Developer Andreas Pohl has released AudioGridder, a macOS-only client-server system that lets you offload plugin processing to any other computers in your network.
As you probably know, plugins and virtual instruments can be rather hungry for CPU resources. Even if you have a powerful computer, a single DAW session with multiple instances of virtual synthesizers, samplers, and effects will inevitably eat up system resources at some point. Situations like these are where AudioGridder comes in to preserve CPU resources.
See also: Get 96% OFF iZotope Music Maker’s Bundle @ Plugin BoutiqueThe server component runs on the remote computer you want to offload the DSP processing to. The plugin component is a regular AU/VST3 insert in your DAW, which connects to the server. Add your choice of VST plugins for offloading and the DSP code processing will be done by the remote computer. You can still tweak the plugins to your heart’s content, but your local CPU will have more room to breathe.
AudioGridder allows you to offload DSP processing from your local to remote computers. This can come in handy when mixing complex projects for instance. AudioGridder comes with a plugin and a server that is enabling VST3 and AudioUnit plugins to be hosted across the network.
Obviously, this type of setup requires another computer to be available on the same network. One computer will run the digital audio workstation, whereas the other machine will help by adding the CPU resources for handling the plugins.
Unfortunately, AudioGridder is only available for macOS computers at the moment. The plugin/server system is still in its alpha development stage, so it’s not unrealistic to expect a Windows version at a later point.
More info: AudioGridder
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5 Comments
Animus
onNow that is super nifty.
Rolf
onHi,
just a quick update: the plugin is not only for Mac users, but is now also running under Windows!
You can now install this amazing software/plugin on a pc!
Not all plugins seem to work under audiogridder, for example all of my 32bits plugins fail to load in the server software. And of course it’s only meant to load FX but no instrument plugins.
Still awesome!
Rolf
onWell I have to rectify my comment about not being able to use audiogridder for VST-instruments. I just did use a VST-i with low latency, and was able to select presets, and alter parameters and everything.
I did try using JBRIDGE for all my 32bit VST’s, but that’s no use. This results in all sorts of problems (one of which is the GUI of the plugin not displaying…)
Still, a very nice solution for relieving the workload on my one computer by running some heavy plugins on another!
Audiogridder for the win, Andreas Pohl rocks!
FOS
oncan’t connect to server, any advice please, I’ve used an eth cable between two Macs to make the network. Is it correct like this? their page is really lacking information of how to do it
Danny.
onReally keen in giving this a go, but yeah, like fos said, the website is a bit vague in how to set it up. Does the server computer need to have audiogridder installed on it as well? How do you connect the two computers, just with an ethernet cable? Does the other computer need to have an entire daw installed as well? A detailed intallation sheet or whatever wouldn’t go astray…