I Call Bullshit...
From the original Analog Industries archive. Some links and images from that era no longer resolve.
Synthtopia is reporting on Auria, a 48-track DAW for iOS (specifically the iPad 2) from WaveMachine Labs that will supposedly bring 24-channel recording and VST support to iOS.
I call bullshit, though. And for two reasons:
1. VST Support means what it says: the app hosts VST plug-ins built to the VST standard. However, there is no such thing as a VST SDK for iOS. This being the case, it is a physical impossibility for Auria to host VSTs; what it hosts are VSTs that have been ported to Auria. WaveMachine say they are “leading the charge” to bring the VST format to iOS. I personally like to think that, due to the nature of my business endeavors, I’d be aware of any such “charge.” However, this is the first I’ve heard of it. Be that as it may, the sandbox design of iOS precludes any of this sort of thing at a basic level, at least in the manner we know it.
2. They claim the app can record 24 channels simultaneously. Yeah. Let’s point out a couple things. First, there is no such thing as a 24-channel class-compliant USB 1.1 audio interface. So that’s kind of important. There doesn’t need to be a second thing. The first is enough.
I wouldn’t be incensed about this except that in a situation like this we get a lot of people asking whether our plugs are going to be available on this platform. WaveMachine hasn’t contacted us, which is interesting considering we’re one of the largest of the 2nd Tier plugin companies. And if they did, we’d tell them we’re not interested in porting a plug-in to sell it as an in-app purchase in a single DAW. We don’t support single-DAW formats. Never have, never will. And rest assured this requires a port. This app can not host OS X VSTs. It is an impossibility.
31 comments
Since I'm still neck-deep in updating our product line for 64-bit operating systems, it's probably impossible for me to understate my interest in porting them to iOS.
--Adam
I'm with boobs.
And... between this and Steinberg's "VST Classics", I don't know why I've wasted so much money on music software and computer hardware over the years. I should just pull out Opcode's Studio Vision DSP and ReBirth, along with my PowerBook 1400cs, and get back to work on those tracks from 1999.
please post this on every audio/recording/software forum on the internet so that idiots who don't know anything will STFU already about how they "just can't understand how (insert any/every software app for audio) isn't on the ipad already because it's a dual core chip..." and blah blah blah.
now, here's some christian derp step to bring the sentiment home.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NNVRYM/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk?smid=61134&tag=hydfbook0e-20&ascsubtag=US-DS-10034-61134
You get the impression that it supports VST natively and I guess it's done deliberately.
On Youtube info they say: "Auria also features a first among mobile apps - VST plugin support."
But they actually say this at KVR: "Auria supports VST plug-ins that have been converted (by the plug-in developer) to iOS format."
Maybe they're just a few days ahead of Steinberg's big iOS announcement at NAMM...?
Nah you're right there's NFW.
This was in the thread over at Synthtopia, apparently a rep from Wave machine Labs:
Hi guys,
Although Auria has support for recording 24 input simultaneously, the largest USB interface we've tested with Auria has 18 inputs. Auria has no trouble playing back 48 tracks while recording all 18 simultaneously, and we're confident based on our tests that it will work great with 24 channel interfaces when they become available. You'll need an iPad camera connection kit in order to use USB interfaces, though. We'll have a list of all the multichannel USB interfaces we've tested with Auria on our web site soon.
Thanks,
Rim Buntinas
WaveMachine Labs, Inc.
I'm willing to be wrong about the USB thing. That's still a pretty hairy area with respect to iOS dev. But the VST plug-in thing is pretty simple: if the plug is _ported_ and is linked in the app, then it's part of the app, not a VST plug-in. That app doesn't host fuck-all.
-CR
My take at present is that he confirms what you're saying about the USB thing.
so, will i have to get a 2nd ipad to run my custom lemur for ipad app to control the channel strips of this auria mixer gui? ;)
I guess it's plausible, I did run Studio Vision with VSTs on my Radius 81/110 and Quadra 9500 back in the day. They're not much bigger than two meters.
Since I'm still neck-deep in updating our product line for 64-bit operating systems, it's probably impossible for me to understate my interest in porting them to iOS.
--Adam
@synthetic:
At that sample rate, will we be able to pull out in time???
I'm with boobs.
And... between this and Steinberg's "VST Classics", I don't know why I've wasted so much money on music software and computer hardware over the years. I should just pull out Opcode's Studio Vision DSP and ReBirth, along with my PowerBook 1400cs, and get back to work on those tracks from 1999.
That actually brings to light an interesting point. The state iOS audio is at now, using an iPad as a significant member of your music-making family is a heavy downgrade from even a middling system.
-CR
@Duke Fame - lmao. nice under the radar.
@CR - my first thought was "maybe that's a type-o and 'ipad' is supposed to say macbook pro"
i know the ipad is pretty cool and has lot's of useful and fun applications for music but the last fucking thing i want is to have my music making life all on that piece of glass.
i still feel pretty weird when i end up doing a whole track on a laptop.
Well shit . I never had any illusions about dropping an existing vst right it , but I as a non dev had no reason to think there was not perhaps a new sdk for iOS . Stranger things have happened in this world . Sucks to find out it's all hyperbol ie fucking bullshit . Oh well .
@studio nebula: Can you underestimate your interest in porting your plugins to iOS, recoding the GUI in a proprietary Juce format, and then selling them for $.99 as an in-app purchase for a single DAW?
i'm with seancostello
Me too.
To be clear, I just want to mention that the actual mechanics of the process are fairly slick, making some assumptions about how they pulled it off. Calling it VST is where my hackles get raised, since, as I said, that implies a certain functionality which is lacking here.
That said, as Sean pointed out, monetarily it's a wash.
-CR
All sounds lovely, but pardon me if I stick with my 8gb i7 Laptop running Cubase 6 at lightning pace...
Which, by the way, cost slightly less than an iPad would do.
iPads are lovely, and convenient and blah blah blah, but I just don't need/want one.
Can I mention the 800 pound gorilla standing in the room?
What was up with that Christian Dubstep?
Why would you want an entire daw to live within an iPad anyway? Just doesn't make sense. Audio files consume a lot of space..storage space on the iPad is minimal. Cloud storage has too much of a delay to be feasible. Stick with using the ipad as a controller and leave the brains on your desktop/laptop.
I think this is part of the language of a certain segment that uses "VST" to mean "plugin", or even "audio software". Sort of like "beat" means "entire track". I read a post from someone the other day that said they needed a new DAW because they were "tired of the sounds in Logic and Reason". Right? They should have more better sounds.
I'm going to pretend I didn't see the words "Christian Dubstep".
bb
@pranafire: I think Boobs dropped in an arbitrary Amazon link with his affiliate tag "hydfbook0e-20". So if you click on the link and buy anything on Amazon, Boobs gets a commission. This is probably not in line with Chris' Rules of the Road advertising policy.
the derp step link was just to em-phass-is on something.. a hysterical exclamation point.. i don't mean hysterical as in funny but as in true hysteria
@MikeF: In the words of George Orwell, "all animals are equal. Some are more equal than others."
-CR
@CR: Fair enough. This is your house and your rules.
MikeF is not with boobs.
I would assume the VST is trademarked. Has Steinberg said anything about this?
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