Automatic VST Scanning

bvanoudtshoorn · May 21, 2007, 04:45:10

Would it be possible to have MPT automatically scan for VSTs in preset directories (recursively)? That way, if I get a bunch of VSTs at once, I don't have to go through and add each one individually.

I haven't come across any other system that requires you to add each one individually... I appreciate that most of them limit you to one directory of VSTs, but I think that that's just laziness - it really wouldn't be too hard to just scan a couple of directories.

Rakib · May 21, 2007, 10:33:22

Yes, its sound nice. But if it this function ever will implemented I dont want the possibility to add 1 vst at a time to be removed, there if very often one or two vst that can make modplug unstable and requires me to restart MPT. (Yes, I do use mostly badly coded and freeware based vst's)

Saga Musix · May 21, 2007, 10:34:04

if you have several VSTs in one directory, that's no problem. just mark all VSTs, that works.

bvanoudtshoorn · May 21, 2007, 11:00:47

Yeah, I know... The reason I thought of this is that I recently migrated to a new computer, and had to reload all of the VSTs (all the other settings are just stored in files...) As I'd been building up my collection over quite some time, they were all in different folders. I think I like them that way, too, especially the commercial (or very big) ones. These often have a whole bunch of supporting files (like docs or what have you), so it makes sense to have them in their own folder.

Nahkranoth · May 25, 2007, 14:21:08

Heh, and you know what it takes to remove dozens of plugins from MPT's list, when you deleted them? Man, this is difficult and boring and it seems there's no other way than to remove one by one:-) (Damn, I've wanted to make such a post myself a day ago!)

Nahkranoth · August 14, 2007, 11:22:37

Even if no one's going to add such a feature as scanning folders for VSTs, there's still a possibility to make a small .exe which can scan and then add paths to the MPT's cache, which is in registry as I remember. It shouldn't be a hard task for an experienced coder. Or at least for someone who know how to interact with VSTs.

LPChip · August 14, 2007, 20:18:18

Its not in the registry. Its in a database file for as far as I remember. I know this because after a windows reinstallation, the plugins were still remembered.

Nahkranoth · August 16, 2007, 09:51:16

My mistake:-) soundbanks are in registry. And VST cache is really a file in MPT's folder. But its structure is fairly simple, so the only problem is to recognize a .dll for it can be an effect or an instrument (flags=0 or flags=1 in cachefile)

residentgrey · November 15, 2008, 20:01:04

Take the scanning code in the program, encapsulate it a bit, set it up to apply to all child directories in the plugins folder. Besides you can keep all the support doc in a separate file.

Saga Musix · December 14, 2013, 16:05:01

Well, this is now finally there. Use the "Scan Folder" button in the plugin manager.
http://sagagames.de/stuff/mptrack.exe

LPChip · December 14, 2013, 16:09:15

Wooh... a belated christmas present!

Or wait... its soon christmas again...

Anyway, nice addition Saga Musix.

Thanks.

.^o · December 14, 2013, 17:17:15

oh yeah

Diamond · December 15, 2013, 05:36:29

Excellent, this addition is appreciated. Thanks.