Jeskola Buzz

Jeskola Buzz is a freeware modular software music studio environment designed to run on Microsoft Windows via Microsoft .NET. It is centered around a modular plugin-based machine view and a multiple pattern sequencer tracker (as opposed to a single pattern sequencer. It takes the traditional tracker concept and elevates it to a much more modular and object oriented approach, adding support for mixing the sound coming from multiple patterns with effects and software synthesizers. These can be written in either Buzz' native format or as VST plug-ins.

Buzz consists of a plugin architecture that allows the audio to be routed from one plugin to another in many ways, similar to how cables carry an audio signal between physical pieces of hardware. All aspects of signal synthesis and manipulation are handled entirely by the plugin system. Signal synthesis is performed by "Generators" such as synthesizers, noise generator functions, samplers, and trackers. The signal can then be manipulated further by "Effects" such as distortions, filters, delays, and mastering plugins. Buzz also provides support through adapters to use VST/VSTi, DirectX/DXi, and DirectX Media Objects as Generators and Effects.

A few new classes of plugins do not fall under the normal Generator and Effect types. These include Peer Machines (signal and event automated controllers), Recorders, Wavetable editors, Scripting engines, etc. Buzz signal output also uses a plugin system; the most practical drivers include ASIO, WASAPI, DirectSound, and MME. Buzz supports MIDI both internally and through several enhancements. Buzz does not feature its own midi clock, but the Polac VST(i) Loader supports this.

Community
See buzzwiki:Community on BuzzWiki

Development
Buzz was created by Oskari Tammelin of the PC demogroup Jeskola, hence the name.

The lack of trackers available for the MS Windows platform at the time (only DOS), as well as an idea by jmagic involving having a separate order list for each track, was the main inspiration for Oskari Tammelin to create the first version of Jeskola Buzz. Originally the tracker didn't have the modular plugin interface it has today, but the early versions were never released to the public. The first alpha version of Jeskola Buzz with the modular design was released September 1, 1997, and Oskari continued working on the tracker up until October 5, 2000, where most of the source code was lost due to a hard disk crash. In June 2008 Oskari managed to rescue some of the original source code, and it was announced that development would begin again. The several subsequent releases have regained all of the functionality of the last 2000 software release, and have included several new features and as well as updated graphics.

Buzz was originally known as the first "" in 1997-98. Since then, through the help of programmers and addons like CyanPhase Overloader and BTDSys Peer machines which modify and transmit control data to other machines, Buzz has evolved beyond the traditional tracker model and become a unique and powerful piece of audio software, often drawing comparisons to features found in similar applications like Max/MSP, Pure Data, Reaktor, Bidule and Usine.

Plugin system
Buzz's plugin system is intended to be a (non-commercial, free-as-in-beer) freeware-only plugin format. This desire has been respected by the community, except for a certain time for Jeskola XS-1. Almost all plugins released to the Buzz scene can be found at BuzzMachines.com, a centralized webpage that provides a way for the entire community to access new plugins.

The header files used to compile new plugins (known as the Buzzlib) contain a small notice that they are only to be used for making freeware plugins and Buzz file music players. In the case of entire software suites, Buzz clones, or sequencers that want to use the Buzz plugin system, the author asks for a fee. In 2001, Image-Line Software paid to add Buzz support to their commercial program, FL Studio. This created a controversy within the community because Image Line redistributed many Buzz machines without obtaining the authors permission, while the commercial aspect of the application did not sit well with several freeware plugin developers. A truce was reached when Image-Line Software gave time for the developers to opt-out of the deal.

Buzz clones
Jeskola Buzz was followed by a number of similar digital musical editors. Some of them are listed below.
 * Buzzle
 * Nakalyne
 * Psycle
 * Sunvox
 * Neil (for Linux)
 * Buzztard (for Linux)
 * Buze