Muse Receptor – Hardware VST Plug-in Host

It’s no secret that computers have changed the way we make music, Computers allow us to manipulate audio and MIDI in ways that were previously unimaginable. The downside is that we often spend too much of our time dealing with system problems and less time creating music. Not anymore.

Muse Receptor is a 2U rack-mountable multi-timbral sound and effects module that runs standard VST instruments and effects. It combines the power of a computer with the ease-of-use, portability and reliability of dedicated synth and effects hardware.

Receptor’s intuitive, mixer-like architecture combines up to 16 different audio sources, which can be either internal VSTi instruments or external analog/digital inputs. Each source is then routed through its own inline effects matrix that allows three VST plugins to be configured in every possible parallel/series arrangement. From there, each source is sent to a dedicated mixer channel, where the sound can be further processed by sending it to two dedicated effects busses, each with another fully configurable VST effects matrix. Need more processing? There is yet another VST effects matrix on the master output, for mastering and sweetening effects.

In all, Receptor provides architectural support for as many as 16 simultaneous VSTi instruments and 57 VST effects, while further offering the ability to process external inputs using its front-panel high-Z input, its rear-panel balanced analog inputs, or its S/PDIF digital input.

And, all this effects power can be harnessed through Receptor’s intuitive front-panel interface, with full front panel and MIDI access to millions of internal patch locations. For those who prefer mice to buttons, you can connect a mouse, keyboard and monitor directly to Receptor, or you can network it to your Mac or PC and control it remotely from a window on that machine.

In short, Receptor is the ultimate hardware solution for a software crazy world.