Synchronised Data for Audio Plugins - Adam Wilson - ADC 2024
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Have you ever wanted to have your plugin presets show up on different devices? For example, on an iPad, and in your DAW. Or even on the web?
A brief history of a search for a synchronised database solution that works across plugins, mobile apps and the web.
An introduction to methods and libraries that can be used to store preset and other data for plugins, automatically synchronised across devices. Both for general data as well as user-specific data or presets.
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A seasoned music producer and programmer turned audio developer, with a passion for microtonality.
Adam got into audio software development in 2014, when he first became aware of microtonality. Realising the lack of intuitive software to aid with microtonal composition, he pivoted from server-side web development into audio. This also allowed him to fuse his two lifelong passions into one career path: music production and programming.
Adam founded Node Audio initially to release his first iOS app, "Entonal Tuner" and it has since become both an audio software consultancy and a platform for releasing audio plugins. Entonal Studio was released in 2022.
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
A headfirst swandive into designing plugins to evoke atmospheres and emotional responses, and the creative potential that approach can unlock, through the lens of interpreting Dante Alighieri's Inferno as an a multifx plugin.
This talk hopes to inspire and encourage experimentation, and celebrate and nurture the often-overlooked creative side of audio programming, rather than focussing on pre-established effects, while also touching on the decisions, ups and downs, and actual development process for "Inferno".
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A self-taught audio software developer fascinated by abstract and unconventional effects, based in Dublin, Ireland.
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
Symphony of a Thousand - GPU Synthesis With Massively Parallel Oscillators - Cecill Etheredge - ADC 2024
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In the last few years, there has been an increasing interest in GPU DSP research. While the GPU brings highly parallel processing to the mix, the problems in implementing the real-time requirements and data flow of a GPU audio pipeline are well known. There are other challenges that stand out, such as the complexities of running GPU apps on consumer hardware, as well as identifying "killer apps" for GPU audio: desirable use cases where the GPU really shines and outclasses a classical CPU implementation for the everyday musician.
The aim of this talk is to cover the design, implementation, tradeoffs and compromises needed to build and run a basic GPU synthesizer on consumer hardware. This talk will be hands-on and suitable for audio developers that are relatively fresh to GPU applications in particular. We will present an algorithm implemented in NVIDIA CUDA that is based on straightforward wavetable synthesis and leverages the GPU's parallelism to outclass an equivalent CPU implementation. We will show how to integrate this algorithm and its CUDA kernels with JUCE to create a proof-of-concept synthesizer app.
The usual real-time challenges such as CPU-GPU copying, latency and buffering are addressed, and more hands-on issues such as interopability with 3D graphics running on the same GPU as well as real-time scheduling and persistent kernels will be covered as well as needed.
We purposely target lower-end hardware to explore the feasibility of a GPU synthesizer on consumer hardware, and to possibly enable a path towards a more extensive standalone "GPU hardware synthesizer" in the future.
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In daily life, Cecill serves as the Technical Director of KoalaDSP, a European startup focused on whitelabel DSP, middleware and audio plugin development for major industry players. In the remaining hours, Cecill channels his engineering skills and artistic flair into tackling challenging and complex problems, driven by a classic hacker ethos and curiosity. With a lifelong passion for technology and music, and over 20 years of experience in areas involving hardware, games, graphics, audio and algorithms, Cecill is still on a never-ending journey to learn, to create impactful innovations, and to share the lessons learned with others.
Cecill's experience with GPGPU began in 2008 during the early days of NVIDIA CUDA and Cg with the development of custom graphics rasterization and voxel raytracing algorithms at the University of Twente. This led to a more prominent role in researching and creating mass-spring physics algorithms in CUDA for medical systems with sub-millisecond real-time haptics. The drive to explore new uses for GPGPU has never left ever since. Today, with GPGPU technology more relevant than ever, the integration of GPGPU and audio has become particularly significant and personally relevant.
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
Real-Time Inference of Neural Networks: A Guide for DSP Engineers - Part II - Fares Schulz & Valentin Ackva - ADC 2024
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Continuing our exploration of implementing neural network inference for real-time audio applications, we have expanded from our initial plugin example to a comprehensive library that simplifies the deployment and integration of neural networks in audio applications.
In this talk, we discuss various aspects of our implementation. Since it is crucial to know whether inference engines exhibit real-time violations, we first quantify real-time violations within inference executions. Subsequently, we explore the integration of these engines in real-time audio environments, specifically addressing the challenges of running multiple instances simultaneously. To accomplish this, we use a static thread pool and, when available, host-provided threads. We also focus on strategies for achieving the lowest possible latency, presenting techniques we have implemented, and open a dialogue on a controversial approach to further reduce latency. Moreover, we share our findings on the performance impact of various factors on inference runtimes. To this end, we have extensively benchmarked different neural network architectures across different inference engines, and can show how differences in input buffer size and model size, as well as previously executed inferences, affect the overall performance.
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I am a researcher in the Computer Music and Sound Synthesis Team, part of the Audio Communication Group at the Technische Universität Berlin. At present, my particular interest lies in the exploration of novel applications of neural networks for creative audio effects and synthesis, especially in the real-time and mixed-signal domains. Considering neural networks as a tool rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, I am researching how to make them available alongside long-established methods such as DSP algorithms and analog circuitry. I am also working on spatial audio (multi) systems, which require clustered audio servers due to their high computational cost.
Currently in the final stages of my Master's degree in Audio Communication and Technology, my educational background includes two Bachelor's degrees in Physics and Audio Engineering. Throughout this time, it is my passion for electronic music production that has taken me from theoretical mathematical equations and abstract artistic concepts to their development as algorithms and analog circuits. I am always looking for new ways to combine my interests in music, technology, and science, and love to chat with others who share these passions.
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
Alexandre Bique of Bitwig and Urs Heckmann of u-he join the stage to present updates on CLAP (CLever Audio Plugin API). A lot has happened since CLAP was presented at ADC 23. Alexandre and Urs will briefly focus on industry adoption and give an overview of latest extensions, roadmap and goals. Then they’ll be digging deeper by showing example implementations of some of CLAPs core features, such as Polyphonic Parameter Modulation and Voice Info.
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Alexandre Bique is a senior software engineer interested in low-level programming and audio processing. Since 2015, he has been part of the development team at Bitwig. Bique has also worked for u-he and spearheaded the project of porting their plug-ins to Linux. He is the lead developer behind the new plug-in standard CLAP.
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Urs Heckmann
Urs Heckmann is the founder and CEO of u-he, a leading developer of high-quality audio software and virtual instruments for music producers, sound designers, and artists. With a background in industrial design and a deep passion for sound synthesis, Urs has become a prominent figure in the music technology industry. His products, including Zebra, Diva, and Hive, have set benchmarks for software synthesizers, known for their sonic excellence and innovative design.
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
Real-Time FFT Convolution - History and Review - Selim Sheta - ADC 2024
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This presentation traces the evolution of real-time FFT convolution algorithms over the 60-year timeline spanning the original Cooley-Tuckey FFT algorithm and today’s sophisticated techniques. We will explore four pivotal advancements: Overlap-Add and Overlap-Save, Uniform Partitioned Convolution, and Non-Uniform Partitioned Convolution. We will discuss these method’s background and situate them in a historical context, before delving into their mathematical foundations and practical implementation considerations. Attendees will gain insights into the comparative advantages and limitations of each algorithm, alongside a comprehensive understanding of their historical significance.
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Selim Sheta is an audio processing engineer with a strong passion for electronic music production and creative DSP. He currently works at L-Acoustics, designing, maintaining and optimizing real-time immersive audio algorithms, such as multi-channel reverb and compression. His past experience also include web-based sound design, and game audio.
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
How Long Will It Take? Using the Cynefin Model and Probabilistic Forecasting in Software Projects - Simon Holt & Ross Chisholm - ADC 2024
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In this talk we explore forecasting for software projects, particularly at longer range when scope and specifications may not yet be fully known.
We look at the Cynefin model, to help assess whether a project or piece of work is Complex or Complicated, and why it matters.
From that assessment we look at which of the many Agile framework methodologies and tools are right for the job at hand.
- How do Business, Operations, Hardware and Software efforts interact, and how do our burn up/down charts work together with Waterfall planning?
- How to estimate backlogs (Scrum or Kanban), especially early in the project?
- What are the other factors in our delivery strategy to consider?
Key takeaway:- We look at probabilistic forecasting, as part of Actionable Agile, and how important this has become at Focusrite for helping us forecast “How long will it take?”
Background
Whatever the size and nature of your company or day to day work, if you have customers and perhaps also competitors, you will probably have encountered a situation where someone depended on something you were doing.
In a larger company, perhaps with investors, a competitive market, sales channels and a customer base, the level of confidence you have in your development approach becomes quite important. In a smaller company or start up, you still have to eat and pay rent, there is effort and cost for marketing and product launches, with holiday season(s) and trade shows to hit. If you’re also making hardware things of any kind, you have to physically build them (lots) and get them to people (all over the place). The importance of quality, reputation and brand may vary a bit, but beyond the early adoption phase of a product, customer trust is important, and we can’t compromise there too much for too long.
Devices and workflows are increasingly inter-connected, with more features and functionality meaning that products and technologies are increasingly more complicated. To keep the workflow and UI simple, it usually belies the amount of technology and complexity under the hood and at work in the background.
So in a world where market competition is often increasing, customers increasingly expect more, and any changes to a plan you had will create extra effort and knock on impact … How can we increase our confidence when answering the question “How long will it take?”
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Simon is Engineering Director at Focusrite, supporting the engineering teams and communities across the Focusrite and Novation brands.
With an early career background in electronics and manufacturing, he has since worked across a range of engineering companies and disciplines, helping teams grow and deliver exciting new products.
The love of music tech has always been his passion, with personal interests in music production and DJ’ing. He’s also a fan of the great outdoors, enjoying walking, running, cycling, and generally looking for an adventure!
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Ross Chisholm
Ross is currently the Head of Embedded Software at Focusrite, responsible for the teams developing embedded software, automation, and DSP for Focusrite and Novation brands.
Ross graduated from the Music and Sound Recording Course at the University of Surrey back in 2011, initially focusing on hardware and firmware development of both MIDI Controllers and Audio Interfaces before eventually moving solely to focus on embedded software development. He now focuses on helping to develop engineering teams to deliver amazing products as well as volunteering as a mentor for The Access Project to help promote STEM subjects for the next generation.
Outside of work, Ross is a keen runner completing several half marathons and marathons.
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
https://audio.dev/ -- @audiodevcon
Sign Up For ADCx Gather, our free-to-attend, online only taster event ahead of the main ADC conference. Join us to get a first hand experience of the platforms and content that will be available during the main 3 day event!
Get ready for ADC25! This year features a virtual venue to explore, offering opportunities for virtual conferencing and meetups. Join the live streaming events and connect with others on the Discord server. #adc #audiodev #conferenceaudio
Join us online in our virtual world or in-person in Bristol, UK from November 10th-12th 2025
ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
The Intersection of Analog and Digital Audio Processing - An Introductory Guide to Virtual Analog Modelling - Sohyun Im - ADC 2024
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Audio circuits, such as guitar pedals and amplifiers, process input signals to output signals with specific audio effects. The process of replicating the electrical behaviour of these circuits in a digital environment is known as Virtual Analog (VA) modelling. This session aims to provide a basic understanding of VA modelling and explore various methods to achieve it. Finally, using these methods as a foundation, we will look at modelling the circuit of the MXR Distortion+ guitar pedal and examine the process of creating a real-time safe audio plugin that emulates the reference circuit’s behaviour.
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Sohyun Im graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Sound Engineering from the University of West London and is currently pursuing her Master's in Sound and Music Computing at Queen Mary University of London.
She has a keen interest in audio programming and DSP, having conducted research on Virtual Analog Modelling, which bridges the analog and digital realms, during her undergraduate studies. Additionally, she is deeply interested in the emerging field of generative music AI and is dedicated to advancing her knowledge in this area.
Sohyun is also a lifelong pianist. Regardless of the genre, feel free to invite her whenever you need a pianist. She might already be there, ready to play!
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
Rock-Solid Releases - Beginner-Friendly Introduction to CI/CD for Audio Developers - Fernando Garcia de la Cruz - ADC 2024
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Deploying audio web applications and plugins in a production environment demands meticulous attention to detail. Ensuring that software is thoroughly tested, validated, and compiled for various scenarios and platforms is crucial to maintaining quality.
This talk offers a beginner-friendly exploration of how to leverage tools like GitHub Actions to automate the development and deployment processes for audio applications and plugins. We’ll discuss the benefits of integrating CI/CD tools into your projects, whether you’re working solo or within a larger team. By the end, you’ll understand how to enhance both efficiency and reliability in your development pipeline.
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I’m Fernando! I’m a software engineer, audio developer, data engineer, guitar player, scientific communicator, and music-audio-AI enthusiast. I love learning and building projects. When I’m not coding, you’ll find me immersed in music production or photography.
Currently, I’m pursuing a Master’s in Sound and Music Computing at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, where I’m diving deeper into the intersection of sound, technology, and innovation. I look forward to connecting with fellow enthusiasts and sharing my experiences.
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
