Blue Cat's PatchWork 2.1 Released, incl. 25 built-in effects and zoomable GUI

[Blue Cat Audio]

Dear KVR Members,

We are happy to announce Blue Cat's PatchWork 2.1, a new version of our "virtual patchbay for audio plug-ins".

This new version includes 25 new built-in audio effects that can be mixed together with third party VST, VST3 or Audio Unit plug-ins to create custom effects and instruments patches that can be shared across Digital Audio Workstations. PatchWork can now load itself as a built-in effect to reuse presets into more complex chains, independently from the chosen plug-in format.



The Graphical User Interface (GUI) of PatchWork 2.1 and it sbuilt-in plug-ins can now be zoomed from 70% to 200%, and a new option is available to keep loaded plug-ins always on top of other windows.

In addition to new features and fixes (full list below), We have also added 75 new presets with effects, and a new quick start video tutorial (see below) to help you get the best of this new release.

Demo versions of the software can be downloaded on our website in most popular plug-in formats, and a standalone application is also available. The update is free for existing PatchWork V2 owners and can be downloaded from the same location as the original version 2.0 (link received by email upon purchase).

What's New:
- Added 25 new built-in effects borrowed from Blue Cat's Late Replies: EQ, filters, pitch & frequency shifter, delays, modulation effects, compressor, gate, bit crusher, wave shaper and more.
- 75 New presets using built-in effects.
- The GUI can now be zoomed from 70% to 200%.
- New option to keep plug-ins windows always on top.
- Default preset now also saves the state of locks (when using "save as user default").
- Load PatchWork into itself as a built-in effect.
- Fixed host keyboard shortcuts lost when a sub plug-in is opened (in several host applications).
- Fixed wrong number of channels used when hosted plug-in input set to manual and output to auto.
- Fixed sub-plug-ins automation overwritten when using touch mode in some hosts.
- VST2: fixed a crash in Wavelab.
- Mac: new installer.
- Mac: fixed minor compatibility issues with Mac OS High Sierra.
- Windows: fixed plug-in windows not showing on displays on the left or above the main display.

PatchWork Overview:


Getting Started with PatchWork:


Enjoy!

[xbitz]

do u plan to add drag'n'drop based control assignment support as is working in MUX


from 1:50

automate the different plugin controls is still bit awkward compared to MUX, personally I only miss this feature, congrats to the new release ofc.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I'm still on 1.74 but keep meaning to upgrade (honestly Studio One's Splitter covers a lot of my old Patchwork tasks). I have some questions though:

1. Do we still have to point this to our VST Plugin Folder and locate the plugins manually, or does it now scan plugins where I can just select from a list? That was probably my top wishlist item from v1.

2. Can we drag and drop to move the effect modules? The new UI seems like it would be more conducive to that, but I didn't catch it in the videos. That was my #2 request from v1.

3. Are there built in crossovers and m/s plugins? Crossovers for creating multi-band effects and m/s for separate mid and side processing.

[h2ogun99]

We're not worthy.

Great update, to an amazing plugin. Thank you!

Lux

[Blue Cat Audio]

do u plan to add drag'n'drop based control assignment support as is working in MUX

We have plans to add new features and streamline the way you can do assignments in the future, but I am not sure drag and drop is actually faster than the current "learn mode" that exists in PatchWork (it looks like this actually requires even more steps, doesn' it?).

We're not worthy.

[Blue Cat Audio]

I'm still on 1.74 but keep meaning to upgrade I have some questions though

Please find below some answers:
1. You can now define two paths for your VSTs (in case you have multiple locations - mainly useful on Windows). There is no scanner right now, but you can save your favorite plug-ins to load them directly from the menu, as shown in the getting started video above. There are pros and cons to this approach: the first time you load a plug-in is maybe a bit less convenient, but you do not end up with an overcrowded menu with tons of plug-ins you never use. Also you can save multiple settings for the same plug-in and load the appropriate configuration directly from the menu.

2. Drag and drop has not been implemented yet - but it now has a high priority on our list.

3. Mid/Side encoder and decoder plug-ins are indeed included, so you can transform any sequence of stereo plug-ins into mid-side processing plug-ins inside PatchWork. For crossovers, you may actually want to use the MB-7 Mixer plug-in instead.

[sfxsound3]

Number of ins-outs still not configurable? So why do you insist to NOT give us this option?

[hve]

Awesome update

You seldom see free updates like this with so many new free stuff inside, thanks Blue Cat!

[dreamvoid]

Fantastic update, especially the now sizeable GUI!

[Blue Cat Audio]

Thanks! Glad that you like it!

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I ended up upgrading from 1.74. The GUI resizing alone made it worthwhile and this is a very nice update overall. I have a few suggestions/questions (beyond the two Feature Requests earlier in this thread).

1. By default, I try clicking/double-clicking to open the plugin editor. This opens the menu the instead. It would make more sense to me (not sure if others agree) if right-clicking opened the menu and single left-click opened the plugin GUI. This way, it would behave more like the "Insert Bin" of pretty much every DAW out there where clicking opens the GUI and right=clicking opens the menu. At least offer a Ctrl+Click open to open the GUI with one click.

2. I appreciate having a Pan plugin built in, but I still think a pan knob on the parallel chains would be more efficient and save GUI space.

3. Is there any way to mute a parallel chain? If I have 4 parallel chains and want to mute one of them, it seems I have to solo 3. It would be nice if Alt or Ctrl+clicking could act as a "Solo Inverse" function on the parallel chains. Example: I have 4 chains, and I want to hear what it sounds like with row 2 muted. I Alt+Click the Solo button on row 2 and rows 1, 3, and 4 are now solo'd.

4. Can we rename Assigned Control knobs? Would be nice to be able to right-click a knob and give it a name like "Delay Dry/Wet" instead of "1." I suggest adding a right-click with "Rename" option there.

5. Can we assign multiple plugin parameters to one Control? Can they have different min/max value ranges? This would be a nice feature to have where the Assigned Controls act as macro knobs and could control different ranges of different plugins. If it already exists, it's just not obvious to me how to set this up.

EDIT
6. I was surprised there wasn't a built-in distortion. Not saying it needs one, there's always 3rd party options, but was just surprised there wasn't one.

7. Bug: this works strange with Studio One's new low-latency monitoring mode. With this mode enabled (Green Z on), changes to effects in Patchwork are not audible in realtime. I have to toggle the Green Z mode for the changes to be audible, or keep the Green Z/Low Latency Mode off entirely.

Like I said, it's a really nice update. Most of these are just questions, or small suggestions to improve the workflow even further. Thanks!

[Blue Cat Audio]

Glad that you are happy with the upgrade, and thanks for the comments! Please find below our answers:

1. You can click on the icon at the top right of each slot (window icon) to open the editor with one click. We have indeed though about using a right click, but there is little benefit, and it is actually a pain when using a touch screen.
2. The issue with including a panner is that it would not make sense for the mono or surround modes of the plug-in (it would work only for the stereo version).
3. To mute a chain, just click on the power button at the left of the chain. Much faster than soloing others .
4. There is no renaming function (and there is not much room at the current location of the controls right now), but when the mouse is over the knob, you can read the original name in the LCD screen at the top.
5. Assigned controls are currently limited to a single control, with full range only. We have a couple of ideas to improve parameters mapping in the future (including solutions for 4.), but we cannot bet on future releases yet.
6. The waveshaper built-in plug-in is actually a distortion (its algorithms are borrowed from the Destructor plug-in). Check out the guitar factory presets in PatchWork to give you an idea!
7. Not sure what is going on here - which version of PatchWork are you using by the way? (VST/VST3 or AU?)

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

7. Not sure what is going on here - which version of PatchWork are you using by the way? (VST/VST3 or AU?)

Using the VST2 x64 version in Windows 10 with Studio One 3.5.2. The low latency monitoring mode will bypass any plugins in the monitoring chain with more than 3ms latency, but the chain I was running at the time had less than that.

[Blue Cat Audio]

We have had a deeper look at the low latency monitoring mode: it appears that this is a limitation of Studio One's implementation. Apparently they instantiate a copy of the plug-in in the background and forward changes to this copy that does the processing. BUT they only fprward parameter changes, which does not work for plug-ins inside the plug-in since they are not visible to the host.

[Gosh]

sorry, OT, but will there be a black friday sale from blue cat audio?
thanks