Jim Simon wrote:No. Just...no. Clip and track level audio effects need to be built-in.
If the audio effects being called for are functions such as reverse, phase reverse, offset (relative delay) adjustment, DC removal, Digital DeEmphasis, et cetera, then I agree, as utilities usually aren’t covered by standalone plugins (and these are often rather useful)
If, on the other hand, it’s audio effects listed under your Premiere Pro plugins list then my personal view is that BlackMagic's resources are better spent elsewhere even with the resources available.
Take something like DeClick, DeCrackle, Noise Reduction, and similar audio restoration processes. The big two are Cedar and Sonic Studio, both a product of research (Sonic ultimately developing out of the Lucas Film Sounddroid Project and Cedar from the British National Archives) have been developing audio restoration tools since the early 1980s.
Sure, cheaper alternatives are available, such as iZotope RX, which are on a lower rung of the pecking order in terms of both transparency and quality. And iZotope specialises in this type of software, much of their R&D goes in to these type of products. The big 2 remain the leaders for good reason. Options such as Sonnox Restoration Tools or Magix Restoration Suite simply can’t compete with the big 3 and few use them even when built in preferring the more dedicated and specialist tools.
Take something as “simple” as Reverb. The leaders in this field are Exponential Audio (ex lead Lexicon engineer Michael Cairns), Bricasti, Eventide, TC Electronic, Lexicon, AudioEase, and a few others. Commonality? They all spécialisé in Reverb and these type of related effects, either in software or hardware. Michael Cairns isn’t creating noise reduction tools, or an audio editor, he is focused on delivering the best Reverb solution he is able to. Bricasti focuses on their M7 product and their converters were born out of their M7 Reverb Project, with customers demanding standalone converters. They don’t do plugins so they commissioned Exponential Audio to develop the M7 Control plugin. They know their strengths.
Would I like BlackMagic to now throw their hat in and deliver a series of so-so products to appease a few forum members only to spend the next decade attempting to improve these tools potentially a country mile behind (that more than likely most users won’t use as they are better served by specialist options)? How long before these same users complain the built in plugins aren’t as good as product X, Y and Z?
I would rather those resources being spent on specialised tools within Resolve solving problems we currently are unable to solve with 3rd party solutions, making us more productive. The kind of thing competing companies and users of those systems sit up and take notice of because they improve workflows and move the yard stick further than anyone else. That’s something I can get behind.