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Forte plugins (plugins-v0.45.0)
Forte's instruments as plugins, built from the same C++ physics as https://forte.jthaler.net (Forte 0.45.0).
| Instrument | Version | macOS | Windows | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribbon Piano | 0.12.0 | Forte-piano-macos.zip |
Forte-piano-windows.zip |
Forte-piano-linux.tar.gz |
| Harpsichord | 0.9.0 | Forte-harpsichord-macos.zip |
Forte-harpsichord-windows.zip |
Forte-harpsichord-linux.tar.gz |
| Pipe Organ | 0.9.0 | Forte-pipes-macos.zip |
Forte-pipes-windows.zip |
Forte-pipes-linux.tar.gz |
| Free-Reed Organ | 0.10.0 | Forte-harmonium-macos.zip |
Forte-harmonium-windows.zip |
Forte-harmonium-linux.tar.gz |
| Vibraphone | 0.10.0 | Forte-vibraphone-macos.zip |
Forte-vibraphone-windows.zip |
Forte-vibraphone-linux.tar.gz |
| Carillon | 0.7.0 | Forte-carillon-macos.zip |
Forte-carillon-windows.zip |
Forte-carillon-linux.tar.gz |
| Celesta | 0.5.0 | Forte-celesta-macos.zip |
Forte-celesta-windows.zip |
Forte-celesta-linux.tar.gz |
| Kalimba | 0.4.0 | Forte-kalimba-macos.zip |
Forte-kalimba-windows.zip |
Forte-kalimba-linux.tar.gz |
| Steel Pan | 0.4.0 | Forte-steelpan-macos.zip |
Forte-steelpan-windows.zip |
Forte-steelpan-linux.tar.gz |
| Hydraulis | 0.2.0 | Forte-hydraulis-macos.zip |
Forte-hydraulis-windows.zip |
Forte-hydraulis-linux.tar.gz |
| Regal | 0.1.1 | Forte-regal-macos.zip |
Forte-regal-windows.zip |
Forte-regal-linux.tar.gz |
| Clavichord | 0.1.0 | Forte-clavichord-macos.zip |
Forte-clavichord-windows.zip |
Forte-clavichord-linux.tar.gz |
| Brass | 0.1.0 | Forte-brass-macos.zip |
Forte-brass-windows.zip |
Forte-brass-linux.tar.gz |
| Timpani and Tabla | 0.1.0 | Forte-drums-macos.zip |
Forte-drums-windows.zip |
Forte-drums-linux.tar.gz |
| Electric Grand | 0.11.0 | Forte-grand-macos.zip |
Forte-grand-windows.zip |
Forte-grand-linux.tar.gz |
| Tonewheel Organ | 0.12.0 | Forte-organ-macos.zip |
Forte-organ-windows.zip |
Forte-organ-linux.tar.gz |
| Tine Piano | 0.12.0 | Forte-tines-macos.zip |
Forte-tines-windows.zip |
Forte-tines-linux.tar.gz |
| Reed Piano | 0.11.0 | Forte-reeds-macos.zip |
Forte-reeds-windows.zip |
Forte-reeds-linux.tar.gz |
| Tangent Clavier | 0.10.0 | Forte-clavier-macos.zip |
Forte-clavier-windows.zip |
Forte-clavier-linux.tar.gz |
| Sticky-Pad Piano | 0.10.0 | Forte-pianet-macos.zip |
Forte-pianet-windows.zip |
Forte-pianet-linux.tar.gz |
| Trautonium | 0.2.0 | Forte-trautonium-macos.zip |
Forte-trautonium-windows.zip |
Forte-trautonium-linux.tar.gz |
| Telharmonium | 0.1.0 | Forte-telharmonium-macos.zip |
Forte-telharmonium-windows.zip |
Forte-telharmonium-linux.tar.gz |
| Magnetic Resonator Piano | 0.1.0 | Forte-resonator-macos.zip |
Forte-resonator-windows.zip |
Forte-resonator-linux.tar.gz |
| Ondes Martenot | 0.1.0 | Forte-ondes-macos.zip |
Forte-ondes-windows.zip |
Forte-ondes-linux.tar.gz |
| Cellulophone | 0.1.0 | Forte-cellulophone-macos.zip |
Forte-cellulophone-windows.zip |
Forte-cellulophone-linux.tar.gz |
| Viola Organista | 0.11.0 | Forte-bowed-macos.zip |
Forte-bowed-windows.zip |
Forte-bowed-linux.tar.gz |
| Glass Armonica | 0.10.0 | Forte-glass-macos.zip |
Forte-glass-windows.zip |
Forte-glass-linux.tar.gz |
| Clavicylinder | 0.3.0 | Forte-clavicylinder-macos.zip |
Forte-clavicylinder-windows.zip |
Forte-clavicylinder-linux.tar.gz |
| Hurdy-Gurdy | 0.2.0 | Forte-hurdygurdy-macos.zip |
Forte-hurdygurdy-windows.zip |
Forte-hurdygurdy-linux.tar.gz |
| Pyrophone | 0.10.0 | Forte-pyrophone-macos.zip |
Forte-pyrophone-windows.zip |
Forte-pyrophone-linux.tar.gz |
| Singing Arc | 0.9.0 | Forte-arc-macos.zip |
Forte-arc-windows.zip |
Forte-arc-linux.tar.gz |
| Singing Voice | 0.1.0 | Forte-voice-macos.zip |
Forte-voice-windows.zip |
Forte-voice-linux.tar.gz |
| Huygens Keyboard | 0.11.0 | Forte-huygens-macos.zip |
Forte-huygens-windows.zip |
Forte-huygens-linux.tar.gz |
| Gong Keyboard | 0.10.0 | Forte-gongs-macos.zip |
Forte-gongs-windows.zip |
Forte-gongs-linux.tar.gz |
| Black-Hole Keyboard | 0.10.0 | Forte-blackhole-macos.zip |
Forte-blackhole-windows.zip |
Forte-blackhole-linux.tar.gz |
| Quantum Keyboard | 0.10.0 | Forte-quantum-macos.zip |
Forte-quantum-windows.zip |
Forte-quantum-linux.tar.gz |
| Bubble Organ | 0.9.0 | Forte-bubbles-macos.zip |
Forte-bubbles-windows.zip |
Forte-bubbles-linux.tar.gz |
| Spring Keyboard | 0.7.0 | Forte-springs-macos.zip |
Forte-springs-windows.zip |
Forte-springs-linux.tar.gz |
| Star Keyboard | 0.7.0 | Forte-stars-macos.zip |
Forte-stars-windows.zip |
Forte-stars-linux.tar.gz |
| Wind Harp | 0.8.0 | Forte-windharp-macos.zip |
Forte-windharp-windows.zip |
Forte-windharp-linux.tar.gz |
| Storage Ring | 0.6.0 | Forte-ring-macos.zip |
Forte-ring-windows.zip |
Forte-ring-linux.tar.gz |
| RF Cavity Bells | 0.5.0 | Forte-cavity-macos.zip |
Forte-cavity-windows.zip |
Forte-cavity-linux.tar.gz |
| Collider Showers | 0.4.0 | Forte-showers-macos.zip |
Forte-showers-windows.zip |
Forte-showers-linux.tar.gz |
| Whistlers | 0.4.0 | Forte-whistlers-macos.zip |
Forte-whistlers-windows.zip |
Forte-whistlers-linux.tar.gz |
| Early Universe | 0.3.0 | Forte-universe-macos.zip |
Forte-universe-windows.zip |
Forte-universe-linux.tar.gz |
| Hydrogen Lamp | 0.4.0 | Forte-hydrogen-macos.zip |
Forte-hydrogen-windows.zip |
Forte-hydrogen-linux.tar.gz |
| Project 8 | 0.4.0 | Forte-project8-macos.zip |
Forte-project8-windows.zip |
Forte-project8-linux.tar.gz |
| ABRACADABRA | 0.5.0 | Forte-abracadabra-macos.zip |
Forte-abracadabra-windows.zip |
Forte-abracadabra-linux.tar.gz |
| TESS | 0.3.0 | Forte-tess-macos.zip |
Forte-tess-windows.zip |
Forte-tess-linux.tar.gz |
| CUORE | 0.3.0 | Forte-cuore-macos.zip |
Forte-cuore-windows.zip |
Forte-cuore-linux.tar.gz |
| Ion Chain | 0.1.0 | Forte-ionchain-macos.zip |
Forte-ionchain-windows.zip |
Forte-ionchain-linux.tar.gz |
| Chladni Plate | 0.1.0 | Forte-chladni-macos.zip |
Forte-chladni-windows.zip |
Forte-chladni-linux.tar.gz |
| Birdsong | 0.1.0 | Forte-birdsong-macos.zip |
Forte-birdsong-windows.zip |
Forte-birdsong-linux.tar.gz |
| Ringing Planets | 0.1.0 | Forte-planets-macos.zip |
Forte-planets-windows.zip |
Forte-planets-linux.tar.gz |
| Pulsars | 0.1.0 | Forte-pulsars-macos.zip |
Forte-pulsars-windows.zip |
Forte-pulsars-linux.tar.gz |
| Singing Dunes | 0.1.0 | Forte-dunes-macos.zip |
Forte-dunes-windows.zip |
Forte-dunes-linux.tar.gz |
| NMR Spin Echo | 0.1.0 | Forte-nmr-macos.zip |
Forte-nmr-windows.zip |
Forte-nmr-linux.tar.gz |
Every instrument together:
| System | Download | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Forte-plugins-macos.zip |
AU, VST3, CLAP, standalone (Apple silicon and Intel, macOS 10.15 or later) |
| Windows | Forte-plugins-windows.zip |
VST3, CLAP, standalone (64-bit) |
| Linux | Forte-plugins-linux.tar.gz |
VST3, CLAP, standalone (x86-64) |
The Forte app alone, every instrument in one standalone app: Forte-app-macos.zip, Forte-app-windows.zip, Forte-app-linux.tar.gz.
Each archive also comes one format at a time: Forte-<instrument>-<format>-<system> and Forte-plugins-<format>-<system>, where the format is au (macOS only), vst3, clap or app (the standalone), for example Forte-gongs-au-macos.zip.
Each instrument comes in every format its system has: CLAP, VST3 and a standalone app on macOS, Windows and Linux, and an Audio Unit (AU) on macOS. They are instruments: put one on an instrument or MIDI track. Each has a window with the instrument's controls, its presets and a keyboard you can play with the mouse or the computer's keys (Z…/ and Q…], as on the website), so the standalone apps play without a MIDI keyboard. The plugins are built from the same C++ as the instruments on https://forte.jthaler.net, and sound the same.
The download with every instrument also has the Forte app: one standalone with all of them, picked from the Instrument menu at the top of its window. It reopens on the last one played. For the Forte app alone, take Forte app in a system's box on All Plugins (Forte-app-<system>); make install-app in it puts just that app in place. On a Mac and on Windows each standalone app has its own icon, in its instrument's colour; Linux's are plain executables, with none.
Download every instrument together from https://forte.jthaler.net/#plugins (All Plugins), or one at a time from an instrument's page (↓ Plugin): in each system's box, All has every format, and the AU, VST3, CLAP and app links just that one. They are free and unsigned: macOS and Windows will warn about them until you allow them, as below.
The quick way (macOS and Linux)
Unzip or unpack the download, then in Terminal, in the folder it made (type cd , drag the folder onto the window and press Return):
make install # copy the plugins to your plugin folders; on a Mac, also clear the quarantine
make verify # check each one is installed and loads (on a Mac, auval tests the Audio Units)To do one format alone, add it: make install-au, make install-vst3, make install-clap or make install-app (the standalone), and the same for verify- and uninstall-. make check checks the plugins in the folder without installing anything, and make check-app the standalone alone, which runs from the folder too. On a Mac, make unquarantine (or make unquarantine-app…) clears the download quarantine on the plugins where they are, without moving them; for a copy somewhere else, name its folder, e.g. make unquarantine-app APP_DIR=/Applications. make uninstall removes them again, and make alone explains the rest. On a Mac, make comes with Apple's command line tools: if macOS offers to install them, accept (or run xcode-select --install). Without make, bash install.sh install does the same. The standalone apps go in ~/Applications on a Mac and ~/.local/bin on Linux. Nothing needs sudo. The sections below do the same by hand, and say what Windows needs.
macOS
Unzip the download, then copy each bundle to its folder. ~/Library is hidden in Finder: use Go ▸ Go to Folder… (⇧⌘G) to open it.
| Format | Folder |
|---|---|
AU (.component) |
~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components |
VST3 (.vst3) |
~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3 |
CLAP (.clap) |
~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/CLAP (create the folder if it isn't there) |
Then clear the download quarantine in Terminal. The plugins are not notarised by Apple, so without this macOS blocks them and hosts such as Logic and MainStage don't list them:
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3 ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/CLAPThe standalone apps run from anywhere, for example /Applications, after the same command on them: xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Bubble Organ.app".
For Logic, MainStage and GarageBand, which use only AU, also run killall -9 AudioComponentRegistrar so they notice the new components. The plugins are under AU Instruments ▸ Forte. If one is missing, open Settings ▸ Plug-in Manager, select it and choose Reset & Rescan Selection.
Windows
Unzip the download (right-click it, Extract All…), open the folder it made and double-click install.cmd. It copies the VST3s and CLAPs to the folders every DAW looks in (Windows asks once for administrator rights for them) and the standalone apps to your own %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Forte, with a Start menu shortcut each, and clears the "downloaded from the internet" mark so SmartScreen doesn't stop them. Then rescan the plugins in your DAW.
From a terminal in that folder, install.cmd verify checks each one is installed and is this download, install.cmd uninstall removes them, install.cmd check checks the plugins in the folder without installing anything and install.cmd unblock clears the mark where they are. Add a format to do just that one: install.cmd install vst3, install.cmd verify clap, install.cmd uninstall app. The folders can be changed through the VST3_DIR, CLAP_DIR and APP_DIR environment variables. The work is in install.ps1, which install.cmd runs.
By hand instead:
- VST3: copy each
.vst3(it is a folder) intoC:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3. - CLAP: copy each
.clapintoC:\Program Files\Common Files\CLAP. Create the folder if it isn't there. - The standalone
.exefiles run from anywhere. SmartScreen may warn that they are unsigned: choose More info ▸ Run anyway.
Linux
Unpack the download (tar -xzf Forte-plugins-linux.tar.gz), then:
- VST3: copy each
.vst3to~/.vst3. - CLAP: copy each
.clapto~/.clap. - The standalone apps run from anywhere.
The plugins' window needs WebKitGTK 4.1, which most desktops already have (on Debian and Ubuntu, sudo apt install libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0), and X11 or XWayland.
Making the DAW find them
| DAW | Formats | Rescan |
|---|---|---|
| Logic Pro, MainStage | AU | Scans by itself; see macOS above if one is missing. |
| Ableton Live | VST3, AU | Settings ▸ Plug-ins: turn on VST3 (system folders) and AU, then Rescan. |
| REAPER | VST3, CLAP, AU | Preferences ▸ Plug-ins ▸ VST/CLAP: Re-scan. |
| Bitwig | CLAP, VST3 | Finds them by itself. |
| No DAW | — | Open the standalone app, pick your audio output and MIDI keyboard in its settings (on a Mac, Audio/MIDI Settings ticks the MIDI inputs it listens to: every one at first, and it remembers those you untick), and play. |
Playing
Notes and velocity, the sustain pedal (CC64), the mod wheel (CC1), aftertouch and pitch bend do what they do on the instrument's page; each page's How it works says what. The instrument's presets are on its Preset parameter, and every other control on the page is a parameter the DAW can automate. The DAW saves the settings with the project.
Forte is free under the MIT License (LICENSE.txt); the open-source code compiled into the plugins comes with its licences in THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.md.
Problems and questions: https://github.com/jdthaler/forte/issues.