Designing Audio Effect Plugins in C++

Designing Audio Effect Plugins in C++ presents everything you need to know about digital signal processing in an accessible way. Not just another theory-heavy digital signal processing book, nor another dull build-a-generic-database programming book, this book includes fully worked, downloadable code for dozens of professional audio effect plugins and practically presented algorithms.

Sections include the basics of audio signal processing, the anatomy of a plugin, AAX, AU and VST3 programming guides; implementation details; and actual projects and code. More than 50 fully coded C++ audio signal-processing objects are included. Start with an intuitive and practical introduction to the digital signal processing (DSP) theory behind audio plug-ins, and quickly move on to plugin implementation, gain knowledge of algorithms on classical, virtual analog, and wave digital filters, delay, reverb, modulated effects, dynamics processing, pitch shifting, nonlinear processing, sample rate conversion and more. You will then be ready to design and implement your own unique plugins on any platform and within almost any host program.

This new edition is fully updated and improved and presents a plugin core that allows readers to move freely between application programming interfaces and platforms. Readers are expected to have some knowledge of C++ and high school math.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Anatomy of an Audio Plugin

Chapter 3: VST3 Programming Guide

Chapter 4: AU Programming Guide

Chapter 5: AAX Native Programming Guide

Chapter 6: ASPiK Programming Guide

Chapter 7: Using RackAFX to Create ASPiK Projects

Chapter 8: C++ Conventions and How to Use This Book

Chapter 9: How DSP Filters Work (Without Complex Math)

Chapter 10: Basic DSP Theory

Chapter 11: Audio Filter Designs: 11 R Filters

Chapter 12: Audio Filter Designs: Wave Digital and Virtual Analog

Chapter 13: Modulators: LFOs and Envelope Detectors

Chapter 14: Delay Effects and Circular Buffers

Chapter 15: Modulated Delay Effects

Chapter 16: Audio Filter Designs: FlR Filters

Chapter 17: Reverb Effects

Chapter 18: Dynamics Processing

Chapter 19: Nonlinear Processing: Distortion, Tube Simulation, and HF Exciters

Chapter 20: FFT Processing: The Phase Vocoder

Chapter 21: Displaying Custom Waveforms and FFTs

Chapter 22: Sample Rate Conversion

About the Author

Will C. Pirkle is Associate Professor and Program Director of Music Engineering Technology at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. He teaches classes in C++ Audio Programming, Signal Processing, Audio Synthesis, and Mobile App Programming. In addition to 14 years of teaching at the University of Miami, Will has 20 years of experience in the audio industry working and consulting for such names as Korg Research and Development, SiriusXM Radio, Diamond Multimedia, Gibson Musical Instruments, and National Semiconductor Corporation. An avid guitarist and studio owner, Will still seeks projects that combine all his skills.