Workshop: Four Plugins in Four Hours (or less)
Learn the Code and DSP Behind Two Effects and Two Synthesisers – No Experience Necessary!
This workshop provides an immersive, practical introduction to plugin development in C++ using Klang Studio, a plugin-based IDE designed for audio development, supporting live C++ in the DAW, explored the development of four audio plugins: Gain, Distortion, Subtractive, and SuperSaw. Developed by pointblank and nash.audio, and presented in association with The Audio Programmer, the session walks you through the creation of two basic effects, gain and distortion, before looking at subtractive synthesis, culminating in the creation of a JP-8000-style SuperSaw synth. Showcasing the Klang C++ dialect for audio programming, the session will also include instructions on how to transfer your projects to JUCE, using provided templates. The workshop is ideal for beginners, providing a sample of the techniques and technologies on pointblank’s new BSc (Hons) Music Production & Software Engineering (MuSE), but also apt for more seasoned individuals interested in new and faster approaches to prototyping audio processes in C++.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Based on the Basic Audio Programming course, available on Plugin Boutique and The Audio Programmer, the workshop is presented in four parts, covering each plugin, beginning with a grounding in code concepts and digital audio, using the MuSE LE (“muesli”) - a virtual learning environment (VLE), specially developed for teaching audio programming – using visually rich animations of key concepts, as well as C++ exercises and live Web Audio demos in the browser – before moving on to Klang Studio and the development of DAW plugins (for VST/AU compatible hosts). Each part is broken into three ‘byte-size’ lessons that will begin with a demonstration, ahead of hands-on practical exercises. A team of helpers (including MuSE students) will be on hand to help you complete the four plugins within the session, but all attendees will also be given free unlock codes to the online course to continue their development beyond the session. Templates and guidance will also be provided for integrating their Klang C++ code into JUCE effect and synthesis plugin projects.
ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGIES
The Klang/K++ language (http://github.com/nashaudio/klang) is a single header include, compatible with any C++17 enabled platform, transforming C++ into an audio programming language with rich support for audio types, processes, and DSP primitives - notably also adding support for concise, explicit expressions of signal flow, allowing C++ code to more closely mirror block diagrams.
The rapIDE IDE (aka Klang Studio; http://nash.audio/klang/studio) is a suite of cross- platform (Windows/Mac) audio plugins (in VST and AU format) that contain a complete integrated development environment (IDE) based on the LLVM/clang toolchain, supporting live, in-plugin coding, compiling, hot-swapping, analysis, graphing, and debugging without stopping the host (or even playback). Designed for rapid prototyping of C++ audio processes (e.g. synthesisers, effects), rapIDE is designed to integrate with existing workflows, such as desktop, embedded, and web audio development, but also provide a more immediate and immersive way to explore sound with C++.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Both technologies are developed by nash.audio, a non-profit organisation supporting projects in music and technology. Delegates require a Windows or Mac laptop, and are recommended to download and install rapIDE (aka Klang Studio) from nash.audio/klang in advance of the session.
Chris Nash
Director / Founder
nash.audio
Chris Nash is a software developer, composer, educator and researcher in things that go beep in the night. Following a PhD on music software design at Cambridge, he has worked on technology and music projects across academia and industry, including for the BBC, Steinberg/Yamaha, and multiple start-ups, and independently develops and maintains several software projects, specialising in computer music and making music programming more accessible, including Manhattan (a hybrid DAW/programming language), Klang (a C++ dialect for audio), rapIDE (a plug-in based C++ IDE) and reViSiT (an award-winning plug-in based sound tracker). Dr Nash is the architect of pointblank (London)’s pioneering MuSE (Music Systems Engineering) course, developed in collaboration with industry to be the world's first
professional audio developer degree programme, as well as Senior Lecturer in Software Development for Audio, Sound, and Music at UWE Bristol. In 2022, Chris founded nash.audio, a non-profit organisation supporting creativity and learning in music technology, and the development of tools for audio programming.