Creating option for opening VST GUIs

[to-the-sun]

Repository

https://github.com/to-the-sun/amanuensis

The Amanuensis is an automated songwriting and recording system aimed at ridding the process of anything left-brained, so one need never leave a creative, spontaneous and improvisational state of mind, from the inception of the song until its final master. The program will construct a cohesive song structure, using the best of what you give it, looping around you and growing in real-time as you play. All you have to do is jam and fully written songs will flow out behind you wherever you go.
If you want to try it out, please get a hold of me! Playtesters wanted!

Details

Currently when playing VST instruments the user must rely on presets, because there is no way to actually open up the VSTs' GUIs. Personally I have always had no problem with this functionality, but many if not most others would feel stifled without this ability, so this task request would be for enabling that option. It'd be great if someone could handle this while I work on other things!

VSTs are loaded into [vst~] and the command to open up its GUI is a simple open message sent to the object.

The other half of the request would be placing an "open VST GUI" option of some kind on The Amanuensis's UI as well.

Components

The backend portion of this request would involve synth.maxpat and the abstraction found in it vsti.maxpat.

Two things will need to happen here: first, a message designating the track/channel will need to be sent to that [gate 16] and immediately after, the open message sent through it.

That message will then have to navigate its way down to the actual [vst~] object. These objects are created dynamically with scripting, so they're not present in the above screenshot, but messages are delivered to them through the right inlet of [join @triggers 1]. Really it's not as complicated as it looks. A simple [routepass open] at the very beginning of vsti.maxpat may be all it takes.

On the front-end (sound.maxpat), I'd like to keep things as uncluttered as possible, so perhaps an option can be appended to the synth umenu to the effect of "[open the selected VST's name here UI]" and when chosen, the explained functionality is executed. No extra buttons would then be required, but the menu would need to have its options updated dynamically.

Deadline

I'm hoping for the right person this would be an easy task. Maybe something that takes no more than 10 days.

Communication

Reply to this post or contact me through Github for more details.

Proof of Work Done

https://github.com/to-the-sun