Alternatives to Cardinal
Free, self-contained virtual modular synthesizer based on VCV Rack, as a plugin and standalone app. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Cardinal
Free, self-contained virtual modular synthesizer based on VCV Rack, as a plugin and standalone app.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Cardinal.
VCV Rack
A virtual Eurorack modular synthesizer for Windows, macOS and Linux with a large module library.
VCV Rack is the upstream virtual Eurorack, can load a large library of free and paid modules, and hosts VST plugins, though some modules and features cost money.
SunVox
A small modular synthesizer with a pattern-based tracker sequencer for desktop and mobile.
SunVox combines a small modular synthesizer with a tracker sequencer and runs on desktop and mobile, though it is freemium and closed source.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Surge XT
An open-source hybrid synthesizer available as a plugin and a standalone app.
Vital
A wavetable synthesizer plugin that uses spectral warping to reshape waveforms by acting on their harmonics.
Dexed
A free FM synthesizer plugin closely modelled on the Yamaha DX7, also usable as a DX7 cartridge manager.
Pure Data
Open-source visual programming environment for building interactive audio and multimedia works.
SuperCollider
A programmable platform for real-time audio synthesis and algorithmic composition.
Carla
A modular audio plugin host that loads LV2, VST2, VST3, AU, LADSPA and DSSI plugins.
