Frequently Asked Questions

TouchMod is a music plugin (VST3 and standalone) that lets you control other VST3 plugins through a large touch surface. You assign parameters to X, Y, and additional axes, and control them with finger, mouse, or stylus — ideal for live performance and expressive modulation in the studio.

TouchMod IN is designed for instruments (synths, samplers). You load up to two instrument plugins and mix them with the touchpad.

TouchMod FX is designed for effects. You load up to two effect plugins and control them in series or parallel.

IN and FX are separate products with their own license. A bundle license covers both.

TouchMod hosts third-party VST3 plugins. On first launch, TouchMod scans your installed plugins and builds a catalog. Not every plugin works equally well; the scan checks whether a plugin loads stably and has usable parameters.

The pad divides the screen into sectors (A, B, C, D). The first finger typically controls X and Y; additional fingers can control other parameters. You can record and play loops, set ranges per parameter, and save presets with plugin and parameter configuration.

No, after activation TouchMod works offline. Activation and deactivation do require internet. During the trial you do not need to enter a license; TouchMod stores locally when the trial started.

The full trial lasts 4 weeks (28 days) in the release version, without a license code. After that you must activate to keep using audio. The trial starts automatically on first use on that computer.

Open Settings → License (or click the red banner) and enter the email address from your purchase and your license code (e.g. TCH-IN-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX). After successful activation you do not need to enter the code again; TouchMod stores a local, signed license file.

By default you may activate a license on up to 5 computers. If you move to a new PC, deactivate first on the old one via Settings → License → Deactivate to free a slot. Without deactivating, the old machine still counts.

Extract the zip file and copy the TouchMod IN.vst3 or TouchMod FX.vst3 folder to:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\

Then restart your DAW and run a plugin scan if needed. The bundle also includes worker files (TouchModPluginWorker.exe, MetadataScannerWorker.exe); they must stay in the same folder as the plugin.

TouchMod can load plugins out-of-process: they then run in a separate worker process. If a plugin crashes, often only that plugin fails and not your entire DAW session. In settings you can choose per situation between out-of-process (more stable) and in-process (slightly lower latency, less safe with unstable plugins).

TouchMod is built around multitouch on the touchscreen: multiple fingers at once, expressive XY control, and sector controls. macOS does not offer reliable support for multitouch screens at the level TouchMod needs. That is why we focus on Windows, where touch and pen displays work well with multiple contact points.

A touchscreen or pen display is recommended for the intended experience, but not required. You can also control TouchMod with the mouse. For live use and multi-finger modulation, a touchscreen makes the difference.

A bundle (TCH-BND-…) gives access to TouchMod IN and TouchMod FX. On activation, TouchMod writes the license to both product folders, so you can use both plugins without separate codes.

Open TouchMod → Settings → License → Deactivate on the old computer (with internet). Then activate on the new PC with the same email address and license code. If deactivation fails (e.g. after a crash or reinstall), contact support to release an old activation.

Audio is blocked until you activate. Your projects, presets, and settings remain; you do not need to set everything up again. After activation, everything works again as during the trial.

Use the preset buttons in the toolbar to save the full setup: loaded plugins, parameter mapping, pad settings, and mixer. Presets are stored locally and are available per product (IN/FX).

On the first scan, TouchMod actually loads each found VST3 in an isolated process to test whether it is stable and has usable parameters. That takes time, but prevents surprises during performance or recording. After that TouchMod uses the saved catalog; an incremental scan only checks new or removed plugins.

TouchMod is a VST3 plugin and works in DAWs with VST3 support on Windows (Cubase, Reaper, Ableton Live, Studio One, Bitwig, FL Studio, etc.). Behavior may vary slightly per host, especially around window focus and out-of-process plugin windows.

Yes. TouchMod has an external pad window that you can place on a second (touch) monitor while the plugin stays in your DAW. Handy if you use the main screen for the mixer and a separate touch display for modulation.

We are a startup working to build awareness for TouchMod. TouchMod will not always remain free. We are convinced our technology is strong enough that we can charge for TouchMod in the future.

No. TouchMod connects directly to the plugins on your desktop. That keeps latency very low and lets TouchMod process parameters at high resolution. You will need to connect a multitouch monitor to your computer or laptop.