YBK Instrument Player for Windows is free until October 19

# What this is

YBK Audio's Instrument Player is a purpose-built Windows app for running VST3 instruments and VST3 effects without loading a full digital audio workstation. It strips away DAW project, timeline, mixer, and track setup so you can open a single instrument and start playing immediately.

# Who it's for

• Plugin testers who open many instruments and want a minimal, fast host.
• Musicians who want to jam with a single plugin without a full DAW project.
• Sound designers who want to chain VST3 effects to a synth quickly.

# Core features

Instrument Player focuses on speed and simplicity.

• Standalone VST3 host: open the app, pick a VST3 instrument, and play. It also hosts VST3 audio effects in a chain after the instrument.
• Plugin scanning: scans VST3 instruments in a separate process, presents a searchable list with pinned favorites, and can rescan or rebuild the list.
• Native plugin windows: selected plugins open at their native size.

• Multiple MIDI controllers: more than one MIDI controller can work at the same time, even if connected while the app is running.
• Keyboard shortcuts: press M to play, Z and X to shift octaves.
• Audio output options: WASAPI (including exclusive mode with typical 5–10 ms latency per YBK) and DirectSound are supported.
• Starter Synth included: the app works out of the box before you add other instruments.

# Licensing, installation, and limits

• Free until October 19: YBK is offering Instrument Player free until October 19. Anyone who claims it by that date can keep the license permanently.
• Activation model: claiming requires an email address (no account or payment card). YBK sends a confirmation link, then a license code and installer.
• Code-signing and SmartScreen: the installer is not yet code-signed, so Windows may show a SmartScreen warning during installation.
• License binding: the license is consumed when activated online on one computer and cannot be transferred or reissued. Reinstalling Windows is allowed, but changing CPU, motherboard, computer, or virtual machine invalidates the license.

# How it compares

Instrument Player is simpler than Modalics Plugin Buddy and similar hosts. It focuses strictly on hosting VST3 instruments and effects with always-on MIDI capture and minimal configuration, rather than supporting complex MIDI chains or DAW-like features.

# Practical takeaways

• If you test many VST3 instruments or want a quick place to jam without loading a DAW, this app saves time.

# Quick download note