How about a stand-alone version?

[BBFG#]

For some reason, "savi-host" is suddenly crashing and showing errors in loading my VSTs.
I've used it on eight synths successfully up until now.
I realize that it is an issue that is really Hermann Seib and/or Windows...
But since three out of those eight synths are U-he, it would be nice to have these in a stand-alone version. I currently load them up through Blue Cat Patchwork and it gives the bonus of being able to layer Diva and Bazille together, but it isn't the immediate thing I get from other stand-alones. Which is very nice when I'm programming sounds without wanting to open anything else to do it.

Of course I'm referring personally to Bazille; Diva; Zebra2/HZ,
but it would relate to Hive and Zebralette as well.

Is there some specific reason why U-he doesn't have these in their installers?

[chk071]

If you happen to have a version of Savihost other than the latest, you could try that. I remember that both Savihost and VSTHost had some issues with the latest versions on my machine...

[pdxindy]

Is there some specific reason why U-he doesn't have these in their installers?

Because they haven't coded a mini-host for them. It's not like you click a button and have a standalone version.

[BBFG#]

Is there some specific reason why U-he doesn't have these in their installers?

Because they haven't coded a mini-host for them. It's not like you click a button and have a standalone version.

I was aware of that from the start. I was asking more of why they have not done so yet?

If you happen to have a version of Savihost other than the latest, you could try that. I remember that both Savihost and VSTHost had some issues with the latest versions on my machine...

I have a couple of versions of Savihost. And since the problem seem to come up when I re-installed Win 7 pro instead of Win 8.1, that was the first thing I tried. Funny thing is it used to work on W7 fine. Now with two machines each running a different version, savihost is crashing on both.

[chk071]

Weird. Do you use the 32- or 64-bit version of Savihost?

[BBFG#]

Weird. Do you use the 32- or 64-bit version of Savihost?

64, but have even tried using both versions of the 32 bit when this started happening.
I agree, it's very weird that it just suddenly stopped working as it always has.

I'm just finding that when I look at the plugins I use it for,
the top of the list I want stand-alone for are the U-he synths.

[pdxindy]

Is there some specific reason why U-he doesn't have these in their installers?

Because they haven't coded a mini-host for them. It's not like you click a button and have a standalone version.

I was aware of that from the start. I was asking more of why they have not done so yet?

I doubt standalone option would be that high on a user poll of features to add. It comes up in the forum from time to time, but most everyone who asks has generally been satisfied enough with using something like Savihost.

Myself, since I use Push, and map parameters to the macros, I would always use Live (and now Bitwig) for sound design.

But of course, advocate for it as you wish

[Urs]

Is there some specific reason why U-he doesn't have these in their installers?

Because time doesn't permit. It's a two+ weeks project on each platform, for the minimum functionality, and maybe another month or so to add whatever nice functionality people would expect over solutions like Savihost and AU Hosting. People would want layering, "Multis", advanced preset browsing and so on.

We haven't picked that up yet because we're 3 developers and we're most of the time coding after things that are forced onto us, such as the official Diva version still not opening in Logic, after 9 months. The beta does, but not the official version. As depressing as it is, we simply can't afford to just take a month or so off of our daily business as long as there are matters of higher priority around.

[BBFG#]

Is there some specific reason why U-he doesn't have these in their installers?

Because time doesn't permit. It's a two+ weeks project on each platform, for the minimum functionality, and maybe another month or so to add whatever nice functionality people would expect over solutions like Savihost and AU Hosting. People would want layering, "Multis", advanced preset browsing and so on.

We haven't picked that up yet because we're 3 developers and we're most of the time coding after things that are forced onto us, such as the official Diva version still not opening in Logic, after 9 months. The beta does, but not the official version. As depressing as it is, we simply can't afford to just take a month or so off of our daily business as long as there are matters of higher priority around.

That's fair enough, and I knew the answer was something along those lines. I did want to put it out there though, since the changing landscape seems to be directing me to different solutions than what is currently available. For the most part, I'm using BC Patchwork to accomplish what savihost is giving me problems with now. It definitely has its pros and cons too. The biggest con being that it's a multi-step opening (as is just opening the DAW) instead of click on the live icon and play.
Out of the eight synths I use it with (the rest do have stand-alone versions), almost half are U-he. So it's logical on my part to want it most from you. Thank you for taking the time to answer here.

Now about Zebra 3...

BTW, Bazille and Diva layered in Patchwork is a monster of beauty to behold!

[UltimateOutsider]

Image-Line's free Minihost Modular is somewhere between Savihost and Patchwork in complexity, but on Windows you can easily launch a plugin in it by making a shortcut to Minihost and editing the shortcut properties to pass the path/filename of your plugin as a command line parameter. I tested with Minihost when adding the plugin "launch" feature of my Ultimate Plugin Tool, and it works pretty reliably- and I think I even tested it with Diva specifically.

Anyway, worth a shot if you're looking for an alternative to savihost.

[Howard]

For sound design on Mac I'd like to recommend Ju-X AU Hosting: http://ju-x.com/Freebies.html

[tremolounge]

For sound design on Mac I'd like to recommend Ju-X AU Hosting: http://ju-x.com/Freebies.html

Thank you, Howard, for this -- exactly what I've been looking for! Mini-hosts I've used in the past have become buggy and/or abandonware (Rax, Audio Plugin Player from the App Store, and even Apple's own AU Lab). I've set up a mini-host in Plogue Bidule, but it's a bit of a hassle to work with.

Ju-X is tiny, super-fast, and it WORKS! Very cool!

[BBFG#]

I'm on PC.
The fact of multiply platforms is yet another reason there should be stand-alone versions included though. Instead of dependent on a hit and miss selection of third party developers.

Have you thought about hiring interns for this?
(they often only get paid in school credit).
Plus you can send them out to get coffee and pastries every morning.

[pdxindy]

I'm on PC.
The fact of multiply platforms is yet another reason there should be stand-alone versions included though. Instead of dependent on a hit and miss selection of third party developers.

I can launch my DAW with a project that has just Bazille in it and it takes all of 5-6 seconds to be ready to play.

And Urs is wrong about how much time it would take. It would be months of work sorting out all the details and bugs.

Absynth as standalone will recognize my Elektron Analog Keys as a midi controller. Massive will not. Neither will recognize my Push. So I cannot play Massive at all.

If Urs started developing standalone versions, it would be a nightmare of dealing with lots of audio interfaces, controllers, OS versions etc. And it would not just be a one time thing... it would require ongoing development time.

Standalone versions offer no benefit and would be a huge waste of developer time.

[Howard]

Standalone versions offer no benefit and would be a huge waste of developer time.

+1