patch-press

Captures VST/CLAP plugin presets and sample libraries and exports ready-to-play presets for hardware samplers — Synthstrom Deluge (XML + WAV) or 1010music Bento (a patch.xml folder per preset), picked with --format. The goal is zero manual YAML writing — scan commands auto-generate configs from patch-probe output, CLAP plugin directories, or sample library folders. YAML files are the escape hatch when auto-detection needs a nudge.

Full docs: https://blablack.github.io/patch-press/

Prerequisites

• Python ≥ 3.14
• patch-render — companion JUCE-based audio host that drives VST/CLAP rendering
• A target output location: a Deluge SD card, a Bento SD card, or a directory laid out like either (see Output layout)

Installation

pip install -e .

Workflows

Every workflow below ends the same way: batch/sample with --format deluge or --format bento. Examples use deluge; swap the flag (and --path) for a 1010music Bento patch instead — see Output layout.

VST presets (via patch-probe)

Use patch-probe to capture raw preset states from the plugin GUI, then:

# Generate one config per preset
patch-press scan-from-probe ~/patch-probe/Dexed configs/Dexed

# Export all presets to the SD card
patch-press batch "configs/Dexed/*.yaml" --path /media/DELUGE/SYNTHS/Dexed --format deluge

CLAP presets

# Scan plugin presets (plugin ID is auto-discovered)
patch-press scan-clap /usr/lib/clap/MyPlugin.clap ~/presets/MyPlugin configs/MyPlugin

# Export
patch-press batch "configs/MyPlugin/*.yaml" --path /media/DELUGE/SYNTHS/MyPlugin --format deluge

Sample library

# Multisample: subfolders contain per-note WAVs
patch-press scan-library "~/samples/Mini From Mars" configs/Mini --type multisample

# Kit: subfolders are instruments, WAVs inside are round-robin layers
patch-press scan-library "~/samples/808 Kit" configs/808 --type kit

# Export
patch-press batch "configs/Mini/*.yaml" --path /media/DELUGE/SYNTHS/Mini --format deluge

Bitwig multisample

# One .multisample archive (ZIP of WAVs + multisample.xml) per preset, searched recursively.
# Root notes and loops are read from the XML — no filename parsing or loop detection.
patch-press scan-bitwig "~/Downloads/Orchestral Tools" configs/OrchestralTools

# Export
patch-press batch "configs/OrchestralTools/**/*.yaml" --path /media/DELUGE --format deluge

Commands

Command	Purpose
sample <config.yaml>	Run the full pipeline for one config
batch <configs/*.yaml>	Run all configs, skip existing outputs
scan-from-probe <probe-dir> <config-dir>	Generate configs from patch-probe YAMLs
scan-clap <plugin.clap> <preset-dir> <config-dir>	Generate configs from CLAP preset files
scan-library <folder> <config-dir>	Generate configs from a sample library
scan-bitwig <folder> <config-dir>	Generate configs from Bitwig .multisample archives (recursive)
classify <configs/*.yaml>	Print sound type classification without exporting
profiles	List available profiles

Global flags: -v (verbose progress), --debug (limit scans to 5 items for quick testing)

Scan options

All scan commands accept:

Option	Default	Description
--profile	auto	Override profile: pluck / synth / pad / drums
--note-step	3	Semitones between captured notes (1 = every note, 12 = one per octave)
--duration	15.0	Sustain capture duration in seconds
--sample-rate	48000	44100 / 48000 / 96000 — VST/CLAP only
--probe-note	60	MIDI note used to detect sustain type
--probe-velocity	100	Velocity used when probing
--tempo-bpm	120	Tempo used for rhythm detection

Batch options

Option	Default	Description
--path PATH	required	Output root directory
--format FORMAT	required	Output format: deluge or bento
--workers N	1	Parallel analysis threads
--no-skip	—	Re-run even if output already exists

Profiles

Profiles set capture timing and analysis defaults. Scan commands auto-detect the best profile by analysing a few representative notes — override with --profile when needed.

Profile	Use for	Duration	Loop	Velocities	RR
synth	General melodic	4 s	no	[100]	1
pad	Sustained, evolving pads	8 s	yes	[100]	1
pluck	Short transients	2 s	no	[100]	1
drums	Drum kits	2 s	no	[64, 100, 127]	3

Config YAML reference

Scan commands write these automatically. Edit to override any auto-detected value.

profile: synth          # baseline defaults — pluck / synth / pad / drums

source:
  type: vst             # vst | clap | library
  plugin: /path/to/Plugin.vst3
  preset: "Preset Name"
  raw_state: "<base64>" # state blob captured by patch-probe; bypasses preset lookup

capture:
  note_range: [36, 96]  # MIDI note range
  note_step: 3          # semitones between captured notes
  velocities: [100]     # which velocities to capture
  round_robins: 1       # max round-robin layers per note
  duration_s: 4.0       # note hold duration
  release_tail_s: 2.0   # recording time after note off
  sample_rate: 48000    # 44100 | 48000 | 96000

analysis:
  trim: true
  loop: false           # attempt loop-point detection
  loop_quality_threshold: 0.75
  normalize: per_set    # per_sample | per_set | none

output:
  name: MyPreset        # preset name used in the exported preset and its file paths

Library configs use source.type: library with source.path instead of plugin/preset fields.

Output layout

--format deluge

<--path>/
  MyPreset.xml
  SAMPLES/
    <dir name>/
      MyPreset/
        note036_T120_V100_RR1.wav
        note039_T120_V100_RR1.wav
        ...

Copy the output directory to the matching location on the SD card (SYNTHS/ or KITS/).

--format bento

One folder per preset — a patch.xml with its WAVs alongside — under the UserPatches/ root the firmware reserves for user content, filed by patch type:

<--path>/../UserPatches/
  SampInst/<dir name>/MyPreset/     # melodic multisample
    patch.xml
    note036_T120_V100_RR1.wav
    ...
  OneShots/<dir name>/MyKit/        # drum kit, up to 16 pads
    patch.xml
    ...

Copy UserPatches/ to the card root. Multisamples keep every captured note as its own keyzone. Wavetables are not supported — the Bento's oscillator can only select tables built into its firmware; see docs/outputs/bento.md for that and the rest of the mapping.

Library filename conventions

Note and round-robin index are parsed from WAV filenames anywhere in the stem:

• A3.wav → note A3
• C#2_0001.wav → note C#2, round-robin 1
• Mini_Patch_A#0_0001.wav → note A#0, round-robin 1

When numbered round-robin files exist for a note, unnumbered base files for the same note are ignored.