Teragon Audio audio has released ChaosChimp, a freeware VST/AU plugin tool which simulates errors and performance issues in a Digital Audio Workstation.
ChaosChimp is an audio effect plugin designed to cause problems for your sequencer. Seriously! Use at your own risk, and always keep backups!
ChaosChimp is available for free download via Teragon Audio (18.4 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit VST/AU plugin format for Windows & Mac).
So, why would anyone try to cause performance issues in their DAW on purpose? There’s nothing worse than watching your poor VST host freeze up or hearing those nasty clicky noises when we use up too much CPU in a single project, right?
The goal of ChaosChimp is to simulate these unwanted scenarios before they happen on their own. For example, DJs can use this plugin to test their online setup and improve the stability of their project before going to a live performance. Plugin developers can also use this tool to test their products and easily detect and fix performance bugs.
ChaosChimp can simulate CPU hogging, memory leaks, host crashing, feedback, and several other bad dream scenarios. It is possible to adjust the probability and duration of the effect. Thankfully, a Panic button is also provided as a quick way to stop the simulation.
The plugin is licensed under the GPL2 license. For better or for worse, the source code is available for free download on the developer’s website. I hope no one will grab the code and pass this on as a freeware chorus plugin or something!
Seriously though, I’ll definitely give this plugin a try. My live setup consists of MuLab running Tyrell N6 and various freeware effects (mostly limited to delay and distortion), and a portable MIDI keyboard. Although my laptop is powered by a decent Intel Core i3 processor, I still try to keep the effect count as minimal as possible in fear of performance issues. Hopefully, testing with ChaosChimp will give me a better insight as to which effect plugins I can use in my live rig without risking some serious crashes.
Do you use your VST plugins in a live setup? Which host do you use? Leave your comments below!
Links
Teragon Audio: click here
