Old 02-23-2014, 10:44 AM   #1
MichaJo
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Default [Solved] Extract GUI from VST dll ?

Is there a (simple) way to get a VST's GUI and even better export it as png or jpg or any other image?
I've tried ResHacker and such but only got icons etc.
I'm not a developer and haven't got any SDK.
I'm just searching for a standalone tool which does this.

(In Wavosaur and other programs/VST-hosts i can only "view" the GUI but not export it as an image)



Michael

Last edited by MichaJo; 02-24-2014 at 03:21 AM.
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Old 02-23-2014, 02:47 PM   #2
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So this is basically about getting screenshots of VST GUIs ?

To do it manually:

Pressing Alt+PrtSc ("Druck" on German keyboards) captures a screenshot of the active window and puts it in the clipboard which then could be pasted to a graphics program like MS Paint or Photoshop and saved as image from there.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/173884

Or lots of screenshot tools available.

https://www.techsupportalert.com/bes...re-utility.htm

If you want to it in a more automatic way, there's someone who did a automatic VST grabbing tool here (never tried it).

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewto...5508&start=105

The links all are down unfortunately but maybe you have luck sending him a PM.

I hope I understood correctly what you want to do.
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Old 02-24-2014, 12:03 AM   #3
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http://www.bome.com/products/restorator
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Old 02-24-2014, 02:22 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nofish View Post
So this is basically about getting screenshots of VST GUIs ?

To do it manually:

Pressing Alt+PrtSc ("Druck" on German keyboards) captures a screenshot of the active window and puts it in the clipboard which then could be pasted to a graphics program like MS Paint or Photoshop and saved as image from there.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/173884

Or lots of screenshot tools available.

https://www.techsupportalert.com/bes...re-utility.htm

If you want to it in a more automatic way, there's someone who did a automatic VST grabbing tool here (never tried it).

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewto...5508&start=105

The links all are down unfortunately but maybe you have luck sending him a PM.

I hope I understood correctly what you want to do.
Yes. And it's really tedious taking screenshots of each GUI...
The grabber seems to do what i want (haven't found it yet).
Thanks for the hint!

@Shootkin: Thanks! But too expensive (60 €) and the trial version doesn't include just that feature i'm looking for (grab resources)


Michael
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Old 02-24-2014, 03:20 AM   #5
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Finally! With your help i've found an appropriate tool.
It's here and it's called VST-Plugin Screenshot Tool
Quote:
The VST-Plugin screenshot tool is a small command line tool that accepts the VST plugin’s dll name and stores a PNG screenshot of the first preset to the same directory. If furthermore a .FXP preset is passed it will be used when rendering the screenshot as PNG. If no parameter is specified all valid plugins will be captured.
For details please read the supplied manual.
Thanks!

Michael
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Old 02-24-2014, 03:56 AM   #6
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So now that you have the screenshots, what do you do with them?
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Old 02-24-2014, 04:37 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vendetta V View Post
So now that you have the screenshots, what do you do with them?
Currently i've got a few hundred VST's (most of them i really don't use...).
For me it's easier to recognize (remember) a VST's function by an image rather than its sometimes cryptic name...
I just open the folder with the screenshots in it(Windows explorer) in thumbnails-view to easily find the appropriate VST.
Sounds silly but for me it's faster than searching REAPER's FX Browser.

Michael
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Old 02-24-2014, 04:38 AM   #8
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^^^^
Track icons?
Add to toolbar buttons?
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Old 02-24-2014, 04:47 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaJo View Post
Currently i've got a few hundred VST's (most of them i really don't use...).
For me it's easier to recognize (remember) a VST's function by an image rather than its sometimes cryptic name...
I just open the folder with the screenshots in it(Windows explorer) in thumbnails-view to easily find the appropriate VST.
Sounds silly but for me it's faster than searching REAPER's FX Browser.

Michael
Ah bummer, I was expecting a workaround way to implement them into reapers FX browser
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Old 02-24-2014, 04:55 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vendetta V View Post
Ah bummer, I was expecting a workaround way to implement them into reapers FX browser
If i was a developer that's what i would do......
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Old 02-24-2014, 05:00 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkStar View Post
^^^^
Track icons?
Add to toolbar buttons?
Don't fully understand...You mean use the Set track icon... feature instead of opening an external Windows explorer?

Then...yes! Good idea
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Old 02-24-2014, 06:47 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaJo View Post
Currently i've got a few hundred VST's (most of them i really don't use...).
Time for a spring-cleaning, don't you think ?
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Old 02-25-2014, 06:52 AM   #13
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hello, thanks for this, its a brilliant program and much easier to remember the look of the VST rather than the name.. dave
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Old 02-25-2014, 11:06 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by witti View Post
Time for a spring-cleaning, don't you think ?
Quite right
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Old 02-26-2014, 04:38 AM   #15
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Haven't found a way to display images or their thumbnails with Python/tkinter without PIL (Python Image Library).
I'm no experienced programmer but i'd like to automate my "load VST by GUI image".
Now:
- open Windows explorer
- show thumbnails of VSTs
- copy name (or part of it)
- paste it into the Filter list of FX browser

Should look like in this mockup (or similar):


A simple left-mouse-doubleclick on an image should do the above.

Michael
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Old 02-26-2014, 03:45 PM   #16
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cross link in the feature request section... http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=135758
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Old 06-21-2016, 10:18 PM   #17
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Default Possible with ReaScript?

I'd like to do this too. Now that we have ReaScript, is it possible to do it with that?
I found Christian Budde's VST-Plug-In Screenshot Tool (http://www.pcjv.de/applications/tools/), but that doesn't seem to work with 64-bit plugins (or I suspect VST3's).
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Old 05-13-2017, 02:43 AM   #18
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If it would be possible to take picture from docker (and save somehow for further use with reascript), then it could be relatively possible. But for now Christian Budde's VST-Plug-In Screenshot Tool is really good for this.

rough test of adding plugins by their picture:

code
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Old 05-13-2017, 04:14 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpl View Post
If it would be possible to take picture from docker (and save somehow for further use with reascript), then it could be relatively possible. But for now Christian Budde's VST-Plug-In Screenshot Tool is really good for this.

rough test of adding plugins by their picture:

code
This is very promising! It reminds me of how awesome FL Studio has their GUI plugin selection. Elegant, vector, beautiful

Would love to see this in R eaper!
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Old 05-13-2017, 06:03 AM   #20
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Did anyone mention the WindowsOS "Snipping Tool"?
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Old 05-13-2017, 07:22 AM   #21
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Noone. Because noone wants to do screenshots manually 500+ ways. (or maybe more, depending on how much plugins you have)
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Old 05-13-2017, 11:53 AM   #22
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Good point^^^! I probably missed the 500+...
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Old 05-16-2017, 12:43 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpl View Post
If it would be possible to take picture from docker (and save somehow for further use with reascript), then it could be relatively possible. But for now Christian Budde's VST-Plug-In Screenshot Tool is really good for this.

rough test of adding plugins by their picture:

code
I cant get this to display the images. It runs good, I have a folder with images from the screenshot tool and there are active links (that works for adding the plugins) in the script window, but no pictures. Only black window..

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Old 09-25-2017, 06:24 AM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpl View Post
If it would be possible to take picture from docker (and save somehow for further use with reascript), then it could be relatively possible. But for now Christian Budde's VST-Plug-In Screenshot Tool is really good for this.

rough test of adding plugins by their picture:

code
Woohoo!! Exactly what I was looking for...
Did someone worked on this since ?
The page https://github.com/MichaelPilyavskiy...tree/master/FX is a 404 but maybe the source code is available elsewhere?
I would love to see it
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Old 09-25-2017, 06:28 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by digitaltrousers View Post
I'd like to do this too. Now that we have ReaScript, is it possible to do it with that?
I found Christian Budde's VST-Plug-In Screenshot Tool (http://www.pcjv.de/applications/tools/), but that doesn't seem to work with 64-bit plugins (or I suspect VST3's).
Same remark here... not working on x64 plugins...
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