Cardinal
7.5#4 in software synthesizersFree planFree planWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitCardinal vs Thorn
What both publish
| Fact | Cardinal | Thorn |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | The maker describes Thorn as suitable for any genre of modern electronic music production. |
| Maker | DISTRHO is an open-source cross-platform audio-plugin project led and primarily coded by Filipe Coelho (falkTX), under the KXStudio umbrella. | Dmitry Sches says he runs DS Audio Software since 2010 and identifies himself as a software developer from Minsk, Belarus. |
| Product | Cardinal is a free, open-source virtual modular synthesizer based on VCV Rack and packaged as a self-contained plugin and standalone app. | Thorn is a software synthesizer designed for modern electronic music production. |
Cardinal plans
- FreeFree
- CardinalFree
Thorn plans
No prices published.
Pick Cardinal if…
Cardinal suits musicians who want a free modular synthesizer in standalone or plugin form, with MIDI support and a substantial included module set. Users who need to add external Rack modules or use OSC from a plugin should note those limits.
Pick Thorn if…
It is designed for producers making modern electronic music across genres who use compatible plugin hosts. It suits users wanting spectral synthesis, modulation, effects, presets, and MIDI-capable sequencing.