UK start-up Fourier Audio and owner DiGiCo have announced that the transform.engine – Dante-connected server designed to run VST3-native software plugins in live environments – is available for purchase worldwide. Housed in a 2U chassis with dual redundant power supplies, the transform.engine brings premium studio software to live sound and broadcast applications. The companies say it gives engineers and creatives access to studio-grade processing on a robust platform.
Fourier Audio’s patent-pending audio software engine provides a sandbox with plugins ring-fenced from each other. Should a plugin crash, the rest of the system will be unaffected and the transform.engine will immediately restart that plugin, quickly restoring the original integrity of the mix.
The companies say the new Fourier Audio device operates 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. It is controlled remotely by a Windows/macOS application, with plugin user interfaces “teleported” and controlled in ultra-low-latency over the network.
Tony Smith, audio consultant, who works with rock band Coldplay, helped to test the product this year. He said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Fourier Audio over the past few months beta testing the transform.engine. The ability to run any plugin, beyond Waves, is exciting to say the least, and also being able to integrate it into our DiGiCo workflow is a game-changer. It gives us the ability to take any studio tool out on the road.”
Meanwhile, Marc Carolan, a sound engineer for rock group Muse, added: “The ability to expand the plugin palette on a rock-solid platform will make the transform.engine an indispensable piece of kit. I was a very early beta tester, but it imbued such confidence that it was immediately put to work on the Will of the People tour.”
Henry Harrod, co-founder, Fourier Audio, responded to the praise: “We are thrilled to have received such wonderful feedback from our beta testers during the past few months and are eager to make the transform.engine available to engineers worldwide. We look forward to seeing how creatives utilise it effectively and harness the capabilities of the very best audio plugins for their projects.”
Finally, Austin Freshwater, managing director, DiGiCo, concluded. “The engineers that were given an early test drive of the product have all come back with fantastic compliments, and we know that this system is going to soon put smiles on a lot of faces at front of house.”
