Cardinal (open source VCV)

[GaryG]

For anyone waiting for the window resizing to be implemented in Cardinal, it's now working in the LV2 version (tested fine in Reaper).

To recap, Cardinal is a wrapper around the open source VCV Rack allowing it to be used as a plugin. It's open source so only contains similarly open sourced modules, it doesn't connect to the library either. Having said that, the current version comes with 686 modules (including the Audible Instrument ones) so plenty to play with.

Personally, I'm having fun with the standalone VCV, piping it into Reaper, but if I ever want it inside for effects use, Cardinal works well for me.

https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal

[milkmiruku]

That's the first release out now; https://kx.studio/News/?action=view&url ... w-released

[resynthesis]

Hadn't seen this, ta!

[docbot]

nevermind...

[DRMR]

> Cardinal 22.03 released

Hello everyone, a new release of Cardinal is here.
This brings quite a few new extra modules, updates the existing ones and adds a few nice features as requested by users.

Now comes with a Windows installer, shipping with optional Carla Plugin Host integration and JACK Standalone. AudioUnit plugin format for macOS. Something like 200 more modules added and loads of bugfixes.

Full details here

Downloads:
The source code plus Linux, macOS and Windows binaries can be downloaded at https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal/releases/tag/22.03.
Cardinal is released as LV2, VST2 and VST3 plugin, plus AudioUnit and JACK standalone for certain systems.
The VST3 version is still considered experimental, prefer to use LV2 or VST2 if possible at this time.

[DRMR]

> Cardinal 22.04 released

I know, another release so shortly.
However it comes with a tonne of small bugfixes, especially for Windows users (Hi-DPI and UTF-16 related) so come and get it -> https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal/releases/tag/22.04

[Autobot]

> Cardinal 22.04 released

I know, another release so shortly.
However it comes with a tonne of small bugfixes, especially for Windows users (Hi-DPI and UTF-16 related) so come and get it -> https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal/releases/tag/22.04

Hey, I really appreciate this project and like it better than the 'original' vcv rack – feels more coherent somehow.

That said: Is there a way to delete some of the folders in the 'resources' folder without making Cardinal crash? I deleted all content ( in the 'resources' folder ) I do not need, and Cardinal works fine until one calls up the module browser – Cardinal crashes then. I use Cardinal only with the basic host modules and the AudibleInstruments modules. Would be nice to have a lightweight version at hand. Thanks

[GaryG]

That said: Is there a way to delete some of the folders in the 'resources' folder without making Cardinal crash? I deleted all content ( in the 'resources' folder ) I do not need, and Cardinal works fine until one calls up the module browser – Cardinal crashes then. I use Cardinal only with the basic host modules and the AudibleInstruments modules. Would be nice to have a lightweight version at hand. Thanks

I'm guessing they're the module previews the browser needs, unless you remove the associated module (which you can't as they're baked into Cardinal itself) then it will crash.

Where are they out of interest? Not with the dlls obvs. Thanks.

[Autobot]

That said: Is there a way to delete some of the folders in the 'resources' folder without making Cardinal crash? I deleted all content ( in the 'resources' folder ) I do not need, and Cardinal works fine until one calls up the module browser – Cardinal crashes then. I use Cardinal only with the basic host modules and the AudibleInstruments modules. Would be nice to have a lightweight version at hand. Thanks

I'm guessing they're the module previews the browser needs, unless you remove the associated module (which you can't as they're baked into Cardinal itself) then it will crash.

Where are they out of interest? Not with the dlls obvs. Thanks.

Now I checked the content of the folder and actually it's just filled with svg graphics. Nevertheless they take disk space

Regarding the location: I can't say where the folder is located on your machine. I unpacked the data and placed the dll's and a "resources" folder to my vst-folder.

[GaryG]

ah, I just used the installer this time. Then got to poke around looking for the vst2 (program files\common files\vst2 FTR )

OT: As vst3s default to that common files directory, I'm considering relocating my vst2s to the corresponding folder for vst2s. As most plugs spray files all over the place (appdata, program data etc) then don't see much to lose having them all together on the c:, at least an image would secure everything.

[spnc]

I'm trying to add VCV scope.

Not possible to add modules from https://library.vcvrack.com/ yet?

[jupiter8]

I'm trying to add VCV scope.

Not possible to add modules from https://library.vcvrack.com/ yet?

Don't think it'll ever be. It goes against the reasons he states for making Cardinal in the first place.
https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal#Why

[DRMR]

Not possible to add modules from https://library.vcvrack.com/ yet?

This will never be possible. Cardinal works because everything is statically built, with link-time optimization, into the main plugin binary. This is how we feel a plugin should operate. Besides, we wouldn't be able to support 32bit, ARM or FreeBSD and Haiku builds then either.

It is also why we can only include opensource modules with a compatible license (this requires quite some due diligence to check every single project for included code and files) since everything is combined into a single optimized binary.

You can however load plugins using the included Carla and Ildaeil (a minimal Carla) modules. So you could load Rack2Pro and use the library inside that, if you really wanted to.


@autobot: why do you expect the plugin to still work when you start deleting random parts of its resources? This of course will cause problems. We do want to reduce some of the size by combining all duplicate files, like fonts, that could be shared among modules. This could save us a couple mb at most, but would be worth it. Something we'll work on in a future release.

I unpacked the data and placed the dll's and a "resources" folder to my vst-folder.

The fact that you still have a functioning plugin after doing this, and ignoring the instructions to keep the bundle intact, is kind of odd. The docs clearly state you should not do this (and we've had many users report the same problems because they didn't read. This is exactly why the installer was created.) -> https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal/wik ... ll#windows

[DRMR]

@autobot: btw you _could_ of course build a custom version that only includes audible modules. This currently needs some manual work, but is totally doable. (I wanted to look at making this customizable so a vendor could make their own standalone "system" plugin with just their modules)

[Suzuka]

Just found cardinal, and omg.... cant believe its quality.
Anyone knows if there are some presets out there to play and learn?