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Install

Grainsmith ships as a standalone app plus VST3, AudioUnit, and AAX plug-ins for macOS, and a standalone app plus VST3 plug-ins for Windows. The macOS build is a universal binary (Apple Silicon and Intel); the Windows build is 64-bit.

Each format comes in two variants: Grainsmith (a MIDI-controlled instrument) and Grainsmith FX (a plain insert effect). See Instrument vs. effect for which to use.

Download

Grab the latest Grainsmith installer from the Plastic Factory site. The macOS installer is Grainsmith-<version>.pkg (inside a .dmg); the Windows installer is Grainsmith-<version>-Setup.exe.

macOS install

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

  • Standalone app: /Applications/Grainsmith.app
  • AudioUnit: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/Grainsmith.component (and GrainsmithFX.component)
  • VST3: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/Grainsmith.vst3 (and GrainsmithFX.vst3)
  • AAX: /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/Grainsmith.aaxplugin (and GrainsmithFX.aaxplugin)

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

First-launch Gatekeeper prompt

Grainsmith 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 Grainsmith.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. Grainsmith requires macOS 10.15 Catalina or later.

Windows install

Run the downloaded Grainsmith-<version>-Setup.exe and follow the prompts. The default install locations are:

  • Standalone app: C:\Program Files\Plastic Factory\Grainsmith\Grainsmith.exe
  • VST3: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\Grainsmith.vst3 (and GrainsmithFX.vst3)

SmartScreen on first run

Because Grainsmith 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.

The Windows build is 64-bit only. AAX and AudioUnit are not available on Windows.

License activation

The first time you launch Grainsmith after install, a license screen appears. Enter the license key from your purchase email and click Activate. Activation runs against Plastic Factory's licensing service and only needs to be done once per machine — subsequent launches go straight to the main UI.

If activation fails:

  • Confirm the machine is online — activation requires a one-time internet round-trip.
  • Re-check the license key for typos. Keys are case-sensitive.
  • If you've already activated on the maximum number of machines, free a seat in your account before trying again.

The license works across both the standalone app and the plug-in formats — there's no separate plug-in activation.

Verifying the install

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

Tip

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

Uninstalling

macOS. Drag Grainsmith.app from /Applications to the Trash, then remove the plug-in bundles:

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

Removing the AAX bundles (if installed) means deleting Grainsmith.aaxplugin and GrainsmithFX.aaxplugin from /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/.

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