Open Source Vst Plugins
Here you can find some VSTHost add-ons that have been created by ToyleY.
Working with virtual studio technology (VST) plugins is tremendously convenient, but a lot of the best VST plugins out there are very expensive. If you're looking to expand your library of VST instrument (VSTi) plugins, or tweak your mixes with some great effects or MIDI effects VST plugins, you can do it for free. The synister is a VST and AU synthesizer plugin for DAWs; It is fully Open Source and offers multiple oscillators, filters, lfo's and envelopes. Flux Stereo Tool v3. This free VST plugin is a complete stereo imaging and analysis tool. StereoTool offers precise control of input gain and individual pan for left and right channels, accurate visual feedback reflecting the signal content with; a vector scope and PPM meters for inputs/outputs. OwlPlug is a desktop application for Windows and Mac that simplifies VST Plugin management and installation. User installed plugins are automatically discovered and new plugins can be installed. Open Source Audio Plugins & Apps A list of open source VST (and other format) plugin/app projects. The intention of this list is to catalog open source plugins or apps which are fully featured or are useful examples which have non-trivial features.
VSTHost Slavery Suite
It was just a little question in a forum... 'Is there a way to route the output of vsthost to Kristal Audio engine? And without latency?' that triggered the addition of a slave mode to VSTHost. And since I got a rather bad taste of humor, it got the above title.
When started with the parameter /slave, VSTHost goes into Slave Mode and waits for a Master to control it. The first (and currently only) master is a VST(i) plugin that can be embedded into any VST Host program (even another instance of VSTHost), called Legree. It comes as an effect and as a VSTi, since there are hosts that accept only effects, hosts that only accept VSTis, and of course hosts that accept both.
You can download Legree here (.zip file, 209K).
Current version: 1.07
Comes in 32- and 64-bit versions
You can download the current documentation for the VSTHost Slavery Suite here (.pdf file, 171K).
Open Source Variant
Originally, I made VSTHost available including the complete source code. Since I had to find out that (parts of) it made their way into other people's programs, and that without even mentioning my contribution, the open source variant has been frozen. I continue to add bug fixes to the existing code base, but new features won't make their way into it any more. Starting with V1.16k, this program is released under the terms of the GNU Lesser GPL.
Anyway - the important part of the program is an implementation of a VST host in form of 2 classes:
CVSTHost
This implements the audio callback needed by an effect plugin as a neatly encapsulated VST host class. This is practically platform-independent code. The few platform-specific things are encapsulated in...
CEffect
This encapsulates a VST effect, as loaded by the VST host. This class isn't fully complete - since I don't have a Mac, I've only included the Windows code. If a kind MacIntosh programmer could fill out the few Mac-specific sections and send it to me it would be great and, of course, publicized here!
You can download the sources for V1.16q here (.zip file, 285K).
Current version: VST 2.4 rev2 + ASIO 2.0 support, ASIO Channel selection, bug fix from V1.19-1.46
A list of open source VST (and other format) plugin/app projects. The intention of this list is to catalog open source plugins or apps which are fully featured or are useful examples which have non-trivial features.
The main benefit of having Open Source plugins/apps is that the code itself is preserved for the future, so when the author(s) stop updating it the community can continue using and developing the software. Open Source projects are also a great way to learn how different audio FX/instruments are created.
https://openaudio.webprofusion.com
Please contribute links!
Audio Plugins
| Plugin | Description | Type | Framework |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADLplug | FM Chip Synthesizer — OPL & OPN | Instrument | JUCE |
| andes | Sound synthesiser plugin based on Perlin noise | Instrument | JUCE |
| Airwindows | Various small and experimental effect plugins | Effect | |
| amsynth | Analog-modelling (virtual analog) synthesizer | Instrument | GTK |
| Argotlunar | Real-time delay-line granulator | Effect | JUCE |
| Audio Effects | Plugins implemented from the explanations in the book “Audio Effects: Theory, Implementation and Application” | Effect | JUCE |
| BinAural VST | Mono-to-stereo plugin that positions sound in a 3D space using Head-Related Transfer Functions | Effect | JUCE |
| BlackBird | Analog-inspired software synth with its own voice | Instrument | JUCE |
| Calf Studio Gear | Many LV2 and Jack audio plug-ins | Effects | GTK |
| CHOW | A maximally truculent distortion effect | Effect | JUCE |
| Cloud Seed | Algorithmic reverb for emulating huge, endless spaces and modulated echoes | Effect | |
| Cocoa Delay | Warm and lively delay | Effect | WDL-OL |
| Convolver | Impulse-response reverb | Effect | VSTGUI, JUCE |
| Dexed | DX7 FM plugin synth | Instrument | JUCE |
| Digits | Phase-distortion synth inspired by Casio CZ series | Instrument | VSTGUI |
| Distrho glBars | OpenGL bars visualization plugin (as seen in XMMS and XBMC/Kodi) adapted from jack_glbars | Effect | DPF |
| Distrho Juice Plugins | Misc | DPF | |
| Distrho Kars | Simple karplus-strong plucked string synth based on the karplong DSSI example synth | Instrument | DPF |
| Distrho Mini-Series | Collection of small plugins based on LOSER-Dev Plugins | Effect | DPF |
| Distrho MVerb | DPF-based version of MVerb | Effect | DPF |
| Distrho ndc Plugs | DPF-based versions of some of ndc Plugs | Effect | DPF |
| Distrho Nekobi | Simple single-oscillator synth based on Roland TB-303 | Instrument | DPF |
| Distrho ProM | Music-visualizer plugin based on projectM | Effect | DPF |
| Dragonfly Reverb | Hall-style reverb based on Freeverb3 algorithms | Effect | DPF |
| Element | Advanced Audio Plugin Host | Misc | JUCE |
| Eurorack | Diverse set of physical modeling sources, organic processors, wavetable oscillators, waveshapers, granular synths, and utility modules | Misc | |
| Flutterbird | Simple pitch fluctuation | Effect | iPlug 2 |
| Gverb/Gigaverb | Reverb | Effect | VSTGUI |
| Helm | Polyphonic synth with lots of modulation | Instrument | JUCE |
| hexter | Yamaha DX7 modeling FM synth for DSSI | Instrument | DPF |
| HiLoFilter | Simple hipass/lopass filter controlled with a single knob | Effect | JUCE |
| JuceOPLVSTi | FM synth based on Yamaha OPL2/3 emulation from DOSBox | Instrument | JUCE |
| Juno 6 | Roland Juno 6/60 Synthesizer | Instrument | |
| keithhearne/VSTPlugins | A collection of VST plugins | Effect | JUCE |
| K-Meter | Implementation of a K-System meter according to Bob Katz’ specifications | Effect | JUCE |
| KickMaker | Synth specifically to create kick-drum sounds | Instrument | VSTGUI |
| LameVST | LameMP3 as an effect | Effect | |
| Magical8bitPlug 2 | Old 8bit game console style synth | Instrument | JUCE |
| mda | FX and virtual instruments for PC and Mac | Misc | (no GUI) |
| Mika Micro | Simple subtractive synth | Instrument | WDL-OL |
| MVerb | Studio-quality reverb using the Dattorro’s figure-of-eight reverb structure | Effect | VSTGUI |
| NotNotchFilter | Performance-oriented filter designed to replace the mid-EQ found in a standard 3-band DJ mixer | Effect | JUCE |
| ndc Plugs | VST plugins for Windows and OSX | Misc | |
| Odin2 | Polyphonic Synth | Instrument | JUCE |
| OwlBass | Additive bass synth | Instrument | JUCE |
| OB-Xd | Based on the Oberheim OB-X | Instrument | JUCE |
| Oxe FM Synth | Multitimbral 8-operator FM synth (VST 2.4; Windows, Linux, macOS) | Instrument | VSTGUI |
| PulseDelay | Timed delay effect | Effect | (no GUI) |
| QtVST | VST plugins with a Qt interface | Effect | Qt |
| Regrader | Degenerative delay | Effect | VSTGUI |
| Roth-AIR | Mixing tool for easily adding airy, crispy presence to audio | Effect | JUCE |
| ScorchCrafter Guitar FX | Audio DSP FX and plugins, mostly for guitar (amp sim) and other FX | Effect | VSTGUI |
| sfizz | SFZ parser library and instrument plugins | Instrument | VSTGUI |
| ShoutVST | VST for streaming sound into Icecast/Shoutcast directly from VST hosts | Effect | VSTGUI, FLUID |
| Sound Analyser | Real-time audio analysis to allow anyone to quickly set up and experiment with different algorithms | Effect | JUCE |
| Surge | Subtractive wavetable synth | Instrument | VSTGUI |
| Synister | Subtractive synth | Instrument | JUCE |
| Syntage | VST 2.4 .Net Study Synth | Instrument | |
| Temper | Digital distortion targeting VST, VST3, and AU for OS X and Windows | Effect | Faust, JUCE |
| Tunefish | VST virtual analog synthesizer | Instrument | JUCE |
| traKmeter | Loudness meter for correctly setting up tracking and mixing levels | Effect | JUCE |
| VCV Rack | Virtual modular synth | Misc | RtAudio |
| VSTSID | SID synthesizer instrument | Instrument | |
| VST2413 | FM synth based on emulator of YM2413 (OPLL) chip used in Sega Master System and FM-PAC MSX expansion | Instrument | (no GUI) |
| Wolf Shaper | Waveshaper plugin with spline-based graph editor | Effect | DPF |
| YK Chorus | Chorus audio effect plugin based on DSP code by TAL | Effect | DPF |
| zam-plugins | LADSPA/LV2/VST/JACK audio plugins for high-quality processing | Effect | DPF |
Collections
- Linux Synths - a list of linux based synths, some of which are open source
- SFZ Instruments - a list of SFZ instruments, most of which are free
- VCV library — a library of plugins compatible with VCV Plugin Manager
Open Source Audio Apps
| Software | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ardour | Ardour/ardour | DAW |
| ASIO2WASAPI | levmin/ASIO2WASAPI | Universal ASIO driver for Windows |
| Audacity | audacity/audacity | Audio editor |
| Carla | falkTX/Carla | GNU/Linux Plugin Host |
| Element | Kushview/Element | Advanced Audio Plugin Host |
| FlexASIO | dechamps/FlexASIO | Universal ASIO driver for Windows |
| Giada | monocasual/giada | Loop machine |
| Guitarix | SourceForge → guitarix | GNU/Linux Virtual Amplifier |
| Helio Workstation | helio-fm/helio-workstation | Sequencer |
| HISE | christophhart/HISE | Cross-platform framework/application for building sample-based virtual instruments (VST, AU, AAX) |
| Hydrogen | hydrogen-music/hydrogen | Drum machine |
| NewMixer | jatinchowdhury18/NewMixer | Mixing Software |
| LMMS | LMMS/lmms | DAW |
| OpenMPT | OpenMPT/openmpt | Popular tracker (formerly ModPlug Tracker) for Windows with support for IT, XM, S3M, MOD modules, VST plugins and ASIO |
| OwlPlug | DropSnorz/OwlPlug | Audio plugin manager |
| orDrumbox | SourceForge → ordrumbox | Drum machine |
| Psycle | SourceForge → psycle | Modular music tracker |
| StudioRack | github.com/studiorack | Audio plugin manager |
| VCV Rack | VCVRack/Rack | Modular synth |
| Zrythm | zrythm/zrythm | DAW |
Open Source Software Development Libraries
| Library | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cabbage | rorywalsh/cabbage | Framework for developing audio plugins and standalone instruments with Csound |
| Csound | csound/csound | Programming language for sound and music synthesis |
| DPF | DISTRHO/DPF | C++ framework for creating cross-platform audio plugins |
| Faust | grame-cncm/faust | Functional programming language for real-time signal processing |
| FluidSynth | FluidSynth/fluidsynth | Real-time synth based on the SoundFont 2 specifications |
| iPlug 2 | iPlug2/iPlug2 | Simple-to-use C++ framework for developing cross-platform audio plugins/apps |
| JUCE | WeAreROLI/JUCE | Cross-platform C++ framework for developing desktop and mobile apps and audio plugins |
| jVSTwRapper | SourceForge → jvstwrapper | Wrapper to write audio plugins in Java (VST 2.4, AU, LADSPA; Windows, Linux, macOS) |
| libopenmpt | OpenMPT/openmpt | Cross-platform C/C++ module-playback library based on OpenMPT |
| PortAudio | Assembla → portaudio | Cross-platform audio I/O library |
| RtAudio | thestk/rtaudio | C++ classes for cross-platform real-time audio I/O |
| rust-vst | rust-dsp/rust-vst | VST 2.4 API implementation in the Rust language |
| Soundpipe | PaulBatchelor/Soundpipe | Lightweight music DSP library written in C; over 100 modules, many ported from Csound |
| VSTGUI | steinbergmedia/vstgui | User-interface toolkit mainly for audio plugins |
| WDL-OL | olilarkin/wdl-ol | Simple-to-use C++ framework for developing cross-platform audio plugins (superseded by iPlug 2) |
Open Source Vst Synth
Code Samples
- KlangFalter — a convolution audio plugin (e.g. for usage as convolution reverb)
- FFTConvolver — an audio convolution algorithm in C++ for real-time audio processing
Open Data Resources
Open Source Vst Plug-ins
- OpenAIR — the Open Acoustic Impulse Response Library (Convolution Reverb Impulse Responses to recreate reverb character of space and equipment/recordings)