DISTRHO Cardinal
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Cardinal is a free and open-source virtual modular synthesizer plugin based on VCV Rack but with a focus on being a fully self-contained plugin version. It's available as CLAP, LV2, VST2 and VST3 audio plugin for FreeBSD, Linux, macOS and...
Features
- Works Offline
- Support for MIDI
- Synth rack
- Modular System
Tags
- vst-plugin
- lv2 plugin
- vcvrack
- eurorack
- audio
DISTRHO Cardinal News & Activities
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Recent activities
jwtb added DISTRHO Cardinal as alternative to Bespoke Synth
jwtb added DISTRHO Cardinal as alternative to AudioNodes- guharfuh liked DISTRHO Cardinal
DISTRHO Cardinal information
Developed by
DISTRHO Licensing
Open Source (GPL-3.0) and Free product.Written in
Alternatives
25 alternatives listedSupported Languages
- English
AlternativeTo Category
Audio & MusicGitHub repository
- 2,784 Stars
- 179 Forks
- 151 Open Issues
- Updated
What is DISTRHO Cardinal?
Cardinal is a free and open-source virtual modular synthesizer plugin based on 
VCV Rack but with a focus on being a fully self-contained plugin version. It's available as CLAP, LV2, VST2 and VST3 audio plugin for FreeBSD, Linux, macOS and Windows, and also as AU and JACK or Native audio standalone for some systems.
Comments and Reviews
It's more than a clone of VCV Rack. Most changes are philosophical or in the backend. It is really easy to use, and it can be very useful for audio production. It can be used as an instrument, effect, filter, visualizer/analyzer, etc. Furthermore, it can even be used in a browser. All the modules are built in, and you can't easily add or remove modules.
Cardinal is amazing. It's a totally free and overpowered modular synth built from VCV Rack that lacks the former's commercial extensibility but adds a level of usability (no internet connectivity or login required) encased in a beautiful dark theme. Users wanting more advanced commercial modules will find VCV Rack the best fit but Cardinal provides a free and still immensely enjoyable experience for those not needing that extensibility or online connectivity.