Scripting Architecture for a DAW-like Plugin
How we implemented Lua and JavaScript scripting for Synthesizer V Studio
Audio software at scale is often met with thousands of feature requests across diverse user groups with varying workflows. This talk presents scripting as a solution to bridge the gap between limited development resources and a growing backlog. This talk will guide you through the architecture of Synthesizer V Studio, a vocal synth with DAW-like infrastructure and strong scripting capabilities. We will cover the manipulation of all types of objects (Track/Group/Note/Phoneme) in the project, seamless undo/redo integration, designing an object-oriented interface that supports both Lua and JavaScript and the ability to allow users to create custom UIs within clearly defined boundaries. Key challenges include decoupling the script bindings from the core codebase, ensuring memory safety when accessing native objects from a script environment, and the handling of asynchronous callbacks from the native environment.
Kanru Hua
CEO
Dreamtonics
Kanru Hua is the founder of Dreamtonics, the pioneering startup behind Synthesizer V, established in 2019. Under his leadership, the company has emerged as a global leader in vocal synthesis and voice conversion, developing breakthrough tools like Vocoflex, and since 2026, broadening its scope into musical instrument synthesis with Instrument X. A self‑taught programmer and researcher, Kanru bridged signal processing with state‑of‑the‑art generative models, delivering a versatile arsenal of music production tools for composers and musicians.
In recognition of his impact, he was named to Forbes JAPAN 30 Under 30 in 2022.