Composers Desktop Project Forum

Sorry I missed this thread until now. Actually I have already begun what I hope will become  a Mac port of Soundshaper. The programming language I use (Delphi) is now strongly cross-platform, so that is no longer a problem. But the program first needs to be revised to use a different cross-platform framework (Fire Monkey) from that currently in use. This requires the use of different graphics components and finding Mac substitutes for any unsupported Windows-specific functions. (Alternatively, the free Lazarus IDE, which also supports Linux, may be considered.) Another issue is that I don't own a Mac (!), though the revised program can be developed on Windows and then compiled and tested on a borrowed Mac.

The starting point for the project has been to redesign the batch scripting used to run CDP command-lines and consequently to tidy up the way Soundshaper writes these scripts. The motive for this is to put a whole Soundshaper patch (sequence of processes) into a single cell, i.e. to run it as if one process. This means it must be able to to run with any input sound(s). So far, the scripts are independent of file-type (.wav/.ana/.frq etc.), incorporating any required conversions, and input channels (working with mono or multi-channel). The next step is to write and test Mac and Linux equivalents of these.

Another motive is to reconsider the CDP portfolio supported by Soundshaper. There is room for some pruning, and re-casting others as composite processes — e.g. PANORAMA writes a mix file, but I suspect most users would prefer if it ran the mix as well. What may well emerge is a more selective GUI, free and cross-platform. 

Lynx (reply #8) - I haven't investigated WINE on Mac yet (not having a Mac) though I will look into this as a possibility for Linux. I would assume, though, that compiling native code for a platform is always the best solution.

The CDP downloads page has a link to the Soundshaper GUI, either:
www.ensemble-software.net/downloads/SoundshaperLite.zip
or
www.ensemble-software.net/downloads/SoundshaperPro.zip

• Please install CDP first.
• Take a note of your base CDP-folder, for example C:\cdpr7 .
• SoundshaperLite is a free product, but Pro requires a licence
  which you can get from the CDP website.
• Unzip the Soundshaper zip (anywhere) and launch the setup exe
  e.g. SoundshaperLite2-4.exe or Soundshaper4-3.exe.
• When asked, enter the base CDP-folder (e.g. C:\cdpr7) as the one to unzip to.

• Navigate to the newly created Soundshaper folder, e.g.
  C:\cdpr7\SoundshaperLite2.4 (Lite) or C:\cdpr7\Soundshaper4.3 (Pro)
  and double-click on SoundshaperLite.exe (Lite) or Soundshaper.exe (Pro)
• Select folders:
  (1) CDP-base folder, e.g. C:\cdpr7
  (2) CDP programs folder, e.g. C:\cdpr7\_cdp\_cdprogs
  (3) CDP DOCS folder, e.g. C:\cdpr7\DOCS

• The program will launch and you can visit the Settings Page (Option>Settings)
  at any time to modify the above folders and add other settings.
• Pro only: please visit the Registration Page (Help>Registration)
  and follow the instructions for registering the program.

Any problems, please e-mail me at mail@ensemble-software.net.

Robert Fraser