You can now use the VCV Rack open-source modular synthesizer as a VST plugin in your favorite digital audio workstation thanks to this unofficial port by KVR user bsp804.
VCV Rack is an open-source modular virtual synthesizer which was introduced in September last year. It is an amazing virtual modular synthesizer with a growing library of custom modules, thanks to the fact that it is open source. Unfortunately, it only operates as a standalone application and can’t be used as an instrument plugin inside a DAW. Although it is possible to connect VCV Rack as a virtual effect thanks to the recently released VCV Bridge, it still can’t be used as a regular VST instrument. Until now, that is!
Thanks to an unofficial port that is currently being developed by KVR Audio forum member bsp804, users can now load and use VCV Rack in their DAW of choice just like any other virtual instrument. It is important to note, though, that this port is not in any way associated with VCV Rack’s author. It is an unofficial third-party port which is still a work in progress.
For what it’s worth, I tested it in MuLab and Studio One without any issues. The provided DLL file loads like any other VST plugin and shows the VCV Rack user interface inside the DAW. The functionality is completely the same as in the free version. As a bonus, the plugin is conveniently bundled with a bunch of custom VCV Rack modules which are available for free download. You don’t have to install any additional modules or extensions since everything is already included in the download pack. Neat! However, the VST port does not support plugins, meaning that you cannot use any third-party or closed source add-ons.
The port is only compatible with 64-bit VST plugin hosts on Windows at the moment. Follow the forum thread at KVR Audio for more info about the project and grab the latest version of the software from the GitHub page linked below.
Before you go, a friendly warning – if you’ve never used VCV Rack before, do consider lowering the volume of your speakers while learning the ins and outs of the software. You’ll need to make quite a few virtual cable connections before you finally get some sounds out of the plugin, so make sure that your monitor level is low to avoid any nasty noise bursts and potential damage.
The VST Plugin port of VCV Rack (unofficial) is available for free download via GitHub (48.1 MB download size, RAR archive, 64-bit VST plugin format for Windows).
19 Comments
Ampersound
onDidn’t they officially release a vst version a while ago?
Tomislav Zlatic
onYes but it’s for FX processing only.
marti garaughty
onWell that is awesome and welcomed news!!!
Mister Fox
onI just checked the developer page…
Well the “core” version is free, but the interesting add-ons sure aren’t. Will keep my eye on this regardless.
Andrew Belt
onThere are about 500-600 free or open-source modules so far, and about 50-100 commercial ones (4 from VCV itself).
Adam
onYes they did made vsti comaptibility into core app.Since v0.6.1 vcv is vsti instrument for both 32 and 64 bit . Tested and working , but still need to be routed inside vcv.
Fedor Tkachev
onPlease don’t spread misinformation, Bridge is only a bridge for audio and midi, it doesn’t make VCV a VSTi instrument – you still have to route it in a special way, and saving the patch doesn’t save it the DAW, and so on. Its not as neat as this port.
Adam
onAs I said ” it stil need to be routed inside vcv”.And yes it´s a bridge but it acts as vsti instead of vst fx.And you can adress any automatition via midi channels . it´s more of the way like in good old analog days :)
Diego Rengifo
onI don’t see the vst. How this versión must be installed?
I use Reaper 64 bits on W10.
Mantho
onAny ideas on how to install? I’m trying to find something on the developers page, but I cant seem to make it.
Diego Rengifo
onI don’t understand why a post about VCV rack generates lots of comments and one about a vst tool for it doesn’t.
Dave
onHuh?
bsp
onAndrew’s completely right. There’s a _ton_ of free / open source add-ons available (this plugin currently comes with 479 free modules) . You can get a _lot_ of mileage out of them.
As of today, the plugin also supports dynamically loaded plugins (closed source if you want).
I for one however am not interested in the commercial aspects, I’ll leave that to VCV.
Please make some kick-ass music with this plugin :-)
Divico
onGeat stuff. Lack of VST always kept me away from using VCV on my projects
Divico
onSeems like there was an update. The version you can get now from GitHub makes Reaper crash while scanning for new plugins.
Atme
onThis is amazing! Kudos to bsp804 for the efforts! <3
Linden H.
onDownloaded and followed every instruction and its extremely laggy/buggy, I cant find anyone else with this problem so it might just be me but i cant tell why.
has anyone else come across this issue?
Alessio Alonne
onRAM EATER. In ableton you can create same sounds with operator.
If you like VCV rack, usa VCV rack as standalone.
Rafael
onGrossly incorrect.
Sure, if you’re trying to build a simple basic synthesizer on this, you’d rather use Operator, but if that’s what you think this is for, you might try approaching it with more imagination.