Blue Cat's PatchWork

Name: Blue Cat's PatchWork
Price: 99 USD
Author: Blue Cat Audio

by Blue Cat Audio · Utility · Plugin host and effects rack

Not rated yet

PatchWork hosts up to 64 VST, VST3 or AU plugins in one instance, in up to 8 parallel chains, as an effect or as an instrument.

It maps nested plugin parameters to the DAW, spreads processing across CPU cores and also runs standalone; it costs $99.

Best for: Sound Design, Mix Bus, Keys & Synths, Guitars. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: parallel processing, mixing, standalone app, utility, AAX, live performance, AI assistant, bus processing, CPU-light, full mix, macro controls, metering, mix bus, resizable UI, sound design, synths.

What it does

PatchWork is a universal plugin host that Blue Cat calls "the virtual patchbay for audio plug-ins". It builds racks of effects or layered instruments inside one plugin instance, so complex chains no longer need extra buses, and it can bring plugin formats into DAWs that don't support them.

Large racks: up to 64 third-party or built-in plugins per instance.
Parallel and series chains: up to 8 parallel chains, each with phase flip, solo, mute and gain, plus pre and post slots for plugins in series.
Instrument layering: host up to 8 virtual instruments at once and mix them internally.
Macros: map nested plugin parameters to host automation or a control surface, with a learn mode.
MIDI routing: custom MIDI routes between the hosted plugins and the host.
Mixing tools: global dry/wet, input and output meters, latency compensation and bypass per slot.
Multicore and I/O: parallel chains run on separate CPU threads, with mono, stereo and surround support.
Standalone mode: it also runs as an app, which KVR users use as a VST host for live performance.

KVR lists version 2.78.

Source: Blue Cat Audio product page

When to use it

PatchWork is the better pick when you want one rack that holds plugins from any developer. Compared with Soundtoys Effect Rack and Kilohearts Multipass, which only chain their own developers' effects, it hosts ordinary third-party plugins and instruments. That lets it bring VST plugins into Pro Tools or Logic, or keep the same channel strip preset across several DAWs. It has no metering suite like Insight 2; its job is routing, layering and parallel processing.

Best for: parallel effect chains, layered instruments, cross-DAW channel strips and hosting VST plugins in DAWs that lack them.
Genres: any; also useful for live rigs and ambient sequencing setups.
Look elsewhere if: you only need one simple effect chain; your DAW's own rack may be enough.
Tip: a KVR user layers several synth instances with different random rates for an "instant complex ambient sequence".

What producers say

The users who have reviewed it are very positive about its stability and range, and about Blue Cat's support.

KVR users rate it 5 out of 5 from 3 reviews; one said it has grown into "the core of my setup", used as a channel strip across Pro Tools, Logic and Bitwig.
Support and updates: another KVR reviewer revised an earlier negative review, praising "numerous updates that actually improve the product".
Praised: stability, low CPU use, mid/side processing, a scalable interface and full preset management.

KVR user reviews

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

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