This is what is frustrating about Linux Audio,
Thanks to Paul and team we have a second to none sequencer, And I truly applaud the hard work of our LADSPA developers. I wholeheartedly agree that the quality of a plugin is not in the GUI however I agree also with the previous posters that a GUI is what connects the user to the useful code “behind the mask”.
There are legal issues with Steinberg which I understand, however what I don’t understand is how LMMS and DSSI-VST can get around it and since they have why there is not a renewed interest by the Ardour devs in (re)implementing and improving VST support in Ardour.
Whether LADSPA is “good enough” isn’t the issue, Anyone who has used VST or Audio Units before is certainly going to perceive the current implementation of LADSPA in Ardour to be a step backwards, if not in functionality certainly in interface. I would guess that a large percentage of Ardour users have migrated from other platforms and other DAW’s.
I find it very discouraging that our Mac brethren get AU support served up on a silver platter, meanwhile those who are migrating from Windows not only have to build VST support themselves, but get a cold shoulder from the developers.
I see the monthly total of donations shrinking every month, that just shouldn’t be, not with a program this good. I can only imagine how many unpaid hours Paul and team have put into this. However when the largest influx of “customers” are coming from the Windows camp only to find they can’t use the plugins they are used to and have paid for and instead of something “alternative” to use they get a collection of refried GUIless VSTs, half finished projects whose brilliance haven’t been fully realized yet, and a handful of real gems that on the surface are undistinguishable from the rest.
At the very least could there not be some sort of GTK based minimal plugin skin integrated into Ardour similar to Rosegarden, Something at the very least with knobs, faders and buttons. This would even improve the reception of DSSI-VST since it is also plagued by the no GUI issue in Ardour.
I’m hanging in there because I believe in this project to the detriment of my mental health and hair follicles, However the whole GUI thing is a MAJOR hurdle to mass adoption of this program in the Professional Audio World. I sincerely hope the devs will weigh that in to future releases.