1. Open the downloaded DMG file

2. Drag Standalone to your Applications folder

3. Eject the DMG

4. Launch Standalone from Applications

First Launch:

• macOS may ask to verify the app - click Open

• Grant microphone access when prompted (required for audio input)

• Grant document folder access when prompted (required for saving recordings and presets)

Updates

• Future updates will be available within the app

• Check for updates via the Menu

Presets

These work even when Standalone is hidden or in the background. Configure in Settings → Controls.

• Global shortcuts are available for Mute, Dim, Tuner, and Minimize

• Click the "Click to Set" button, then the key or key combination you want to use.

Quick Setup (2 Minutes)

1. Connect your guitar to your audio interface

2. Launch Standalone

3. Open Settings (gear icon or ⌘,)

4. Select your audio interface for both Input and Output

5. Select your input channel.

6. Close Settings and click an empty module slot

7. Add an amp sim from the plugin browser

8. Start playing!

Presets save your entire signal chain: plugins, their settings, bypass states, and order.

Creating Presets

1. Type ⌘N or click the New Preset icon in the Modules section

2. Open the Plugin browser to add an Amp Sim or Plugin module

3. To duplicate a Preset you have, click ⌘D or click the Duplicate icon in the Modules section

1. Press ⌘S or click Save

2. Enter a name

3. Click Save

1. Press ⌘O or click the preset browser icon

2. Select a preset from the list

3. Click to load

Star a Preset

• Click the star icon to mark as favorite

• Starred preset becomes your default (if enabled in Settings)

Delete a Preset

• Hover over preset in browser

• Click delete icon

Reload a Preset

• Click the reload icon on the right to load a preset from its saved state

Presets are organized per chain, so your Keys sounds stay separate from your guitar rigs.

• GUITAR MODE and KEYS MODE presets each have their own section in the preset browser and the menu-bar list

• Each section has its own ★ starred default

• Loading a preset switches to its chain automatically, so the window shows what loaded

See Keys Mode for how presets respond to MIDI Program Change.

Configure in Settings → Audio:

Play software instruments alongside your guitar rig. Keys Mode adds a second, parallel chain, a MIDI instrument plus its own effects, that runs at the same time as your guitar signal and shares the same output.

Guitar and Keys Chains

Standalone runs two independent chains:

• Guitar - your audio input → guitar effects → output

• Keys - your MIDI controller → software instrument → keys effects → output

Both play through the same MASTER output at once. You don't have to switch back and forth to use them together - switching modes just changes which chain you're editing.

1. Open Settings (⌘,)

2. Go to the Audio tab

3. Enable or Disable Keys Mode

4. Keys Mode is enabled by default

• Click the Guitar / Keys mode toggle switch to choose which chain you're editing

• The interface picks up a color tint in Keys Mode so you always know which chain is in front

• Your plugin windows stay open across the switch

The first slot in the Keys chain holds your software instrument; the slots after it are effects.

1. Switch to Keys mode

2. Click the first slot and choose a software instrument

3. Add effects in the following slots just like the guitar chain (see Working with Plugins)

1. Connect your MIDI controller (see MIDI for setup)

2. Switch to Keys mode and play - notes are routed to the loaded instrument

3. Set a specific Channel if you want Keys to respond only to certain messages

Note: Standalone keeps three independent MIDI lanes - Controls (app functions like mute, tuner, looper), Guitar Mode (guitar plugin MIDI + guitar preset Program Change), and Keys Mode (notes to the instrument + keys Program Change). This lets a guitar footswitch and a keyboard coexist without stepping on each other.

Presets are organized per mode, so your Keys sounds stay separate from your guitar rigs.

• Guitar and Keys presets each have their own section in the preset menu and the menu-bar list

• Each section has its own ★ starred default

• Selecting a preset switches to its chain automatically, so the window shows what loaded

Program Change

• In Settings > MIDI, Keys Program Change Loads Standalone Presets controls what a Program Change does in Keys Mode

• On: Program Change loads your saved Keys presets

• Off: the raw Program Change is forwarded straight to the loaded instrument, so it changes the instrument's own patches

Held notes are flushed when you mute Keys, so nothing rings back when you unmute.

For MIDI control, map Keys Mute and Mute All in the MIDI mapping panel. The existing Mute control stays guitar-only. See MIDI (Beta).

The MASTER control sets the final output volume for both chains together. There are no separate per-chain volume faders — balance the instrument's own output level against your guitar tone.

If you want the guitar and keys chains on different physical outputs:

1. Open Settings and find the output routing options

2. Assign the Guitar, Keys, and Practice Track sources to the outputs you want

This is off by default and your choice is remembered. See Settings.

• The Loop Recorder captures whichever chain is active, so you can record Keys parts as well as guitar

• You can link a Keys preset to a Practice Track, the same way guitar presets link - load the track and the linked sound loads with it (see Practice)

• Keys Mode is on by default - if you don't use it, turn it off in Settings to keep the interface focused on guitar

• Set a specific MIDI Channel for Keys if your controller also drives other gear

• The tuner and app controls stay available in both Guitar and Keys views

Main Console

Level Controls

INPUT TRIM

• Adjusts the gain of your incoming signal

• Watch the input meter - aim for green with occasional yellow

• Red indicates clipping - turn down your interface or INPUT TRIM

MASTER

• Controls the final output volume

• Does not affect recording levels

• Double-click to reset to unity (0dB)

Meters

• Green: Good signal level

• Yellow: Hot signal (fine for peaks)

• Red: Clipping - reduce levels

ACTIVE (Green Light)

• Solid green: Audio engine running normally

• Off: Audio stopped - click to restart

Sample Rate Display

• Shows current audio sample rate (e.g., 48 kHz)

Console Icons

• Tuner Icon - opens the tuner

• Metronone Icon - opens the metronome

• Speaker Icon - mute toggle for the guitar/bass

• Dim Icon - reduces the total volume

Record & Practice Modes

• Click the Record or Practice buttons to hide those sections.

• Both can be turned off completely in Settings

Adding Plugins

Method 1: Click Empty Slot

1. Click "Browse Plugins" for a new preset

2. To add additional plugins, click + on any empty module slot

3. Browse or search for a plugin

4. Select channel format (Mono or Mono→Stereo)

5. Click to load

6. If you recently added a new plugin, click the refresh icon at the top of the plugin browser window.

Method 2: Insert Between Modules

1. Hover between two modules

2. Click +Insert Module when it appears

3. Select your plugin

Rule: Once a plugin outputs stereo, all downstream plugins must be stereo.

When you're in KEYS MODE, the first module slot holds a software instrument instead of taking guitar input, and the slots after it are effects.

• Switch to Keys mode using the Guitar / Keys mode toggle switch

• Click the first slot and choose a software instrument (an Audio Unit instrument)

• Add effects in the slots that follow, exactly like the guitar chain

Everything else on this page — channel formats, bypass, reorder, remove — works the same in both GUITAR MADE AND KEYS MODE chains. See Keys Mode for the full walkthrough.

Open Plugin Window

• Double-click the module or click the module settings icon

Bypass Plugin

• Click ON/BYP button on the module

• Bypassed plugins are completely disconnected (true bypass)

Reorder Plugins

• Drag any module up or down to reorder

Remove Plugin

• Click Delete (trash icon) on the module

• Load times vary - some plugins take several seconds to initialize

• State is saved - plugin settings save with your preset

• Autosave can be turned off in Settings

*No Plugins are included with Standalone.

A chromatic tuner always one keystroke away.

Using the Tuner

1. Press T to open

2. Play a string

3. Tune until the indicator centers and turns green

4. Press T to close

Configure in Settings → Audio:

Adjustable from 432Hz to 444Hz in Settings. Default is 440Hz (standard tuning).

Basic Usage

1. Click the metronome icon

2. Set tempo with +/- buttons, type directly, or drag up or down

3. Press C again to play/stop

4. Use C to play/stop even if the metronome window is closed

Press G repeatedly to tap in your desired tempo.

Select from common signatures:

• 4/4, 3/4, 2/4

• 6/8, 12/8

• And more

Choose click subdivision:

• Quarter notes

• Eighth notes

• Triplets

• Sixteenth notes

Enable the count-in by selecting it in the dropdown to get a 2-Beat, 1-Bar, or 2-Bar count-in before recording or looping begins.

Your tempo automatically syncs to plugins that support host tempo:

• Delay effects

• Tremolo

• Time-synced modulation

Standalone is a plugin host for musicians who just want to play. Connect your audio interface, load your favorite amp sims, effects, software instruments, and start playing. No DAW. No Distractions.

Key Features:

• One App, Two Modes: GUITAR MODE & KEYS MODE

• Load Audio Unit amp sims, plugins & software instruments

• Lightweight, small footprint

• Ultra-low latency

• Built-in tuner, metronome, looper, and recorder

• Practice mode with speed/pitch control

• Works with any Core Audio interface

Access with ⌘, or the gear icon.

Audio Settings

Input Device

• Select your audio interface input

• Choose specific input channel(s) if your interface has multiple

Output Device

• Select your audio interface output

• Can be different from the input device

• Choose specific output channels if your interface has multiple

• If your interface has more than one output pair, you can send Guitar, Keys, and Practice Track to separate outputs

• Off by default; your routing is remembered

• See Multi-Output Routing

• If you are having issues, you can restart the audio engine

• Match your interface's preferred rate

• 48000 Hz recommended for most setups

• Lower = less latency, more CPU

• Higher = more latency, more stable

Stability Buffer adds one extra output buffer to reduce pops and dropouts when other apps are running, or the system is under load. It keeps input latency the same, but slightly increases overall monitoring latency.

• Determines what launches at on launch

• Load Starred Preset

• Restore Last Used

• Start Empty (No Preset Modules

Launch Muted

• Start with audio muted (useful in shared spaces)

• Auto-save presets when changing presets or closing the app

• Toggle to turn off

• Guitar or Bass detection mode

• Muted, Direct, or With Effects

Reference Pitch

• 432Hz to 444Hz (default 440Hz)

• Show or Hide the Standalone icon in your menu bar

• Icon looks like a guitar pick

• Rescan the Presets Folder

• Rescan the Practice tracks folder

• Open your folder where your Tracks, Recordings, and Data live

No Sound

Check these in order:

1. Check to make sure you gave the app "Microphone" permissions.

   1. On first launch, there should have been a Mac alert asking for permission

   2. If you missed it, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → enable Standalone

2. Is the audio engine active? Look for green ACTIVE light

3. Is output muted? Press M to unmute

4. Check output device in Settings - is the right interface selected?

5. Check input device - is your guitar input selected?

6. Check input levels - is the input meter showing signal?

7. Check MASTER volume - is it turned up?

Causes and fixes:

Reduce latency:

1. Lower buffer size (64 or 32 samples)

2. Use lower sample rate (48000 vs 96000)

3. Reduce plugin count

4. Use lighter plugins (some amp sims are heavier than others)

Realistic expectations:

• 64 samples @ 48kHz = ~3ms (unnoticeable)

• 128 samples @ 48kHz = ~5ms (comfortable)

• 256 samples @ 48kHz = ~10ms (slight delay)

Try these:

1. Wait - some plugins take 10+ seconds to initialize

2. Restart audio (⌘⌥R)

3. Remove plugin and re-add it

4. Check if plugin works in another host (Logic, GarageBand)

Standalone isolates plugins - a crash won't take down your whole rig.

If a plugin crashes:

1. Other plugins should keep running

2. Remove the crashed plugin

3. Re-add it (often fixes the issue)

4. If it keeps crashing, the plugin may have a bug - contact its developer

1. Check macOS version (requires 14.0+)

2. Try right-click → Open (bypasses Gatekeeper on first launch)

3. Check System Settings → Privacy → Microphone—ensure Standalone has access

If you denied folder access on first launch:

1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Files and Folders

2. Find Standalone in the list

3. Enable access to required folders

1. Disconnect and reconnect the interface

2. Check System Settings → Sound - is it visible there?

3. Restart Standalone

4. Restart your Mac

Create and overdub on the fly.

Recording a Loop

1. Press L to arm the looper

2. Start playing - recording begins automatically on first note

3. Press Space to stop - loop plays back immediately

1. With a loop playing, press R

2. Play your new part

3. Press Space to finish

Press L while a loop is playing to:

• Clear the current loop

• Immediately re-arm for a new recording

Record your playing with your full effects chain. Easily capture that idea!

Basic Recording

1. Press R or click REC

2. Play your part

3. Press Space to stop and save

With Count-In:

1. Enable count-in on metronome

2. Press R - wait for count-in, start recording

3. Recording starts automatically after count-in

Press ESC during recording to:

• Discard current take

• Immediately start a new recording

This is the fastest way to redo a take without stopping.

• Recordings include your full effects chain

• Metronome click is NOT recorded (monitoring only)

• Files save automatically to your Recordings folder

Learn songs by slowing them down and looping sections. Import drum loops or full beats to play over.

Enabling/Disabling Practice Mode

1. Open Settings (⌘,)

2. Go to Audio tab

3. Enable or Disable Practice Mode

4. Practice Mode is enabled by default

Method 1: Drag an audio file onto the app window

Method 2: Click the folder icon and browse

Supported formats: MP3, WAV, AIFF, M4A, Apple Loops

Drag any loop audio file onto the app window:

• WAV, MP3, AAC, AIFF, Apple Loops supported

• Click the "Loop Entire Track" icon

1. Click the tempo/pitch panel to open controls

2. Toggle to ON

3. Drag the slider or click preset speeds

Tempo is preserved when changing speed.

1. Open the tempo/pitch panel to open controls

2. Toggle to ON

3. Adjust pitch slider

Key is preserved when changing speed.

Tips:

• Pitch snaps to semitones for accuracy

• Double-tap slider to reset to 0

• Useful for matching alternate tunings

Loop any section of the track:

1. Press A at loop start point

2. Press B at loop end point

3. Section loops automatically

Save positions for instant recall:

Press U or click the dock icon to undock Practice Mode into its own resizable window.

*Marker labels are only available in undocked, detached mode.

Click the folder icon to open your track library. All imported tracks are stored here.

• Search: Type in the search field at the top to filter tracks by name

• Load: Click any track to load it

• Delete: Hover over a track to reveal the delete button. Deleting a track removes it from all playlists

Organize your tracks into setlists for different gigs, practice sets, or learning projects.

1. Open the library popover and switch to the Setlists tab

2. Click the + button in the header

3. Type a name and press Return

• Click a Setlist to expand/collapse it

• Click the ... menu to rename or delete a setlist

• Drag the grip handle on the left to reorder setlists

• From the Setlists tab: expand a playlist and click Add Track at the bottom. A searchable popover shows all available library tracks.

• From the Library tab: hover over a track and click the add-to-setlist icon to choose which Setlist(s) to add it to.

• Drag the grip handle on any track within a setlist to reorder it

• When playing a track from a setlist, < and > arrows appear in the practice header

• Use these to step through setlist tracks without opening the popover

• The popover automatically opens to your active setlist when reopened

Everything saves automatically per track:

• Markers and loop points

• Speed and pitch settings

• Playback position

• Zoom level

Return to a track anytime and continue where you left off.

You can attach any PDF to any song

• Drag a PDF right onto the track waveform display

• Or click the little doc with a + icon at the top of the Practice window

• You can also add a PDF via the Library or Setlist window

• To link a preset to a practice track, click the LINK ICON in the Practice header

• When the icon turns orange, the currently loaded preset will be linked to the loaded track

• Next time you load that Practice track, the linked preset will load automatically

Send different parts of your signal to different hardware outputs - for example, your guitar to the PA and your practice track to your headphones, or keys and guitar to separate amps.

By default, everything is mixed to a single output pair. Multi-output routing is optional and off by default, and your settings are remembered.

What You Can Route

Each source can be assigned to its own output pair on your interface.

• A single audio interface with enough output channels (more than one stereo pair)

• Normal output mode - multi-output routing is not available in Split I/O mode

If your interface doesn't have extra outputs, the routing options won't appear.

1. Open Settings (⌘,) and go to the output routing options

2. Turn on the separate-output option

3. Assign each source - Guitar, Keys, Practice Track, Metronome - to the output pair you want

• Changing a source's output pair is seamless - your plugins are not reloaded, and audio keeps playing

• Turning routing on or off, or switching your audio device, may briefly rebuild the audio engine

• Your routing is saved and restored on relaunch

1. Open Settings (Cmd+,)

2. Scroll to the MIDI section

3. Toggle "Enable MIDI" on (defaults on)

4. Select your MIDI controller from the Input dropdown

   • Choose "All Inputs" to receive from any connected device

   • Or select a specific controller

5. Set Channel to Omni or a specific channel (1-16)

1. Click the MIDI icon in the Modules panel (bottom right)

2. The Mapping Panel shows available host controls

3. To map a control:

Note: Not all Plugins support MIDI

1. In Settings > MIDI, make sure "MIDI Program Change Loads Standalone Presets" is enabled (it's on by default)

2. Send a Program Change message from your controller

3. Presets are loaded in alphabetical order

Note: When this setting is on, Program Change messages will load a Standalone preset AND be forwarded to your plugins. If a plugin also responds to Program Change (e.g., Helix Native), both will change presets simultaneously. This will be updated in the next version.

• If your pedalboard controls multiple devices, set a specific MIDI channel so Standalone only responds to messages intended for it

• Host MIDI mappings are saved globally — they persist across presets and app restarts

• The green dot next to MIDI in Settings pulses when MIDI messages are received — use this to verify your controller is connected

Website: https://getstandalone.com

Email: support@getstandalone.com

When contacting support, include:

• macOS version

• Standalone version (from About menu)

• Audio interface model

• Steps to reproduce the issue

• Any error messages

Your guitar. Your plugins. Your sound.

© 2026 Oort Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Accessing Library folder: Finder → Go menu → hold Option → Library

Minimum:

• macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later

• Apple Silicon or Intel Mac

• Audio interface with Core Audio support

Recommended:

• Audio interface with hardware monitoring

• 64 or 128 sample buffer capability. 32 for ultra-low latency.

• SSD for fast plugin loading

Supported Plugin Formats:

• Audio Unit (AU) - all versions

• Audio Unit v3 (AUv3)

VST and AAX plugins are not supported.