Desislava Ilieva
Software engineer/
Audio Engineer
.README.md
Hi, I'm Dessy, an audio developer, audio engineer and a digital nomad.
With 10 years of experience in audio engineering, I gradually transitioned into software engineering and audio development. Now, I enjoy building audio tools and plugins and share the knowledge I've gained along the way.
I am primarily focused on low-level software development, working close to the hardware to solve complex problems and gain a deep understanding of systems at a fundamental level. Alongside native audio plugin development, I have recently expanded into web-based audio tools, building C++ backends and cloud-based machine learning pipelines for audio processing while exploring modern web front-end technologies in depth. I also work professionally with Figma, which is my preferred tool for designing application interfaces, audio plugin UIs,and related visual assets for marketing materials, advertisements, and posters.
dev
Languages:
- C (C99)
- C++ (modern C++/11/14/17/20)
- Bash
- Matlab (scripting, signal plotting)
- OpenGL
Libraries, Frameworks & Tools:
- JUCE
- OpenGL
- GCC, Clang, Valgrind
- VSC, XCode
- CMake/Makefile
- Git/Github
dev
Core Focus & Skills:
- Audio Tools and Plugins development (JUCE, C++)
- Real-time DSP systems & performance optimization
- Audio visualization/analysis
- Audio UI/UX design
- Cross-platform development
- Version control & build systems (Git, CMake, Makefile, Projucer)
audio
Audio Technologies & Tools:
- DAWs (Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, Reaper, Studio One)
- Plugin formats: VST3,AU,AAX
- Hardware: Digital/Analog Mixers, Amps, DI Boxes, Cabinets, Audio over IP
- Audio Interfaces (Focusrite, Antelope, RME)
- Calibration & Tools: Sonarworks SoundID, Clocking (BNC)
audio
Skills & Concept:
- Studio and Live Recording
- Front of House (FoH) engineering
- Field recording and mic arrangements
- On-stage routing and cable management
- Post-production FX processing
- Dante-certified networking
- PA system Calibration (Sonarworks)
- FX chains, subgroups, bus routing
- Analog/digital routing
design
Design & Tools:
- Figma
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- HTML, CSS
- Tailwind CSS
- React
design
Skills & Concept:
- Responsive Layouts (Flexbox & Grid)
- Component-Based Development
- UI Prototyping
- Figma to Code
- UI/UX Design
experience
Education:
B.A. in Audio Engineering
NBU, Sofia, Bulgaria
Software Development Program in 42Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Experience:
Founder & Audio Developer
daudio::dev
Technical Support Specialist
Antelope Audio.ltd
Audio Production Assistant
Antelope Audio.ltd
Freelance Projects:
· Audio developer
(remote)
· FoH Audio Engineer
(HALE3 alternative sports & music space)
· Recording and Jams Studio
(co-founded creative and event space)
· Event organiser
(remote)
Projects:
DSaturator – Audio Saturation Plugin
DSaturator is an audio saturation plugin that combines multiple saturation algorithms with advanced oversampling, output control, and dry/wet control.
- Role: Audio DSP Developer & Audio UI/UX Designer
- Tools & Languages: C++, JUCE
- Core Features: Multiple saturation types (Tanh, Atan, Cubic Soft Clipper, Triangle & Sine Wavefolding, BLAMP Anti-Aliased Folding),bypass button, oversampling (2x-16x), dry/wet mixing, and output scaling.
- Technical Highlights: Real-time DSP processing, parameter smoothing, cross-platform plugin support, and advanced wavefolding with anti-aliasing for high-quality audio.
DIRLoader Lite – Parallel Impulse Response Loader
DIRLoader Lite is an impulse response loader plugin with dual parallel impulse response load, crossfade, bias, and tune control.
- Role: Audio DSP Developer & Audio UI/UX Designer
- Tools & Languages: C++, JUCE framework
- Core Features: Parallel IR processing with independent impulse response loading. Each IR includes real-time spectrogram visualization, per-IR bypass control, and the ability to unload or replace impulse responses on the fly. Global mix bias, integrated waveform display (dry/wet), XFade between IRs, and Tune for spectral morphing and tonal transformation.
- Technical Highlights: Parallel multi-IR convolution, real-time IR spectrogram analysis, phase-coherent crossfading, frequency-response morphing, global mix bias control, low-latency real-time–safe DSP across platforms.
DIRLoader – A Creative Dual IR Loader
Dual impulse response convolution reverb with real-time processing, parameter smoothing, and creative reverb effects for professional production.
- Role: Audio DSP Developer & Audio UI/UX Designer
- Tools & Languages: C++, JUCE 7.x
- Architecture: WAV/AIFF, 44.1–192 kHz, stereo, 0 samples latency. Two independent convolution engines, asynchronous IR loading (ThreadPool), per-engine bypass and wet pitch shift (-12 to +12 semitones).
- Creative reverb: At load: SIZE (time stretch), WARP (time skew), CLARITY. Real-time: DAMPING, SUSTAIN, DECAY (multi-tap), MOD, DRIFT, PROXIMITY (distance illusion). Auto-leveling, 20 ms parameter smoothing, presets from tight slap to cathedral and washed tape hall.
- Technical: RT-safe, no allocations in audio thread; IR reload only on file/state change; state in JUCE ValueTree with IR paths preserved.
