Spectro

Questions, answered

Everything about Spectro: compatibility, plans, activation and everyday use.

General

What is Spectro?
A vocal plugin that tunes your voice, turns it into an instrument, destroys it and slices it to the beat — all steered from one XY pad called MORPH. See it in action on the demo.
Who is it for?
Producers of hip-hop, trap, hyperpop, industrial and experimental electronic music who want robotic, distorted or instrument-like vocals; singers and rappers after a signature sound without chaining a dozen plugins; and sound designers who use the voice as raw material for textures and drones.
Do I need MIDI or a keyboard for the vocoder?
No. Spectro detects the note you sing, fits it to your key and scale, and the vocoder or strings play that note plus the chord you choose. You sing — the instrument follows.
Does it replace Auto-Tune?
For the hard-tune effect and creative correction, yes: 18 scales (plus a custom one), tuning reference from 415 to 466 Hz, and correction from instant ROBOT jumps to smooth 251 ms glides. It isn’t a graphical note-by-note pitch editor, so for invisible, surgical correction a dedicated tool is still the better choice.
Does it work on things other than vocals?
Drive, CHOP and the FX rack work on any sound. Tune, vocoder and strings need a clear monophonic source — voice, bass, a synth lead. On chords or drums the pitch tracking isn’t reliable, though the results can be interestingly weird.
Is there a free trial?
Not as a separate download. The cheapest way to try it is the monthly plan — cancel within the month and you won’t be charged again. You can also hear before and after on the demo page.

Compatibility

Which DAWs does it work in?
Spectro is a 64-bit VST3 effect for Windows. It’s built and tested in FL Studio and designed to work in any VST3 host (Ableton Live, Reaper, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig…) — if you hit a problem in yours, tell us. A Standalone app is included too, so you can use it without a DAW.
Is there a Mac version?
Not yet — Spectro is Windows-only for now (Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit).
Are AU or AAX versions available?
No. Spectro ships as VST3 plus a Standalone app. AU (Logic) and AAX (Pro Tools) aren’t available.
What are the system requirements?
Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a VST3 host or the included Standalone app, a quad-core x64 CPU recommended, 4 GB RAM and under 50 MB of disk space. Full list on the specs page.
How much CPU does it use?
Between roughly 5 % and 9 % of a single core at 48 kHz, even with everything switched on. Switch off FX you don’t use and lower the analyser to 30 FPS (or OFF) in Settings to save more.
Does it add latency? Can I record through it?
About 21 ms by default, reported to your DAW and compensated automatically on playback. To record through it, switch on Low-latency mode in Settings: about 5 ms, comfortable for monitoring while you sing.
Which sample rates are supported?
44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz, in mono or stereo. Any buffer size works.

Pricing & licence

How much does Spectro cost?
Two options: €2.50 per month, cancel anytime, or a lifetime licence for €25, paid once. Both include the full plugin for one person on one computer at a time. Prices include VAT. See plans.
Monthly or lifetime — which should I pick?
Monthly (€2.50) is the cheapest way in and you can stop whenever you like. Lifetime (€25) is one payment — after 10 months it has paid for itself, and it never expires.
What is the 18-digit licence code?
Every licence has a code like 482913-057361-920464. When you buy on spectrovst.com it’s added to your account automatically — you’ll see it in Licence & computer and in your purchase email. If you got a code as a gift or from a shop, add it in your account under Redeem a code.
Can two people share one licence?
No — a licence is for one person, used on one computer at a time. Signing in on another computer moves Spectro there and signs out the previous one.
Can I switch from monthly to lifetime?
Yes, anytime, from the pricing page or your account. You keep the same licence code, and your subscription stops automatically so you’re never charged twice.
How do I cancel my subscription?
In your account → Licence & computer → Cancel subscription (or via Billing & invoices). Spectro keeps working until the end of the month you’ve paid for, and you won’t be charged again. Changed your mind? Hit Resume before it ends.
What happens when a subscription ends?
The plugin stops processing. Your presets and settings stay where they are, and if you subscribe again — or go lifetime — the same code starts working again without re-activating.
What if a renewal payment fails?
Stripe retries the payment for a few days and Spectro keeps working meanwhile. Update your card from Billing & invoices in your account to avoid any interruption.
Are updates included?
Yes. Subscribers get every update while subscribed. The lifetime licence includes every 2.x update at no extra cost. New versions appear in the Downloads tab of your account.
Which payment methods can I use?
Checkout is handled by Stripe: credit and debit cards, plus wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay and local methods depending on your country and device. We never see your card details.
Will I get an invoice?
Every payment is followed by an emailed receipt, and all your orders are listed in your account. Subscribers can also download invoices and add a VAT number from Billing & invoices.
Can I get a refund?
Spectro is delivered instantly as a digital product, so the EU 14-day withdrawal right ends once your licence is delivered — you agree to this at checkout. If something doesn’t work on your system, write to support@spectrovst.com and we’ll help or sort it out. Details in refunds & withdrawal.
Can I use Spectro in commercial releases?
Yes. Everything you make with it — vocals processed with Spectro, sounds built from its presets — is yours, royalty-free. See the terms.

Activation & account

How do I activate Spectro?
Install Spectro from the .msi in your account’s Downloads and open it in your DAW. Press SIGN IN WITH SPECTROVST.COM: your browser opens, you approve the computer and Spectro unlocks by itself. You can also type your 18-digit licence code and press Activate. Until then, audio passes through unprocessed.
I got a new computer. How do I move my licence?
Just sign in from Spectro on the new computer — it moves there and the old computer is signed out the next time it checks in. You can also press SIGN OUT in the plugin’s Settings, or sign a computer out yourself in Licence & computer.
It says Spectro is in use on another computer.
Your licence works on one computer at a time. Confirm Move Spectro here and the other computer is signed out.
Do I need to be online to use it?
Only to activate. After that Spectro works offline and checks in quietly from time to time: it can run up to 7 days without a connection (subscriptions, never past the end of the paid period).
Is there iLok or a USB dongle?
No. Just your Spectro account — activate from the plugin in a couple of clicks.
Can I protect my account with two-step verification?
Yes. In Security, turn on two-step verification and scan the QR code with Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, 1Password or any TOTP app. Keep your recovery codes somewhere safe.
Spectro doesn’t show up in FL Studio.
The installer puts it in C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\Spectro.vst3 — check it’s there (if not, run the .msi again). In Options → Manage plugins, make sure that folder is listed and click Find installed plugins. Step-by-step guide in the docs.

Using Spectro

My voice only plays on one side — is that a bug?
No. It happens when your mic comes in on a single channel of your interface. Leave INPUT on AUTO (the default, in the OUTPUT card) and Spectro detects it and centres your voice.
Why doesn’t the volume go up when I max the distortion?
On purpose: auto-gain matches the level of your dry voice so you judge the sound, not the loudness. A final limiter at −0.5 dBFS also protects your ears and monitors.
The tuning warbles or jumps between notes.
Check that KEY and SCALE match your song, and raise SPEED for a smoother correction. Avoid choirs, instruments or heavy reverb before Spectro on the same track — the pitch detector wants one clean voice.
Can I automate everything?
Yes — every sound parameter, including the pad (Morph X / Morph Y), the 16 CHOP steps and every effect’s ON switch. Changes are smoothed internally, so automation never clicks.
Where are my presets saved, and how do I share them?
In Documents\Spectro\Presets as .spectro files. To share one, copy the file into the same folder on another computer. There are 41 factory presets, grouped in categories, to start from.
Which languages is the plugin in?
English, Español, Português, Français and Deutsch. Short control names stay in English, as in most audio software. This website is in English and Spanish.
Are my skin, language and window size remembered?
Yes, automatically, for every instance. The sound itself is saved inside each DAW project.

Privacy & help

I forgot my password.
Use Reset password on the sign-in page — we’ll email you a link valid for one hour.
How do I change my email address or language?
In your account → Profile. A new email address gets a confirmation link; the language applies to the website and to our emails.
How do I delete my account?
Account → Security → Delete account. It removes your account, licences and activations immediately — Spectro will stop working on your computer. Cancel any subscription first.
What data do you collect?
Only what’s needed to run your account and licence: email, name, country, purchases, and the name and OS of the activated computer. No audio, no tracking cookies, and card details stay with Stripe. Details in the privacy policy.
Where can I get help?
Start with the docs — they cover every control. Still stuck? Email support@spectrovst.com, or use SETTINGS → Support / Report a bug inside the plugin.