Combiner is a VST plug-in for combining low-frequency information from one input signal and high-frequency information from another.
Split-band processing is an important technique in any audio engineer's toolbelt, where a single input source is 'split' into multiple frequency band which can be individually processed and recombined later. The premise for Combiner is the opposite: given multiple full-range input signals, combine only one frequency band from each to produce a single output signal.
This process can be useful, for example, to blend a clean DI track and a distorted amp track from a bass guitar performance. While the same effect could be achieved using a low-pass and a high-pass filter on each of the respective tracks, Combiner provides the convenience of having both filters contained in a single plug-in, and, in 'Linked Mode' allows the engineer to adjust both filters with a single control.
- The simplest way to build this project from source is to use an IDE that is supported by JUCE (XCode, Visual Studio 2015/2017/2019 or Code::Blocks). Refer to their respective websites for setup instruction.
- JUCE can be found on their website. For additonal guidance with the setup instructions can be found in the JUCE documentation.
- Open Combiner.jucer located at the root of this repository in Projucer.
- Expand the Modules tab and ensure that the following modules are present:
- juce_audio_basics
- juce_audio_devices
- juce_audio_formats
- juce_audio_plugin_client
- juce_audio_processors
- juce_audio_utils
- juce_core
- juce_data_structures
- juce_events
- juce_graphics
- juce_gui_basics
- juce_gui_extra
- If any are absent, use the '+' button in the Modules panel and locate the files on your device to add them.
- Launch the project in your IDE, and it will be configured to build the project.
- Set the build target to VST3 to build as a plugin.
Once the project is built as a VST, simply located the 'Combiner.vst3' file in your 'Builds' directory and move it to a path that is visible to your DAW.
- Undo/Redo is currently not implemented.
- Gain sliders and mute/solo/flip polarity buttons will be added for each input.
- An output level control will also be added.
- The graphics on the UI need an overhaul.
- The plugin can become unstable if parameters are varied violently during playback. This can result in pops/clicks and crashes. Smoothing these transitions will be fixed in a future update.
- The plugin currently only accepts two stereo/dual-mono inputs and a single stereo/dual-mono output. A future update will add mono support for DAWs that don't default to dual-mono.
- Some combinations of plugin size and resolution can result in small misalignments in the UI.