This is already pretty good but it would be miles ahead if a "VST host thing" was included. I could then insert any of my other VST effects into the signal chain. Ideally at least 2 instances so that stuff could go before or after the amp. It can be done by loading 2 instances of S-gear (one holding just the amp and another the IR loader etc) with whatever I want before 1, and between 1 and 2, but it's not elegant. Go on.... you know it makes sense.

This would be really cool. There are lots of great pedal VST's out there like Rats, screamers, etc. and some really great other modulation effects, like the Wampler Terraform that it would be great to have an "effects loop" for other VST's.

I know it sounds appealing, but doing something like this could end up a support nightmare - dealing with issues that come up with plugins that is outside of Mike’s control. And all the ‘but it works in DAW xyz…”.

There are many great options out there for hosting plugins, some of which are designed for live performance and so already allow the combining of S-Gear with great third party plugins.

As a one-person development team (afaik) I would much rather time is spent on developing new/improved Scuffham-designed Things than tracking down/fixing issues arising from the huge number of plugins that people would want to try and use in a Plugin Thing.
- 2 cents.

I agree with you.

I use Gig performer :

www.scuffhamamps.com/forum/s-gear-rigs-c...se-from-time-to-time

I have used and can recommend Cantabile:

www.cantabilesoftware.com/

I'd have to agree. The solution isn't bringing 3rd party plugins into S-Gear, it's inserting S-Gear into a 3rd party plugin host (some of which have been mentioned). That doesn't provide as much flexibility with routing (where in the chain an effect is inserted) but there are ways to make that happen, too.

As much as I like Mike's S-Gear client for Win/Mac I agree that asking the amp sim to also serve as a VST/AU host is not the ideal approach. I evaluated Cantible, Gig Performer, Reaper, Main Stage and have settled on Ableton Live to host S-Gear. This solution provides me with a simple way to map my FCB1010 pedals to parameters in S-Gear as well as plugins and I'm able to use Ableton's track volume and routing and even record. Having 8 instances of S-Gear running allows me to instantaneously switch presets without any audio glitches.

The support issues involved in supporting the vst host approach would be substantial and I'd much rather have Mike focus on continuing to improve the amps.

I use Gig Performer and am happy with it. At first I wished S-gear would offer the function of a vst host, yet now I think: Better concentrate on good amp sim and keep it simple.

"hosting third party plugins is every developer's nightmare"
- Vojtěch Meluzín, mastermind behind Melda Productions