Original author(s) | u-he and Bitwig |
---|---|
Initial release | 2022 |
Stable release | |
Repository | github |
Written in | C |
Type | Audio plug-in API |
License | MIT License |
Website | cleveraudio |
CLever Audio Plug-in or CLAP is an open source software architecture, application programming interface and reference implementation suite for audio effect plugins as used in multimedia software such as digital audio workstations, audio editing software, and video editing software with integrated audio workflows. The specification and reference implementation was released in 2022 by the Berlin-based audio software companies u-he and Bitwig. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
CLAP was created as an open licensed alternative to proprietary audio plugin formats [7] such as Steinberg's VST format, Apple's Audio Units format, or Avid Technology's Avid Audio Extension (AAX) format, designed for non-destructive parameter automation, multi-voice envelopes, true MIDI 2.0 support, better multi-core CPU performance [8] and greater ease writing plugins in a non-proprietary licensing framework under the MIT License. CLAP is supported by 15 DAWs [9] and 93 plugin producers [10] [11] who have produced 394 CLAP plugins. [12]
In computing, a plug-in is a software component that extends the functionality of an existing software system without requiring the system to be re-built. A plug-in feature is one way that a system can be customizable.
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An audio plug-in, in computer software, is a plug-in that can add or enhance audio-related functions in a computer program, typically a digital audio workstation. Such functions may include digital signal processing or sound synthesis. Audio plug-ins usually provide their own user interface, which often contains graphical user interface (GUI) widgets that can be used to control and visualize the plug-in's audio parameters.
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