Dear list,

I'm happy to announce the first alpha release of [vstplugin~], an external to - you guessed it - load VST plugins in Pd.

features: * cross platform (Windows, MacOS and Linux) * load any kind of VST plugin (audio effect, MIDI effect, soft synth etc.) * automate plugin programmatically with Pd messages * use either the native VST GUI (WIN32, Cocoa, X11) or a generic Pd editor * preset management: read/write standard .fxp and .fxb files or set/get the plugin state as a Pd lists to build your own preset management. * choose between single and double precision (if the plugin supports it) * MIDI input/output * basic sequencing support (for arpeggiators, sequencers etc.)

NOTE: currently only VST2.x plugins are supported but VST3 support will come soon!

see vstplugin~-help.pd for detailed instructions.

the external is already available on Deken. here's the source code: https://git.iem.at/ressi/vstplugin

please report any issues, questions or feature requests to https://git.iem.at/ressi/vstplugin/issues

NOTE: on MacOS, the plugin GUI defaults to the generic Pd editor, use "-gui" to force the native VST GUI. if you want to know why, check out the README.

*** for all the Cocoa devs lurking, please have a look at: https://git.iem.at/ressi/vstplugin/issues/4 - I need your advice :-) ***

have fun!

Christof

PS: check out the wonderful IEM plugin suite (https://plugins.iem.at/) - a set of crossplatform and open source Ambisonics VST plugins developed at the IEM.