THE FOLLOWING IS A PUBLIC NOTICE

WindowsmacOS doesn't know our name yet.

This release isn't code-signed yet. The first time the installer runs, Windows SmartScreen or your antivirus may stop it. They're flagging a publisher they haven't seen before, not something they found in the files. Getting past it takes under a minute.

This release isn't notarized by Apple yet. The first time you open the installer, macOS will say it can't verify it and won't open it. That's about the missing Apple signature, not about anything found in the files. Getting past it takes under a minute.

SIGNATUREPending
FILESUnchanged
TIMEUnder 1 min
01SMARTSCREEN

Click More info, then Run anyway.

A blue window titled "Windows protected your PC" appears in front of any installer Windows hasn't seen many times. It's a reputation check on the publisher. It doesn't mean anything was found.

It lists the publisher as Unknown publisher. That's expected until the signed builds arrive.

WHAT YOU'LL SEEA / B
RECREATED FOR REFERENCE · YOUR SCREEN MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY
02ANTIVIRUS

If your antivirus removes the installer, you have two routes.

Norton, McAfee, Avast and others sometimes quarantine new installers on sight, before Windows ever asks. Nothing on your computer is harmed. The file is set aside.

ROUTE A

Restore it

Open your antivirus, find Quarantine (or History), restore the installer and allow it. Then run it again.

ROUTE B

Skip it

Write to hello@publicinterest.audio and we'll send the same plugins as a plain zip, no installer. Step 03 shows where they go.

EITHER WAY

Same files

The installer only copies the plugins into place. The manual route does the same thing by hand.

03BY HAND

Put the plugins in place yourself.

Only needed if you have the plain zip. Every instrument is a single .vst3 file and lives in the same folder.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
  1. 01Unzip the download anywhere, like your Desktop.
  2. 02Copy each .vst3 into the VST3 folder shown in this step. Paste the path into File Explorer's address bar to jump there. Windows will ask for permission. Click Continue.
  3. 03Rescan. In FL Studio: Options → Manage plugins → Find installed plugins. In other DAWs, rescan VST3 plugins.
  4. 04Read the README inside the zip for anything an instrument needs beyond the plugin file.

True Touch pairs with your phone over your Wi-Fi. If the phone won't connect, Windows is blocking your DAW: Start → "Allow an app through Windows Firewall" → Change settings → tick Private next to FL Studio (or your DAW) → OK, then reopen the plugin.

01GATEKEEPER

Open it once, then click Open Anyway.

Open the .dmg, then double-click the installer inside it. macOS shows "Not Opened" and says Apple could not verify it. Click Done, not Move to Trash.

Then open System Settings → Privacy & Security and scroll down. Next to the line about the installer, click Open Anyway, enter your Mac password, and confirm with Open. Turn your sound on: the installer takes the whole screen. Formats & location lets you choose VST3, Audio Unit or both, and nothing asks for your password.

WHAT YOU'LL SEEA / B
RECREATED FOR REFERENCE · YOUR SCREEN MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY
02YOUR DAW

Rescan, and the instruments appear.

The installer puts the plugins where every Mac DAW looks. Open your DAW and rescan once. Universal builds run on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

LOGIC · GARAGEBAND

AU

Logic Pro → Settings → Plug-in Manager → Reset & Rescan Selection.

FL · ABLETON · BITWIG

VST3

FL Studio: Options → Manage plugins → Find installed plugins. Others: rescan VST3 plugins.

IF IT'S MISSING

By hand

Write to hello@publicinterest.audio and we'll send the plugins as a plain zip. Step 03 shows where the files go.

03BY HAND

Put the plugins in place yourself.

Only needed if you have the plain zip. First clear the download flag so macOS lets your DAW load the plugins. Paste this into Terminal and press Return:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine ~/Downloads/Public\ Interest\ Audio*

Then copy the files into these folders:

~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3
~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components
  1. 01Unzip the download in your Downloads folder.
  2. 02Clear the flag by running the Terminal line in this step. It only touches the Public Interest download.
  3. 03Copy each .vst3 into the VST3 folder and each .component into Components. In Finder, press Shift-Command-G and paste the path to jump there.
  4. 04Rescan in your DAW, as in step 02. The README inside the zip lists anything else an instrument needs.

True Touch pairs with your phone over your Wi-Fi. When macOS asks whether your DAW may accept incoming network connections, click Allow. If you clicked Deny: System Settings → Network → Firewall → Options, set your DAW to Allow incoming connections, and in Privacy & Security → Local Network, switch your DAW on.

WHY IT'S UNSIGNED

We chose to release now and sign with what the release earns.

Signing is a yearly fee, with Microsoft on Windows and Apple on Mac. Every copy sold moves signed builds closer, and once they ship, this page goes away.

STILL STUCK? WRITE TO US→ RELEASED IN PUBLIC INTEREST.