Troubleshooting

Plugin missing, timing drift, presets that seem to do nothing — likely causes and fixes.

Symptom	Likely cause & fix
Airchain does not appear in my DAW	Rescan plugins after installing. Airchain ships as VST3, AU and standalone for macOS only; there is no Windows build at launch.
The AU fails validation in my host	The shipped AU passes Apple's `auval`. Re-run the host's plugin validation after a clean reinstall.
Tracks with Airchain sound slightly early or late	Airchain reports six samples of latency; make sure plugin delay compensation is on in your DAW.
Switching presets does not change the volume	By design — all 14 presets are loudness-matched so you compare character, not level.
Turning SQUASH does nothing audible	Check In Gain is feeding the chain and Mix is not at 0 %. Watch the four gain-reduction meters: if they do not move, the signal is below the thresholds.
The highs are harsh or fizzy	That is the FM pre-emphasis. Switch between EU (50 µs), US (75 µs) or Off.
It sounds like a distant pirate station	Hiss, Pilot, Flutter and Blend are up — turn the Transmission stage down for a clean chain.
I do not know what a control does	Press `?` for help mode; it spotlights and explains the control under the cursor.
I cannot find a licence key to enter	There is none. Airchain is sold and delivered through Gumroad with no platform activation step.

Where to ask

support@squaresmile.de — mention the DAW, macOS version and whether you run the VST3, AU or standalone.