Quick Start Guide
Free to try, no credit card required. The Free plan includes a daily allowance of generations; no billing setup is needed to start composing.
System Requirements
- macOS with an Apple M-Series chip, or Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
- Surge XT synthesizer plugin (auto-installed by setup wizard)
- Internet connection for generation features
- A free account (email or Google sign-in)
- Any stereo audio output: built-in speakers, headphones or an audio interface
- Optional Ableton Live integration: Ableton Live 12 Suite (beta build 12.4.5+) to export scenes straight into Live's Session view
Installation
1. Download Signals & Sorcery
Choose the version for your system:
Loading download links…
2. Install and Launch
On macOS:
- Double-click the downloaded DMG file to open it
- Drag Signals & Sorcery to your Applications folder
- First launch: right-click the app in Applications → Open → Open again in the confirmation dialog.
Why does macOS ask me to confirm?
macOS shows a one-time confirmation prompt the first time you open Signals & Sorcery. After you right-click → Open once, future launches work normally with a double-click. This is expected and safe.
On Windows:
- Run the downloaded installer (
signals-and-sorcery-…-win-x64.exe) and follow the prompts - If SmartScreen shows "Windows protected your PC": click More info → Run anyway. The installer is new and not yet code-signed, so Windows shows this notice until the app builds reputation. This is expected.
Then, on either platform:
- The setup wizard will guide you through installing Surge XT and configuring everything automatically
- Sign in or create your free account when prompted; it takes about 30 seconds and no credit card is required
The Workflow
Signals & Sorcery is a Generative Audio Workstation (GAW) built around contract-based composing. Define a musical contract, generate layers, preview them, and arrange your scenes into a song.
Core Concepts
- Musical Contract - Key, chords, BPM, and bars that define the compositional framework
- Composer (top row) - Build scenes: generate, preview and refine their layers
- Arranger (bottom row) - Lay your scenes out as a song in Arrange mode, then export it
Basic Workflow
Define a Contract - Set key, chords, tempo, and structure for your scene
Generate - The generators create clips that fit your contract:
- Gemini generates MIDI for synth tracks
- Lyria generates audio for texture tracks
Preview - Press Play to hear the scene
Arrange - Drop your scenes onto the timeline at the bottom and shape them into a song (see Arrange mode)
Export - Render a mix, a master or stems, or send the song to Ableton Live
Audio Output
Everything plays on one stereo output. Set it up in Settings → Audio In / Out:
- Output device: Signals & Sorcery follows your system output by default (turn off Follow system output device to stay on one device)
- Output Channels: pick the channel pair if your interface has more than one
- Buffer Size: raise it if you hear dropouts
See Audio Output for details, including a tip for streaming.
Troubleshooting
Audio Not Playing
- Check Audio Settings - Ensure your audio output device is correctly configured
- Verify Surge XT Installation - The setup wizard should have installed Surge XT automatically
- Restart the App - Close and reopen Signals & Sorcery
Surge XT Not Loading
- Re-run Setup Wizard - Go to Settings and re-run the plugin installation
- Check Platform - Ensure you installed the version matching your computer (Apple Silicon Mac or Windows 64-bit)
- Manual Installation - See the manual installation section below
Clips Not Generating
- Check Track Has Instrument - Ensure the track has an instrument loaded (Surge XT or a custom VST3/AU plugin)
- Verify Track Is Not Muted - Unmute the track and check volume levels
- Check Playback - Press play to start playback
- Rate Limits - Daily token limits are set per user for the free tier
Tips for Best Results
- Be Specific - Describe sounds in detail: "punchy techno kick with long decay" works better than just "kick"
- Use Contracts - Set key, chords, and tempo before generating for coherent results
- One Task at a Time - Break complex requests into steps
- Iterate - Generate, listen, then ask for adjustments
- Use Musical Terms - The system understands keys, scales, chord progressions, rhythmic patterns, etc.
Next Steps
- Watch the Video Tutorials to see each feature in action
- Experiment with different sound descriptions and musical contracts
- Arrange your scenes into a song at the bottom of the workstation, then export it
- Bring your own sounds: import your own sample libraries or load your own VST3/AU instruments
- Export to Ableton Live: send any scene into Live's Session view as audio + MIDI
- Set up your audio output
- Check the Features section for advanced capabilities
- Read the Plugin SDK documentation to build custom generators
Manual Dependency Installation (Optional)
Note: The setup wizard handles dependency installation automatically. The steps below are only needed if you prefer to install dependencies manually.
Install Surge XT
- Download Surge XT from https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
- Download the version matching your system:
- macOS (Apple Silicon) for M-Series Macs
- Windows (64-bit) for Windows PCs
- Run the installer - it will install the VST3 plugin to the correct location
