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Lumix features a unified plugin architecture that supports both built-in effects and external VST2 plugins through a common interface. This design allows for seamless mixing of native and third-party audio processors in the signal chain.

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Architecture

The plugin system is built around the IAudioProcessor interface, which provides a consistent API for all audio processing components regardless of their implementation.

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IAudioProcessor Interface

All plugins in Lumix implement the IAudioProcessor interface: 
public interface IAudioProcessor
{
    bool Enabled { get; set; }
    bool DeleteRequested { get; set; }
    bool DuplicateRequested { get; set; }
    
    void Process(float[] input, float[] output, int samplesRead);
    T? GetPlugin<T>() where T : class;
    void Toggle();
}
Key Members:
  • Enabled - Controls whether the plugin is active in the signal chain
  • Process() - The core audio processing method that transforms input samples to output
  • GetPlugin<T>() - Generic method to retrieve the underlying plugin implementation
  • Toggle() - Convenience method to enable/disable the plugin

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Plugin Types

Built-in Plugins

Native effects including EQ and utility processors

VST2 Plugins

External VST2 instrument and effect support

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Processing Flow

Plugins process audio in a consistent manner:
  1. Input Buffer - Receives interleaved stereo audio samples (Left, Right, Left, Right…)
  2. Processing - Transforms the audio according to plugin-specific algorithms
  3. Output Buffer - Writes processed samples back in the same format
  4. Sample Count - The samplesRead parameter indicates how many samples to process
Audio buffers are interleaved stereo: [L0, R0, L1, R1, L2, R2, ...] where even indices are left channel and odd indices are right channel.

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Plugin Management

The plugin chain manages multiple processors in series:
  • Instrument Slot - A single VSTi (VST Instrument) can be assigned per track
  • Effects Chain - Multiple effect processors are applied in sequence
  • Default Chain - Every track includes a Utility plugin and SimpleEq by default

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Lifecycle Management

// Plugins can be flagged for deletion
if (DeleteRequested) return; // Skip processing

// Bypass disabled plugins
if (!plugin.Enabled) continue;

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Integration

Plugins integrate with Lumix’s audio engine through:
  • ISampleProvider - NAudio’s streaming audio interface
  • Plugin Chain - Serial processing of multiple effects
  • Real-time Processing - Low-latency audio callback processing

Plugin Chain Management

Learn how plugins are organized and processed in the signal chain

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Next Steps

1

Explore Built-in Plugins

Learn about the native effects included with Lumix
2

Load VST Plugins

Understand how to host external VST2 plugins
3

Manage Plugin Chains

Discover how to organize multiple processors

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