OpenUtau DAW runs the OpenUtau editor as a VST3 instrument. Write notes, lyrics, pitch, and singer changes in OpenUtau while the DAW handles playback, tempo, mixing, and project files.
The current release is an early alpha. It has been used in FL Studio 2026 on an Apple-silicon Mac; the other builds have automated test coverage but still need more time in their target DAWs.
Packages and checksums are on the releases page. Voicebanks are not included.
| Build | Status |
|---|---|
| macOS arm64 | Tested in FL Studio 2026; ad-hoc signed and not notarized |
| macOS Intel | Builds and packages successfully; DAW testing pending |
| Windows x64 | Editor, audio, and VST3 validation tests pass; FL Studio testing pending |
| Linux x64 | Experimental; opens the editor in a separate window |
Installation notes:
- The editor follows the DAW transport, tempo, and time signature.
- Preview and rendered audio pass through the plug-in output.
- OpenUtau project data is saved in the VST state, so it travels with the DAW project.
- Multiple instances keep separate audio and project state.
- Closing an editor, or moving between instances, returns to that instance's previous piano-roll view.
- Common transport shortcuts are passed back to FL Studio. Editor shortcuts such as undo, redo, delete, and open stay in OpenUtau.
- Notes must be entered in OpenUtau; the plug-in does not accept MIDI notes from the DAW.
- Only one embedded editor can be open at a time. Audio and saved state still work independently in every instance.
- The macOS package is not notarized.
- Windows, Intel macOS, Linux, and DAWs other than FL Studio have not had full hands-on testing yet.
Please include the operating system, DAW version, and plug-in build when reporting a problem.
The normal development environment is Docker Compose:
docker compose build dev
docker compose run --rm dev ./scripts/ci.shFor a quicker editor test after building the image:
docker compose run --rm dev dotnet run --project \
bridge/OpenUtau.Vst.EditorHost.Tests --configuration ReleaseThe native macOS binary must be linked and signed on macOS. The packaging script uses Docker for the managed components and the host toolchain for that final step. See the release checklist for the full process.
OpenUtau is pinned as a submodule at
29e0e16d1623cda79ba7c3724614d6129ba3b9d5. The VST-specific changes live in
patches/openutau-vst.patch; the build scripts apply that patch before
compiling. After editing files under upstream/, run
./scripts/refresh-upstream-patch.sh to rebuild the patch and check it against
a clean copy of the pinned OpenUtau source.
More detail is available in the architecture notes and test record.
OpenUtau's source is MIT licensed. The plug-in and combined distribution use JUCE under the AGPLv3. Release archives include the relevant licence notices and corresponding source; see docs/licensing.md.