Multimedia & graphics macOS
Kern
Play and shape polyphonic synth sounds from a MIDI keyboard with Kern, a free macOS instrument plug-in with MIDI Learn, two oscillators and chorus.
- Operating system
- Apple macOS; minimum version not specified on the product page
- Architecture
- Universal Binary 2: Intel and ARM Macs
- Download package
- PKG installer: VST2, VST3 and Audio Unit
Compatible plug-in host required. CLAP and AAX are separate packages. Standard edition has a resizable UI; N edition does not.
Link checked · Download guidance
What is Kern?
Kern is a software synthesizer plug-in built around hands-on control from a MIDI keyboard. MIDI CC support and MIDI Learn let you assign its parameters to controller knobs rather than adjust every sound with a mouse. Its synthesis engine combines two oscillators with hard sync, a low-pass filter, two envelopes, an LFO and chorus, with up to 64 voices and portamento. Two alternative control panels offer different views of the same instrument.
The linked macOS 1.2.0 package contains the VST2, VST3 and Audio Unit versions as a Universal Binary 2 for Intel and Apple silicon Macs. CLAP and AAX packages are separate publisher downloads, not part of this selected package. Use a host that supports one of the included plug-in formats; this entry is for an instrument plug-in, not a standalone music workstation. The publisher also offers an older-framework N edition for older machines, but that edition has a fixed-size interface and different format coverage.
What it offers
- Control synthesizer parameters through MIDI CC and assign hardware controls with MIDI Learn.
- Play up to 64 voices with portamento and two oscillators with hard sync.
- Shape sounds with a four-pole zero-delay-feedback low-pass filter, two envelopes and one LFO.
- Add chorus and use MTS-ESP dynamic micro-tuning support.
- Choose between two user panels; the standard edition has a resizable interface.
Good to know
- Requires a compatible audio plug-in host; no standalone application is identified by the publisher.
- The selected package includes VST2, VST3 and AU, not the separate CLAP or AAX downloads.
- The product page does not specify a minimum macOS version; the older N edition has no resizable interface.
Product images
Sources
References used for this listing. Retrieval dates do not indicate hands-on testing.
More in multimedia & graphics
View category ↗
1by1 2.17
Play music directly from folders with 1by1, a free Windows audio player with resume, gapless playback and file tools. Formats beyond MP3 need additional decoders.
3DVista Virtual Tour Pro
Build interactive 360° virtual tours from panoramas, videos and 3D models with 3DVista Virtual Tour Pro for Windows. Commercial software with a 30-day trial.
4DDiG Video Repair
Repair corrupted or unplayable videos in batches with the Video Repair tool in 4DDiG File Repair for Windows. A free trial is available; advanced features require a paid license.