Converting Windows VST .dll to Mac .vst

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-- Converting Windows VST .dll to Mac .vst

Posted by ReclusNdangrmnt on Sep-12-2010 22:48:

Converting Windows VST .dll to Mac .vst

I'm trying to figure out how to do this, as a lot of my plugins are Windows-only, and it would nice to have them on my Mac to have a mobile studio.

Has anyone done this successfully?

Posted by alanzo on Sep-13-2010 01:43:

I don't think it works that way. That's why there are Mac versions of the different VSTs out there.....

Posted by ReclusNdangrmnt on Sep-13-2010 01:52:

Well I've found something called wacVST, that uses WINE to wrap a .dll into .vst...But I have no idea how to make it happen.

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Sep-13-2010 01:54:

are you talking about Zeta ?

Posted by ReclusNdangrmnt on Sep-13-2010 02:09:

Zeta is one of the things I would like on my Mac. I would also a few Crysonic plugins and some freebies on here.

Posted by DJ RANN on Sep-13-2010 04:38:

You can use a wrapper to make vsts work in osx but honestly they are a bit flakey, especially if trying to record automation parameters.

There really aren't many vst's that don't have mac version or at least a similar replacement.

IMO it's not worth the headache all things considered

Posted by kevin shawn on Sep-13-2010 06:21:

I use VST to AU adapter 2.0 for my VST's to work on my mac and it usually does it with no problems as long as the install is a dmg file.

My machine is dual boot but I have yet to try to install an exe file onto my mac HD from windows. Not sure how the directories would work on install.

Posted by kitphillips on Sep-13-2010 06:34:

Posted by ReclusNdangrmnt on Sep-13-2010 07:55:

Well, I'm gonna attempt to just copy and paste my plugins over from my PC; I'm using a VST -> RTAS adapter, so maybe the wrapped version of the plugin will work in ProTools. Otherwise I'll have to do without Zeta, Glitch, and a couple other things. That wacvst thing is too complex for me at this point.

Posted by Zak McKracken on Sep-13-2010 15:35:

in what DAW?

Posted by ReclusNdangrmnt on Sep-13-2010 15:52:

quote:
Originally posted by ReclusNdangrmnt
Well, I'm gonna attempt to just copy and paste my plugins over from my PC; I'm using a VST -> RTAS adapter, so maybe the wrapped version of the plugin will work in ProTools.

Posted by retroware on Sep-13-2010 18:03:

xHi,

I'm the developer of wacvst, the wrapper that allows one to run windows vsts in a Mac DAW. There is a long thread at:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249887

that describes this effort.

This wrapper is definitely not for the faint of heart! As is, it currently requires that one download, compile and install both Wine and the source for wacvst. Even then, not all vsts will work correctly. Furthermore, the wrapped vst will be a mac vst as opposed to an audio unit which means you won't be able to use it from Logic. But, if there is a windows only plugin that you absolutely must have and you have some experience compiling source code then you might want to give it a try.

Posted by DJ RANN on Sep-13-2010 19:49:

quote:
Originally posted by kevin shawn
I use VST to AU adapter 2.0 for my VST's to work on my mac and it usually does it with no problems as long as the install is a dmg file.

My machine is dual boot but I have yet to try to install an exe file onto my mac HD from windows. Not sure how the directories would work on install.

what the fu......

If it's a DMG then it's already a mac package, no need for any type of wrapper in OSX.

quote:
Originally posted
Well, I'm gonna attempt to just copy and paste my plugins over from my PC; I'm using a VST -> RTAS adapter, so maybe the wrapped version of the plugin will work in ProTools. Otherwise I'll have to do without Zeta, Glitch, and a couple other things. That wacvst thing is too complex for me at this point.

If you're using the rtas wrapper then all you'll need is the .dll and any .fxb banks associated with that plugin.

You should just be able to copy the dll the use the wrapper. Again, it's still going to be flakey....

Posted by kevin shawn on Sep-13-2010 20:24:

I replied after smoking a large amount of hash last night and looking back now have no idea what I was talking about lol.

The adapter wraps some .vst files that I have in library/plugins/VST

Posted by Zak McKracken on Sep-13-2010 22:59:

quote:
Originally posted by ReclusNdangrmnt

oh i thought pro tools where for recording audio only.

Posted by ReclusNdangrmnt on Sep-14-2010 05:28:

Not at all, with version 8 it has become a pretty formidable DAW in terms of production...At least I think so.

quote:
If you're using the rtas wrapper then all you'll need is the .dll and any .fxb banks associated with that plugin. You should just be able to copy the dll the use the wrapper. Again, it's still going to be flakey....

Hopefully. None of the plugins I've wrapped are flaky though, only one that has an issue is dblue Glitch, which 'grays out' on load. There's a workaround though so it's all good.

Posted by Timothy on Sep-14-2010 12:03:

quote:
Originally posted by ReclusNdangrmnt
Not at all, with version 8 it has become a pretty formidable DAW in terms of production...At least I think so.

Hopefully. None of the plugins I've wrapped are flaky though, only one that has an issue is dblue Glitch, which 'grays out' on load. There's a workaround though so it's all good.

Pro Tools HD on Mac works with RTAS aswell right besides TDM plugins?

If so, you can use RTAS on Pro Tools HD? Some Windows VSTi's also have RTAS, so I was thinking that it could work perhaps with Pro Tools on Mac.

Not sure how to get the .exe running. Perhaps with Cider or other tools for running Windows files on a Mac.

Posted by ReclusNdangrmnt on Sep-15-2010 06:05:

I have LE. What .exe are you referring to?

Posted by kitphillips on Sep-15-2010 09:26:

quote:
Originally posted by Timothy
Pro Tools HD on Mac works with RTAS aswell right besides TDM plugins?

If so, you can use RTAS on Pro Tools HD? Some Windows VSTi's also have RTAS, so I was thinking that it could work perhaps with Pro Tools on Mac.

Not sure how to get the .exe running. Perhaps with Cider or other tools for running Windows files on a Mac.

What? No one on this forum has PTHD I don't think dude... Yes I think you can use RTAS on HD, but I think maybe you have to pick between using RTAS and TDM plugs or something stupid like that.

RTAS is mac/pc specific though. You can't use a PC RTAS plugin on mac or vice versa. So its the same as VST in that respect.

Would everyone in this thread just get over it and realise that there is NO stable, reliable way to run windows plugins on MAC, regardless of what format they're in.

Posted by ReclusNdangrmnt on Sep-15-2010 16:12:

RTAS uses the .dpm file extension for both operating systems, so I'm still gonna try

Posted by Timothy on Sep-15-2010 16:23:

quote:
Originally posted by ReclusNdangrmnt
RTAS uses the .dpm file extension for both operating systems, so I'm still gonna try

Let me know if it works. If it works, I'm going to get Pro Tools too then

Posted by DJ RANN on Sep-15-2010 18:42:

Fuck me. Here you go:

I don't have protools HD at home but I have to stare at it all day long at the studio - we have 4 fully maxed out PTHD3 rigs in one room and 5 in the other, not to mention another half dozen PTHD edit and sample rigs scattered around the facility.

Here's the deal. RTAS and TDM both work on HD.

LE can only run RTAS.

Why? Because RTAS can use only the host CPU for processing and TDM use processor cards or the venue processors, which are abviously not an option with LE.

Both TDM and RTAS are dual platform (mac/windows) but support has always been better (not to mention first released) on Mac.

So the short answer is yes, RTAS format can be used in both mac and win, but unless you have at least PTHD interface and card, you're never going to be able to run a TDM plugin.