593 KVR members have added PatchWork to 528 MyKVR groups 700 times.
Download KVR Studio Manager (FREE)
Blue Cat PatchWork is a universal plug-in patchbay and multi-effects processor capable of hosting up to 64 VST, VST3, or Audio Unit (AU) plug-ins within a single instance of a digital audio workstation (DAW). Operating as both an audio effect and a virtual instrument, it provides users with configurable serial and parallel routing configurations. This utility allows for the creation of complex signal processing chains and instrument layers without requiring external routing utilities inside the host DAW.
The software functions via a structured routing grid consisting of input ("Pre") and output ("Post") stages that process plug-ins in series, alongside an intermediary stage containing up to eight parallel chains. Signals can be routed to individual sub-plug-ins with independent gain, solo, phase inversion, and dry/wet balancing controls. For instrument hosting, multiple synthesizers or samplers can be summed or averaged into a single stereo or multichannel output stream (up to 16 audio channels), depending on whether the configuration requires volume aggregation or gain compensation.
Advanced automation and parameters mapping allow internal sub-plug-in parameters to be mapped directly to the host DAW or automated via external hardware MIDI control surfaces. Built-in latency compensation ensures phase alignment across all sub-hosted software, while multicore processing support distributes the computational load of parallel chains across available CPU cores. Additionally, the software acts as a network audio and MIDI processing server when paired with Blue Cat Audio's Connector utility.
{See video at top of page}
Reviewed By Boy Wonder [all]
May 22nd, 2022
Version reviewed: 1.1 on Windows
Patchwork comes in handy as a multi-arpeggiator/sequencer host. With it, I'm able to load two or more instances of an arpeggiated synth like, say, GR-8, and set one synth to random 1/16 (high register), the other to random 1/4 (middle) and the third to random 1/1 (low), and viola! - instant complex ambient sequence. Latency compensation comes in handy, too, to prevent things like time shift. Very nice product.
Great support, numerous updates that actually improve the product rather than fix it. I had some problems to begin with but customer service @Bluecat came through & I'm blown away by the development of this product. I just realized I left a rant on here from years ago & felt the need to put the record straight. Great job Blue Cat.
I've had this baby for a long time. I've used it as a wrapper in Protools, Logic and Bitwig and lately as a Standalone VST host on my second PC and in live situations. It's the kind of tool that you at first wish you didn't need, that works in the background and that you just set and forget. All these different plugin standards are really annoying and even if this is a solution It's hard to get very excited about it, until now.
The latest version 2.1 is fantastic. Built in effects, metering, undo/redo, M/S, PatchWork within PatchWork!!, scaleable GUI to 200%, lockable GUI and settings between presets. Add to that full MIDI control and that everything, even window states and positions are saved within presets and you've got a winner. The new preset handling especially is what makes this update so exciting.
This has grown into a full fledged creative tool and the core of my setup. Working with several DAWs I can now set it up as a channel strip and move freely between DAWs like never before. It loads every plugin format on Mac and PC, can be loaded as every format and works as Standalone.
From being a bridge between plugin formats Blue Cat has improved on this concept and taken it beyond what I thought it could be. It's stable, easy on the CPU, easy to use and even though it's not perfect I have to give it a 10 just to let you know how incredibly useful it is. There is nothing quite like it at the moment, highly recommended.
This could be a big answer for those who switch between multiple DAWs for clients but want access to complex programming of instruments and effects easily. I use Logic X, Cubase 7.5, Live 9 (all Mac) and Samplitude/Sequoia (PC). I'll get back once I can play with it in my various rigs and see if presets can work well, especially on different OSes.
THIS POST HAS BEEN REMOVED
We are sorry that you feel ripped off. I you had purchased the plug-in from us we could have issued a refund, but we do not have control over the other resellers you may purchase the software from.
I removed the original post because all my issues were resolved & I thought my comments were unfair. I've written a new review (above).
Thanks! Glad that it finally made you happy.
Sorry for a nuubi question but I'm a bit confused. I recently saw a post in Pro Tools Expert that claimed the Empirical Labs Dstressor plug-in (RTAS 32) would run in PT 11 inside Patchwork. If that runs, will Auto-Tune_Evo_RTAS also run inside patchwork in PT 11? Thanks! Bill.
Yes, it seems you are a bit confused: Blue Cat's patchwork adaptor allows running VST and AU plugin types "as" AAX/AAX64 (PT 10/11) and in other types of hosts / DAWs. It is not a RTAS -> AAX64 adaptor. Means; sou are able to run the VST and/or AU version of Antares AutoTune in Pro Tools 11, but not the RTAS version.
but: The current AutoTune is available as AAX64 too - needs no adaptor to run it in PT 10 and 11 and if you have a AutoTune license afaik you are allowed to download and run each of the plugin variants. If you have an older license you may choose the VST or AU version of your AutoTune version to use it within Patchwork. So it is not clear what's your real problem here ß)
Thanks for replying.
Sorry for an ignorant question but i wonder whether Patchwork can input audio independent of the host DAW? I'd like to use it as a VST in Synfire, a strange program that has no audio input routing. Many thanks...B.
Blue Cat's PatchWork does not have external MIDI or Audio inputs. It is designed to only get the audio and MIDI data from the host application.
ok thanks for the quick reply! B.
I really appreciate its stability! I have created many presets with cross-platform plugins that would be otherwise unusable, and never had a crash. Yes I wish the workflow was a bit faster -- but the extra time I spend navigating to plugin folders is much less than the time I would waste from a single crash. Some people want more knobs, but I don't like visual clutter. Overall, a must-have product with exemplary coding.
Hi. I installed it. Works fine as a standalone app, but I could manage to see it under pro tools. I have a Mac mini with M2 processor a Pro Tools 2024. Any help pls?
Could be the answer to the DDMF MetaPlugin: I'll benchmark again this demo version (hopefully it allows to demo it again as I demoed earlier versions already): previous version was using more CPU per plugin maybe now it's BC Patchwork that wins!
Love developers that seriously care about performance, which is critical for me for live performance and recording, keep on the good work.
Please log in to join the discussion
Submit: News, Plugins, Hosts & Apps | Advertise @ KVR | Developer Account | About KVR / Contact Us | Privacy Statement | Sell @ KVR | KVR Marketplace Terms & Conditions
© KVR Audio, Inc. 2000-2026
