1: the SDK examples

Firstly you need to download and install code blocks from here. You’ll want the binary release unless you fancy compiling it yourself. There are two options available for the binary release. One larger download which comes with MinGW bundled, and another smaller download which is just code::blocks on its own. If you downloaded and set up MinGW from the old tutorials then you can go ahead and download the smaller file, otherwise you’ll need the larger download.

If you didn’t do the older command line tutorials, then you’ll also need to get a copy of the VST standard development kit (SDK) from here.

Once you have code::blocks up and running, you’ll notice that it looks very similar to every other development environment. One very nice feature of the IDE is that it will allow you to import Microsoft VS files, converting all the project settings and compiler flags to work with gcc. This is a lazy way to build the examples supplied with the SDK, however, it’s good to know how to make a project from scratch just for reference. The following instructions show you how.

If you want to noodle with the source then I suggest you copy the source files from \vst2.x\**plugname**\source\ to the code::blocks project directory you’re working on and then include the copied files in the build rather than the originals. This prevents you from messing up the examples bundled with the SDK.

How to make AGain
The most simple plugin of the bunch is “again”, allowing you to change the gain of an input signal. After you have compiled this example, the dll can be found in the bin folder within your project folder.

1) Make new EMPTY project and call it “again” – you can save this anywhere on your system. code::blocks will automatically make a new folder with the name of your project in a location of your choice. You do not have to create a new directory first.

2) Assuming you have put the sdk at c:\vstsdk2.4, then right click on the project you have just created, select build options, got to the ’search directories’ tab and add c:\vstsdk2.4 to the list.

3) Right click on the project and select add files. Add the following:
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x\audioeffect.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x\audioeffectx.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x\vstplugmain.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\again\source\again.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\again\source\again.h

4) Right click on the project, select ‘Properties’, navigate to the ‘Build targets’ tab and select ‘Dynamic library’ from the ‘Type’ drop down list.

5) Right click the project, select ‘Build options’ go to the linker settings tab and under ‘Other linker options’ add the following:
-def C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\win\vstplug.def

6) Build the project.

How to make ADelay
1) Make new EMPTY project and call it “adelay” – you can save this anywhere on your system

2) Assuming you have put the sdk at c:\vstsdk2.4, then right click on the project you have just created, select build options, got to the ’search directories’ tab and add c:\vstsdk2.4 to the list.

3) Right click on the project and select add files. Add the following:
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x\audioeffect.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x\audioeffectx.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x\vstplugmain.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\source\adelaymain.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\source\adelay.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\source\adelay.h

4) Right click on the project, select ‘Properties’, navigate to the ‘Build targets’ tab and select ‘Dynamic library’ from the ‘Type’ drop down list.

5) Right click the project, select ‘Build options’ go to the linker settings tab and under ‘Other linker options’ add the following:
-def C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\win\vstplug.def

6) Build the project.

How to make Surrounddelay
This is just like adelay but has a GUI. This involves the inclusion of some extra files and some standard windows libraries.

1) Make new EMPTY project and call it “surrounddelay” – you can save this anywhere on your system

2) Assuming you have put the sdk at c:\vstsdk2.4, then right click on the project you have just created, select build options, got to the ’search directories’ tab and add c:\vstsdk2.4 and also C:\vstsdk2.4\vstgui.sf\vstgui and also C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x to the list.

3) Right click on the project and select add files. Add the following:
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x\audioeffect.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x\audioeffectx.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\source\vst2.x\vstplugmain.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\vstgui.sf\vstgui\aeffguieditor.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\vstgui.sf\vstgui\vstcontrols.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\vstgui.sf\vstgui\vstgui.cpp

If you want to change the source then copy all this stuff to your project directory and add it, otherwise just add it in place . . .
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\source\surrounddelay.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\source\surrounddelay.h
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\source\adelay.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\source\adelay.h
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\editor\sdeditor.cpp
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\editor\sdeditor.h
C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\adelay\editor\resources\surrounddelay.rc

4) Right click on the project, select ‘Properties’, navigate to the ‘Build targets’ tab and select ‘Dynamic library’ from the ‘Type’ drop down list.

5) Right click the project, select ‘Build options’ go to the linker settings tab and under ‘Other linker options’ add the following:
-def C:\vstsdk2.4\public.sdk\samples\vst2.x\win\vstplug.def

6) Right click the project, select ‘Build options’ go to the linker settings tab and add the following to ‘Link Libraries’:
uuid
ole32
kernel32
gdi32
user32

7) Build the project.

If you managed this then you shouldn’t have any trouble building the synth example.