SynthEdit

Last updated
SynthEdit
Original author(s) Jeff McClintock
Initial releaseJune 23rd, 2005;18 years ago (June 23rd, 2005)
Stable release
1.4 (build 668) / October 4th, 2022;10 months ago (October 4th, 2022)
Operating system Windows
License Proprietary
Website www.synthedit.com

SynthEdit is a modular audio plugin development environment which uses a visual editor. First conceived in 1987 by programmer Jeff McClintock and initially distributed in 1999, it was officially released in 2005.

Contents

Along with Native Instruments' Reaktor and the closely related FlowStone (previously known as SynthMaker) by DSPRobotics, SynthEdit has been recognised as one of the few tools for independent synthesizer development [1] that don't require traditional programming like JUCE, and the only visual programming environment with 64-bit VST 3 support.

Overview

SynthEdit provides a GUI editing system and a full MIDI interface for hardware controllers. It can export projects as VST plugins, allowing creations to be used as instruments and effects inside of most DAWs [2] and on macOS, where SynthEdit isn't available. [3]

Interface

Below a toolbar containing a switch (stylised as a green power button) to start and stop the audio engine, SynthEdit's interface is divided into three vertical sections: a left panel containing a list of modules, a section for the detached visual editing windows in the middle, and a panel showing the highlighted modules' properties and values on the right. Any number of modules can be nested in an organised structure called a container, which will reveal its contents in another window upon being clicked, and any module can receive or send input of various types from other modules through colour-coded nodes.

Features

Modules

The SynthEdit SDK is an accompanying tool that can be used for the development of extensions, known as external modules, using C++. [4] These extensions interface directly with the program, appearing like stock modules within the program's visual environment.

Since its release, the SDK has allowed developers to release additional freeware and payware modules for use within SynthEdit, adding new features to the program like the ability to manipulate waveforms through Fourier transforms (typically used in digital signal processing as the basis of additive and wavetable synthesis engines), new filters and audio effects. [5]

Related Research Articles

An integrated development environment (IDE) is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities for software development. An IDE normally consists of at least a source-code editor, build automation tools, and a debugger. Some IDEs, such as NetBeans and Eclipse, contain the necessary compiler, interpreter, or both; others, such as SharpDevelop and Lazarus, do not.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plug-in (computing)</span> Software component that adds a specific feature to an existing software application

In computing, a plug-in is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer program. When a program supports plug-ins, it enables customization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FL Studio</span> Digital audio workstation

FL Studio is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. It features a graphical user interface with a pattern-based music sequencer. The program is available in four different editions for Microsoft Windows and macOS.

Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH is a German musical software and hardware company based in Hamburg. It develops music writing, recording, arranging, and editing software, most notably Cubase, Nuendo, and Dorico. It also designs audio and MIDI hardware interfaces, controllers, and iOS/Android music apps including Cubasis. Steinberg created several industry standard music technologies including the Virtual Studio Technology (VST) format for plug-ins and the ASIO protocol. Steinberg has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha since 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual Studio Technology</span> Audio plug-in software interface

Virtual Studio Technology (VST) is an audio plug-in software interface that integrates software synthesizers and effects units into digital audio workstations. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware in software. Thousands of plugins exist, both commercial and freeware, and many audio applications support VST under license from its creator, Steinberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital audio workstation</span> Computer system used for editing and creating music and audio

A digital audio workstation (DAW) is an electronic device or application software used for recording, editing and producing audio files. DAWs come in a wide variety of configurations from a single software program on a laptop, to an integrated stand-alone unit, all the way to a highly complex configuration of numerous components controlled by a central computer. Regardless of configuration, modern DAWs have a central interface that allows the user to alter and mix multiple recordings and tracks into a final produced piece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosegarden</span> Digital audio workstation program for BSD and Linux

Rosegarden is a free software digital audio workstation program developed for Linux with ALSA, JACK and Qt4. It acts as an audio and MIDI sequencer, scorewriter and musical composition and editing tool. It is intended to be a free and alternative to such applications as Cubase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renoise</span> Digital audio workstation

Renoise is a digital audio workstation (DAW) based upon the heritage and development of tracker software. Its primary use is the composition of music using sound samples, soft synths, and effects plug-ins. It is also able to interface with MIDI and OSC equipment. The main difference between Renoise and other music software is the characteristic vertical timeline sequencer used by tracking software.

Reaktor is a graphical modular software music studio developed by Native Instruments (NI). It allows musicians and sound specialists to design and build their own instruments, samplers, effects and sound design tools. It is supplied with many ready-to-use instruments and effects, from emulations of classic synthesizers to futuristic sound design tools. In addition, more than 3000 free instruments can be downloaded from the growing User Library. All of Reaktor's instruments can be freely examined, customized or taken apart; Reaktor is a tool that effectively encourages reverse engineering. The free, limited version called Reaktor Player is software that allows musicians to play NI-released Reaktor instruments, but not edit or reverse-engineer them.

Disposable Soft Synth Interface (DSSI) is a virtual instrument plugin architecture for use by music sequencer applications. It was designed for applications running under Linux, although there is nothing specific to Linux in the interface itself. It is distributed under the terms of a combination of LGPL-2.1-or-later and some BSD licenses, all of which are free software licences.

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is a free and open-source graphical subsystem originally developed by Microsoft for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications. WPF, previously known as "Avalon", was initially released as part of .NET Framework 3.0 in 2006. WPF uses DirectX and attempts to provide a consistent programming model for building applications. It separates the user interface from business logic, and resembles similar XML-oriented object models, such as those implemented in XUL and SVG.

Synapse Audio Software is a software company located in Germany. Previously known as Sonic Syndicate and headed by Richard Hoffmann, they develop music production software for the Mac OS and Microsoft Windows platforms. They started developing software in November 1998 as Sonic Syndicate and changed their name to Synapse Audio with the release of Orion Platinum in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">REAPER</span> Digital audio workstation by Cockos

REAPER is a digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer application created by Cockos. The current version is available for Microsoft Windows and macOS, as well as for Linux. REAPER acts as a host to most industry-standard plug-in formats and can import all commonly used media formats, including video. REAPER and its included plug-ins are available in 32-bit and 64-bit format.

iZotope, Inc. is an audio technology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. iZotope develops professional audio software for audio recording, mixing, broadcast, sound design, and mastering which can be used in wide range of digital audio workstation (DAW) programs. In addition, iZotope creates and licenses audio DSP technology including noise reduction, sample rate conversion, dithering, time stretching, and audio enhancement to hardware and software companies in the consumer and pro audio industries.

In computer music and professional audio creation, a DirectX plugin is a software processing component that can be loaded as a plugin into host applications to allow real-time processing, audio effects, mixing audio or act as virtual synthesizers. DirectX plugins allow the replacement of traditional recording studio hardware and rack units used in professional studios with software-based counterparts that can be connected together in a modular way. This allows host manufacturers to focus on the conviviality and efficiency of their products while specialized manufacturers can focus on the digital signal processing aspect. For example, there are plugins for effects boxes, such as reverbs and delays, effects pedals, like guitar distortion, flange and chorus, and for mixing and mastering processors such as compressors, limiters, exciters, sub bass enhancers, stereo imagers and many more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JUCE</span> C++ Cross-Platform Application Development Framework

JUCE is an open-source cross-platform C++ application framework, used for the development of desktop and mobile applications. JUCE is used in particular for its GUI and plug-ins libraries. It is dual licensed under the GPLv3 and a commercial license.

Dart is a programming language designed by Lars Bak and Kasper Lund and developed by Google. The programming language can be used to develop web and mobile apps as well as server and desktop applications.

An audio plug-in, in computer software, is a plug-in that can add or enhance audio-related functionality in a computer program. Such functionality may include digital signal processing or sound synthesis. Audio plug-ins usually provide their own user interface, which often contains GUI widgets that can be used to control and visualise the plug-in's audio parameters.

MuLab is a digital audio workstation application for macOS and Windows platforms.

The Soundart Chameleon was a hardware synthesizer module, designed by the Spanish company Soundart. The name Chameleon comes from the fact that the machine was able to change its "skins", which are different sound engines. The Chameleons were produced from 2002 to 2004, until the company went bankrupt.

References

  1. "VST DIY: Creating Your Own Audio Plug-ins". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  2. "Build your own Synth » SynthEdit". www.synthedit.com. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  3. "Software Development Kit » SynthEdit". www.synthedit.com. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  4. SDK Version 3 Documentation
  5. "Other Websites offering add-on Modules » SynthEdit". www.synthedit.com. Retrieved 2022-10-08.