Here’s why we should prioritize using and supporting CLAP over VST. Although VST has been the industry standard for years, it’s not as free or flexible as it seems, especially for developers. Let’s break it down:
- VST isn’t "technically free" if you want to develop and distribute proprietary plugins. The VST3 SDK is under the GPL license, which is viral—if you use it, you’re forced to open-source your entire project, making it unusable for many developers who might otherwise be interested in open-source development. Even if I wanted to make my project open-source, why would I be motivated if my work cannot be exploited in proprietary projects?
- Regarding VST2, it’s obsolete, but the issue is that Steinberg made it nearly impossible for developers to continue using VST2 by stopping its licensing in 2018. So, developers didn’t just "switch to VST3" voluntarily — they were forced to
- VST3 might be extensible, but it’s also rigid compared to open formats like CLAP. Sure, developers can extend it, but they have to work under Steinberg's ecosystem and licensing model. CLAP is the first open-source free license solution, designed to address these exact limitations. It offers more freedom to developers and better performance features, like multithreading and polyphonic modulation, which VST3 doesn't handle nearly as well
- Here’s the kicker: I don’t even know how much a VST3 commercial license costs because Steinberg doesn't even list the price publicly—you have to call them and sign a contract! This isn’t something indie developers can easily navigate.
- Open standards like MIDI have given us more options, flexibility, and better pricing over time, which is why we should support CLAP. It’s offering competition and freedom, not chaos.
- Reaper already supports CLAP, and we should be supporting CLAP across all forums and discussions so that vendors start migrating to this truly open and modern format. In the long run, this will allow for more free development of plugins, more choices for users, and a better ecosystem overall.
It’s our responsibility as users to support CLAP if we want more variety in audio plugins, competitive pricing, and future integration possibilities. If we want to make it easier for indie developers to create audio plugins—just like the strides we've made in computer development with frameworks—now is the time to support open formats like CLAP in the audio landscape. This shift will allow for innovation, independent development, and more affordable tools in the long term.
- VST isn’t "technically free" if you want to develop and distribute proprietary plugins. The VST3 SDK is under the GPL license, which is viral—if you use it, you’re forced to open-source your entire project, making it unusable for many developers who might otherwise be interested in open-source development. Even if I wanted to make my project open-source, why would I be motivated if my work cannot be exploited in proprietary projects?
- Regarding VST2, it’s obsolete, but the issue is that Steinberg made it nearly impossible for developers to continue using VST2 by stopping its licensing in 2018. So, developers didn’t just "switch to VST3" voluntarily — they were forced to
- VST3 might be extensible, but it’s also rigid compared to open formats like CLAP. Sure, developers can extend it, but they have to work under Steinberg's ecosystem and licensing model. CLAP is the first open-source free license solution, designed to address these exact limitations. It offers more freedom to developers and better performance features, like multithreading and polyphonic modulation, which VST3 doesn't handle nearly as well
- Here’s the kicker: I don’t even know how much a VST3 commercial license costs because Steinberg doesn't even list the price publicly—you have to call them and sign a contract! This isn’t something indie developers can easily navigate.
- Open standards like MIDI have given us more options, flexibility, and better pricing over time, which is why we should support CLAP. It’s offering competition and freedom, not chaos.
- Reaper already supports CLAP, and we should be supporting CLAP across all forums and discussions so that vendors start migrating to this truly open and modern format. In the long run, this will allow for more free development of plugins, more choices for users, and a better ecosystem overall.
It’s our responsibility as users to support CLAP if we want more variety in audio plugins, competitive pricing, and future integration possibilities. If we want to make it easier for indie developers to create audio plugins—just like the strides we've made in computer development with frameworks—now is the time to support open formats like CLAP in the audio landscape. This shift will allow for innovation, independent development, and more affordable tools in the long term.
Statistics: Posted by cesarpx — Wed Oct 23, 2024 4:04 am