baselisk-rs

Baselisk is a synthesizer written in Rust, supporting the VST2 and JACK plugin formats.

Both the JACK and VST plugins are currently pre-alpha and unstable.

Crates and Build Targets

• core: contains common code to different build targets
• jack: depends on core, targets a JACK Audio Connection Kit executable plugin
• vst: depends on core, targets a VST2 dynamic library plugin

Dependencies

• JACK plugin: you'll need a working JACK Audio Connection Kit setup:
  • Server
  • Development libraries
  • (Optional) qjackctl, a helpful GUI utility for configuring a JACK server
• VST plugin: you'll need a Digital Audio Workstation that can host VST plugins.

Usage (JACK)

Change directory into the "jack" subdirectory.

To build: cargo build --release

Make sure your MIDI and audio devices are connected and powered on, and that the JACK audio server is running. Then:

cargo run --release

This application uses Rustyline to provide readline-like tab completion of commands.

Parameters that would take numeric values can currently be manipulated in these ways:

• filter frequency <value>: Sets the value of the parameter. Useful only if the parameter isn't assigned to a controller.
• filter frequency learn: Enables MIDI learn for this parameter; the next MIDI CC event will bind that CC to this parameter.
• filter frequency cc <controller>: Binds the CC number controller to this parameter.

The command tree itself is structured roughly like this.

• adsr
  • attack <seconds>: Set the attack time for the ADSR used by the gain and filter processors.
  • decay <seconds>: Set the ADSR decay time.
  • sustain <level>: Set the ADSR sustain level. 1.0 is considered maximum and 0.0 is minimum.
  • release <duration>: Set the ADSR release time.
• oscillator
  • type <str>: Sets the oscillator type. Supported are saw, pulse and sine. Does not support CC learning/modulation.
  • pitch <octaves>: Sets the pitch offset of the oscillator.
  • pulsewidth <width>: Sets the pulsewidth of the pulse waveform. 0.5 is a square wave. Minumum is 0.0 and maximum is 1.0.
• filter
  • frequency <hz>: Set the cutoff frequency of the filter.
  • resonance <q>: Set the quality (resonance) of the filter. 0.7 is flatter; values as high as 5.0 produce more resonance.
• waveshaper
  • inputgain <gain>: Set the input gain to the waveshaper stage, controlling waveshaper tone. 1.0 is unity gain.
  • outputgain <gain>: Set the output gain of the waveshaper. Does not affect waveshaper tone. 1.0 is unity gain.
• delay
  • feedback <proportion>: Set the proportion of feedback in the delay loop. 1.0 is unity gain; 0.0 is silence.
  • highpass <hz>: Set the frequency of the highpass filter in the feedback loop.
  • lowpass <hz>: Set the frequency of the lowpass filter in the feedback loop.
  • time_left <seconds>: Set the delay tap time for the left channel.
  • time_right <seconds>: Set the delay tap time for the right channel.
  • wetgain <gain>: Set the wet mix in the output. 1.0 is unity gain; 0.0 is silence.

Usage (VST)

Change directory into the "vst" subdirectory.

To build: cargo build --release

A dynamic library artifact is produced in vst/targets/release. You can copy this into your system VST folder and use it like any other VST.

Note that there is currently no GUI, which means the VST parameters are currently the only means of controlling the synthesizer, and some features are also not available yet in the VST plugin for this reason. Maybe in the future though!