ADC26: HART Audio Testing Framework

We spoke to Daniel about HART, a behind-the-scenes quality-control tool for audio software and hardware development. Rather than functioning as an instrument or effect, HART focuses on automated measurement and validation for products that output audio, including plug-ins, synths and multi-effects pedals.

The tool is open source and has grown from a personal development utility into something other developers can use. It complements manual testing rather than replacing it, with a focus on precise checks that are difficult to judge by ear.

HART uses C++ test code to express expectations, such as a compressor producing a defined ratio, a reverb tail matching its time setting, or an EQ retaining a specific Q value after code changes. It also supports measurements including LUFS, harmonic distortion, aliasing, stereo behaviour and sample-rate or block-size combinations.

Tests can run locally or on a server as part of a software testing workflow. HART is free and open source.
More Info:

https://github.com/daleonov/HART