So before I start, I want to express, I know listening to the community can be a double edged sword, so I’d like to start with – I have thought a lot about this idea, so BA please hear me out :)
I am entering my 28th year of IT (Very doogie howser like start) - and I have worked for many companies you would know by name in an Enterprise capacity. I’ve always managed to stay away from coding as it’s not really my strong suit, although I can script in bash, yaml the heck out of some ansible, etc. I also understand the basic fundamentals of libraries, functions, routines, etc etc.
One thing I think everyone will agree on is that JUCE is a BEAST. So, if you’re a music creator - You may come up with a great idea for a VST or some type of effect that’s dialed in a certain way, but may not know how to implement it 100%) –
You might say, hey I hear there is this platform for JUCE called “HISE”[1] – which don’t get me wrong, is incredible. However, as easy as it may seem, there are certain parts to it that really require you to have serious development skills. I have come across a few roadblocks and hence some projects died on the vine. Again, for the average user, it’s way better than trying to figure out JUCE on it’s own. I also have identified a few things that if added could make the experience better.
That all said, There’s another product out there called “Plug’n Script”[2] by BlueCat audio. Again, incredible, generate your own VST with knobs and parameters and all that jazz, Super cool. The interface is very unforgiving and there was an individual who created a skin that basically allowed for an easier way to operate, but it’s a bit kludgey and not really straight forward. I commend the guy who wrote and his vision and it’s really cool - but I also found it frustrating after a while.
I know all WYSIWYG editors have limitations. But, and I’m pitching this as an idea to BA. For those of us who want to dabble, would the BA crew ever consider this as a plugin project?
IF the answer is YES. Then I’d like to provide some color or texture about what I think would make the product great:
I’ll break it down with a 10k ft view, certain features, maybe even a clever idea for names? :) (And please anyone who thinks this is a cool idea, chime in!)
[10k-ft-view]
[1] - Testing - I think having a plugin, that would allow for users to test in real time, (ie. a VST bridge to the development VST) would be really ideal. That way you can test each change you make and additionally run some instruments through it - Happy accidents can occur, or overall changes you may need to make.
[2] - Fleet Features - Perhaps, BA allows for certain elements of their fleet to be incorporated into the plugin, so if you wanted to mix and match Comeback Kid’s Swirl and Sauce with the modeling engine from TAIP, with a Hi-Shape and Lo-Shape option and only allow the parameters to be dialed in a certain way, that would be awesome (if that’s even possible)
** keeping full in mind, this isn’t to expose the entire fleet of BA products under the hood in this plugin, but certain functions from each, to make a mixed bag of “things you could make” would be cool.
[3] - Package Management - Windows/OSX package management – having the ability to package a signed version of your finished plugin - Even if it you plan on putting it out for free – Looks/feels legit.
[4] - Tip the creators – (Aside for the overall cost of the Plugin Factory) If you develop using this VST platform or program, that generates a VST audio plugin, for use on Win/OSX, you have to obtain a product key from BA at the cost of $5. (Coffee prices) – So you can sell your plugin for $200 if you want, but the only way to avoid the “Nag Screen” is if you get a license from BA.. The idea behind the keys would be a different cipher that’s currently used but equally as hardened so it doesn’t expose any security issues.
[5] - Custom nag messages for unregistered VSTs – Options for Image nag screen, straight “locked” until key is entered, the sonic noise that Roland has in theirs if you’re in demo mode or this VST quits in X mins. Or any combination you wish to have.
[6] - U-eyecandy – The ability to add a movie clip (with certain constraints) to the UI, or an image. For example, Imagine beatslammer, but with an image as the UI, but when audio passed through it, it rumbles the picture. Or When you dial in the feedback knob of CBK - it shows a sonic wave movie clip depending on how you dial it in, if it’s dialed to “11” it’s a very busy and fast moving version of the clip, and if it’s dialed into 1, it’s slow moving - but having choice to define the movie behavior and even distort the video would be beyond cool.
[Various Features from the following]:
- Comeback Kid
- TAIP
- BeatSlammer or IHNY2/1
- SuperVHS
- Parallel Aggressor
- Transit / Transit2 (this is like a playground already, Shout out to Andrew!)
- Various JUCE related functions like ADSR, Ringmod, Panning engine, anything that might
make sense for a “Plugin Factory”
Considering this is mostly a pitch idea FX, i’d say leave BA-1 out of it, etc.
[Name Ideas]
Brainstorm
BA Engine
BA Factory
Genesis (for you Trekkies) (also hopefully Phil Collins doesn’t object)
The Construct (The Matrix)
AudioSpawn
Dreamscape (80s movie reference)
That’s all i’ve got for now, hopefully this thread gets some traction and I would love to hear what the BA guys think of this as well as everyone else on this forum.
-g
[1] - https://hise.dev/
[2] - Blue Cat's Plug'n Script - Scriptable audio / MIDI effects processor and virtual instrument