======================================================================
 LOCUS PLUCK  v1.0.1
 Synth Pluck Instrument
 Tonecraft Tokyo
======================================================================

* Overview

Ordinary pluck synths play every note from the same spot even with
delay or reverb placed after them, leaving the soundstage flat.

LOCUS PLUCK is a synth pluck instrument where every note you play
gets its own place in the stereo field and depth, and its echoes start
from that place. It is designed for track makers producing EDM, pop,
lo-fi, and ambient music.

- A pluck arpeggio sounds flat in the mix: with PITCH, low and high
  notes sit apart, like a piano.
- A repeated chord stab needs movement: ALT throws notes left and
  right; with SPACE the echoes follow each note's place.
- An ambient part: with long LENGTH and high SPACE, MOVE slowly
  carries the whole sound around.


* Requirements

OS               Windows 10 / 11 (64bit)
                 macOS 11 or later (Apple Silicon / Intel)
Format           Windows: VST3 / Mac: VST3, AU
Supported hosts  DAWs supporting VST3 or AU (MIDI input required)
I/O              Stereo output (MIDI input)
Window size      900 x 560 (fixed)
Screen language  Japanese / English (follows the OS display language)

* The hint bar text appears in Japanese if the OS display language
  is Japanese, and in English otherwise. Panel labels are English
  synth terms.


* Installation

[Windows]

  1. Extract this ZIP file.
  2. Copy the LOCUS PLUCK.vst3 folder to the following location:

       C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\

  3. Launch your DAW and perform a plugin rescan.
     (If you copy the file while your DAW is running, changes may
     not take effect.)

To uninstall, delete the LOCUS PLUCK.vst3 folder you copied.
(The free and Pro editions can be installed side-by-side as separate
plugins.)


[Mac]

  1. Extract this ZIP file.
  2. Copy LOCUS PLUCK.vst3 and LOCUS PLUCK.component to their
     respective locations:
     (~ represents your user home folder. You can open it by pasting
     the path into Finder: Go -> Go to Folder. Create the folder if
     it does not exist.)

       LOCUS PLUCK.vst3
         -> ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
       LOCUS PLUCK.component
         -> ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/

  3. Open Terminal (Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal), paste the
     following three lines one by one, and press Return:

cd ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "VST3/LOCUS PLUCK.vst3"
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "Components/LOCUS PLUCK.component"

     If nothing is displayed, it succeeded. If you do not run this,
     macOS will show messages like "is damaged and cannot be opened"
     or "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified",
     and the DAW will not load the plugin. This command only removes
     the quarantine attribute that macOS attaches to downloaded files
     (you need to run it again when updating or reinstalling).
  4. Launch your DAW and perform a plugin rescan.
     (If the AU plugin does not appear in Logic Pro or other DAWs,
     restart your Mac.)

To uninstall, delete LOCUS PLUCK.vst3 and LOCUS PLUCK.component
that you copied.


* Quick start

  1. Put LOCUS PLUCK on an instrument (MIDI) track.
  2. Pick a TYPE and play.
  3. Turn SPACE up to hear the echoes, choose NOTE POSITION (PITCH /
     ALT ...) and WIDTH to spread the notes.

For detailed instructions, see the user manual.
English: https://www.tonecraft.blue-x.tokyo/locus-pluck-user-manual-en
Japanese: https://www.tonecraft.blue-x.tokyo/locus-pluck-user-manual


* About the download warning

[Windows]
Because the software is not code-signed, your web browser may show
a warning when downloading the ZIP. In that case, choose to keep or
allow the download.

Also, before unzipping, right-click the ZIP file and open Properties.
If you see "Security: This file came from another computer..." at
the bottom, check "Unblock", click OK, and then extract the files.

[Mac]
Run the command in Step 3 of the installation instructions. Do the
same when updating or reinstalling.

This product is a VST3 / AU plugin. It does not launch on its own;
your DAW loads it as a plugin.


* Free vs Pro

  Feature             Free                  Pro
  -------------------------------------------------------------------
  TYPE                SAW/SQUARE/BELL/KEYS  +SUPER/GLASS/LO-FI/STRING
  NOTE POSITION       CENTER / PITCH / ALT  + PATH / SCATTER
  MOVE                RANDOM                + CIRCLE / SQUARE / EIGHT
  DELAY               DUAL                  + TAPE / MULTI
  EDIT (10 knobs)     -                     Yes
  5 knobs, XY, RESET  Yes                   Yes
  Save user presets   -(*)                  Yes
  Factory presets     4                     80

  (*) In the free edition, the DAW project still remembers settings.

A Pro edition, "LOCUS PLUCK Pro", adds more sounds, more ways to
move the notes, and sound editing.

In the free edition, Pro parts are shown with a PRO mark; clicking
the PRO mark opens the Pro page in the browser.


* Notes

  - This product is distributed free of charge (freeware) as-is,
    without support.
  - The source code is closed source.
  - The copyright of this product belongs to Tonecraft Tokyo.
  - Modification, reverse engineering, redistribution, and resale
    are prohibited. Please download it only from the official
    Tonecraft Tokyo website or the store pages it links to.
  - Free to use for both commercial and non-commercial purposes.


* Disclaimer

  - This product is provided "AS IS", without warranty of any kind,
    express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability,
    fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement of
    third-party rights.
  - Tonecraft Tokyo is not liable for any damages arising from the use
    of, or inability to use, this product, including but not limited
    to loss or corruption of project files or audio data, equipment
    malfunction, lost working time, or lost profits.
  - Operation is not guaranteed for every combination of DAW,
    operating system, and hardware.
  - Specifications may change, and the product may be discontinued,
    without notice.
  - Use this product at your own risk. Back up your projects before
    important work.


* Feedback

  We welcome your feedback and impressions.

    info@tonecraft.blue-x.tokyo

  We cannot promise individual support. However, your feedback will
  be used as reference for future product development.


* Licenses

  - VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
  - This product uses JUCE.
  - Noto Sans JP / JetBrains Mono - SIL Open Font License 1.1


* Distributed by

  Tonecraft Tokyo
  https://www.tonecraft.blue-x.tokyo/free-vst-plugins

(c) 2026 Tonecraft Tokyo. All rights reserved.
