If you are already using any of these programs/plugins, and you want to update any of them, you should update them all. The NetVST protocol is not yet stable, so some changes may not be fully backwards-compatible.

See Change Log.

On Windows:

• Put NetVSTHost.exe wherever you wish.
• Put NetFilter.dll and NetSynth.dll wherever you keep VST plugins, e.g.
  • C:\Program Files\Vstplugins
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Vstplugins
• You should also install the Visual Studio 2010 SP1 Redistributable:
  • 32-bit version: https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=8328
  • 64-bit version: https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=14632

On Macintosh:

• Put NetFilter.component and NetSynth.component into your own plugins folder, e.g.
  • ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components
  • Important: On macOS High Sierra and later, you will need to log out, then log in again (or restart) before newly-installed AU plugins will show up in your DAW.
• If you want to run VST plugins on a Windows PC on the same LAN, install NetVSTHost.exe on your Windows PC as described above, and use the NetFilter and NetSynth AU plugins in your Mac DAW (e.g. Logic Pro X).
• If you want to run VST plugins on your Mac, unzip the new NetVSTHost for Mac wherever you wish, and also create a folder (or hierarchy of folders) containing whichever Windows VSTs you have.
  • Follow Mac-specific instructions where noted below.

On Linux (new!):

• Install the latest stable version (2.0.1 or later) of Wine from WineHQ
• Under Wine, install the Visual Studio 2010 SP1 Redistributable, then install NetVSTHost.exe 32-bit.
• NetVSTHost runs fine this way under Linux Mint 18 32-bit.
• A 32-bit Linux is advisable for running older 32-bit VSTs. I have not tried 64-bit yet.
• Older VSTs built with SynthEdit work fine!
• I have not tried NetFilter or NetSynth under Linux yet.

These instructions are just to get you started. See YouTube Videos and More about NetVSTHost.

• Double-click NetVSTHost.exe (Mac version is simply called NetVSTHost.)
• From the Devices menu, select Network… to bring up the Network parameters dialog

• Using the upper combobox, select which network you want to use:
  • The “loopback” item (127.0.0.1) is always present, and is the default. Use this if you are going to run the NetFilter and/or NetSynth VST plugins in another VST host program on the same PC.
    • Mac users: don't choose this entry; always use the one for your wired Ethernet connection.
  • You will typically see at least one additional entry for your wired Ethernet connection. Use this is you are going to run VST and/or AU plugins on a different computer on the same network.
  • If your PC also has Wifi, you will see an entry for your Wifi adapter. Do not select this; Wifi networks have far too much latency for NetVST.
• The “Port Number” edit box allows you to specify the network port number.
  • If you only plan to run one instance of NetVSTHost, you can use the default setting 27016.
  • If you would like to run more than one instance of NetVSTHost simultaneously, you must choose a different port number for each one, e.g. 27016, 27017, etc.
• Click the OK button when you have made your selections.
  • If the particular interface/port combination cannot be used, an error box will pop up, and then the Network parameters dialog will reappear so you can try a different combination.
  • If no error box appears, NetVSTHost is now ready to accept connections on the selected port.
  • Your choices are stored in the Windows Registry, and will become the new default settings.
  • On most versions of Windows, you will then see a pop-up dialog like the one below. Make sure at least the Private checkbox is checked (though it's quite safe to check both), and click Allow access. After you have agreed to this dialog once, you shouldn't see it again.

The NetFilter and NetSynth plugins can only work with buffer sizes up to 2048 samples. A few VST host programs (most notably Hermann Seib's SaviHost and VSTHost will use a larger size by default (Seib's programs use 4410). This will usually cause the connected NetVSTHost, and probably also the DAW, to CRASH, so it's vitally important to set your buffer size before starting to use the NetVST plugins. This issue will be fixed in a later release of the NetVST software.

The buffer-size setting is DAW-specific. See Working with specific DAW (plugin host) programs.

NetFilter and NetSynth can be used like any other VST filter or instrument plugins in your DAW or other VST host program. On Windows, either one will present a simple GUI like this:

To use the default loopback IP address 127.0.0.1 and default port number 27016, just check the “Enable Network Communication” box. To change the address and/or port number, enter a new one in the text box and click the Update button. IP address is four numbers separated by periods, then a colon, then the port number which should be in the range 27016–27031.

• If you make any mistake in the format, an appropriate message will appear in place of the “Server” line.
• If you just want to go back to the previously used IP/port combination, click the Revert button.
• Check the “Enable Network Communication” box once you have successfully entered your desired IP/port data.

Remember to un-check the “Enable Network Communication” box when you are finished, before closing your DAW.

NetFilter and NetSynth can be used like any other VST filter or instrument plugins in your DAW or other Audio Unit host program. Either one will present a simple GUI like this:

Unlike the Windows versions, the individual parts of the IP address and port number are separated, each with its own separate edit box. On newer versions of Mac OS, you can use the Tab key to advance from one edit box to the next; on older versions, you may have to use the mouse to click in each box individually.

• If you make any mistake in the numbers, an appropriate message will appear in place of the “Server” line.
• If you just want to go back to the previously used IP/port combination, click the Revert button.
• Check the “Enable Network Communication” box once you have successfully entered your desired IP/port data.

If you are running the Mac version of NetVSTHost, you will enter the same IP address (the one for your wired Ethernet port) you used when setting up that program. In this case, you are effectively using the loopback connection; nothing is sent over the physical LAN. (You can't use the actual loopback address 127.0.0.1, because Wine interprets this differently.)

Remember to un-check the “Enable Network Communication” box when you are finished, before closing your DAW.