Cardinal
7.5#5 in software synthesizersFree planFree planWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitCardinal vs Vital
What both publish
| Fact | Cardinal | Vital |
|---|---|---|
| License | The Cardinal project is licensed under GPLv3 or later. | The public source repository is GPLv3; proprietary use requires a separate license, and source builds cannot use Vital trademarks or its web services. |
| Plugin formats | Official builds provide AudioUnit, CLAP, LV2, VST2 and VST3 formats. | The official factsheet lists VST, VST3, AU and LV2 formats. |
| Product | Cardinal is a free, open-source virtual modular synthesizer based on VCV Rack and packaged as a self-contained plugin and standalone app. | Vital is a spectral warping wavetable synthesizer. |
| Support | The maker asks users to report bugs on GitHub and lists the #cardinal IRC room on Libera.Chat for community discussion. | Subscribers receive prioritized support through private Discord channels or the forum. |
Cardinal plans
- CardinalFree
- FreeFree
Vital plans
- BasicFree
- Subscription$5 a month
- Plus$25, paid once
- Pro$80, paid once
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 Vital if…
Vital suits musicians and sound designers looking for a wavetable synth with extensive modulation and sample-to-wavetable tools. It supports MPE and microtonal tuning, and runs on listed desktop operating systems.