Skip to content

Install

Grainulator ships as a standalone app plus VST3 and AudioUnit plugins for macOS, and a standalone app plus VST3 plugin for Windows. The macOS build is a universal binary (Apple Silicon and Intel) and the Windows build is 64-bit.

Download

Grab the latest Grainulator installer from the Plastic Factory downloads page.

macOS install

Open the downloaded .dmg and double-click the Grainulator.pkg inside. The installer drops each component in the right place:

  • Standalone app: /Applications/Grainulator.app
  • AudioUnit: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/Grainulator.component
  • VST3: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/Grainulator.vst3
  • AAX: /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/Grainulator.aaxplugin

You can deselect any component you don't need in the installer's customize screen.

First-launch Gatekeeper prompt

Grainulator is signed and notarized by Plastic Factory, so Gatekeeper should let it run without fuss. If macOS still blocks the app on first launch, right-click Grainulator.app in Finder and choose Open, then confirm the dialog. You only need to do this once.

The build is a universal binary, so there's no separate download for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Windows install

Run the downloaded Grainulator-Setup.exe and follow the prompts. The default install locations are:

  • Standalone app: C:\Program Files\Plastic Factory\Grainulator\Grainulator.exe
  • VST3: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\Grainulator.vst3

SmartScreen on first run

Because Grainulator is a new installer, Microsoft SmartScreen may show a blue warning the first time you run it. Click More info, then Run anyway to continue. Subsequent launches are silent.

AAX and AudioUnit are not available on Windows.

Verifying the install

Launch the standalone app. The current version is shown in the header next to the Plastic Factory logo; if it matches the version you downloaded, you're set. In a DAW, open the plugin manager, rescan, and load Grainulator on a track.

Tip

If you see both Grainulator and Grainulator FX in your DAW's plugin list, that's expected. The main build is a MIDI-controlled instrument; the FX build is a plain insert effect for audio tracks. Install whichever fits your workflow — or both.

Uninstalling

macOS. Drag Grainulator.app from /Applications to the Trash, then remove the plugin bundles:

bash rm -rf /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/Grainulator.component rm -rf /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/Grainulator.vst3

Removing the AAX bundle (if installed) requires deleting /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/Grainulator.aaxplugin.

Windows. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find Grainulator, and click Uninstall. If the entry is missing, delete C:\Program Files\Plastic Factory\Grainulator\ and C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\Grainulator.vst3 by hand.