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DAW200x project introduction

  • Published: 2023-03-14 13:03
  • Updated: 2023-03-27 18:55

Being a DAW-based producer for over 30 years, I’ve seen a lot of software, plugins and their standards come and go. C64 trackers challenged its users with understanding SID synthesis and their interfaces. The Amiga introduced sampling and early software synthesis.

Which quickly expanded on the PC. From DOS synth like AXS and Orangator, standalone Windows software like Seer Systems Reality and NI Generator. Eventually discarding the DirectX plugin standard for this new VST thing. Whilst software like AudioMulch and Buzztracker established their own native interfaces. I eventually went with the latter in ‘99.

The VST temple of Doom

When Buzz itself, as well as the DX/VST standards were still progressing. During that time, I pestered many Buzz machine devs into updating their VST loaders. To meet the latest VST features, and making their adapter more stable. Resulting in countless iterations, and a total of seven(?) different public DX/VST plugin loaders. Disregarding the in-between beta versions 😄

At the same time, this problem isn’t mutually exclusive to Buzz. The 32/64bit switch affected all sequencers alike. With most major ones dropping support for 32bit plugins thereafter. Leaving us users with

Broken backwards compatibility

Sometimes, a developer shuts down its business. Sometimes old copy protection schemes can’t reach old activation servers anymore. Sometimes, a dev decides to nag its old 32bit users with ‘use the 64bit version’ popup. Sometimes an installer simply removed the 32bit plugin. Sometimes, the latest installed version of a 32bit plugin simply isn’t compatible with a prior version anymore.

Long story short: This ain’t no no-brainer. For what it’s worth, I’m documenting my strategies and processes, progress and resources. To hopefully spare some of you a bit of time and work.