Get with the programmers
Bil Bryant of Amped Studio – who bring us this month’s free DAW (see p84) – does some cloud-DAW-busting
“The challenge is making it easy to use for anyone”
What does the ‘online studio’ concept offer the professional producer?
BB “The mobility of having your projects and sounds available on any computer, anywhere are the obvious benefits. Pro producers often use more than one DAW for specific purposes, and an online DAW can be a complimentary addition for any producer collaborating and in transit. Sketching out and sharing a project as a link that opens the arrangement in your browser is universally accessible.”
Amped has come on in leaps and bounds. What were the big challenges?
BB “We started in PNaCl (Portable Native Client Code) for Chrome and then ported over to WASM (Web Assembly) when it was robust enough for an application like Amped Studio. There are some dependencies with the architecture of browser technologies and standardisations that factor into building an audio-intensive web application, and I think we’ve done good there. The other challenge is making it easy to use for anyone, while having the tools users expect.”
What are your favourite features of Amped Studio?
BB “Though I love the speed and simplicity of hybrid tracks and just dragging in a MIDI file or audio file and not having to adjust anything, XYBeatZ is my favourite. It’s unique in that it’s a MIDI generator in an XY pad interface with hundreds of drum rhythms allowing for real time recording of thousands of unique combos. Recording live and moving around the interface to create new beats is really fun and creative.”
Web Audio Modules are among Amped Studio’s most exciting bits. How easy is it to port existing VST plugins to the platform?
BB “We’re very excited to be part of the development of an open standard for web-based plugins, and to be the first online DAW to support Web Audio Modules (WAMs). The forthcoming WAM API and accompanying SDK will provide developers with a great set of tools to build both plugins from scratch and help ease the transition from VST to WAM. Working with professional audio on the web does come with limitations, but despite that, the current technological stack makes it possible to realise the vast majority of plugins. Our first cooperation with a third party is Reason Studios and their awesome Europa synth. We’ll be assisting with the WAM port while the API and SDK are being developed. This is a great opportunity to work with such a quality partner.”
You’ve just released VST/Remote which connects desktop VSTs to Amped Studio. Does that have any bearing on WAM development?
BB “No, web plugins are the future focus of the web app, but we were constantly asked if Amped Studio reads VSTs, so despite limitations, we created an experimental VST Host that connects desktop VSTs to the web app. You can use only one VST at a time currently, but results are good.”
What does the future hold for Amped Studio?
BB “WAMs are important to us, and to have third parties help us legitimise the format will be essential. We’re also exploring unique remote recording and collaboration approaches – especially important now.”