linuxDSP introduction

[linuxdsp]

Having already posted a few times on the forum, I thought perhaps a more formal introduction was in order, so here goes:

I'm Mike, I'm the lead developer and creator of the linuxDSP plugins. Before setting up linuxDSP I was a software and hardware developer for SSL - one of the worlds leading pro-audio manufacturers, although I must point out that linuxDSP is in no way connected with them and there is no SSL intellectual property used in the plugins.  However one might say that being fortunate enough to work for such a company provided valuable experience.

Since SSL unfortunately found itself unable to continue employing as many engineers as it once had, I now find myself able to work full time on the linuxDSP project, but for this to continue, the income generated from the site is critical.  linuxDSP is mainly funded by donations.  If you use and value the software, please consider making a donation so that the software can continue to be developed and supported.  I can normally be contacted via the linuxDSP website - http://www.linuxdsp.co.uk - or on this and several other forums.  If you have any ideas or suggestions regarding the plugins, please let me know.

[plutek]

hi mike!

i am thoroughly enjoying your plugins -- thanks very much!

the only suggestion i would make, at this point, is that we should have better control of adjustments, and some indication, in the gui, of what the settings are.

i've just discovered that hitting CTRL sets a knob to be adjusted with the up/down arrow keys, and the left/right arrow keys move between controls. that's very cool. is each increment with the arrow keys the smallest adjustment that can be made? if so, then that is totally covered, although a display of the actual value would still be nice, and possibility even the ability to enter values numerically.

when using the mouse, it can be difficult to set values close to the center detent, because the control tends to jump to the detent. the CTRL trick, above, does get around this, though.

looking at a saved preset, the XML values are not usually in units which correspond to a human-view of the respective controls in the plugin, so editing presets by hand isn't really feasible.

anyway, the stuff *sounds* great.... cheers!

.pltk.

[linuxdsp]

Hi,

Glad you like the plugins.  There are several ways you can adjust the controls, as you have found, you can use the arrow keys to navigate between controls and then adjust them - you're right, that each increment with the arrow keys is the smallest that can be made.  You should also be able to use the scroll wheel on the mouse, place the mouse pointer over the control and use the scroll wheel to operate the control.  Each step of the scroll wheel corresponds to one step of the control.  You should also find that the detent does not operate when using the mouse wheel so you can get finer adjustment.  I may add a feature to make the actual value visible in future versions, I can see how it would be useful - some people like to see the actual control value, others prefer to just turn the control until it sounds right (as you would with analogue equipment).  I understand what you mean about the preset files, that may change in future - though I generally wouldn't recommend editing the preset file directly as a means of setting the controls. Check the website regularly for updates and improvements...

http://www.linuxdsp.co.uk

[rauldipeas]

Hi, my name is Raul Dipeas, sorry for my bad English ...

I have all the free plugins available on your site, I really like them, especially compressor, distortion and reverb, I'm guitarist and I have had good results with your plugins, I wonder how I can contribute to the creation of a amp simulator, or a multi-effect guitar, do not know much about programming, the more I have several suggestions that can show a practical way for the development of an effects processor for guitar, for example, I used a VST plugin called TSS is a plugin that simulates an overdrive pedal (Ibanez TS9), I use it in combination with DT1 and with a surprisingly wonderful result, I believe that with few details you can create a powerful multi-effect guitar for a native Linux format, so that in a short time is possible ( is already almost) leave the VST plugins.

thank you for now, I await your position...

rauldipeas@hotmail.com

rauldipeas.spaces.live.com

my band, not mixed, only guides... http://www.4shared.com/file/155532689/d1aaf866/MP3_Fria_Sacerdotal.html

[damnit321]

just to say as soon as Ive got some finances available I will definitely donate you hard working devs a little crumb.

[PeteC]

Hi Mike,

I downloaded both the paid and free plugins - which I am using with Ardour - I've used them on a couple of tracks so far and loving them - both from a GUI and sound POV.

I'm a semi-pro guitarist and home recording enthusiast ( based in Leeds, UK) who has been using Cubase and XP for years and getting increasingly frustrated with the crashes and unexpected workflow interruptions.

I moved to Ubuntu Hardy then Lucid before giving up on Ububtu Studio and wiping my HD in favour of AV linux for Ardour, Hydrogen , and Seq24 to trigger external Novation synth.

I take my music and recording seriously, have a definite "ear" for good gear and thank you greatly for your high quality work.

All the best
Pete

[rayj]

I'm very interested in paying for a set of plugins here, but have no account available to set up a paypal/etc. Is there a way to send a money order? Western Union?

I have the same problem with sending funds to AV Linux. This feels awful, as apparently only 4 people have contributed this year. I use the software a bit, and will probably use it as the basis for my projected future system, which won't be built for awhile yet.

Seriously, there has to be a way to pay you guys. Money is here, waiting for you. P.O. Box + money order?

[Piklik]

Yes that's a great job you provide for us!

I already paid for a set of linuxdsp plugins and download even the free (thanks!) they are useful and operational!

They are the first i used!

I'm a guitarist like rauldipeas and yes it will be interesting to have some simulations of great sounds!

But first of all i looked for mastering tools like matrix (spatializer) - enhancers - exciter - stereoenhancer - bass define - etc

 Mike and Glen

Best regards

[chkneater]

what happened to link to pay pal and such? this sticky hasn't been edited in almost a year?

[Smurf]

Is there anywhere to grab the old free ones to try out?

[linuxdsp]

I guess this thread is a little out of date now. When I (and a few others involved in the project) started making plugins for linux, they were originally distributed as donation-ware (I thought it would be great if people could pay what they could afford or thought was reasonable, and that funding would pay for the (significant) costs involved in developing, publicising, webhosting, maintaining the necessary hardware etc.)
Unfortunately this proved less than practical, we got large numbers of downloads, and lots of users said very kind things about the quality of the software etc, but, we got almost zero donations (considering this was a fulltime project - would anyone do their normal job for even a few months in return for only $5 ?).  What that meant was that at one point I was effectively paying a substantial amount of money in order for people to use my software for nothing.  Whatever the initial ideals, clearly this wasn't a business model which was sustainable - which in the longterm would be bad for users too (software needs maintaining and updating, and if people aren't prepared to support it, however good they think or say it is, ultimately the project dies).
The only way for the business to survive was to move to a more commercial model which has proved more successful - there is now an 'up front' cost - but I think this is remarkably low considering the work involved in making / testing the software, and equally when compared to the cost of all the other equipment that is required in order to use the software (I regularly see posts on forums where people talk excitedly about purchasing a hardware interface or  control surface for many hundreds  of dollars, and then plead poverty when deciding whether or not to pay GBP20 - 30  -  for a software emulation of hardware costing a hundred times as much (check out the cost of the PEQ-2A compared to a real Pultec..)
Regarding free versions of the software - there is currently one free plugin on the site - the DSR500 de-esser, the others are free to try in demo mode, where the audio will fade to silence periodically, but will require an activation key to enable the full functionality (these demos are also included in AVLinux, however sometimes more recent versions  / updates are available on the linuxDSP site).

[Smurf]

OK, I fully understand now! I was under the assumption that the first "run" were under a free linux-style lic, so all is good!

And I FULLY understand about asking for "donations"...it did not work for me either for my music OR tutorials, but once I started charging & gave my stuff some "worth", folks starting paying...go figure!

I have also been out looking for demo/reviews of your plugins (which look fantastic by the way) and there is nothing that I can find that is more than a surface glance at them. Are you folks planing on making any type of demo videos on the plugins? Yes, I also know how time consuming this is, but i just figured I would ask..

Thanks for the answer!

[linuxdsp]

Are you folks planing on making any type of demo videos on the plugins?

If there's ever any spare time it may not seem like a lot has been happening, but a huge amount of work continues 'behind the scenes' - we now have some Windows and Mac ports too (I know, I know, but unfortunately without broadening the market a bit, sadly linux plugins alone won't pay the bills)

Regarding reviews - I would like to see more reviews too, but in terms of the 'popular press' it's proved almost impossible so far (and not for lack of trying).  That said, there have been some good articles in some of the linux-specific publications. The best way to find out more about the plugins is to try the demos out and see if they work for you (and if not, there's a contact email on the website, support is free and I'm happy to answer any questions about them / help fix any problems).