[druid]

I’m not really sure if it’s already been covered, but getting into the innards of Podium, having the device definitions there… Importing several plugins where the author has not changed certain things… I noticed some plugs, by different authors, made in SynthEdit, used the same definition, because they had the same name (something like “SynthEdit Template” bla bla). And although this is a bigger problem, I realised that newer version VSTs, just ’cause I either relocate the file in the VST device or just replace the existing file, may have altered innards that are not reimported into Podium, since it relies on the project settings for each file.

I replaced FreeAmp 2 with FreeAmp 3, but I rename the VSTs to “FreeAmp.dll”. I haven’t used it in a project yet, and so the fact they have been heavily altered does not matter to me, but I HAVE already set it up in my template! Which means it had the old imported settings! If I hadn’t been being anal about going and renaming so many things right inside where some will never look, I would’ve possibly never realised this…

I really really don’t like how plugins are handled in Podium. I understand it might enable some potential uses, but I’d like to see it all a lot more automated and those options only available to those who want to mess with them. I’d like plugins to be updated etc. within Podium.

The way I work in Podium so far, is importing all my VSTs to devices, setting up some things, and saving it as a template, so I can just add VSTs and start a blank project, you know? But currently it seems that small things could crop up to make big problems later, if I’m not careful.

I can’t help but like energyXT’s handling of plugins and modular interface; you can even drag and drop a VST from anywhere on your computer (say you wanted to drag one in and test it before bothering to place it properly etc?), and you don’t need global instances for multiple inputs and outputs, you just wire them together. Its CC mapping as well is simple, so I can just use my controller easily. I can’t help but long for some of these features. Some of them are filled by me merely using the VST version, but some are sort of required at a host level to work…

Anyway, just thought I’d say that.