Blue Cat Audio’s PatchWork is a plug-in in which you can load up to 64 other plug-ins. How is that useful? Here are five reasons.

1. Easy management and recall of your template plug-in chains
Many mix engineers find they often reuse specific combinations of plug-ins for similar sound sources. For example one template plug-in chain for bass guitar, one for vocals, and another for the master bus. PatchWork makes it easy to manage and recall these plug-in chains—just save a preset and quickly recall it at any time. You can combine any VST, VST3 or AU plug-ins, from any brand.

2. Quickly switch between different plug-ins or plug-in chains
PatchWork allows you to create eight parallel plug-in chains. So for example, you can create one PatchWork preset for bass guitar. In that preset, you add one plug-in chain for picked rock bass, one for present finger-style playing, one for fat reggae bass, one for slapping … and then you simply switch between them depending on the track you’re working on.

In a similar way, you can of course also use PatchWork to make side-by-side comparisons between individual plug-ins. Which compressor plug-in is really the best choice for this particular track? Add your candidates to PatchWork and quickly switch back and forth between them.

3. Create simple or complex plug-in chains with the effects in series or in parallel
PatchWork makes it easy for you to get creative. Not only can you add eight plug-in chains, but you can also run them in parallel and set their relative levels.

4. Combine synths and instruments to create new exciting sounds
This also works with synths and instruments. With PatchWork Synth (included in the purchase), you can add synths and instruments and create entirely new sounds and textures by combining them. Of course, you play them all simultaneously from a single MIDI keyboard or controller.

5. Use identical plug-in chains and settings across different DAWs
Saving your effects or instrument chains in PatchWork as opposed to in your DAW means you can open those plug-in chains independent of the DAW. So if you switch between DAWs depending on your clients’ or collaborators’ preference, or work in different studios, you can always take your PatchWork presets with you and recall them in any DAW.

Excited yet? Go ahead and try out the free demo of PatchWork now.