Cardinal

Input—per 1M tokens

Output—per 1M tokens

Context—tokens

WeightsClosed

About

Cardinal is ranked #3 of 23 in software synthesizers on Inferse. It runs on Linux, macOS, Web, Windows. There is a free plan.

Compared on software synthesizers

Free plan: Yescardinal.kx.studio
Synthesis engine: modularcardinal.kx.studio
Plugin formats: AudioUnit, CLAP, LV2, VST2, VST3cardinal.kx.studio
Standalone app: Yescardinal.kx.studio
MPE support: Yescardinal.kx.studio

Facts

Product: Cardinal is a free, open-source virtual modular synthesizer based on VCV Rack and packaged as a self-contained plugin and standalone app.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
Plugin formats: Plugin formats listed are AudioUnit, CLAP, LV2, VST2, and VST3.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
Built-in modules: The home page lists 1,382 included modules from 84 authors or brands.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
External modules: Cardinal does not load external modules or connect to the official Rack library/store, and adding modules to a Cardinal build is not possible.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
Plugin variants: Cardinal provides Main, Synth, and FX plugin variants, with MIDI input and output support in all three.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
Main variant limits: Main provides 8 audio inputs and outputs and 10 CV inputs and outputs; it is unavailable in AU and VST2, and the page says it is not yet available in CLAP.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
Mini variant: Mini has a small hand-picked module selection and 2 audio ports plus 5 CV ports, and exists only as LV2 and standalone.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
OSC remote control: OSC can remotely control patches and parameters in standalone Cardinal, but is not available when Cardinal is used as a plugin.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
Security and privacy: The project says online access such as phone-home is not allowed for included modules and describes removing online access from the plugin and included modules.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
License: Cardinal is licensed under GPLv3+.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
Stability: The about page describes Cardinal as stable, while noting that CLAP support is a work in progress and VST3 plugin hosting inside Carla or Ildaeil is experimental.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
Support: The maker asks users to report bugs on GitHub and lists the #cardinal IRC room on Libera.Chat for community discussion.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026
Intended users: The maker says Cardinal was created to provide Rack as a conventional open-source audio plugin and notes that Rack Pro may suit users seeking official support and its larger module collection.cardinal.kx.studio · 29 Sept 2026