Plugin Formats
Orbiter ships as six plugins in three formats: VST3, CLAP, and Audio Unit (AUv3). Each instrument is available both as a synthesiser (instrument) plugin and as an audio-effect resonator plugin.
Instrument Plugins
Instrument plugins generate sound from MIDI input. Load them on an instrument/MIDI track in your DAW.
| Plugin | Description |
|---|---|
| Orbiter Handpan | Modal synthesis handpan with 8 factory scales, 7 presets, and Helmholtz body resonance |
| Orbiter Gong | Nonlinear plate model with energy cascading between modes, 15 presets, and continuous excitation |
| Orbiter Bowl | Friction-driven singing bowl with strike and rub excitation, sympathetic resonance, and 7 presets |
All instrument plugins support:
- Up to 16-voice polyphony with smooth voice-stealing crossfade
- MIDI note input with velocity sensitivity
- MPE for per-note pitch bend, pressure, and slide
- Sustain pedal via MIDI CC 64
- Full DAW automation of all parameters
- MIDI CC mapping for hardware controller integration
Effect Plugins
Each instrument also ships as an audio-effect resonator plugin: Orbiter Handpan Resonator, Orbiter Gong Resonator, and Orbiter Bowl Resonator. Drop one on an audio track and the audio drives the same physical resonator as the instrument plugin — drums, voice, guitar, or any sound becomes the excitation. See the Effect Plugins page for routing tips and the per-instrument controls.
Formats
VST3
The industry standard plugin format. Supported by virtually all DAWs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Bitwig, Reaper, Cubase, and Studio One.
CLAP
An open plugin standard with better performance characteristics for parameter modulation and polyphonic expression. Supported by Bitwig, Reaper, MultitrackStudio, and a growing number of other DAWs.
Audio Unit (AUv3)
Apple's native plugin format for macOS and iOS. On macOS, Audio Units are supported by Logic Pro, GarageBand, MainStage, Ableton Live, and many other DAWs. On iOS, AUv3 plugins work in GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, BeatMaker, and other compatible hosts.
The iOS standalone app includes Orbiter as an embedded AUv3 extension, so you can use it as an instrument in any iOS host that supports Audio Unit extensions.
All three formats are included in every Orbiter download. Use whichever your DAW supports — if multiple are available, CLAP is recommended for its better MPE and automation handling on desktop, while AUv3 is the only option for iOS hosts.
Platforms
| Platform | VST3 | CLAP | AUv3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows (64-bit) | Yes | Yes | — |
| Linux (x86_64) | Yes | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | — | Yes |
Parameter Automation
All plugin parameters are fully automatable from your DAW. See Parameters for the full list of available parameters, ranges, and defaults.
Modifier gestures for the plugin GUI:
- Drag — adjust the parameter value.
- Shift + drag — fine adjustment, ten times slower than a normal drag.
- Double-click or Cmd / Ctrl + click — reset to the default value.
- Lock button — protect a parameter from randomisation.