semicolon in example

manual tests pass for
- Get-Remote
- Command.Launch()
- Remote.GetVoicemeeter($kindId)
- Remote.RunVoicemeeter($kindId)
- Remote.RunApplication($appId)

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@ Before any major/minor/patch is released all unit tests will be run to verify th
 
 ## [Unreleased] These changes have not been added to PSGallery yet
 
+### Added
+
+- Get-Remote factory function to log in and return a base Remote instance without launching Voicemeeter
+- Command.Launch() method to launch Voicemeeter based on `$this.kind.name`, useful for re-launch after Command.Shutdown()
+- Remote.GetVoicemeeter($kindId) to confirm a connection to Voicemeeter and return the requested Remote instance
+- Remote.RunVoicemeeter($kindId) to launch Voicemeeter and return an appropriate Remote instance
+- Remote.RunApplication($appId) to launch VB-Audio applications
+- Remote.GetType(), Remote.GetVersion() to README
+
 ## [4.2.0] - 2026-03-15
 
 ### Added

README.md

@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ Voicemeeter factory function can be:
 - Get-RemoteBasic
 - Get-RemoteBanana
 - Get-RemotePotato
+- Get-Remote : if only lower-level Remote methods are needed
 
 Added in `v3` you may also use the following entry/exit points:
 
@@ -551,6 +552,7 @@ The following Command methods are available:
 - HideVBANChat()
 - Restart()
 - Shutdown()
+- Launch() : launches the current Voicemeeter kind
 - Reset() : Reset all config
 - Save($filepath) : string
 - Load($filepath) : string
@@ -575,6 +577,21 @@ $vmr.command.StorePreset()                  # same as StorePreset(''), overwrite
 $vmr.command.RecallPreset('example')
 $vmr.command.RecallPreset(63)
 $vmr.command.RecallPreset()                 # same as RecallPreset(''), recalls last recalled
+
+try {
+    $vmr = Connect-Voicemeeter -Kind 'potato'
+
+    if ($vmr.GetType() -ne 'potato') {
+        $vmr.command.Shutdown()             # shuts down whatever was running
+        Start-Sleep -Seconds 3
+        $vmr.command.Launch()               # launches Voicemeeter Potato
+    }
+
+    # perform operations with Voicemeeter Potato
+}
+finally {
+    Disconnect-Voicemeeter
+}
 ```
 
 StorePreset('') and RecallPreset('') interact with the 'selected' preset. This is highlighted green in the GUI. Recalling a preset selects it. Storing a preset via GUI also selects it. Storing a preset with StorePreset does not select it.
@@ -781,6 +798,63 @@ will load a config file at profiles/banana/config.psd1 for Voicemeeter Banana.
 
 ### Remote class
 
+`$vmr.GetType()` : returns current Voicemeeter kind ('basic', 'banana', 'potato')
+`$vmr.GetVersion()` : returns current Voicemeeter version string (e.g. '2.1.2.2')
+`$vmr.GetVoicemeeter($kindId)` : string, ('basic', 'banana', 'potato'), confirms connection and returns requested Remote instance
+`$vmr.RunVoicemeeter($kindId)` : string, ('basic', 'banana', 'potato'), launches Voicemeeter and returns appropriate Remote instance
+
+example:
+
+```powershell
+try {
+    $vmr = Get-Remote
+
+    $kind = 'none'
+    try {
+        $kind = $vmr.GetType()
+        $vmr = $vmr.GetVoicemeeter($kind)
+    }
+    catch { }
+
+    switch ($kind) {
+        'potato' {
+            break
+        }
+        'basic' {
+            # perform final operations with Voicemeeter Basic
+        }
+        'banana' {
+            # perform final operations with Voicemeeter Banana
+        }
+        { $_ -in 'basic', 'banana'} {
+            $vmr.Command.Shutdown()
+            Start-Sleep -Seconds 3
+        }
+        { $_ -ne 'potato' } {
+            $vmr = $vmr.RunVoicemeeter('potato')
+        }
+    }
+
+    # perform operations with Voicemeeter Potato
+}
+finally {
+    Disconnect-Voicemeeter
+}
+```
+
+`$vmr.RunApplication($appId)` : string, launches VB-Audio applications
+
+- 'devicecheck'
+- 'macrobuttons'
+- 'streamerview'
+- 'busmatrix8'
+- 'busgeq15'
+- 'vban2midi'
+- 'cablecontrolpanel'
+- 'auxcontrolpanel'
+- 'vaio3controlpanel'
+- 'vaiocontrolpanel'
+
 Access to lower level Getters and Setters are provided with these functions:
 
 - `$vmr.Getter(param)`: For getting the value of a parameter expected to return a value other than string.

lib/Voicemeeter.psm1

@@ -40,6 +40,20 @@ class Remote {
         Logout
     }
 
+    [Remote] GetVoicemeeter([String]$kindId) {
+        WaitForConnection
+        return Make_Remote -kindId $kindId
+    }
+
+    [Remote] RunVoicemeeter([String]$kindId) {
+        RunVm -kindId $kindId
+        return Make_Remote -kindId $kindId
+    }
+
+    [void] RunApplication([String]$appId) {
+        RunApp -appId $appId
+    }
+
     [string] GetType() {
         return VmType
     }
@@ -159,6 +173,30 @@ class RemotePotato : Remote {
     }
 }
 
+function Make_Remote {
+    param(
+        [String]$kindId
+    )
+    switch ($kindId) {
+        'basic' {
+            [RemoteBasic]::new()
+        }
+        'banana' {
+            [RemoteBanana]::new()
+        }
+        'potato' {
+            [RemotePotato]::new()
+        }
+        default { 
+            throw [VMRemoteError]::new("Unknown Voicemeeter kind `"$kindId`"")
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+Function Get-Remote {
+    [Remote]::new('none').Login()
+}
+
 Function Get-RemoteBasic {
     [RemoteBasic]::new().Login()
 }
@@ -193,4 +231,4 @@ Function Disconnect-Voicemeeter {
     Logout
 }
 
-Export-ModuleMember -Function Get-RemoteBasic, Get-RemoteBanana, Get-RemotePotato, Connect-Voicemeeter, Disconnect-Voicemeeter
+Export-ModuleMember -Function Get-Remote, Get-RemoteBasic, Get-RemoteBanana, Get-RemotePotato, Connect-Voicemeeter, Disconnect-Voicemeeter

lib/base.ps1

@@ -11,22 +11,32 @@ function Login {
     }
 
     switch ($retval) {
+        0 {
+            WaitForConnection
+        }
         1 {
-            'Voicemeeter Engine running but GUI not launched. Launching GUI now.' | Write-Verbose
-            RunVoicemeeter -kindId $kindId
+            if ($kindId -eq 'none') {
+                'Logged in to Voicemeeter Remote.' | Write-Verbose
+            }
+            else {
+                'Logged in to Voicemeeter Remote but audio engine and GUI not launched. Launching engine now.' | Write-Verbose
+                RunVm -kindId $kindId
+            }
         }
         -2 {
             throw [LoginError]::new('Login may only be called once per session.')
         }
     }
+}
 
+function WaitForConnection {
     $timeout = New-TimeSpan -Seconds 2
     $sw = [diagnostics.stopwatch]::StartNew()
     $exception = $null
     do {
         Start-Sleep -m 100
         try {
-            'Successfully logged into Voicemeeter [' + $(VmType).ToUpper() + '] Version ' + $(VmVersion) | Write-Verbose
+            'Successfully connected to Voicemeeter [' + $(VmType).ToUpper() + '] Version ' + $(VmVersion) | Write-Verbose
             $exception = $null
             break
         }
@@ -37,7 +47,7 @@ function Login {
     } while ($sw.elapsed -lt $timeout)
 
     if ($null -ne $exception) {
-        throw [VMRemoteError]::new('Timeout logging into the API.')
+        throw [VMRemoteError]::new('Timeout waiting to connect to Voicemeeter.')
     }
 
     while (P_Dirty -or M_Dirty) { Start-Sleep -m 1 }
@@ -52,7 +62,17 @@ function Logout {
     if ($retval -eq 0) { 'Sucessfully logged out' | Write-Verbose }
 }
 
-function RunVoicemeeter {
+function Run {
+    param(
+        [int]$id
+    )
+    $retval = [int][Voicemeeter.Remote]::VBVMR_RunVoicemeeter([Int64]$id)
+    if ($retval -notin @(0)) {
+        throw [CAPIError]::new($retval, 'VBVMR_RunVoicemeeter') 
+    }
+}
+
+function RunVm {
     param(
         [string]$kindId
     )
@@ -61,11 +81,27 @@ function RunVoicemeeter {
         'banana' = $(if ([Environment]::Is64BitOperatingSystem) { 5 } else { 2 })
         'potato' = $(if ([Environment]::Is64BitOperatingSystem) { 6 } else { 3 })
     }
-
-    $retval = [int][Voicemeeter.Remote]::VBVMR_RunVoicemeeter([int64]$kinds[$kindId])
-    if ($retval -notin @(0)) {
-        throw [CAPIError]::new($retval, 'VBVMR_RunVoicemeeter') 
+    Run -id $kinds[$kindId]
+    WaitForConnection
 }
+
+function RunApp {
+    param(
+        [string]$appId
+    )
+    $apps = @{
+        'devicecheck'       = 10
+        'macrobuttons'      = 11
+        'streamerview'      = 12
+        'busmatrix8'        = 13
+        'busgeq15'          = 14
+        'vban2midi'         = 15
+        'cablecontrolpanel' = 20
+        'auxcontrolpanel'   = 21
+        'vaio3controlpanel' = 22
+        'vaiocontrolpanel'  = 23
+    }
+    Run -id $apps[$appId]
 }
 
 function P_Dirty {

lib/command.ps1

@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ class Special : IRemote {
         return 'Command'
     }
 
+    [void] Launch() {
+        'Launching Voicemeeter audio engine and GUI' | Write-Verbose
+        RunVm -kindId $this.remote.kind.name
+    }
+
     [void] RunMacrobuttons() {
         'Launching the MacroButtons app' | Write-Verbose
         Start-Process -FilePath $(Join-Path -Path $this.remote.vmpath -ChildPath 'VoicemeeterMacroButtons.exe')

lib/kinds.ps1

@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 $KindMap = @{
+    'none'   = @{
+        'name' = 'none'
+    }
     'basic'  = @{
         'name'      = 'basic'
         'p_in'      = 2