Following the recent announcement that it has struck a partnership with DiGiCo, Fourier Audio has taken the wraps off its Project Core with the launch of the transform.engine – a Dante-connected server designed to run all VST3-native software plug-ins in a live environment, bringing studio software to live sound and broadcast.

Housed in a 2U-high touring-grade chassis with dual redundant power supplies, transform.engine is Fully compatible with any VST3 plug-in that can run on Windows, giving access to studio-grade processing on a robust platform that is specifically designed for the rigors and complexities of live productions.

Designed as a turnkey solution for plug-in hosting, the transform.engine is easily controlled by a remote Windows or macOS client application, reducing the need for complex set-ups. Users can connect to the engine via a standard Ethernet cable, install their plug-ins, and get directly to processing.

For reliability, Fourier Audio’s patent-pending audio software engine provides a rock-solid sandbox with plug-ins ring-fenced from each other. Should a plug-in crash, the rest of the system will be unaffected, and the transform.engine will immediately restart that plug-in, quickly restoring the original integrity of the mix.

Designed to be integrated directly into live audio workflows, transform.engine will soon put control of plug-ins directly under the fingers of engineers on their own worksurfaces, starting with DiGiCo consoles. However, similar to products from sibling brand Klang:technologies, the new Fourier Audio device is fully 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 standalone with no computer required. Controlled remotely by a Windows/macOS application, with plug-in user interfaces ‘teleported’ and controlled in ultra-low-latency over the network, the product has been tuned to deliver the lowest-latency solution on the market for hosting VST3 plug-ins, while preserving the reliability and performance of the server.

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 plug-ins 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 studio plug-ins, but the best-sounding authentic versions of every plug-in they might possibly want from the professional recording world.’

Fourier Audio CCO Gareth Owen points out that transform.engine’s reliability will be one of its greatest hallmarks. ‘There are a lot of other VST hosting approaches out there, but when you have a theatre, 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 plug-in solution.’

Led by CTO Peter Bridgman, the Fourier Audio team of engineers has followed two years of intensive R&D with a recent collaboration with DiGiCo to deliver a new hardware platform for transform.engine. DiGiCo Technical Director John Stadius has been working closely with the Fourier Audio team and his excitement is evident.

‘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.’

See also: 
DiGiCo acquires software specialist Fourier Audio

More: www.fourieraudio.com