Plugins like Compressor and EQ both include meters in pane backgrounds.
I noticed that even if plugins are turned “off” in Ardour, these meters still continue to function.
Example:
In EQ plugin you can turn on the Spectrum Analyzer that shows in the frequency pane.
If you turn its plugin button in Ardour Mixer channels “off”, this analyzer still seems to recognize audio being sent through it.
Compressor GUI has same behavior.
I would think that if plugin is “off” that this would not occur.
Not sure if this would be considered a bug to be fixed, or if this is on purpose?
It is entirely intentional that meter and analysis keeps running. Not just to keep DSP load constant, but to allow automating bypass/enable using the meters to make that determination.
@42
Okay thank you Robin, just wanted to verify if this was expected behavior.
You and your constant DSP load
Wow though, that second thing you mentioned, never thought about/did not know that was even possible.
It is okay if you do not have the time to answer maybe others users can answer, but now you got me thinking of how/what this can be used for
Based on your view of constant DSP load, probably means that you are not referring to enabling/disabling for the purpose of reducing DSP use.
Compressor kind of is already doing this, turns on/reacts when audio goes past threshold. Maybe something with x42 EQ?
How would the meter values be able to interact with the bypass/enable button?
I had mentioned something like this in the past, asking if Ardour had an internal way to of using something like volume/amplitude of one source, to alter a parameters value in realtime.
User mentioned Lua script / there are external plugins that can achieve this but did not know this was possible in Ardour. I have seen that some other DAWs provide tools for this.
Can this be done realtime, meaning the amount of say volume received, raises/lowers a parameters value, or is this strictly on/off kind of parameters only?
Again you do not have to answer questions above, other users might be able to.
I do have some information to share about x42 plugins that I will mention below if interested. I do have a quick question for you though that I will mention below.
x42 PLUGIN INFO
While on the topic of x42 plugins, in the past when testing plugins I had jotted down some observations that at the time I thought could be helpful, but nowadays probably not.
I will try to briefly share them below but can just ignore them if not interested.
OBSERVATIONS
(I know that once plugins are released, certain things cannot be changed)
1.) Zoom Settings
RMB on background shows GUI zoom screen.
Does not appear to be a way for user to cancel this action, other then clicking on a zoom button.
-Maybe ESCAPE key
-Maybe RMB click again to toggle closed?
-Maybe both
2.) Plugin Naming
Not sure who is responsible for naming but noticed
Some plugins use
x42-
some plugins like convolvers use
x42 -
Not sure if this was intentional to keep certain items separate.
“Stereo Balance Control” plugin does not have any mentioning of x42 (maybe was created before x42 name)
OBSERVATIONS - EQ
1.) Vertically align knobs per frequency band, especially Q parameter knobs (off to the right)
2.) Q graphics are close to the dots around knob, maybe could move the Q shapes down slightly.
In reading description for EQ I think the following items are on purpose but will mention just in case
3.) Does not allow user to change the slope for HPF/LPF at ends
Some call it X1 X2 X3 X4 and some show dB, 6dB 12dB etc.
4.) Cannot create a high resonance peak before steep HPF/LPF slope, common shape when people do things like automate sweeps.
As mentioned no need to respond, just had these old notes I made from the past and figured I would mention while on subject of x42 plugins.
Thank you again for response above and for creating plugins.
@x42
QUESTION
I did have one quick question for you though if you have a minute.
In the past you mentioned plugin developer was working on new version of Autotune plugin with added pitch/formant parameters.
Probably not but, have you by any chance heard anything about progress/release for that plugin?
Seemed like it was almost ready to be released a while back but maybe he decided to work on it some more?
I have recently had the chance to test part of the plugin (the GUI and basic DSP). Fons Adriaensen is very protective of his work, He did not yet release the full thing.
He presented a paper and demoed it over a year ago at the Linux Audio Conference. I and recently also @brummer helped him with turning it into LV2 plugin. Known Fons, he will only publish it when it’s perfect, so don’t hold your breath just yet.
