I Call Bullshit...

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.