Add support for embedding NAM models and IR files in session data

[dmt-hub]

Would love to have this option available in NeuralRack.

(from the official NAM repo) :

Features

Automatic Embedding: When saving a session, NAM models and IR files are encoded and embedded in the plugin state
Automatic Extraction: When loading a session, embedded files are extracted to temporary files and loaded automatically
Backward Compatible: Sessions without embedded data continue to work with file paths as before
Cross-Platform: Designed to work on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Benefits

Share sessions without worrying about missing model/IR files
Old projects remain playable even if original files are moved/deleted
Team members can open sessions without manual file management

Implementation

Modified SerializeState() to embed file contents in session data
Modified UnserializeState() to detect and extract embedded files automatically
Added _StageModelFromData() and _StageIRFromData() helper methods for loading from memory
Maintain backward compatibility with file path references
Update AudioDSPTools submodule to include SIGFPE fix (depends on sdatkinson/AudioDSPTools#24)

[brummer10]

Same here, I'm not a lawyer, . . .

[dmt-hub]

There's also a license-free Base64 embedding method that works identically on Linux for VST3, CLAP, and LV2 plugins.

Embed the .nam file into a plugin state using Base64:

1. Encode: Read file -> base64 -w 0 file.nam -> store string in plugin state (JSON/XML/raw string)
2. Store: Save string as a parameter or state blob in your project file
3. Decode on load: base64 -d -> binary data -> load from memory (not disk)

No licensing issues.
Base64 is a public domain encoding, not a proprietary algorithm. No extra files, no path searching, 100% portable across computers.

Linux command example:

Encode .nam file:
cat model.nam | base64 -w 0 > model.b64

Decode back:
cat model.b64 | base64 -d > restored.nam

TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION (VST3/CLAP/LV2)

Plugin State Storage Pattern

All three formats support opaque state blobs:

VST3: IBStream + setState() - Encode before writing to stream

CLAP: clap_plugin_state.save() - Store as string in JSON/binary blob

LV2: LV2_State_Interface - Store as atom:String or custom type

Cross-Platform Code (C++)

// Base64 encode/decode (public domain implementation)
#include <base64.h>  // Any public domain base64 library

// Save: Encode file to string
std::string encodeFileToState(const std::string& filepath) {
    std::vector<char> binary = readFile(filepath);
    return base64_encode(binary.data(), binary.size());
}

// Load: Decode from state to memory
void loadModelFromState(const std::string& b64string) {
    std::vector<char> decoded = base64_decode(b64string);
    // Pass decoded.data() + size to your NAM loader
    nam_load_from_memory(decoded.data(), decoded.size());
}

All major DAWs (Ardour, REAPER, Bitwig, Qtractor) support plugin state saving on Linux.

The DAW writes the entire project file, your Base64 string goes inside it.

On reload, the DAW restores your exact state bytes, even on a different computer with no external files.

[brummer10]

That's not what I mean, there is a base64 en/decoder already implemented. What I mean is that neural models and IR files may be copy righted.

[dmt-hub]

I don't see the issue here. if you save it on disk or inside a project file, if you paid for the files those files are yours.

Same with wave files for example that are copyrighted.
Did you know in Renoise or Renoise Redux VST every file is automatically embedded into the project - even without an option, automatically.

Let's say you don't want to do embedding. Maybe a switch so the files are saved as they are into the project folder?