[cw-discuss] Crossover - VST plugin support?

[Mark Knecht]

No, not at all. That's not the issue.

The issue is there is some defined interface for the VST itself to
interface into the host platform. The VST and the host must agree on
the interface or else audio, MIDI, etc., doesn't get across the
interface. That interface, not the host and not the VST, belong to
Steinberg. If you want to use it you must sign their NDAs.

Now, I have no problem with NDAs and I have no problem living within
them, but for a GPL app to ship anything as source it would have to
reveal this interface which, if things are like they were a couple of
years ago, they cannot do without more NDAs. That's the problem.

However there is no problem at all using the interface under NDA,
making an app that uses it and then shipping that app as binary.

So, again, you and I are on exactly the same team here. We would both
love it if some binary Windows app, or in fact any binary app - be it
Windows or even a Linux app - would work correctly and allow VSTs to
load. You and I don't really care if the host is written for Windows
or if it was some part of a Linux app that we never saw source for. If
it works, it works, and we're happy.

- Mark

On 1/19/07, JJB <onephatcat at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Ah, I see what you are talking about. I thought you meant product
> licensing for the binaries.
>
> Joel
>
>
> On Jan 19, 2007, at 10:32 AM, Mark Knecht wrote:
>
> > On 1/19/07, JJB <onephatcat at earthlink.net> wrote:
> >> Mark,
> >>
> >> VST Licensing is simple: you put "Made with Steinberg VST Technology"
> >> in the About box, and you don't use the tech in ways that would make
> >> Steinberg look bad, or hurt people. No licensing fees are necessary.
> >>
> >> http://www.steinberg.de/532+M52087573ab0.html
> >>
> >> That is why there are so many 3rd party VST plugins and VST is still
> >> the major standard.
> >>
> >>
> >
> > Hi,
> >   You may be right but I think it's more difficult than that. To make
> > any program that interfaces to a VST the developer has to (or used to
> > have to) sign an agreement not to distribute the Steinberg VST
> > interfaces in source format unless the receiver was already a licensee
> > through Steinberg. This makes it difficult (impossible?) for a source
> > distribution like Wine to include the VST interface definitions under
> > GPL.
> >
> >   It would be completely true, to the best of my knowledge, that a
> > company like Codeweavers could sign the Steinberg agreements and then
> > develop and distribute an app in binary format that allowed VSts to
> > work under Crossover or Wine in general. However doing it as source is
> > not, or at least was now, allowed.
> >
> >   Again, you and I are on the same side here. Minihost, Savihost,
> > Kore - it wouldn't matter to me which one worked as long as it worked
> > well. I happen to like the NI applications as many of them run under
> > Wine anyway so it would seem their basic programming style is already
> > close to what's required.
> >
> > Over and out,
> > Mark
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> discuss mailing list
> discuss at crossover.codeweavers.com
> http://crossover.codeweavers.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>