I tried to search the Backstage but came up empty, so - is Tracker+ as a VST/AU plugin considered as a product?
I think it shouldn’t be that difficult to “port” the existing code, and at the same time it would be super useful to have one for a) users of hardware units, and b) people wanting to try out the workflow before buying the hardware.
Any thoughts on this? 
Yes, I’m aware. But - like with MPC Software - running the full tracker plugin inside of any DAW would be awesome, to elaborate the existing songs. I know we can export stems via USB, but having the “midi” and pattern data still available for editing would be sweet! Also, the MPC Beats (free version of their software) sold me on MPC Live 2, so that’s also a potential benefit for those unsure about the tracker workflow
If you are asking if this is thing ? It is not 
And i doubt it’s going to be.
There’s a ton of software trackers, but none as of yet are able to read the Polyend Trackers fileformat. You can export to .it though, which gives you some compatibility with existing trackers.
The main issue is that many trackers implement a different commands/effects set, so being compatible with all of them is quite something.
It’s why me and others are pushing for this:
No, I’m asking for this to become a thing
As I said both current owners and prospective owners would benefit greatly from that; and I expect the work required to make this happen isn’t that huge AND it’s concentrated to one company. The alternative, i.e. reverse engineering and/or publishing a full, official documentation of the .pti file format would only be a start, because then you’d require dozens of companies to implement it in their software.
Let me put it like this - I can easily see users of Live, Bitwig, FL, Cubase, Studio One and Logic using the Polyend Tracker+ VST/AU plugin in there, to either work on their own songs or try out the Tracker+ before buying one.
I can’t see any of these DAW developers implementing the .pti as a import and especially not an export format. Well, maybe Bitwig would because nowadays they seem to be eager to spend the time working on anything but their own arranger or piano roll… 
Ah 
gotcha! 
Well.. this has come up before actually:
The thing is. Polyend is too small of a team that they could do this themselfs, hence why my hopes sit on the opening up of the project specs, so we could possibly convert it to an existing software tracker format or the Open Project Format proposed by Bitwig.
The other issue as it stands, is the synths that are now part of the Tracker. These are closed source and i would totally understand if Polyend doesn’t want to make these openly available.
So while i agree that it would be nice, i doubt we will see a VST or standalone software version of the Tracker anytime soon.
I can only speak for myself, and for me personally I can’t see myself going for anything like that, mainly because I’m using the tracker+ to get away from the computer or tablet DAW.
Looking at Akai, I feel the soul of what made the MPC great, died the moment it moved to plugin style integration and touchscreen style hardware. For me the early models were more interesting to work with.
Syncing up tracker with a computer or tablet is easy enough if I want to mix and render a 2 track. I mean computers do just about everything now, it’s basically nearly writing the songs for you, give it a few years and it’ll be wiping my ass too.
But that’s why I like the tracker as a hardware only device, it’s vertical spreadsheet workflow, it’s hands on, making it feel more like an instrument in its own right. It’s limited in the right kind of ways that’s forces one to think outside the box, while teaching you at the same time.
I can’t seem to get that from computer or tablet software these days, very uninspiring for me. I used to be inspired using DAWs/Plugins etc, but not so much now.
But like I said, I only speak for myself, and others will have their own opinions, plus I’m using the tracker as the core sequencer, while others will use it in a way that suits their own workflow
@mat.on.the.moon i second this and..
The Polyend Tracker is like an Amiga or Atari ST studio setup with Octamed or FT including sampling card, midi interface and screen, keyboard, mouse and a storage room full of floppy disks all in one modern box.
There’s no need to simulate a computer in a computer doing computer things..
Yep that sums it up better than I just put it
Yeah, but that wasn’t what I asked for at all.
I don’t want the VST/AU to replace tracker hardware or a DAW, but to help get as much as possible from my songs (e.g. having 16 audio outputs from plugin to the DAW, which still being able to edit & tweak details) AND as a gateway to tracker hardware for those who never used it.
But I’m repeating myself. 2nd time
Yeah i know but as @Sandroid already pointed out, a transferable file format wont likely happen because you have samples, synth engine and midi all in one file.
Neither will there be a plugin that is an exact copy of the hardware device so you can seamless edit your project.
Customers who buy a Polyend Tracker want hardware.
If you want to try out a tracker there a plenty of options both freeware and commercial software.
And lastly Polyend is a small team and the resources to manage a whole software branch with updates to the operation system, plugin architecture etc. can be better used for developing actual hardware products.
Are you referring to something like what Overbridge is to the Elektron devices?
No, not really. I wasn’t expecting the plugin to control the hardware. I was thinking of “just” porting the internal Mini / Tracker+ software to the VST/AU format, so that you can load, play & edit your existing .pti files inside of the plugin, running in any DAW.
And obviously, this would allow people to test Mini/Tracker+ workflow and see if they’re interested in hardware. I know anyone can try Renoise or other available tracker DAWs, but they’re not the same as Mini/Tracker+.
In this sense it would be more similar to FL or MPC Software (without the actual MPC hardware) running as a plugin in other DAWs.
I’d buy it…
I just placed the order yesterday evening, so… 
I’d definitely buy it.
There is only so far I can realistically go with the hardware before I need to transition to a DAW and this would be perfect.
Not everyone only wants hardware to remove themselves forever from the DAW world. I for one like it so I can travel with something self contained as I don’t really like DAWs on a laptop screen.
A transition software rather than just an audio dump would be perfect.
This would help, too → Is it possible to export song/pattern stems split by individual instruments? - Tracker - Polyend Backstage
