Become a tester

Who we're looking for

The aim is a mix of people, not a panel of experts. A program like this gets better when it meets different organs, different habits and different ways of thinking about the instrument. We'd especially like to hear from you if you're:

• From anywhere in the world. Organ traditions, stop names and sample sets differ from country to country, and we want SampleForge VPO to handle them all. The program is in English for now, but your English doesn't need to be perfect to tell us what you found.
• At any level of experience. If you've just set up your first GrandOrgue organ, your first impressions are just as valuable as those of someone who has built organ definitions for years.
• Using any kind of setup. A laptop with a MIDI keyboard, a home console with several manuals, touchscreens, older or newer PCs: all of them are useful.
• Playing any kind of music, on any kind of organ.

When choosing, we look for a range of countries, experience and setups across the group as a whole. Not being chosen says nothing about you; it usually means someone with a similar setup applied first.

What testers do

• Install pre-release versions of SampleForge VPO on a Windows PC.
• Use them with sample sets you already have, building and changing organs the way you normally would.
• Report problems, confusing parts and ideas by email to support@sampleforgevpo.com, with screenshots or log files where you can.
• Try new versions when they're sent, and say whether earlier problems are fixed.

There's no fixed number of hours. We ask for at least one report on each version you receive, even if it's only "it worked". If life gets busy, just tell us.

What you'll need

• A Windows 10 or 11 PC. 16 GB of RAM or more is helpful for larger organs, but not essential.
• GrandOrgue installed.
• At least one sample set whose licence you hold. SampleForge VPO includes no samples.
• An email address we can send versions and questions to.

Tester terms

By applying, you agree to these terms if you're chosen. Our Terms of Use and Sample Rights also apply in full.

1. Pre-release software. Test versions are unfinished. They may crash, behave unexpectedly, or produce faulty files. Keep backups of your sample sets, organ files and projects before using them. Test versions are provided as they are, without any warranty, to the extent the law allows.
2. Keep it private. Test versions, download links and any licence keys are for you alone. Do not share, upload, sell or pass them on to anyone.
3. Ask before you publish. Please don't post screenshots, videos, recordings or reviews of test versions publicly without asking us first. We will usually say yes; we just want to know what's out there and that it shows the current version.
4. Sample rights still apply. Only use sample sets you are licensed to use, and only in ways their licences allow, exactly as set out in our Terms. Being a tester gives you no extra rights in any sample set.
5. Feedback. You allow us to use your reports, suggestions and ideas freely to improve SampleForge VPO, without payment or credit unless we agree otherwise. Please don't send us anything you aren't free to share.
6. Not paid work. Testing is voluntary and unpaid. It does not create any employment, partnership or obligation to buy anything.
7. No promises about the product. Features, looks, dates and editions may change, and some things you test may never be released.
8. Ending. You can stop testing at any time by telling us. We can end the testing round, or a person's place in it, at any time. When testing ends, or when a test version expires, delete the test versions you were sent.
9. Your details. We use your email address and anything you send only to run the testing, and we delete them on request, as described in our Privacy Policy.
10. Choosing testers. Places are limited and chosen at our discretion. Applying doesn't guarantee a place. We'll try to reply to everyone who applies, but if a lot of people apply this may not always be possible.