VCV Rack continues to offer a steady stream of free modules, with the latest addition being Bastl Instruments’ versatile Crust drum voice. For those looking for a new sonic playground, this is an exciting opportunity to explore—whether it’s for a quick distraction or a long-term creative dive.
Bastl’s Crust drum voice, a companion to their Pizza FM/waveshape oscillator, has been a sought-after module, and now it’s available for free. The module offers a rich set of features that makes it an enticing option for users, particularly those who are hesitant about purchasing new gear. As with many free VCV Rack modules, Crust offers a great opportunity to experiment without financial commitment, and for those considering buying hardware, it serves as an excellent advertisement for the hardware version.
The Crust drum voice is packed with exploration potential. It is a layered drum voice that combines a noise source with dual oscillators, allowing users to fade between tones or shape sounds toward more body-focused or transient-heavy timbres. A built-in shaper, which connects to the Pizza module, adds further texture, while clip distortion phase provides even more sonic depth. The module also features flexible modulation, control, and patching options, including an envelope out, making it suitable for both VCV Rack patches and live performances, just like the hardware version.
The software version of Crust functions identically to the hardware module, so users can reference the hardware video manual for guidance.
This release adds to an already impressive collection of drum and percussion modules available for VCV Rack users. Alongside Crust, there are numerous original creations from developers like Vult, Hora, SV Modular, and AS, as well as a full range of modules from VCV Rack itself. Users can also find hardware recreations from companies like Befaco, ALM/Busy Circuits, and Erica Synths. For example, the Tyso-Daiko module, though similar in concept to Crust, offers a distinctly different sound, making it worth exploring and even purchasing for users who are particularly drawn to that type of sound design.
Additionally, free modules from 4ms, including the Drum module and the FAUST-based Djembe, are available. While some users have reported issues with modulation input on the 4ms modules, particularly after receiving a tip from Jim Aikin, investigations into these issues are ongoing.
In other recent VCV Rack developments, Venom has updated their offerings with a polyphonic crossfader, the ability to use a mouse as a CV source, and a Mutable Instruments Blinds-inspired polyphonic VCA/mixer, among other updates, further enhancing the flexibility and functionality of the platform.
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