# kushview/element

Element Audio Plugin Host

Repository: https://github.com/kushview/element
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/kushview-element
Homepage: https://kushview.net/element/
Language: C++
License Family: other
Topics: audio-applications, vst-host, vst3-host, juce, juce-application, audio-plugin, midi, lv2-host, vst-plugin, vst3-plugin, audiounit, clap-host
Last push: 2026-08-26T19:30:15+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 94/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 84, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2507, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 26, "gap_med": 35.5, "n_releases_24m": 5}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1687, forks 136 (observed 2026-08-28T04:05:22.207380+00:00)

## What it is
Element is a free, open-source modular audio plugin host that loads AU, VST, VST3, LV2, CLAP, and LADSPA plugins. It lets users build effect racks and instrument graphs, route audio and MIDI anywhere, and run standalone on stage or as a plugin inside a DAW.

## Use cases
- host VST3 and CLAP plugins on Linux
- build a live performance rig without a DAW
- create reusable effect racks and vocal chains
- route MIDI between hardware synths and virtual instruments
- run a plugin host inside my DAW
- nest plugin graphs within graphs
- sync plugins to MIDI clock
- script custom DSP with Lua

## When to choose
- you need a cross-platform plugin host supporting CLAP and LV2, especially on Linux
- you want a standalone live rig with MIDI hardware integration
- you want to build reusable, nestable effect and instrument graphs
- you want to run a host as a plugin inside your existing DAW

## When to avoid
- you need a full DAW with recording, mixing, and arrangement features
- you only need a simple single-plugin player
- you require a commercially licensed product with guaranteed support

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: audio-processing, gui, plugin-system
- domain: media, cross-platform
- platform: windows, cross-platform, cpp
- tags: audio-plugin-host, vst-host, lv2-host, clap-host, audiounit, juce, live-performance, midi-routing, modular-graph, daw-plugin, midi, audio, music-production, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- kushview/element (main) score 94

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:22.207380+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:38:52.050447+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/kushview/element (fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:22.207380+00:00, sha 8bc397ed9f8f)
  - homepage: https://kushview.net/element/ (fetched 2026-08-29T11:13:41.555653+00:00, sha 8b7b43aaf73c)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.