Fourier Audio, which was recently acquired by DiGiCo, has announced the introduction of the transform.engine, a new Dante-connected server designed to run all VST3-native software plugins in live sound and broadcast environments.
Previously known as codename “Project Core” and housed in a 2U touring-grade chassis with dual redundant power supplies, the transform.engine is compatible with any VST3 plugin that can run on Windows. Designed to provide a turnkey approach for plugin hosting, the device is controlled by a remote Windows or macOS client application. Users can connect to the engine via a standard Ethernet cable, install their plugins, and get directly to processing.
Fourier Audio’s patent-pending audio software engine is designed to supply a solid “sandbox” with plugins ring-fenced from each other. Should a plugin crash, the rest of the system will not only be unaffected, but the transform.engine will immediately restart that plugin to help restore the original integrity of the mix.
It’s designed to be integrated directly into live audio workflows, starting with DiGiCo consoles. However, similar to products from sibling brand KLANG:technologies, the new device is stated to be capable of operating in conjunction with virtually any professional digital console on the market via Dante using the Windows/macOS application to control the engine.
The transform.engine can also process audio stand-alone with no computer required. Controlled remotely by a Windows/macOS application, with plugin user interfaces “teleported” and controlled in very low-latency over the network. Scheduled to ship in the first quarter of 2024, the transform.engine will feature an optional software subscription bundle.
“In the meantime, we’re inviting studio software manufacturers to contact us about potentially offering their plugins as part of transform.engine’s ever-expanding open ecosystem of live tools,” says Fourier Audio CEO Henry Harrod. “We want to introduce them to a whole new market segment that they’ve not previously had access to. At the same time, we want to offer live sound engineers not just ‘good’ emulations of various studio plugins, but the absolute best-sounding authentic versions of every plugin they might possibly want from the professional recording world. It’s a ‘win-win’ situation for everyone.”
Fourier Audio CCO Gareth Owen adds, “There are a lot of other VST hosting approaches out there, but when you have a theater, arena, or stadium full of people listening to your show, there’s no margin for error,” he says. “With the backing and support of DiGiCo, which is celebrated for its decades of designing tourable, reliable, and long-lasting hardware, we are building the ultimate plugin solution.”
Fourier Audio’s team of engineers, led by CTO Peter Bridgman, has followed two years of R&D with a recent collaboration with DiGiCo to deliver new hardware platform for transform.engine. DiGiCo technical director John Stadius has been working very closely with the Fourier Audio team and says, “It has been an exciting challenge for our teams to design a brand new bespoke hardware platform. The Fourier Audio team reminds me of an early-stage DiGiCo, and that enthusiasm really motivated us all to get it done. I couldn’t be happier with the end result and what it will mean for live sound engineers.”
