Description
Blue Cat's PatchWork is a universal plug-ins patchbay and multi FX that can host up to 64 VST, VST3, Audio Unit or built-in plug-ins into any Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) in a single instance, with both serial and parallel routing options.
It is possible to chain effects in series or create up to 8 parallel chains that can be activated independently. This lets you create your favorite effects or instruments configurations within the plug-in, without the need for multiple busses. These configurations can be saved as presets and recalled instantly, or shared with multiple DAWs, using any plug-in format (full list below). Use the built-in audio effects to add color to your own plug-in chains.
Despite the name, you can forget about wires or cables: configuring plug-ins routing is as simple as adding or removing a row or a column in the rack's matrix. All plug-ins can also communicate with each other or with the host application using the virtual MIDI ports offered by the plug-in.
For each plug-in slot, latency compensation, presets management, undo/redo integration, audio i/o selection and individual plug-in bypass are included for optimal operation. The plug-in also stores the position of the window for each plug-in so that the layout is restored with your session or saved with presets.
Also, sub plug-ins can be automated or controlled with external control surfaces using Blue Cat's PatchWork parameters mapping capabilities.
This product is available as an audio plug-in (effect or a virtual instrument) and standalone application, so that it can used alone or inserted on any type of track in your favorite DAW, with up to 16 audio channels.
Input and output level meters are also available to monitor the signal that is dispatched to inserted plug-ins, including side chain and aux channels.
Blue Cat Audio Standards:
• Available as a standalone application and in most plug-in formats for Mac and Windows.
• Full MIDI control and automation support, MIDI Learn.
• No CPU load on idle: processing shuts down when fed with silence (optimal CPU usage).
• Customizable user interface with transparency & zoom.
• Smooth Bypass: noiseless plug-in activation / deactivation.
• Undo/Redo.
• Full featured integrated presets manager.
• Copy/paste the state of the plug-in between instances.
• Any sample rate supported.
Version 2.77
• Performance improvements.
• New quiet update mode for built-in delay plug-ins for silent delay length changes.
• Fixed offline oversampling option not working properly in some hosts (Logic).
• Fixed Learn Once issues in Params Map editor (could trigger unwanted plug-in parameters additions).
• Fixed VST3 ppqPosition field not set for midi events (could trigger MIDI issue with some virtual instruments using it).
• Fixed preset wrongly set as modified upon loading sessions with some VST3 plug-ins.
• Fixed user interface settings sometimes not restored properly upon user interface reload, when using some VST3 plug-ins.
• Fixed macro params issues when back-inserting a plug-in (via drag and drop) in a chain that overwrites its previous position.
Features
• Configurable VST, VST3 or Audio Unit plug-ins rack: host up to 64 third party plug-ins or instruments in series or parallel.
• Multicore processing support for parallel chains.
• Host up to 8 virtual instruments in parallel and mix them within the plug-in.
• Build your own effects chains: up to 8 "pre" and "post" plug-ins slots to chain plug-ins in series.
• Parallel processing made easy: up to 8 parallel plug-ins chains, with phase flip, solo and gain controls.
• Global Dry/Wet control ("Mix").
• Macro controls & parameters mapping: map sub plug-ins parameters to automate them or use a control surface.
• Flexible MIDI routing: connect sub plug-ins together or with the host application.
• Flexible Audio routing: connect sub plug-ins i/o to any audio channel.
• External side chain and multiple outputs support.
• Link pre and post gains for automatic gain compensation.
• Drag and drop or cut, copy and paste plug-ins with their settings between slots.
• Recall complex processing setups and plug-ins layouts with one click and share them between your DAWs.
• Input and output levels monitoring, built-in CPU meter.
• Plug-ins Latency compensation.
• Network audio/MIDI processing server for the Connector plug-in.
• Supports VST Shell plug-ins.
• Integrated undo/redo.
• 30 built-in effects: Reverb, EQ, filters, pitch & frequency shifter, delays, modulation effects, compressor, gate, bit crusher, wave shaper and more.
• Available as an effect, virtual instrument or standalone application.
Tech Specs
macOS
• Operating System: macOS 10.9 or newer. Intel or Apple Silicon processor.
• Audio Card: Core Audio-compatible audio interface required for the standalone application.
• Supported Plugins: VST 2, VST 3, AU, AAX
Windows
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, or 10. SSE2-enabled processor (Pentium 4 or newer).
• Audio Card: ASIO, MME, or WASAPI-compatible audio interface required for the standalone application. ASIO recommended.
• Supported Plugins: VST 2, VST 3, AAX