi effect processor like the yamaha spx900 but that won't load any vst
Effects boxes arent relevant. The OP specifically said VSTi, the i stands for instrument...
An idiot on Set Theory:
"In some cases there is an object called red that contains everything that is red. In much the same way a pot is a plate."

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whyterabbyt wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 12:18 pm
j wazza wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 11:28 am I think fx boxes usually come with the specific software but don't load any vst, for that you'd usually need a computer. If you dont want a computer then use a multi effect processor like the yamaha spx900 but that won't load any vst
Effects boxes arent relevant. The OP specifically said VSTi, the i stands for instrument...
The OP was also talking about fx boxes for guitars and keyboard though, so maybe he meant vst fx but he did say vsti so idk. I thought he meant fx boxes for his keyboard. If it's an instrument he wants, basically a keyboard that can run vst instruments, that would be cool but each vst has its own gui, so you'd need a screen, so you'd basically need a computer and a midi keyboard, or just a keyboard with lots of instruments pre-loaded. They could also sample some of their instruments and play the sounds from the keyboard. a keyboard that could play presets from vst synths could be possible and might not need a screen but i dont think that exists

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j wazza wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 2:08 pm
whyterabbyt wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 12:18 pm
j wazza wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 11:28 am I think fx boxes usually come with the specific software but don't load any vst, for that you'd usually need a computer. If you dont want a computer then use a multi effect processor like the yamaha spx900 but that won't load any vst
Effects boxes arent relevant. The OP specifically said VSTi, the i stands for instrument...
The OP was also talking about fx boxes for guitars and keyboard though, so maybe he meant vst fx but he did say vsti so idk. I thought he meant fx boxes for his keyboard. If it's an instrument he wants, basically a keyboard that can run vst instruments, that would be cool but each vst has its own gui, so you'd need a screen, so you'd basically need a computer and a midi keyboard, or just a keyboard with lots of instruments pre-loaded. They could also sample some of their instruments and play the sounds from the keyboard. a keyboard that could play presets from vst synths could be possible and might not need a screen but i dont think that exists
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/mu ... h-receptor

It's this sort of device that is being discussed. The Brave précis thing tells me that an updated model was released in 2010, which I guess might be available on Reverb locally
https://reverb.com/uk/item/70602283-mus ... ayer-as-is
Last edited by Bunny_boy on Wed Jan 07, 2026 11:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

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j wazza wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 2:08 pm The OP was also talking about fx boxes for guitars and keyboard though
Yes, he was talking about there being various options of those kind of thing about, but not the kind of device he was actually after.
An idiot on Set Theory:
"In some cases there is an object called red that contains everything that is red. In much the same way a pot is a plate."

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zag4139@comcast.net wrote: Sun Dec 07, 2025 3:46 am Octave HS 1 Mini PC Audio interface Windows system. Touch screen. Bought one and slowly evaluating. Pleased so far.
This looks awesome!!!
Vendor‑Dependent Copy Protection: Customers lose. Pirates win.:mad:
(Also: I'm Accused of lying about Linux—it boots, runs my pro audio workflow, stays stable, updates--though yearly dismissed as “niche”. Yet I'm the deluded one.)
:roll:

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The smallest and most transportable option is always a laptop, the muse receptor sounded more like a nightmare which ages way too fast and was also more expensive and bigger than a computer without any advantage.

Strangely nobody mentioned Abletons Push 3. It comes in a variant that can run a Live session. Though I would still prefer the combination of a Push with Live on a Laptop.
Whatever machine could do that, do not expect that its more stable than a well setup laptop. And when it fails, it would fail without any option to fix it in time for the gig…

If you are happy with AUv3, get an iPad…

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audiojunkie wrote: Wed Dec 17, 2025 1:28 am
zag4139@comcast.net wrote: Sun Dec 07, 2025 3:46 am Octave HS 1 Mini PC Audio interface Windows system. Touch screen. Bought one and slowly evaluating. Pleased so far.
This looks awesome!!!
It sure does — 10”, 1.2 kg, lot more convenient than ipad + interface + dock.

Seen on another forum: drivers by ’a reputable German company with perfect track record on audio driver support’. 😮

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Maybe in twenty years or so, once these companies have finished milking current tech and finally move on, then we'll get things like the Roland fantom and Akai mpc that are able to load real vst/clap plugins.
- PolyHostInterface - VST2/3 Plugin chainer

- For curious minds... -

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A laptop with touchscreen with special kiosk mode that loads setup presets using VSThost and lists all the setups you premade. Can be fx chains or vst instruments or a combo.
Can be controlled via midi controller where you have a premade profile that works for your chain and what parameters you want to control specifically. Or via touchscreen if you dont like computer keyboards.

Autostarting of everything, just push On Button and it shows presets that you can load.

If you need a really cheap and small formfactor, without need for keyboard or real screen, raspberry pi. Can use a small LCD 3" screen (optionally with touch).
80 usd for everything + an audiointerface. Order custom stompbox-sized case from those 3d printing services to let the audiointerface be inside the box.
This will work for plugins that has linux support, or use wine. But that may be a rabbithole....

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