No-hassle sample library player: free for all

Floe is a free, open-source sample library engine in CLAP, VST3 and AU audio plugin formats. It provides expressive playback and sound-shaping of sample libraries in the [Floe format](./sample-library-format.md).

Overview

Floe is a free, open-source sample library engine.

It loads sample libraries in the Floe format: supporting both realistic virtual instruments and sample-based synthesis. Sample libraries are installed separately from Floe.

Floe is a CLAP, VST3 or AU plugin on Windows and macOS.

Developed by FrozenPlain. Floe’s ancestor, Mirage, has been used by thousands of musicians and producers in 13 products.

Floe’s mission

1. Make sample libraries more expressive, playable and effective in music production.
2. Lengthen the lifespan of sample libraries by providing a open-source platform for them with no lock-in.
3. Prioritise helping users make meaningful music; not technical hassle, commercial pressure or unnecessary complexity.

Key features

Simple and effective

• Three-layer architecture for blending timbres into new sounds
• Sound-shaping parameters: envelopes, filters, LFOs and an effects rack
• Supports realistic multi-sampled instruments: velocity layers, round-robin, crossfade layers [coming soon]
• Supports sample-based synthesis: using samples like ‘oscillators’ with sound-looping features
• Powerful tag-based browsers for finding new sounds and presets [coming soon]
• Make samples come alive with MIDI MPE support [coming soon]
• Combine sounds across all sample libraries
• CPU-efficient

Focused on helping you make music

• 100% free: no lock-in, no sign-up, no nagging, no features behind a paywall
• ‘Organic’ software: made by a passionate developer who cares about making great software and is always open to feedback
• Open-source, free software. Floe is always yours: the GPL license guarantees anyone can use, modify and share the code
• Floe sample libraries are open packs of FLAC/WAV files: use them in other software too
• Thoughtfully designed; thoroughly documented

Sample library development

• Create your own sample libraries using Lua scripts
• Great developer-experience for creating sample libraries; just write Lua code and Floe instantly applies the changes
• No recreating GUIs: Floe provides a powerful GUI for your sample library (GUI customisation will be added in the future)

Continuously improving

• Regular updates
• Always backwards-compatible

About this website

This website contains everything you need to know about Floe. It’s presented in a book-like format, with chapters in the sidebar.

Latest Floe version: 0.0.1

If you’re viewing this online, you might find the search feature useful: open it by clicking the magnifying glass icon at the top of the page. Additionally, there is a printer icon in the top right for either printing this book, or saving it to a PDF.