vst plug-in support?

scott_fx · 03-30-2006, 01:26 AM

hey david,

does centrafuse support vst plug-ins?

please post to this thread if you are interested in vst support

veetid · 03-30-2006, 10:07 AM

not currently...

david

scott_fx · 03-31-2006, 12:40 AM

hmm... does that mean it will in the future?

I'm just wondering because it will determine how i set up my new system (ordering parts now). if vst will be supported then i think i can get rid of my alpine pxa-h700 and still have equally great signal quality.

scott_fx · 04-01-2006, 03:03 PM

i totally stole this post from quack in another thread from different front end, but:

There's a thread in the Car Audio section discussing ways to implement a software-based, 30-band, high-quality (competition) EQ. One of the things I've discovered is that there is already a lot of software development on EQ's and effects in general...especially in the audio recording/mixing community. Most of the development is in the form of plug-ins for music editing software, the most popular being VST (Virtual Studio Technology).

Since the development is already there to offer a high-quality, software-based 30-band EQ as a VST plug-in, my question is two-pronged:

1. In the short-term, is there a way to output the audio signal from centrafuse to a sound editing software? This would contain a VST plug-in equalizer.
2. Longer term, can centrafuse become a host for VST plug-ins? This would eliminate the need for the extra piece of software and allow for all types of audio editing. Don't know what the development or CPU costs would be for this...

any ideas on how to do at least no 1?

veetid · 04-01-2006, 03:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

i totally stole this post from quack in another thread from different front end, but:

There's a thread in the Car Audio section discussing ways to implement a software-based, 30-band, high-quality (competition) EQ. One of the things I've discovered is that there is already a lot of software development on EQ's and effects in general...especially in the audio recording/mixing community. Most of the development is in the form of plug-ins for music editing software, the most popular being VST (Virtual Studio Technology).

Since the development is already there to offer a high-quality, software-based 30-band EQ as a VST plug-in, my question is two-pronged:

1. In the short-term, is there a way to output the audio signal from centrafuse to a sound editing software? This would contain a VST plug-in equalizer.
2. Longer term, can centrafuse become a host for VST plug-ins? This would eliminate the need for the extra piece of software and allow for all types of audio editing. Don't know what the development or CPU costs would be for this...

any ideas on how to do at least no 1?

I've done research and see the ability to add support for winamp sound plugins, but I have not looked into VST yet... I will check it out...

david

scott_fx · 04-01-2006, 03:28 PM

thank you, it is much appreciated.

FrmDrkSide · 04-03-2006, 12:22 AM

I would like to second both the request for vst plugin support and the thank you for checking into it.

DbXL · 04-03-2006, 11:01 AM

i'm totally with you on the vst plugins. the're are numerous high-quality plugins available.
I use a soundscape mixtreme 192 (http://www.sydec.be), a soundcard which can process native use of vst plugins. great!! using a 'tube warmifier' plugin right now, absolutely amazing!! downpart are the drivers (at the moment), which doesn't support hibernating...
But sound uality is superb and you can always upgrade the external D/A converter

scott_fx · 04-08-2006, 09:11 PM

i've been researching more ways of getting high end audio out of cf. I found a link to this free software:
http://www.propellerheads.se/technol...on=displaymain

i think the vst plugin support would be optimal, but this is just another option i guess.

Quack · 04-15-2006, 08:57 PM

I would love to see VST plug-in support as well. For me, it would mean integrating high-end software-based EQ and time-alignment - not just something to "bump the bass and treble", but rather a way to optimize a system's frequency response and time-alignment based on RTA and time measurements. This kind of optimization is ideal for high-end car audio and if I could move it into the software domain it would be extremely helpful. Thanks!

RPM_VR4 · 04-16-2006, 12:09 AM

Isn't that type of stuff better performed with a real car electronics EQ/Pre-Amp (like a high-end headunit or a hide away box)? I've never liked the idea of connecting a PC sound card directly to a car amplifier. Can a good PC sound card really get you 4V (or higher) pre-outs like a headunit/pre-amp can do? Is the volume range on the PC as good or better than out-putting line-level to a head unit and using it for volume?

I hate software controlled volume anyway... you never know when a "bug" in some program is going to blast your head off. I like my system to be able to go that loud at max, but only when I want it to, not when real-player or quick-time decide to randomly set the windows mixer to max.

Also, most OEM setups do not have volume controls on the touch-screen. Those are always steering wheel-controls and/or buttons/knobs near the screen. It is easy to add a nice car IR remote (pioneer/alpine/sony/etc) to your PC system for up/down/left/right/enter navigation as well as using it for head-unit only volume control. I have my OEM steering wheel controls wired to send the same IR as my remote for volume control on the HU and next/prev track on the PC as well.

Plus, with hardware only volume/mixer/eq control, that leaves more space on your front-end for navigational buttons instead of having those damn vol+/-/mute buttons that David still hasn't made optional (hint, hint

).

Quack · 04-16-2006, 04:53 AM

A lot of good information in this active thread about software-based processors. I've tried to answer your questions below.

Quote: Originally Posted by RPM_VR4

Isn't that type of stuff better performed with a real car electronics EQ/Pre-Amp (like a high-end headunit or a hide away box)?

Traditionally, yes but the landscape is changing. Processor/RAM have always been limiting factors. These become cheaper by the day and they're at a point where a typical, reasonably-priced setup is going to have adequate power to handle it. So, software options are becoming more practical and their flexibility is just about limitless.

Quote:

I've never liked the idea of connecting a PC sound card directly to a car amplifier. Can a good PC sound card really get you 4V (or higher) pre-outs like a headunit/pre-amp can do? Is the volume range on the PC as good or better than out-putting line-level to a head unit and using it for volume?

Soundcards are getting there. Most are still 2V, but 4V are starting to appear. Excellent sound quality is pretty easy to find nowadays.

Quote:

I hate software controlled volume anyway... you never know when a "bug" in some program is going to blast your head off. I like my system to be able to go that loud at max, but only when I want it to, not when real-player or quick-time decide to randomly set the windows mixer to max.

Also, most OEM setups do not have volume controls on the touch-screen. Those are always steering wheel-controls and/or buttons/knobs near the screen. It is easy to add a nice car IR remote (pioneer/alpine/sony/etc) to your PC system for up/down/left/right/enter navigation as well as using it for head-unit only volume control. I have my OEM steering wheel controls wired to send the same IR as my remote for volume control on the HU and next/prev track on the PC as well.

This is personal preference, but I would definitely rather have all the system controls on the TS interface than having an extra DIN-sized unit in the dash or fiddling with a remote.

Quote:

Plus, with hardware only volume/mixer/eq control, that leaves more space on your front-end for navigational buttons instead of having those damn vol+/-/mute buttons that David still hasn't made optional (hint, hint

).

I would imagine that the front end would have a separate screen for the EQ/time-alignment functions since the functions are fairly complex and may require a lot of screen real-estate. Plus, they're typically set-and-forget...you wouldn't want to accidently change the time alignment of your front-left tweeter when you miss hitting the volume button by a hair.

scott_fx · 04-18-2006, 12:31 AM

sorry, i havent checked this thread in a while but as far as your concern for pc sound cards havig 4v or higher, the answer is yes. I actually just got mine in the mail today. It's a echo gina3g card and it has 5.75vrms outputs on the balanced output (the break out box has 6 outs) you can easily convert balanced outputs to unbalanced by simply grounding the negative signal wire. Two of my amps have balanced inputs for the front speakers and my sub amp is unbalanced. The install should happen in the next few weeks, i have the alpine pxa-h700/7001 right now and i'm hoping with the implementation of vst support in one of the front ends that i'll have an even better signal.

for the volume, i'm going to make a knob from a usb phidget encoder that i have laying around the house....stilll not software based but you could put a quick kill switch on your remote turn on leads if there ever is a problem.

for those of you reading this, please post a reply if you're interested. vst plugins are pretty cool and will give you greater system flexibility at little cost to you (no new hardware) posting here will only help encorage david

and thanks david for your great front end and support!

scott_fx · 04-18-2006, 12:33 AM

oh...and if any of you were wondering where i got the voltage specs from the card, well i've been talkin alot with the echo tech guys....they are great.... go buy there stuff! :-)

tj!2k4 · 04-18-2006, 12:59 AM

"sounds" good to me