LICENSES
January 31, 2026 · View on GitHub
CODE LICENSE / BINARY
While Cardinal itself is licensed under GPLv3+, some modules/plugins used by it are not.
And since Cardinal builds the entire Rack and modules as a static library,
the more restrictive of the code licenses will apply to the final binary.
Below follows a list of all code licenses used in Cardinal and linked submodules.
| Name | License(s) | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carla | GPL-2.0-or-later | Used as plugin host within Cardinal |
| DPF | ISC | Used as the plugin framework |
| Rack | GPL-3.0-or-later | The actual Rack code, internal dependencies are compatible with GPLv3+ |
| 21kHz | MIT | |
| 8Mode | BSD-3-Clause | |
| Aaron Static | MIT | |
| admiral | MIT | |
| alef's bits | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| AlgoritmArte | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Amalgamated Harmonics | BSD-3-Clause | |
| Animated Circuits | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Arable Instruments | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Aria Salvatrice | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| AS | MIT | |
| Audible Instruments | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Autinn | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Axioma | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Bacon Music | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Befaco | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Bidoo | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Biset | MIT | |
| Bogaudio | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Catro/Modulo | BSD-3-Clause | |
| cf | BSD-3-Clause | |
| ChowDSP | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Computerscare | BSD-3-Clause | |
| CVfunk | MIT | |
| dBiz | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| DHE-Modules | MIT | |
| eightfold | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| EnigmaCurry | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| E-Series | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| ExpertSleepers Encoders | MIT | |
| Extratone | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Fehler Fabrik | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| forsitan modulare | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Fundamental | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Glue the Giant | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| GoodSheperd | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Grande | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| H4N4 Modules | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Hampton Harmonics | MIT | |
| HetrickCV | CC0-1.0 | |
| ihtsyn | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Impromptu | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| JW-Modules | BSD-3-Clause | |
| kocmoc | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| LifeFormModular | MIT | |
| Lilac Loop | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Little Utils | EUPL-1.2 | |
| Lomas Modules | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Lyrae Modules | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Meander | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| MindMeld | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| ML Modules | BSD-3-Clause | |
| Mockba Modular | MIT | |
| Mog | CC0-1.0 | |
| mscHack | BSD-3-Clause | |
| MSM | MIT | Repo's LICENSE-dist.md includes wrong information |
| MUS-X | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Myth | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Nonlinear Circuits | CC0-1.0 | |
| Orbits | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Parable Instruments | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Path Set | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| PdArray | EUPL-1.2 | |
| PinkTrombone | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Prism | BSD-3-Clause | |
| Rackwindows | MIT | |
| RCM | GPL-2.0-or-later | |
| repelzen | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| RebelTech | GPL-2.0-or-later | |
| Sapphire | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Sonus Modular | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Starling Via | MIT | |
| stocaudio | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Stoermelder Pack-One | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Surge XT | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| unless_modules | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Valley | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Venom | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| Voxglitch | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| WSTD-Drums | CC0-1.0 | |
| WhatTheRack | WTFPL | |
| ZetaCarinae | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| ZZC | GPL-3.0-or-later |
ARTWORK / PANEL LICENSES
Below follows a list of all licenses related to artwork and module panels, sorted by file name.
Licenses were retrieved from the official project's LICENSE, README or related files.
When * is used, it is meant as wildcard of all files, with potential exceptions mentioned afterwards.
When a license is uncertain, ??? is used.
Note: The "final" version of Cardinal MUST NOT be released with unclear licenses!
So all uncertainties need to be resolved ASAP.
Plugins
Below is a list of artwork licenses from plugins
| Name | License(s) | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|
| 21kHz | MIT | No artwork specific license provided |
| 8Mode | BSD-3-Clause | No artwork specific license provided |
| AaronStatic/* | MIT | No artwork specific license provided |
| AaronStatic/fonts/PixelOperator.ttf | CC0-1.0 | |
| alefsbits/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| Algoritmarte/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| Algoritmarte/LEDSliderGreenHandle.svg | CC-BY-NC-4.0 | |
| AmalgamatedHarmonics/* | BSD-3-Clause | No artwork specific license provided |
| AmalgamatedHarmonics/DSEG*.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| AmalgamatedHarmonics/Roboto*.ttf | Apache-2.0 | |
| AnimatedCircuits/* | CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 | |
| ArableInstruments/* | Custom | Copyright © Alex Brandt, used and distributed with permission |
| AriaModules/* | CC-BY-SA-4.0 | |
| AriaModules/Arcane/* | CC-BY-NC-SA-3.0 | Unused in Cardinal |
| AriaModules/components/* | WTFPL | |
| AriaModules/dseg/* | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| AriaModules/lcd/Fixed_v01/* | Custom | See LICENSE.txt |
| AriaModules/lcd/piano/* | WTFPL | |
| AriaModules/signature/* | Custom | Removal required if modifying other files without author's permission |
| AS/* | CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 | The AS Logo/Monogram is Copyright (c) 2017 Alfredo Santamaria and cannot be used in derivative works; Cardinal has explicit permission for its use. |
| AS/saxmono.ttf | Custom | You may download this font, circulate it und use it freely. You may not alter, rename, change copyrights or modify this font in any way. |
| AS/Segment7Standard.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| AudibleInstruments/* | Custom | Copyright © Emilie Gillet, used and distributed with permission |
| Autinn/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| Axioma/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| BaconPlugs/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| BaconPlugs/midi/* | CC-BY-SA-3.0-DE | |
| BaconPlugs/midi/beeth/* | ??? | Unused in Cardinal, taken from http://www.jsbach.net/ |
| BaconPlugs/FiraMono-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| BaconPlugs/Monitorica-Bd.ttf | CC-BY-SA-4.0 | |
| BaconPlugs/Keypunch029.json | OFL-1.1 | |
| BaconPlugs/1f953.svg | CC-BY-4.0 | |
| BaconPlugs/1f60d.svg | CC-BY-4.0 | |
| BaconPlugs/HelpActive.svg | CC0-1.0 | |
| BaconPlugs/HelpActiveSmall.svg | CC0-1.0 | |
| BaconPlugs/SABROG-*.svg | CC0-1.0 | |
| BaconPlugs/sabrog-*.svg | CC0-1.0 | |
| Bidoo/* | CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 | Special permission granted for runtime dark mode |
| Befaco/components/* | CC-BY-NC-4.0 | |
| Befaco/fonts/Segment7Standard.otf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| Befaco/panels/* | Custom | Copyright © Befaco, used and distributed with permission |
| Biset/* | MIT | No artwork specific license provided |
| Biset/FT88-Regular.ttf | OFL | |
| Biset/Recursive_VF_1.085.ttf | OFL-1.1-no-RFN | |
| BogaudioModules/* | CC-BY-SA-4.0 | |
| BogaudioModules/fonts/audiowide.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| BogaudioModules/fonts/inconsolata*.ttf | OFL-1.1-no-RFN | |
| Cardinal/* | CC0-1.0 | |
| Cardinal/Miku/Miku.png | CC-BY-NC-3.0 | https://piapro.net/intl/en_for_creators.html |
| CatroModulo/* | BSD-3-Clause | No artwork specific license provided |
| CatroModulo/Segment7Standard.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| cf/* | BSD-3-Clause | No artwork specific license provided |
| cf/DejaVuSansMono.ttf | Bitstream-Vera | |
| cf/Segment7Standard.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| cf/VT323-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1-no-RFN | |
| ChowDSP/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | Same license as source code |
| ChowDSP/fonts/RobotoCondensed-*.ttf | Apache-2.0 | |
| Computerscare/* | BSD-3-Clause | No artwork specific license provided |
| Computerscare/Oswald-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1 | |
| Computerscare/Segment7Standard.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| CVfunk/* | MIT | Same license as source code |
| dBiz/* | CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 | |
| dBiz/DejaVuSansMono.ttf | Bitstream-Vera | |
| dBiz/ShareTechMono-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1 | |
| DHE-Modules/* | MIT | Same license as source code |
| DrumKit/* | CC0-1.0 | |
| DrumKit/component/NovaMono.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| eightfold/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| EnigmaCurry/res/fonts/dseg/* | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| EnigmaCurry/res/fonts/Fantasque/* | OFL-1.1 | |
| EnigmaCurry/res/fonts/manrope/* | OFL-1.1 | |
| EnigmaCurry/res/*.svg | CC0-1.0 | |
| E-Series/* | Custom | Copyright © Synthesis Technology, used and distributed with permission |
| ExpertSleepers-Encoders/* | MIT | Same license as source code |
| Extratone/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | Same license as source code |
| FehlerFabrik/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided, see FehlerFabrik#17 |
| forsitan-modulare/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| Fundamental/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | Same license as source code |
| GlueTheGiant/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | Same license as source code |
| GlueTheGiant/fonts/DSEG7-* | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| GoodSheperd/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| GrandeModular/* | CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 | |
| h4n4-modules/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| HamptonHarmonics/* | MIT | No artwork specific license provided |
| HamptonHarmonics/PixelOperator.ttf | CC0-1.0 | |
| HetrickCV/* | CC0-1.0 | |
| ihtsyn/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | Same license as source code |
| ImpromptuModular/* | CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 | |
| ImpromptuModular/res/comp/complib/* | CC-BY-NC-4.0 | |
| JW-Modules/* | BSD-3-Clause | No artwork specific license provided |
| JW-Modules/DejaVuSansMono.ttf | Bitstream-Vera | Unused in Cardinal |
| JW-Modules/res/fonts/ShareTechMono-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1 | |
| kocmoc/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| LifeFormModular/* | MIT | No artwork specific license provided |
| LilacLoop/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| LittleUtils/* | EUPL-1.2 | Same license as source code |
| LittleUtils/fonts/CooperHewitt-*.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| LittleUtils/fonts/Overpass-*.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| LittleUtils/fonts/RobotoMono-*.ttf | Apache-2.0 | |
| LomasModules/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | Same license as source code |
| LomasModules/Fonts/FiraMono-Bold.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| LyraeModules/* | CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 | |
| Meander/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| Meander/Bravura.otf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| Meander/DejaVuSansMono.ttf | Bitstream-Vera | |
| Meander/Ubuntu Condensed 400.ttf | UFL-1.0 | Ubuntu Font License, based on OFL-1.1 |
| MindMeld/* | CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 | |
| MindMeld/fonts/RobotoCondensed-*.ttf | Apache-2.0 | |
| ML_modules/* | BSD-3-Clause | No artwork specific license provided |
| ML_modules/DejaVuSansMono.ttf | Bitstream-Vera | |
| ML_modules/Segment7Standard.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| MockbaModular/* | MIT | No artwork specific license provided |
| Mog/* | CC0-1.0 | |
| Mog/components/* | CC-BY-NC-4.0 | |
| Mog/Exo2-BoldItalic.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| mscHack/* | BSD-3-Clause | No artwork specific license provided, see mschack#108 |
| MSM/* | MIT | No artwork specific license provided |
| MSM/Fonts/DejaVuSansMono.ttf | Bitstream-Vera | |
| MSM/Fonts/Segment7Standard.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| MSM/Fonts/Sudo.ttf | OFL-1.1-no-RFN | |
| MUS-X/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| Myth/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| nonlinearcircuits/* | CC0-1.0 | No artwork specific license provided |
| nonlinearcircuits/Audiowide-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| Orbits/* | CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 | |
| Orbits/fonts/ShareTechMono-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| ParableInstruments/* | Custom | Copyright © Alex Brandt, used and distributed with permission |
| PathSet/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| PdArray/res/*svg | EUPL-1.2 | No artwork specific license provided |
| PdArray/res/fonts/Overpass-*.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| PdArray/res/fonts/Roboto-*.ttf | Apache-2.0 | |
| PinkTrombone/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| Prism/* | CC-BY-SA-4.0 | |
| Prism/RobotoCondensed-Regular.ttf | Apache-2.0 | |
| Rackwindows/* | MIT | Same license as source code |
| RCM/* | GPL-2.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| repelzen/* | CC-BY-SA-4.0 | |
| RebelTech/* | CC-BY-NC-4.0 | |
| Sapphire/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| sonusmodular/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | Same license as source code |
| StarlingVia/* | MIT | No artwork specific license provided |
| stocaudio/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| stoermelder-packone/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| stoermelder-packone/fonts/RedkostComic.otf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| surgext/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | |
| surgext/xt/* | CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 | |
| surgext/xt/fonts/quicksand/* | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| unless_modules/* | CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 | |
| unless_modules/font/CuteFont-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1 | |
| unless_modules/font/Terminus.ttf | GPL-2.0-or-later | Starting from v4.32, font license is OFL-1.1 |
| ValleyAudio/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | Same license as source code |
| ValleyAudio/din1451alt.ttf | CC-BY-3.0-DE | |
| ValleyAudio/DSEG14Classic-*.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| ValleyAudio/ShareTechMono-*.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| Venom/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| voxglitch/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | No artwork specific license provided |
| voxglitch/ShareTechMono-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| WhatTheRack/* | WTFPL | |
| WhatTheRack/BoomButton/* | CC-BY-3.0 | |
| ZetaCarinaeModules/* | GPL-3.0-or-later | Same license as source code |
| ZZC/* | CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 | |
| ZZC/panels/* | CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 | The ZZC Logo is Copyright (c) 2019 Sergey Ukolov and cannot be used in derivative works; Cardinal's use does not officially constitute derivative work. |
| ZZC/fonts/DSEG/* | OFL-1.1-RFN | |
| ZZC/fonts/Nunito/* | OFL-1.1-RFN |
Rack
Below is a list of artwork licenses from Rack
| Name | License(s) |
|---|---|
| ComponentLibrary/* | CC-BY-NC-4.0 |
| fonts/DejaVuSans.ttf | Bitstream-Vera |
| fonts/DSEG*.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN |
| fonts/Nunito-Bold.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN |
| fonts/ShareTechMono-Regular.ttf | OFL-1.1-RFN |