Streamlined sample-based instrument platform
Floe lets you find, perform and transform sounds from sample libraries — from realistic instruments to synthesised tones. Handmade with care, Floe is no-hassle, open-source and always free.
Find the right sound quickly
Floe’s intuitive browsing system works across all your Floe sample libraries, bringing together instruments and presets through extensive categories, standardised tags (by mood, timbre, type, etc.), and search. The sound you need is always a few clicks away.
Transform sounds
With three distinct layers, Floe lets you blend instruments across different libraries. Transform sounds with loop and crossfade controls that bridge the gap between multisampling and synthesis. Process the sounds further with a rack of 10 built-in effects.
Focus on making music
Available as a plugin for your DAW (CLAP, VST3, and AU) on Windows and macOS. No accounts, no subscriptions, no interruptions — just musical creation. Openness is at the core of Floe and its libraries.
Expanding library selection
The list of libraries available for Floe is growing. And they’re installable in a few clicks. If you’re a developer, you can make your own libraries for Floe and request adding them to the list.
What makes Floe different?
Floe distinguishes itself through its hybrid sample-based synthesis approach, functioning more like a synthesiser that supports realistic multisampled instruments rather than just a sample player. Every library maintains a consistent, intuitive interface — no scripted UIs that vary per product — while offering powerful search capabilities, comprehensive preset systems, and macros that enable deep sound customisation. The platform combines essential features like layers, envelopes, filters, and automation with a focus on extensibility and continuous improvement, all developed by someone passionate about the complete product experience who works directly with professional composers on feature development, UI design, and sound creation.
We take a different philosophical stance that might resonate with you: Floe is completely free and open source, with no accounts, online dependencies, or vendor lock-in. Your creativity belongs to you, not to a subscription service or cloud platform. While many sample library ecosystems become increasingly complex and intimidating, we prioritise accessibility and ease-of-use without sacrificing power. Anyone can create libraries for the platform, and our commitment to backward compatibility means your investment in learning and using Floe will continue to pay dividends as we expand the feature set.
Handmade and open software
Handmade and detail-focused, Floe is a professional-grade tool available to everyone. It’s made by Sam Windell, who also runs a sample library development company: FrozenPlain.
Anyone can make libraries for Floe and contribute to the project. By consolidating our efforts into improving this engine, we improve the capabilities of all of its libraries for everyone.
Built on a solid foundation
Built on the proven architecture of FrozenPlain’s Mirage, used in professional productions for years, Floe is the next evolution, designed with careful attention to reliability and performance. We’re committed to further expanding its capabilities while maintaining backwards compatibility.
Already use Mirage? Read more about the transition to Floe.
A platform for sample library instruments
Floe is a platform for professional sample library products with these 2 key features:
- Ready-to-use presets (fine-tuned patches made using the library’s instruments)
- Direct access to sample-based instruments with sound-shaping tools for crafting your own variations: layering, looping, envelopes, effects, LFOs, macro-parameters, and more.
This makes Floe like a sample-based synthesizer or open ROMpler rather than a traditional sampler. For now, importing your own custom samples requires creating a sample library (programming required).
Floe supports both multisampled and single-sample instruments.
Your tools, your creativity
Floe is built as open-source software, meaning its code is freely available for anyone to see, modify, and improve (it’s GPL licensed).
While this might seem like a technical detail, it offers some potentially very valuable benefits. Any developer can pick it up and keep it running on future systems, ensuring longevity. If you need a specific feature, you could hire a developer to create your own customised version. Most importantly, open-source transparency builds trust — you or any community developer can verify that the program genuinely serves meaningful music creation rather than employing dubious business tactics.
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.
If you’re viewing this online, you might find the search feature useful: open it by clicking the magnifying glass icon at the top-left of the page. Additionally, there is a print icon at the top-right for either printing this book, or saving it to a PDF.