Fourier Audio has announced a software update for its transform.engine, enabling VST3 plug-in states to be stored and recalled during live productions.
Available as a free download, v1.2 software allows users to recall Cues over a Midi connection from either a mixing console or show control software. Additionally, support for multiple Cuelists allows multiple users to control plug-in states in different chains (or even the same ones) on a single server.
‘The transform.engine has already proven itself as a highly reliable audio processor for running plug-ins during live shows and broadcasts, but the single biggest request that we’ve heard from our users is that they’ve wanted “snapshot” recall of their settings,’ says Fourier Audio co-founder, Henry Harrod. ‘Our new software delivers with the introduction of Cuelists. If, for example, you have reverbs on a show and each song has different reverb times, with Cuelists, you can now quickly and easily recall those plug-in parameters between numbers.’
The update also enables Fourier Audio users to build on the multiple-client functionality of the product: ‘When different engineers – front-of-house and monitor, for example – are sharing a single transform.engine, they can each have unique Cuelists targeting different chains at the same time,’ Harrod explains.
The new Cuelists feature has passed the rigorous automated test procedures that Fourier Audio performs on all products, and the sound and dependability of the transform.engine when managing Cues are ‘rock-solid’.
‘From live music tours and festivals to global broadcasts to major theatrical events, all of our customers will now be able to create even more dynamic sonic experiences across their sets, programmes and productions,’ Harrod says. ‘Plus, they’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that the reliability is absolutely there.’
As part of Fourier Audio’s DiGiCo integration, a specific mode responding to Midi Controller Change messages on Controller Numbers 16-19 is available to provide a streamlined and efficient workflow. For other applications, Cues (contained in Cuelists) on the transform.engine can also be triggered via a direct Midi cable connection transmitting Midi Note On, Program Change, or NRPN messages.
Housed in a 2U-high touring-grade chassis with dual redundant power supplies, the transform.engine is a Dante-connected server designed to run VST3-native software plug-ins in a live environment. This gives engineers and creatives access to the studio-grade processing on a robust platform that is specifically designed for the rigors and complexities of live productions.
For reliability, the audio software engine provides a sandbox with plug-ins ring-fenced from each other. Should a plug-in crash, the rest of the system will not only be unaffected, but the transform.engine will immediately restart that plug-in, quickly restoring the original integrity of the mix.
The Fourier Audio device is fully capable of operating in conjunction with virtually any professional digital console on the market via Dante, using the Windows/macOS application to control the engine. The transform.engine can also process audio standalone with no computer required. Controlled remotely by a Windows/macOS application, with plug-in user interfaces ‘teleported’ and controlled in ultra-low-latency over the network, the product has been tuned to deliver the lowest-latency solution on the market for hosting VST3 plug-ins, while preserving the reliability and performance of the server.
More: www.fourieraudio.com
