Take5-VST

Open-source VST3 / AU / Standalone MIDI controller plugin for the Sequential Take 5 polyphonic synthesizer.

Built with JUCE 8. Communicates over USB MIDI using the Take 5's NRPN implementation so every front-panel knob and parameter is automatable from your DAW.

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Features

• Panel-graphic UI — the plugin window shows the actual Take 5 front panel as a backdrop, with hardware-matching rotary knobs rendered in the correct positions
• Custom knob rendering — brushed-aluminium face, serrated black grip, white indicator line; orange accent ring on the Filter Cutoff knob
• Full NRPN mapping — all 42 hardware-confirmed parameters (oscillators, mixer, filter, envelopes, LFOs, effects, reverb, modulation matrix)
• Hardware → plugin — turns the hardware knob? The plugin updates automatically via incoming NRPN receive
• Push All — send every parameter to the Take 5 in one click (useful after loading a DAW preset)
• Auto-reconnect — polls for the USB device every 2 seconds; reconnects automatically if you power-cycle the synth
• State persistence — DAW saves/restores all parameter values in the normal plugin state

Formats

Format	macOS
VST3	✅
AU	✅
Standalone	✅

Windows / Linux builds are not tested but should work with JUCE's cross-platform MIDI API.

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Building

Requirements

• JUCE 8.0.6 — fetched automatically via CMake FetchContent
• CMake ≥ 3.22
• Ninja (brew install ninja)
• macOS 26 / Xcode CLT — if building on macOS 26, C++ stdlib headers require the SDK path workaround (handled by the Makefile automatically)

Quick start

git clone https://github.com/HappyPathway/Take5-VST.git
cd Take5-VST
make           # configure + build Debug (first build fetches JUCE ~2 min)
make run       # build + launch Standalone
make install   # install VST3 + AU + Standalone to ~/Library/...

Manual CMake

export CPLUS_INCLUDE_PATH=/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/SDKs/MacOSX26.4.sdk/usr/include/c++/v1
cmake -B build -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
cmake --build build --parallel

Artefacts land in build/Take5Plugin_artefacts/Release/.

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Hardware Setup

1. Connect the Take 5 via USB
2. On the Take 5: GLOBAL → MIDI → MIDI Param Send → NRPN (enable)
3. On the Take 5: GLOBAL → MIDI → MIDI Param Receive → NRPN (enable)
4. Launch the plugin — the status bar shows ● Take 5 connected when detected

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Project Structure

CMakeLists.txt          JUCE 8 build definition
Makefile                Convenience build/install/run targets
panel.png               Take 5 front-panel image (2562×730, embedded as BinaryData)
src/
  PluginProcessor.cpp/h   AudioProcessor, APVTS, NRPN forwarding
  PluginEditor.cpp/h      Panel-backdrop UI, knob layout table
  PluginParameters.h      NRPN descriptor table (42 params, hardware-confirmed)
  Take5LookAndFeel.h      Custom rotary knob LookAndFeel
  model/Take5State.h      Data model (mod matrix, sequencer, patch state)
  midi/
    UsbMidiManager.cpp/h  USB auto-connect, NRPN receive/decode
    NrpnSender.cpp/h      NRPN encode/send helper
proto/
  take5_midi.py           Python prototype — MIDI discovery, NRPN test, SysEx dump
  nrpn_learn.py           Interactive NRPN capture tool (used to build the map)
  nrpn_map.json           Hardware-confirmed NRPN→parameter map (42 entries)

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NRPN Map

All 42 NRPN values were captured directly from hardware using proto/nrpn_learn.py. See src/PluginParameters.h for the full table and proto/nrpn_map.json for the raw capture data.

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Roadmap

• Knob alignment fine-tuning (positions verified against live hardware)
• Modulation matrix panel (16-slot table view)
• Program Menu parameters panel (hidden params: glide mode, key follow, pitch bend range, etc.)
• SysEx preset dump / load
• Step sequencer UI
• Windows / Linux CI

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License

MIT — see LICENSE.

Sequential and Take 5 are trademarks of Sequential LLC. This project is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sequential.