zsh: exec Format error when loading Queen Mary vamp plugins

I wonder if you're trying to use

• 32-bit Intel code. That won't run on Catalina or later, even on Intel-based Macs.
• 64-bit Intel code, in the context of an Apple-Silicon-native application. Rosetta 2 can translate Intel code, but it can't handle a mixture of ARM and Intel code. An application must either be entirely native or run completely in translation – no using Intel plug-ins with ARM applications (or vice versa).
• Code that has dependencies on other libraries that are not installed on your Mac.

Looking at

https://www.vamp-plugins.org/download.html?platform=osx

https://vamp-plugins.org/plugin-doc/qm-vamp-plugins.html

https://code.soundsoftware.ac.uk/projects/qm-vamp-plugins/files

I do not see any indication that the Centre for Digital Music has even acknowledged the existence of Apple Silicon Macs, let alone built .dylib files for them.

The description of qm-vamp-plugins-1.8.0-macos.tar.gz as a "64-bit binary for macOS 10.7 or later" does suggest that we can rule out 32-bit code as the cause for the "exec format" error.

It also, at least superficially, would seem to make the "trying to use Intel plugins with an ARM application" scenario more likely. The SoundSoftware site does offer a download link for the QM Vamp Plugins v1.8.0 source code – so if you had software development skills, and Xcode installed on your Mac, you might be able to build an ARM version for yourself.

If you're not a developer, you're probably best off contacting the project and asking them if they plan to release an Apple Silicon version of the plug-ins.

If the application that you are using is a Universal application, you could try forcing the Mac to run it using Rosetta. The Get Info dialogs for Universal applications have an option to "Open using Rosetta."

If you select that option, the Mac will translate the application's Intel code, and run the translation, instead of using the presumably more efficient native code. Then you'd be talking about running Intel plug-ins within the context of an Intel application, and the attempts to load the QM Vamp plug-ins might succeed.

Did you properly install the plugins by following the developer' instructions here?

https://www.vamp-plugins.org/download.html?search=key&go=Go&platform=osx#install

Are you trying to use the command line to use them? Or is the app opening the Terminal window here? If so, what app are you using with these plugins?

It certainly appears the app or maybe the plugin is utilizing the command line which is causing the Terminal window to be opened. It also appears the app and/or the plugin has a problem of some sort.

It seems like you will most likely need to consult the developer of the app being used, or even the developer of those plugins. They may be the only ones able to assist you here. I have never seen a reference to this plugin before while assisting other users. We definitely need more information & details here even if someone is familiar with these plugins or even the app you are using with them.

I seriously doubt I will be able to assist any further, but maybe the extra information & details will help another more knowledgeable contributor to assist you.