I need to test a plugin that I'm trying to develop.
Is there any light, free and super basic DAW that I can use just to run the plugin?
I'd like to work both in windows and mac


Thanks for your help!

 

three free ones that come to mind immediately (sorry, PC only, I don't know about mac), they're not really daws, but described as vst hosts.
kushview element:
https://kushview.net/element/
hermann seib vsthost:
https://www.hermannseib.com/english/vsthost.htm
Niall Moody pedalboard2:
https://www.niallmoody.com/apps/pedalboard2

I like vsthost best for testing plugs coz I can dragndrop a .dll or .vst3 file directly on a shortcut to the .exe and it'll open quickly and load the plug connected and ready to go (it's got a version of jbridge built in too).
Unlike a daw that probably wants to scan all installed plugs on startup, I find simpler, one plug hosts quicker for single plug testing.


good luck

 

Last edited: Apr 29, 2020

Look no further than Cockos REAPER (https://reaper.fm/). Its basically free and there's a free license till August IIRC. It works on Mac, Windows (even Linux). Super light, but not really basic (in the sense it can be used professionally) It handles all my plugins the best of all the DAW's I have used on Mac and Windows. It also has a built-in bit-bridge (can run 32-bit plugins on 64 bit systems). I use it to test plugins myself, if it doesn't work on REAPER then it probably won't work in other DAWs either.

All the best!

 

Lighter than Reaper?

 

best choice =)

 

reaper has 60 day trial...and after opens nerving screen at start...its still full version after...

or use warezed synapse orion or so , its discontinued

mulab maybe

stablity you should test in every DAW on ideal scale...at least 2 majors i would say , reaper is one of them for sure

 

I would also add cantabile to the list.

 

i have used this ^ for testing VSTs

and this ^ for using VSTs with my live work.

i can confirm that both are great options. for super lightweight you cant beat VSTHost

 

vsthost is as small as it can get