Summary

TugSpect is an experimental VST3 audio effect plugin for Windows and Mac that manipulates sound by scanning images and dynamically shaping incoming audio based on pixel values. It uses real-time Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) filtering to apply spectral processing mirroring the image content.

Features

• Supports image input from any source including abstract art and photographs
• Basic shape drawing tools such as ellipses, rectangles, and lines
• Image manipulation functions: rotation, zoom in/out, left/right movement
• Controls for image contrast, brightness, and black & white conversion
• Real-time FFT analysis and spectral processing based on the image
• Vertical and horizontal image skew sliders for fine adjustment
• Record button to capture current track audio, generate FFT spectrogram, and convert it into an image
• Automation-friendly with undo/redo functions
• Stereo wider slider and dry-wet blend control
• Image rescaling in both dimensions, freeform and spray drawing tools
• Full-screen image viewing mode
• Image drag & drop copies images to plugin folder for portability
• Multiple visualization modes by double-clicking on the spectrum window

Known Issues

The AU version does not work properly with Logic or GarageBand on Mac; image drawing and drag & drop functionalities do not work in these DAWs. A security workaround for Mac users on Catalina and later is documented for Ableton users.

Instructions and Support

Users are advised to follow specific Mac security steps to enable proper plugin operation in some DAWs. Support is available via the provided email tugrulvega@gmail.com. A demonstration video is linked on YouTube.