Linux Audio Plugin Development (LAPD)
Sinuslabs
Linux Audio developer interview with Oskar Schachtschneider from Sinuslabs
This interview was conducted by Amadeus Paulussen in 2024 and first published to his blog.
Hey Oskar, can you tell us a little bit about who you are and how you got into developing audio plugins?
I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany. My passion for electronic music began early, listening to HardFM (Hardstyle Radio). At 12, I started experimenting with music production, trying out Dirty Dutch and Electro.
Check this if you wanna blow your ears... :))
I did not produce for quite some time after that, dabbling in other arts such as gaming, video editing and 3D Design. I stayed a huge fan of Music this whole time and got into DJing at 19 Years old playing in clubs like VOID Club, KitKat Club and MBia.
During my computer science studies, I worked at Native Instruments as a web developer. Realizing the value of real-world experience, I dropped out of university. While working at Native Instruments, I gained industry insights but disliked its profit-driven focus and closed nature.
I decided to create my own Audio Plugin Company and build it in a way I, personally, would like. Building unique Software in the open, exploring new ideas and sounds.
What motivated you to make your first plugin open source?
I’ve always believed in and used open source software. I strongly believe this is a key driver of the future of technology. Noticing the industry becoming more closed off, I open-sourced my plugins under the GPLv3 license, going against the grain and exploring alternative approaches of doing business.
I am using a lot of open source software to build my plugins, so passing on that philosophy just feels right to me.
I also want to encourage junior plugin pirates to crack my plugins! :)
What is the general response to REACH, your beautiful "boutique" reverb plugin?
To be honest, I am pretty blown away. People love REACH and the story behind it. I get a lot of thank-you notes and tracks that have used my plugin. I am able to connect with artists and discover new music constantly, which is amazing. I get such a big smile every time I hear REACH’s reverb on a cool track.
What are the main challenges of offering a plugin in today's crowded audio market?
Cutting through the noise is definitely a challenge, as is paying enough to get your stuff seen. For me as a solo developer, it's hard to juggle everything while also trying to live a life. However, it's an amazing first-hand learning experience. I trust the hours and the process, and I truly believe that good products will always succeed.
I think the real challenge is to create something you like so much that you really want to share it with your friends.
Can you share with us a bit about your future plans?
I just released a free plugin called Bandbreite, and I am about to release a new heavy processing plugin named KO.
I am pretty excited about KO as a release, as it resembles the new-age, hyper processed music and it really doesn’t care to be clean. It wants to be a heavy hitter.
I am brainstorming a new preset system that allows you to share your presets with all users and connect your plugins to the internet. Completely free of charge and no subscriptions :))
I think the real value is in the stuff people create and share.
I would love to dive into actual synthesizers, and already have some ideas. I am constantly testing, learning, and building, but only 0.1% hits the surface—the rest stays in my personal repertoire.
I am enjoying this journey and I am super thankful to all the people supporting me!
Thanks. From Berlin with <3
Oskar