I just saw (and lost) your post on one of the Linux subs, have been looking at your site & GitHub. Great stuff!

Thanks for the free release! Supporting Linux!

I play guitar badly, so will be checking it out. Also have a friend who plays well, also uses Linux, so will passing this on.

I am interested in playing with your code but I couldn't see a license anywhere. What I would be targeting has an AGPL license, of necessity because I used the JUCE framework. I've no interest in any commercial use, is just experimental/for my own use/open source.

Can I play..?

My thing is a VST kinda related to the DL-1, except the building blocks I have are (mostly) at a lower level. I'd like to try incorporating some of yours. Aside from architectural similarities, I put it together largely to experiment with AI-driven construction of synths & effects. It has an MCP connector and a DSL (actually RDF) for describing topologies, which coding AIs are comfortable with.

https://danja.github.io/valis/

Hello everyone, I'm back with another update for you all and this one brings some big things with it. Builds are live in your accounts for download.

Linux and build automation:

• [New Feature] Added !!EXPERIMENTAL!! Linux x86_64 builds: I've updated my compile scripts and build chain to include a linux target its compiled against Ubuntu 26 LTS but comes packaged as a .vst so should be compatible with many distros.
• [Stuff for my sanity] Added a headless vmware build script, runs local ssh transfer, compile, packaging, checksum and architecture checks with spin up and spin down.

Interface and workflow:

• [New Feature] Type parameter values directly: Shift + Double click any parameter on a block to bring up a LCD popover

• [New Feature] NAM / IR Search: Using the LCD popover you can type out the filename
• [New Feature] Numeric Entry: Using the LCD popover you can type out any numerical value
• [New Feature] Enter/X2, Escape, Clicking: Added behaviors to make the UI UX feel more natural when navigating

Integrations and MCP:

• [New Feature] Added an optional local MCP Server: Disabled by default, this allows other applications to control DL-1
  • Connected clients can discover installed blocks, NAM/IR files, inspect the chain, add/remove block, change routing, adjust parameters, select models and initialise a new grid
• [New Feature] Live Updates Edits update the live sound and grid immediately; the editor follows the affected block and parameter.
• [New Feature] Blocked editing
• [New Feature] Control Protection Added a visible overlay, action text and Cancel control. sessions being controlled via the MCP lock manual chain controls and support rollback on cancellation or timeout, unless conflicting external changes prevent restoration. (This is to prevent settings conflicts while being driven)
• [New Feature] Live per-block readings Added live per-block peak readings and offline sine/noise analysis for gain, clipping indicators, RMS levels and frequency-band measurements.

Block Changes:

• [New Feature] Nam A2 Pan Control: Both A2 Full and Lite gain a pan control -100 is left + 100 is right 0 is center.
  • This is to support the creation of proper stereo chains, you can now hard pan an amp left and right and run different delays etc through them.
• [Bug Fix] IR Loader: When I added Out Lv to all the blocks I used a script which added it to the IR loader also causing so it had 2 master output controls

Please keep the feedback coming, I appreciate you all.

Hi Everyone, a new update is live for both free and premium users. Download from your Gumroad accounts this is a cumulative update that patches in most of the feedback I had received from over the weekend + some time I've had in the evenings to work on features.

Interface and Workflow:

• [New Feature] Clickable LCD Actions: Enter / Cancel now work directly in menus, lists, settings, file pickers and confirmation screens, you can now 'click' the screen instead of having to move to the keyboard and press enter, or click 'enter' the button
• [New Feature] LCD Preset-Name Editing: Fully rebuilt this module it now works as you'd expect with arrow keys, backspace, delete, click and drag over the text, click to inject a cursor etc "normal feeling"
• [Bug Fix] Interrupted Parameter Dragging: Some users had reported that when using the plugin as a VST within a host, dragging the effect block parameters was 'janky' and 'glitchy' this has been addressed and should be fixed now
• [Bug Fix] Improved Host Behavior: Pressing space bar in the VST no longer bypasses blocks, as that shortcut is reserved for play/pause in the DAW
• [New Feature] Gain Map mouse navigation: On the IO screen's gain map, click a column to select, double click an occupied column to jump to 'editing' the block, scroll to have the gain map represent different rows
• [New Feature] Shift + Drag Up/Down: Dragging a parameter up and down increases or decreases the value, holding shift increases the speed allowing you to make larger changes quicker and 'fine tune'

Tuners:

• [New Feature] Expanded Strobe Detection: The strobe tuners detection window has been expanded to 25-2000hz which now support lower and higher tunings with improved handling of harmonic rich notes.
• [New Feature] Tuner Mouse Interactions: Added click, scroll, and vertical drag adjustment for strobe and polyphonic string tuners.
• note: shift + drag as above supports faster changes.

Content, Presets and Block Loading:

• [New Feature] Drag and Drop NAM/IR Importing: simply drop a .nam or .wav file onto the standalone or plugin versions to have the nam/ir automatically copied into yoru configured folder.
• [New Feature] Automatic Refresh of Folders: When dropping a nam or ir, the content folder will be refreshed automatically.
• [Bug Fix] More responsive startup: Nam's and IR's are now scanned in the background and share the results across block editors rather than sequentially as the app starts. (This should result in faster opening times addressing a reported slow open from a user)
• [Bug Fix] Missing Effects / Blocks: If a block becomes unavailable (moved folder, deleted etc) it will allow sound through the missing block without coloring it to retain the signal chain.

New Blocks and Free version additions:

• [Added, Free, Premium] Utility > Volume: Basic utility plugin for managing volume through your chain.
• [Added, Premium] KEL SEVENTY6: A compressor modeled after a very famous pedal, using an 1176 style FET compressor.
• [Bug Fix, Free] Enabled the IR Loader: Had some users report that it was mentioned on the website but was missing from the plugin. Whoops! my fault sorry. Fixed!

Existing Block Improvements:

• [New Feature] Standardised Out LV controls: All of the blocks have been given an Out LV Parameter that allows you to gain stage them correctly before sending their output into the next block in the chain.
• [New Feature] NAM Calibration: Full and Lite now apply input/output level medata where the capture contains it. (same thing headrush just added) this should result in more consistent volume between nams.
• [New Feature] IR Loader Enhancements: I've added a 0-200% Level parameter, a low cut up to 1000hz, high cut up to 20,000hz and a polarity inversion switch. Filters and polarity are defaulted to off. This should help deal with Hot IR's and fine tuning response.

MIDI:

• [Bug Fix] Midi Editor: Right clicking a block parameter no longer brings up the midi editor window AND the lcd midi editor, opting only to bring up the editor window. When you close said window, you'll be on the effect you started with rather than in a new screen.

Please continue the feedback coming, I am taking it all seriously, addressing everything I can where it makes sense and continuing to push to make this plugin the best out there.

We have a discord now too for live chatting all are welcome: https://discord.gg/9Zzzga8mY

I would say, a native binary is likely in the future. (not a promise, but the current binary is running flawlessly) let me finish the core work on DL-1 first.

And that wraps it up for tonight! another release, and a proof of concept Linux compile.

DL-1 WILL BE the best plugin there is.

Hey all, I'm having great fun with ForgeEFX so far...

One thing struck me: What if I want to place an external plugin in Forge's internal chain... surely there must be a way to do this?

The manual says this about ins/outs:

However, ins and outs can also be used to create a software-based insert point (provided your DAW allows it!?).

In REAPER, it is possible, and in case anyone's wondering, I thought I'd describe the process here.

So, we can use an output to send to an aux track channel by inserting an OUT and choosing, for example, aux 3.

We then create a send from the track that Forge is on in REAPER, sending channel 3 to another track in REAPER.

For the next part to work (sending the signal back to Forge), we need to turn on 'allow feedback routing' in project settings 'advanced' tab.

Once that's done, we disable the master send on the track containing the inserted plugin, and create a send back to the track containing Forge

In Forge, we then insert an IN that receives on aux 3

Job done!

since we also have aux 4, we can insert a second insert point later in Forge's chain if we wish.

PLUS (although I haven't tried this yet), we still have the FX loop ins and outs if we want to also insert external hardware fx.

Hope this helps anyone interested in doing the same sort of thing... and do let me know if there's a better/different way.

A couple of questions that I'm left with:

1. Could additional internal channels be a useful upgrade in ForgeEFX, allowing for even more insert points?
2. I have a 6 channel interface, but the fx loop inserts only show 1/2 or 3/4 -- is that a limitation of the plugin?

UPDATE: All Mac binaries are now digitally signed, and notarized by apple. Pull a download again and overwrite for the latest version 😄

Previous Post:
Thanks again everyone, I've had a couple of people on mac send me some screenshots of security warnings and having to 'approve' each block loaded by the plugin.

The cause of this is simply that I used an ad-hoc signing certificate for the Apple builds, but when when you download any file on a mac, apple appends a quarantine flag to it and if it doesn't have an approved signing certificate you get warnings on EVERY binary (including each efx-block....)

Unfortunately building for apple means you have to pay them otherwise your users suffer a poor experience.

This afternoon I've renewed my Apple developer program and will be signing the Apple builds and blocks with it shortly.

As promised, I've been hard at work this Sunday afternoon to get the plugin compiling a valid Apple Mac audio unit that can run under Logic Pro.

This will be included in the Mac folder soon and released after some further testing.

Finally, a continued thank you to everyone who's providing feedback through DM's and private chats, and those who've taken the time to have a jam with it.

Almost all of your feedback has been addressed today where I could make it happen and more!

Hello, Thank you all again and my apologies if you ran into this bug where the standalone version was muted and not making sound but the VST was.

I've pushed a hot fix, just re-download and it will resolve.

Also; there is a manual available for download on the website if anyone wants some help configuring https://www.forgeefx.com/assets/downloads/ForgeEFX-DL-1-Owners-Manual.pdf