Author Topic: Compiling Airwindows VST plug-ins for OS9  (Read 791 times)

Offline ssp3

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Compiling Airwindows VST plug-ins for OS9
« on: December 18, 2023, 06:05:18 PM »
I recently discovered that Chris Johnson of Airwindows published source code of all of his plug-ins on GitHub:
https://github.com/airwindows/airwindows

I find some of his plug-ins useful (VST, AU in OSX), but, can his stuff be adopted to OS9 (VST) and, if so, how does one compile it? What tools do I need? Also, what needs to be changed/included/removed in .cpp and .h files?

Here's one that I use, for example:
https://github.com/airwindows/airwindows/tree/master/plugins/MacVST/BitShiftGain

I've compiled some 'pre-cooked' stuff on Intel/OSX using XCode, gcc, clang, cmake etc., but I have no idea what to do in OS9. And, I'm not a programmer.  ;D

Thanks!
« Last Edit: December 18, 2023, 07:28:11 PM by ssp3 »
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Offline IIO

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Re: Compiling Airwindows VST plug-ins for OS9
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2023, 03:15:29 PM »

in OS9 you need CW 5.x (rather than 7.x) and the VST SDK 2.0 or 2.1

you eventually also need to know the differences between VST 2.1 and VST 2.3

then you need a person or company who registered for VST2 early enough to still be allowed to publish those, because we may not do that otherwise.

note that in OSX there are two file formats, early ones can be carbon, later ones are mach-o / applelink. i have no idea if that makes a bigger difference for building processes.

if something is UB, stripping off the intel stuff should be simple (that´s what i heard ;) )

he seems to have a custom template for his plugs, you might want to look in that stuff under XCode.
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Offline ssp3

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Re: Compiling Airwindows VST plug-ins for OS9
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2023, 03:29:42 PM »
EDIT. I see that you extended your post

in OS9 you need CW 5.x (rather than 7.x) and the VST SDK 2.0 or 2.1

Ok, got it. MPW not any good?

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you eventually also need to know the differences between VST 2.1 and VST 2.3

I have no idea, honestly.

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then you need a person or company who registered for VST2 early enough to still be allowed to publish those, because we may not do that otherwise.

Grey zone? But I can do it in my bedroom, right? ;)
(I did compile AU VST wrapper for my needs using 2.4 SDK some time ago)

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he seems to have a custom template for his plugs, you might want to look in that stuff under XCode.

I'll take a look. But I have no idea how to translate that to OS9/CW/MPW.

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if something is UB, stripping off the intel stuff should be simple (that´s what i heard ;) )

Piece of cake. I do it almost daily. lipo or ditto command line tools.
BUT, the question was about compiling for OS9. C++ is C++, no? ;)
« Last Edit: December 19, 2023, 03:43:05 PM by ssp3 »
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Offline IIO

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Re: Compiling Airwindows VST plug-ins for OS9
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2023, 03:42:36 PM »
i deleted my post instead of editing it, so i had to write it again :(

modern (last 15 years?) stuff is mostly JUCE:

https://github.com/webprofusion/OpenAudio

this list is not complete - we will make our own as soon as you are ready ;)
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Offline IIO

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Re: Compiling Airwindows VST plug-ins for OS9
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2023, 03:45:25 PM »
things which do not have GUIs anyway have one issue less. no-GUI is always ready to down- or crossgrade the GUI.

sure, for now it is all bedroom.
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Offline ssp3

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Re: Compiling Airwindows VST plug-ins for OS9
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2023, 04:06:08 PM »
My understanding of Chris' stuff is that he doesn't do anything about custom GUIs but relies on generic GUI provided by the system.

mda plug-ins were similar in that regard in OS9, am I right?
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Offline IIO

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Re: Compiling Airwindows VST plug-ins for OS9
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2023, 05:25:42 PM »
mda plug-ins were similar in that regard in OS9, am I right?

yes, several free plug-ins are. it is fine for plug-ins with 3 parameters and in hosts with proper generic interfaces.
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