VST Packaging
As a Maker, this guide will help you prepare your VST plugin for listing on the Elgato Marketplace. Please follow the guidelines carefully to ensure compatibility with Wave Link and to maintain a consistent user experience.
Plugin Compatibility and Requirements​
Windows Requirements:​
- Plugin Format: Wave Link supports both VST 2 and VST 3 plugins on Windows. However, we strongly recommend using VST3 for better performance and compatibility.
- Sample Rates: Your plugin must support sample rates of 48 kHz and 96 kHz.
- Block Size: The maximum block size is 512 samples. This is a fixed size and cannot be exceeded.
Mac Requirements:​
- Plugin Format: Wave Link on Mac supports only the AU (Audio Unit) format. VST formats are not supported on Mac within Wave Link.
- Sample Rates: Like Windows, your plugin must support sample rates of 48 kHz and 96 kHz.
- Block Size: The maximum block size on Mac is not fixed and can vary, even between calls of your plugin's process method.
Acceptable Download Files​
For your plugin to be accepted on the Elgato Marketplace, it must be packaged as one of the following:
For Windows:​
- A single, unwrapped VST 3 file.
- A folder with a
.vst3
suffix. - A Windows installer package, either
.msi
or.exe
format.
For Mac:​
- A single
.component
file for AU plugins. - A macOS installer package, either
.app
or.pkg
format.
Packaging Zip Files​
If you choose to provide a zip file, please adhere to the following structure:
Zip File Content Rules:​
- One or more VST 3 files placed in the root layer, with no additional content.
- A single folder with a
.vst3
suffix placed in the root layer, with no additional content. - One or more
.component
files for Mac, placed in the root layer, with no additional content. - A single Windows installer, with no additional content.
- A single macOS installer, with no additional content.
Plugin Format Structure for VST 3​
For details on the plugin format structure for VST 3, please refer to the Steinberg VST 3 technical documentation: Steinberg VST 3 Plugin Format
Note: Previous SDKs defined a VST 3 plugin as a single .dll file with the .vst3
extension. This format has been deprecated since VST 3.6.10 and should not be used.
Additional Information for VST 2 Plugins:​
- VST2 plugins typically have a
.dll
file extension. - For reference on VST 2 file structure, you may look at plugins like
reaeq-standalone.dll
.
Adding a VST Plugin into your DAW on Windows​
If you need guidance on how users can add your VST plugin to a Windows DAW, you can direct them to Sweetwater's comprehensive article: How to Add a Plugin to a DAW on Windows