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Grand bridge

absu

Member
I'm glad to present you my new project

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# GrandBridge FX Beta

**GrandBridge FX Beta** is a Windows VST3 plugin that works as a format bridge, CPU offload layer and sandbox host for effects.

It lets you load effect plugins of different formats inside a single VST3 plugin and run them outside the host process in a separate worker process.

## What GrandBridge is for

GrandBridge is designed around three main use cases.

### 1. Format bridging

GrandBridge lets you use several effect formats through one VST3 plugin:

- VST3 FX 64-bit
- VST2 FX 64-bit
- VST2 FX 32-bit via a separate worker32
- JSFX FX with GUI and @gfx support

In practice, you insert GrandBridge into any VST3-compatible host, then load a VST2 effect, an old 32-bit effect or a JSFX effect inside it.

### 2. CPU offload

The hosted effect runs in a separate `bridge_worker` process instead of running directly inside the host’s main audio processing path.

This can help to:

- reduce pressure on the host’s main realtime thread;
- distribute heavy plugins more flexibly across CPU cores;
- work around situations where the host stacks a heavy insert chain onto one core;
- handle large numbers of heavy plugin instances more reliably.

### 3. Sandbox and isolation

Because the hosted plugin runs in a separate process, it is less tightly coupled to the main host process.

This is useful for old, unstable or risky plugins: if such a plugin misbehaves, it is less likely to take down the whole project or the host itself.

## Automation

Hosted effect parameters are exposed to the host through GrandBridge automation slots.

This applies to all supported formats:

- VST3 parameters;
- VST2 parameters;
- VST2 32-bit parameters;
- JSFX sliders.

Parameters can be assigned, exposed to the host and automated.

## CPU profiles

### Auto / Balanced

The recommended default mode.

GrandBridge softly spreads worker processes across CPU cores without forcing a hard affinity lock. This is a good choice for most projects, especially when using multiple heavy instances.

### Keep DAW responsive

Similar to Auto / Balanced, but keeps the first CPU cores freer for the host and its user interface.

Useful when the project is heavy but the host still needs to remain responsive.

### Heavy plugin

A more dedicated mode for one particularly heavy plugin.

Useful when a specific effect is very CPU-hungry and should be moved into a dedicated CPU slot.

### Windows Native

GrandBridge gives no scheduling hints to Windows.

This is a fallback mode with completely standard Windows scheduler behavior.

## What works in this beta

- VST3 FX 64-bit hosting;
- VST2 FX 64-bit hosting;
- VST2 FX 32-bit hosting via worker32;
- JSFX hosting;
- JSFX GUI / @gfx support;
- hosted plugin GUI;
- parameter and slider automation;
- project restore;
- multi-instance usage;
- safe plugin switching and reload during playback;
- per-format plugin browser statistics.

## Current scope


This is the **FX-only** version.

Instrument, VSTi and MIDI support is planned later, after the FX version is released and tested more widely.

## Compatibility

GrandBridge works in any VST3-compatible Windows host.

This is a public beta. Compatibility may depend on the specific plugin, especially with old VST2 plugins, 32-bit effects or plugins with unusual GUI behavior.

## Short version

**GrandBridge FX Beta** is a VST3 bridge, CPU offload layer and sandbox host for FX plugins on Windows.

Supported formats:

- VST3 FX 64-bit
- VST2 FX 64-bit
- VST2 FX 32-bit
- JSFX FX with GUI / @gfx

GrandBridge lets you load effects of different formats inside one VST3 plugin, run them in a separate worker process, automate their parameters through GrandBridge slots and reduce the risk of host crashes caused by problematic plugins.


 
Cool!
 
in this screenshot 16 nam a2 is currently playing, with a loaded profile, dropout protection turned off and a 64 ms buffer.. In normal mode, s1 adds it all to the zero core and immediately dies)


1783527266576.png



core distribution

chrome_h5h68YgO2U.png
 
here is a more revealing screenshot, on it, 14 ndsp nolly x plays on the same channel)

S1 core distribution - and it dies and stop playing on 12 instance ...


Studio_Pro_ST5cSsqgFr.png



and Grand bridge (wih same plugin bridged ) - still playing on 14 instance without any problems


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