Plugins

Plinken hosts audio plugins in four formats for instruments, effects, and MIDI processing. Plugins are loaded into tracks and mixer channels for real-time audio processing.

Supported Formats

Format	Extension	Description
AU (Audio Units)	`.component`	macOS native plugin format. Supported types: `aumu` (instrument), `aufx` (effect)
VST3	`.vst3`	Steinberg’s cross-platform plugin format with Class ID-based selection
CLAP	`.clap`	Modern open plugin format with descriptor-based identification
WCLAP	`.wclap`	CLAP compiled to WebAssembly. Delivered from the Plinken registry — runs in the browser engine and in the Plinken Runner with no installation

Plugin Types

Type	AU Code	Description
Instrument	`aumu`	Generates audio from MIDI input (synths, samplers, drum machines)
Effect	`aufx`	Processes audio (EQ, compression, reverb, delay)
MIDI Effect	—	Processes MIDI events before reaching instruments

Plugin Module

The Plugins module (plugins) manages plugin discovery and state.

Module Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description
`visible`	bool	Plugin manager panel visibility

Plugin Record Fields

Each discovered plugin is stored with:

Field	Type	Description
`id`	string	Unique ID (path hash)
`path`	string	Filesystem path
`name`	string	Plugin display name
`vendor`	string?	Plugin vendor/manufacturer
`version`	string?	Version string
`format`	PluginFormat	AU, VST3, or CLAP
`arch`	string?	Architecture (arm64, x86_64, universal)
`plugin_type`	PluginType	Instrument, Effect, MidiEffect, or Unknown
`status`	PluginStatus	Valid, Failed, ArchMismatch, or Pending
`enabled`	bool	Whether the user has enabled this plugin
`au_type`	string?	AU component type (e.g., “aumu”)
`au_subtype`	string?	AU subtype (e.g., “T303”)
`au_manufacturer`	string?	AU manufacturer (e.g., “Artu”)
`clap_plugin_id`	string?	CLAP descriptor ID
`vst3_class_id`	string?	VST3 class ID (hex-encoded 16-byte CID)
`webview_bundle`	string?	Webview bundle path for internal plugins
`is_internal`	bool	Whether this is a built-in Plinken plugin

Plugin Status

Status	Description
`Valid`	Plugin loads and validates successfully
`Failed(reason)`	Plugin failed to load — reason stored
`ArchMismatch`	Wrong architecture (e.g., x86_64 on Apple Silicon)
`Pending`	Not yet scanned

Commands

Command ID	Name	Description
`plugins:open-audio-plugins`	Audio Plugins	Open the Plugin Manager panel
`plugins:publish-patch`	Publish Patch	Publish current plugin preset to the cloud

Lua API

-- Open the plugin manager
pl.cmd("plugins:open-audio-plugins")

-- Publish the current patch
pl.cmd("plugins:publish-patch")

-- Check plugin panel visibility
local visible = plinken.get("plugins", "visible")

Plugin Panel

The Plugin Panel (plugin_panel module) displays the plugin chain for the selected track or mixer channel. It sits above the footer in a horizontal chain layout (similar to Bitwig’s device chain).

Plugin Panel Properties

Property	Type	Default	Description
`visible`	bool	false	Panel visibility
`panel_height`	f32	200.0	Resizable height (120–400 px)
`selected_track_id`	u8?	—	Currently displayed track

The panel supports both track plugins and mixer channel plugins (FX sends, output channels, master).

ISF Video Plugins

In addition to audio plugins, Plinken supports video plugins using the ISF (Interactive Shader Format) standard. Video plugins follow the same pattern as audio plugins:

Feature	Audio Plugins	Video Plugins
Format	AU, VST3, CLAP	ISF (.isf/.fs)
Categories	Instrument, Effect	Generator, Effect, Transition, Compositor
Parameters	Float, bool, enum	Float, bool, long, point2D, color, image
MIDI Control	CC binding	CC binding with mapping curves
Presets	JSON save/load	JSON save/load

Video Plugin Categories

Category	Description
Generator	Creates visuals from scratch (no input needed)
Effect	Processes an input texture
Transition	Blends between two inputs
Compositor	Composites multiple layers

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Cmd+Shift+P`	Open Plugin Manager

Plugin Manager — Scanning, validating, and managing plugins
Instrument Tracks — Using instrument plugins on MIDI tracks
Synome — Built-in synthesizer