Steinberg Releases ASIO and VST Audio Interfaces Under Open-Source Licenses
Software developers can integrate the audio interfaces into open-source software in the future. This paves the way for broader use under Linux.
(Image: DC Studio/Shutterstock.com)
Steinberg, the Hamburg-based software manufacturer and developer of music production software such as Cubase, has released two of its most important audio interfaces under freely usable licenses. The ASIO SDK (Audio Stream Input/Output), an interface for low-latency, hardware-close audio connectivity, is now available under an open-source variant of the GPLv3 license in addition to the previous proprietary licensing model.
The VST3 SDK (Virtual Studio Technology), which is used to integrate software plugins such as reverb and delay effects or software synthesizers into music programs and DAWs, will be provided with the new version 3.8 under the MIT license.
“The MIT license of the VST 3.8 SDK allows for the free use, modification, and distribution of software as long as the original copyright and license text are retained,” Steinberg writes in its press release.
Videos by heise
Easier Use Under Linux
Previously, third-party developers had to comply with Steinberg's proprietary license terms to use ASIO or VST. As a result, their use in open-source applications, especially under Linux, was often excluded.
With the new licensing freedom for VST 3 and the open-source option for ASIO, a foundation is now being created on which open-source projects can also integrate these interfaces from a licensing perspective. However, practical use will continue to depend on the extent to which host software and platforms support the interfaces.
(hag)
