Replace Calf Plugins

Getting Stuff Done How do I .... ?
#1

Hi everyone
Since we want to use our old Ardour 8 projects—in which we worked with Calf—in Ardour 9, I had the idea today that I could have Claude write a script to convert the presets I export from Calf so that they can be imported into the x42 plugin as accurately as possible. I think he did a great job, and maybe this idea will help someone else who has the same problem make the switch without too much hassle and without having to start the mix from scratch.
Since we use 12 bands, there were two presets where we used x42 in series.
Screenshot (old calf new x42):

calf-to-x42
calf-to-x421024×448 322 KB

Script:

1 Like
#2

Just so you know, Calf’s developer just updated the plugins to use React web UI instead of GTK, so they’ll be compatible with Ardour 9. It looks like he’s updated the DSP too.

#3

Except they now use GTK3 and gtk-webkit :exploding_head:
They make the same mistake again, and it’s even worse now.

The plugins will not work with Ardour binaries. They acknowledge this in the ReadMe. Furthermore, the plugin changing the env (LD_LIBRARY_PATH) will also break loading ctrl surfaces in Ardour after loading a calf UI.

Also so far only VST3 plugins. So there is no session compatibility either.

as you say: it only looks like it.

#4

Well that sucks. I was really hoping to use them, especially the tuner. :frowning_face:

#5

And the new Tone3000 plugin README.txt :

Runtime dependencies
--------------------
The plugin UI renders in the system WebKitGTK webview. If it is not
installed, the plugin window will show a BLACK SCREEN.

Required: WebKitGTK 4.1 (or 4.0), GTK3, ALSA, FreeType.

:nauseated_face:

Ardour : No GUI
Reaper 6.83 - Crashes
Bitwig 5.13 CLAP works…

#6

…and how does this work on Windows and macOS?

…also GTK isn’t even ABI stable, so it may not work across distros.

(last I checked REAPER’s libSwell uses gtk3, which may or may not cause conflicts)

#7

Anyway we’re getting somewhat OT here…

I have not used calf plugins since perhaps two decades, so I have no direct use for the script, besides I already use the x42-eq.

I’m glad that @MimoMusic not just solved his problem but also shared a solution for others.

I expect a perhaps better match would have been Linux Studio Plugins Project EQ since that offers more bands, and also similar slope configurations matching the calf’s biquad implementation.

…but I’d also have used x42-eq, so there’s that. :slight_smile: