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PresetEngine

A Declarative, Text-Driven Modular Multi-Effect Plugin.

PresetEngine is a VST3 and Standalone audio plugin that allows you to define complex audio processing chains and custom user interfaces entirely through text configuration. It bridges the gap between DSP coding and rapid prototyping.

What is it?

Think of it as a "browser" for audio processing chains. Instead of hardcoding a plugin with a fixed set of features, PresetEngine reads a configuration file (YAML, JSON, or XML) and dynamically constructs:

  1. The DSP Chain: Instantiating and connecting audio effects in the specified order.
  2. The User Interface: Generating knobs, sliders, dropdowns, and meters to control those effects.

Technically, PresetEngine's configurable architecture makes it possible to recreate the vast majority of common commercial plugins (covering roughly 90% of typical use-cases) as well as support advanced, custom plugin behaviors — all defined via text configuration or programmatically.

Key Features

  • 📄 Text-to-DSP: Define your signal chain using simple, human-readable YAML (or JSON/XML).
  • 🎨 Dynamic UI Generation: The plugin automatically builds a professional GUI based on your config. You define the controls (ui: Slider, style: Rotary), and the engine handles the layout.
  • ⚡ Hot-Reloading: Edit the configuration directly inside the plugin window. Click "Apply" to instantly rebuild the DSP chain and UI without restarting your DAW.
  • 🔌 Format Agnostic: Native support for YAML, JSON, and JUCE XML.
  • 🐍 Python & Go SDKs: Generate complex presets programmatically using our provided SDKs. PresetEngine supports programmable languages such as Python and Go, enabling programmatic preset generation and tight integrations with external tooling.
  • 🎛️ Comprehensive DSP Library: Built on the robust JUCE DSP module.

Supported Effects

The plugin currently includes a wide range of studio-quality modules:

  • Dynamics: Compressor, Limiter, Noise Gate
  • EQ & Filters: IIR Filter (Low/High/BandPass), Ladder Filter (Moog-style drive)
  • Spatial: Reverb, Delay, Panner
  • Modulation: Chorus, Phaser
  • Utility: Gain, Distortion (WaveShaper)

Example Configurations

Simple Linear Chain

- type: NoiseGate
  threshold: -60.0

- type: LadderFilter
  mode: LP24
  frequency:
    value: 400.0
    ui: Slider
    style: Rotary
  drive: 2.0

- type: Delay
  time: 0.375
  mix: 0.3

Group, Parallel, and Loop-Like Processing

Groups allow you to build more complex structures such as parallel branches and repeated processing:

# Top-level series chain
- type: Group
  mode: series        # process children in order
  children:
    - type: NoiseGate
      threshold: -60.0

    # Parallel send/return style group
    - type: Group
      mode: parallel  # each child sees the same input, outputs are mixed
      children:
        # Dry path
        - type: Gain
          gainDb: 0.0

        # Wet path
        - type: Group
          mode: series
          children:
            - type: Reverb
              mix: 1.0
            - type: Delay
              time: 0.375
              mix: 0.4

    # Loop-like repeated processing
    - type: Group
      mode: series
      repeat: 3       # run children 3 times in series
      children:
        - type: LadderFilter
          mode: LP24
          frequency: 400.0
          drive: 1.5

Building

Windows: Run the included build script:

build_release.bat

This will generate a presets_windows.zip in the release/ folder containing the VST3 file.