This is a vst plug-in I use inside (Reaper)[https://www.reaper.fm/] (I have not needed to test in other DAWs) to display a visual metronome using a moving dot somewhat like a conductor's baton.

This uses the superb C# wrapper library Vst.net by Obiwanjacobi which in turn uses the Steinberg VST SDK.

The jacobi.vst.core.dll and jacobi.vst.framework.dll are loaded from the _lib folder: you should download those yourself from the Jacobi repo. You will also need the jacobi.vst.interop.dll which you will rename as described below.

Build in release mode (visual studio).

If the references are broken, you will need to get them from the Jacobi site and place them in a suitable location - I use a _lib folder one level up which is shared among multiple projects of his nature. (Actually for the newer versions x64 dotnet 4.0, I now have these in the GAC - have not had a chabce to update thius one yet).

The Metro.dll wrapper in the output folder is the actual vst seen by the DAW ... this is a renamed copy of the jacobi.vst.interop.dll as described in his documentation: it wraps the managed component which must be named metro.net.dll.

Deployment to the DAW involves copying these files to (a folder in) the DAW plugin folder:

• Jacobi.Vst.Core.dll
• Jacobi.Vst.Framework.dll
• Metro.dll
• Metro.net.dll

Reaper should then find the vst and make it available.

• Create a track, and insert a time code generator on it. (This depends on whether you have external hardware generating midi time codes ...)
• Add the Metro effect.
• Disable the Master send from this track (unless you want to hear the timecode!)
• Stretch the timecode out across the duration of the project!
• Ensure that the time signature and tempo are set appropriately.
• The metronome should do its thing.