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Contrapunk User Guide

VST3, CLAP, and Audio Unit

Contrapunk ships plug-in formats for hosts that support MIDI effects and instrument routing. Format availability depends on the release and operating system.

Insert order

Section titled “Insert order”

The normal musical chain is:

  1. MIDI controller or recorded MIDI
  2. Contrapunk MIDI effect
  3. Software instrument
  4. Audio effects

If the DAW separates MIDI effects from instruments, put Contrapunk in its MIDI-effect slot. Otherwise route Contrapunk’s note output to a separate instrument track.

VST3 and CLAP

Section titled “VST3 and CLAP”

Use the format your host supports best. Both expose the Contrapunk editor and process host note events. Rescan after installation and verify that the host has not classified the plug-in only as an audio instrument.

Windows and FL Studio

Section titled “Windows and FL Studio”
  1. Close FL Studio and run Contrapunk-Plugins-Windows-x64.exe as administrator. It installs the VST3 bundle in C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3.
  2. Remove older, manually copied Contrapunk.vst3 bundles from custom plug-in folders so the host finds only one copy.
  3. Open Options → Manage plugins. Confirm the standard VST3 directory is in the search paths.
  4. If replacing the same displayed version with a test build, enable Rescan previously verified plugins and Rescan plugins with errors, then select Find installed plugins.
  5. Load Contrapunk as a generator. In its wrapper settings, assign an unused Output port, such as 10.
  6. Load the destination instrument, such as Serum. In its wrapper settings, assign the same number as its Input port.
  7. Keep Contrapunk’s MIDI Output on Input + Contrapunk. Turn Internal Monitor off when listening through the destination instrument.
  8. If wrapper-port forwarding is unavailable, put both plug-ins in Patcher and connect Contrapunk’s MIDI output to the instrument. The Windows loopMIDI workflow is the final fallback.

The built-in monitor’s Release control sets its fade after NoteOff. Its default is 400 ms; increase it if very short computer-keyboard notes click. This changes only Contrapunk’s monitor sound, not outgoing MIDI note duration or the destination synth’s envelope.

Windows builds are currently unsigned, so Windows may show a SmartScreen warning. Download installers only from the official GitHub releases or an explicitly linked Contrapunk Actions run.

Audio Unit

Section titled “Audio Unit”

Logic uses two AU components:

  • Contrapunk — MIDI FX, MIDI-only.
  • Contrapunk Guitar — Audio FX, mono or stereo audio input plus virtual MIDI output.

Both appear under Contrapunk Audio.

Host transport

Section titled “Host transport”

When available, host tempo and phase drive transport-aware arrangements. Start playback for canons, patterns, delayed echoes, and subdivided counterpoint that require a beat phase.

State and cleanup

Section titled “State and cleanup”

Release held notes before changing a large group of parameters or replacing an arrangement. On stop, confirm the instrument receives note-offs. Use the host’s MIDI monitor to distinguish Contrapunk output from the instrument’s own sustain or release behavior.