Jalv.gtk

Launch LV2 plugins as stand-alone applications.

Strengths [Weaknesses]

Modular

If you are not using a DAW but still want to use popular plugins, this host allows you to do that.

Weaknesses [Strengths]

Sessionless

Depending on the plugin, using a launcher like this might mean that you have no way to save the plugin's session or state.

Install

Install Jalv from http://slackbuilds.org.

Usage

Jalv, which you will most likely use as the jalv.gtk command, is a Jack host for LV2 plugins. It has no GUI of its own and is started from a terminal; unlike Jack Rack or the Calf rack, it is not a “rack” so much as it is a launcher that you point to an LV2 bundle that you want to load.

To see a list of valid LV2 plugins on your system, use the lv2ls command:

$ lv2ls 

The lv2ls command lists a series of URI's. Don't be confused, this is not a listing of internet sites or locations, these are interpretations of the LV2 plugins available on your local filesystem.

To launch a plugin, use the jalv.gtk command:

$ jalv.gtk http://invadarecords.com/plugins/lv2/erreverb/sum &

Issue a similar command for each plugin you want to load.

If you accidentally type jalv rather than jalv.gtk, then the plugin will load, but you will not see a GUI. If you are an advanced user developing programmatic art, this might be a very exciting feature to you, but for most people, this is not the intended result.

Make sure you type jalv.gtk!

jalvgtk.jpg

Sessions

There is not necessarily a way to save a session file when launching plugins with jalv (it depends on the design of the plugin) so for some plugins, it's best to leave them as plugins.

Otherwise, save session files in a directory associated with your project, and remember to load them back in when resuming work on your project later. Session management can be done by good organisation (with Planter, for instance) or with a dedicated session manager (such as Non).

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