Cardinal

by DISTRHOv26.02

Last updated Jun 8, 2026

Virtual modular synthesizer plugin

Install with winget

$ winget install --id DISTRHO.Cardinal --exact --version 26.02

Run in Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal. Prompts for any agreements.

Silent install command for Cardinal

Cardinal uses EXE (Inno Setup). The silent install switches are /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART.

One-line silent install (x64, machine scope)

Cardinal-win64-26.02-installer.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /COMPONENTS="resources,carla,jack,native,lv2,vst2,vst3,clap"

See the full silent install reference for Cardinal →

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About

Cardinal, the Rack!

Cardinal is a free and open-source virtual modular synthesizer plugin, available in AudioUnit/CLAP/LV2/VST2/VST3 plugin formats and as a standalone app for FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows and the Web.

It is based on the popular VCV Rack but with a focus on being a fully self-contained plugin version.

More specifically, this is a DPF-based plugin wrapper around VCV Rack, using its code directly instead of forking the project, with the target of having a self-contained, fully free and open-source plugin version of Rack.

See the why section below for the reasons Cardinal exists, also for frequently asked questions check this FAQ document.

Cardinal contains Rack, some 3rd-party modules and a few internal utilities all in a single binary.

All "Core" modules from Rack have been replaced by Cardinal equivalents, simplified to better work for an audio plugin.

Cardinal does not load external modules and does not connect to the official Rack library/store.

All VCV branding has been removed (to the best of our knowledge) in order to avoid any trademark issues.

Installers · v26.02

Architecture	Type	Scope	Install	Download
x86	EXE Inno Setup	machine		Direct
x64	EXE Inno Setup	machine		Direct

Copy a command tailored to that specific architecture, type, and scope - useful when winget would otherwise pick a different default.

Security

No known CVEs for Cardinal.

Coverage is best-effort and depends on a winget package mapping to an NVD CPE entry. Absence here is not a guarantee of safety.

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More from DISTRHO or browse audio, eurorack, lv2.

Frequently asked questions

How do I install Cardinal on Windows?

Open Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt and run: winget install --id DISTRHO.Cardinal --exact --version 26.02. winget downloads the installer from DISTRHO and runs it. Requires Windows 10 (1809+) or Windows 11.

How do I install Cardinal silently for unattended deployment?

Add --silent and accept the agreements upfront: winget install --id DISTRHO.Cardinal --exact 26.02 --silent --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements. This is the variant Intune, Configuration Manager, and other deployment tools should use.

What are the silent install switches for Cardinal?

Cardinal uses EXE (Inno Setup). Run the downloaded installer with: Cardinal-win64-26.02-installer.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /COMPONENTS="resources,carla,jack,native,lv2,vst2,vst3,clap". The silent switches are /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART.

How do I uninstall Cardinal via winget?

Run: winget uninstall --id DISTRHO.Cardinal --exact. Add --silent for unattended uninstalls. winget will use the registered uninstaller from Cardinal's Apps & Features entry.

Is Cardinal free?

Cardinal is distributed under GPL-3.0. Refer to the publisher (https://cardinal.kx.studio/) for the full license terms - Wingetly itself does not charge for installation.

Does Cardinal work on Windows 10?

Yes, as long as your Windows 10 build supports winget (1809 or newer). winget ships with App Installer on Windows 10/11 and pulls Cardinal directly from the publisher.

How do I keep Cardinal up to date?

Run winget upgrade --id DISTRHO.Cardinal --exact, or winget upgrade --all to update everything winget tracks. We index 8 versions of Cardinal from microsoft/winget-pkgs.

Recent versions

26.02latest
26.01
25.06
24.12
24.09
24.05
24.04
23.10