Audio plugin starter template using Steinberg VST3 SDK to build binaries using:

• Bash
• CMake 3.4.x
• VST3sdk 3.6.x

Install CMake and Xcode using:

brew install cmake
xcode-select --install

Check you have the correct dependencies installed:

cmake -version
xcodebuild -version

Ensure all git submodules are initialized:

git submodule update --init --recursive

If you need VST2 support, copy vst2sdk files into VST3 folder using:

cp -R -v ./vst2sdk/public.sdk/source/vst2.x ./sdk/public.sdk/source

Make all your plugin development changes in the source folder at:

./src

Ensure you also update the preview image and audio files:

./src/assets/name.png
./src/assets/name.wav

Ensure you have run a build with -DSMTG_ADD_VST3_HOSTING_SAMPLES=ON

Then run the validator passing through the path to your VST plugin using:

./build/bin/Release/validator ./build/VST3/Release/helloworld.vst3 > ./build/VST3/Release/helloworld.txt

Depending on the operating system you are on/building for, swap the generator string in the build commands:

• Linux: "Unix Makefiles"
• MacOS: "Xcode"
• Windows: "Visual Studio 16 2019"

Compile a development version of the plugin using:

cmake \
  -G "Xcode" \
  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug \
  -DSMTG_ADD_VST3_PLUGINS_SAMPLES=ON \
  -DSMTG_ADD_VST3_HOSTING_SAMPLES=ON \
  -DSMTG_ADD_VSTGUI=OFF \
  -DSMTG_MYPLUGINS_SRC_PATH=./src \
  -S ./sdk \
  -B ./build
cmake --build ./build --config Debug

View the built plugin files at:

./build/VST3/Debug

Build the final plugin binaries using:

cmake \
  -G "Xcode" \
  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
  -DSMTG_ADD_VST3_PLUGINS_SAMPLES=ON \
  -DSMTG_ADD_VST3_HOSTING_SAMPLES=ON \
  -DSMTG_ADD_VSTGUI=OFF \
  -DSMTG_MYPLUGINS_SRC_PATH=./src \
  -S ./sdk \
  -B ./build
cmake --build ./build --config Release

Copy any additional files:

cp -v ./src/assets/* ./build/VST3/Release

For metadata generation as json use the studiorack-cli:

npm install @studiorack/cli -g

Validate your plugin:

studiorack validate "./build/VST3/Release/**/*.{vst,vst3}"

Convert and enrich validator report metadata into json:

studiorack validate "./build/VST3/Release/**/*.{vst,vst3}" --json

Release a plugin version on GitHub by simply creating a version tag:

git tag v0.0.1
git push && git push origin --tags

This will run an automated build and release process on GitHub Actions:

.github/workflows/release.yml

• VST3 source code and examples
• Official guide to creating VST audio plugins

For more information please contact kmturley