Your plug-ins.
Your chains.
Your whole project.

1. 01

   Open Ultimate Rack

   The first launch scans your plug-ins. Wait for the library to appear. Use Plugin Manager to scan again when needed.

2. 02

   Insert Audio Link on a DAW track

   Insert Budgie Audio Link as an effect on an audio track, an instrument track’s effect chain, or a bus. Confirm that a live Audio Link appears in the app.

3. 03

   Choose the target track

   Switch to DAW Link and select its track. Check the track name above the left Rack. Start with one test track.

4. 04

   Find and add an effect

   Click EQ in the Universe, then click the same tab again to enter the cards. Drag a plug-in into the left Rack. You can also drag from the Shelf or use the card’s add action.

5. 05

   Edit and save

   Click a plug-in’s name or picture in the Rack to open its native editor. Play audio, adjust the effect, and save the DAW project. Rack edits reach Audio Link automatically; no Send command is required.

This manual follows the current release. The macOS baseline is 12.0, with Apple Silicon and Intel support. Audio Link currently provides AU, VST3, and AAX; Windows adaptation is in progress. Check your account for the versions actually available.

Restart the DAW after installation and rescan AU / VST3 if necessary. Third-party effects must be installed, licensed, and compatible with the host architecture on this computer. They are not included with Ultimate Rack.

In licence-enabled builds, Settings → Activate… opens the Ultimate Rack licence page in Budgie Hub. Sign in or activate, then return to Settings and click Check again. Some test builds disable licence checking and display that state. Trial length, download availability, and purchase terms follow the current Hub and website.

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1. 01Scan all + pictures: scan effects and queue image captures.
2. 02Filter by format, category, status or manufacturer.
3. 03Check Category; Format lists recognised formats.
4. 04Search by name, manufacturer or path.

1. 01

   Check the scan locations

   System and user Audio/Plug-Ins folders are scanned by default. Add custom locations in Settings, then run Scan plugins.

2. 02

   Find a missing effect

   Filter Plugin Manager by name, format, and category to inspect the results. The library focuses on audio effects rather than instrument plug-ins.

3. 03

   Choose a preferred format

   When both exist, Settings lets you prefer VST3 or Audio Unit. CLAP metadata may be recognised, but the current Link does not host CLAP.

4. 04

   Correct a category

   Change the category in Plugin Manager or a plug-in’s Universe context menu. Automatic restores automatic classification. Subcategories depend on tag data; every vendor model cannot be assumed to classify perfectly.

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1. 01Select an entry, then use Re-capture selected.
2. 02Retry failed: try failed captures again.
3. 03Resume capture / Pause capture: control the queue.
4. 04Picture: inspect each plug-in’s image status.

Thumbnails come from images shipped with plug-ins, background captures by Thumbnail Helper, and updates when Audio Link opens an editor. A named placeholder appears when no photograph is available; it does not mean the plug-in cannot run.

1. 01

   Enable capture

   Check Use GUI images shipped inside plugins and Auto-capture missing thumbnails in Settings. An isolated helper processes captures one at a time.

2. 02

   Recover a missing image

   Inspect its status in Plugin Manager. Use Retry failed or recapture the selected effect. Complete vendor activation and dismiss first-run dialogs before retrying.

3. 03

   Allow screen capture when needed

   Allow screen capture requests the macOS capture permission needed by some GPU-rendered editors. Follow any system instructions to restart the app.

4. 04

   Manage the cache

   Pause / Resume controls capture work; Open folder reveals the cache. Clear cache removes stored pictures and requires them to be generated again, so use it only when needed.

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1. 01ALL returns to the whole library; Type / Brand changes grouping.
2. 02Search narrows the visible results.

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1. 01EQ is highlighted: this is still the star view.
2. 02The zoom bar controls camera distance.

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1. 01Click the active category again to browse and drag cards.
2. 02The left zoom stop returns to the category cluster; ALL returns to the whole Universe.

1. 01

   Start at ALL

   Type groups colours by effect category; Brand browses by vendor. Each dot represents a plug-in. Counts depend on your local library.

2. 02

   Click EQ once

   EQ stars remain highlighted and the camera focuses on the category while other categories fade. This is still the Universe view.

3. 03

   Click the same category again

   Click EQ again, or click a matching star / press Enter while the category is spotlighted, to enter the card grid. Camera and positions transition smoothly.

4. 04

   Navigate and add

   Use the zoom bar, pinch, or Command + scroll to zoom. Ordinary scrolling moves the view or grid. FIT frames the current range; ALL returns to the complete Universe. Drag cards into the Rack or Shelf; Add to rack is also in the context menu.

Search narrows results by plug-in name, vendor, and related information. Search, category, and favourites affect the candidate set. If an effect seems missing, clear search and return to ALL. Use the favourite control or context-menu action to include frequent choices in the ★ view.

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Open the category order panel with the bottom gear and drag categories to reorder the tabs. Subtype filtering uses the category tab’s context menu, as shown below.

Right-click a bottom category tab such as Compressor to open subcategories with counts. Compressors can be narrowed to VCA, FET, Optical, and other types; EQ can include Parametric, Passive / Pultec, and Mastering. Available entries and counts depend on your local tag data.

1. 01

   Start with a use, then narrow the type

   For a VCA bus compressor, right-click Compressor, check the VCA count, and select it.

2. 02

   Read empty entries and tags

   Entries with a zero count are disabled. Additional tags may also appear, and a plug-in can have multiple tags.

3. 03

   Restore the scope

   All of EQ / All of Compressor restores that whole category. ALL restores the complete library. To change a plug-in’s main category, use its own context menu.

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1. 01Column heading: organise by use; double-click to rename.
2. 02Drag a card into the left Rack to use it on the target track.
3. 03Narrow / Standard / Wide and − / + adjust density.

The Shelf stores plug-in references in columns. Organise them by EQ, compression, reverb, or your own working habits. Placing an effect here does not insert it into a DAW audio chain.

Narrow / Standard / Wide and − / + adjust column width to trade detail for the number of visible tools.

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1. 01Top Default menu: the entire Shelf tool collection.
2. 02Rack presets: the current track’s chain and state.

The Shelf menu provides Default, Factory Presets, User Presets, Load…, Save, Save As…, Save As Default, deletion, and Open Preset Folder. Save your own R&B Vocal or Rock Drums collections with Save As…, then switch through User Presets. A pinned preset menu stays open; unlock it, close it, or press Escape while it has focus to dismiss it.

Use Save rack as preset… for a processing chain. Set this chain as Default makes new tracks start with that chain; Reset Default to an empty chain restores an empty default. Loading a Rack preset changes the current Rack: check the target track and save the existing version first.

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1. 01Shelf dice: fill matching columns with alternative tools.
2. 02Universe dice: choose one effect from the current filtered results.

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For another compressor, select Compressor / VCA before using the Universe dice. For a fresh set of alternatives, save your Shelf first, use the Shelf dice, then drag useful choices into the Rack. Undo can restore the previous organisation.

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1. 01Confirm the target Link is online before editing.
2. 02Click the image or name to open the native editor.
3. 03Drag a card to reorder; Option-drag to copy.
4. 04OUT: return to the rest of this DAW track’s signal path.

1. 01

   Confirm the track

   Check the current target name and live connection before editing.

2. 02

   Add and reorder

   Drag from the Universe or Shelf. Effects run from top to bottom. Reordering existing slots retains their instances and settings.

3. 03

   Open the effect

   Click its name or picture to open the actual editor. The current workflow uses a native floating window for the same instance; manually opening the Link editor first is not required.

4. 04

   Copy to another track

   In DAW Link, drag an effect to another track while holding Option to copy it with settings. Ordinary dragging differs from copying: check the target and insertion point before releasing.

5. 05

   Remove or clear

   A slot’s x removes that effect; Rack Refresh clears the current chain. Save useful chains before replacing them, and use Undo for accidental edits.

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1. 01MIX: wet/dry blend for this effect.
2. 02LR / M / S: channel processing mode.
3. 03B: bypass, keeping the slot and settings.
4. 04Δ: listen to the difference made by this effect.
5. 05SC: enable the native external sidechain input.
6. 06×: remove the effect from this chain.

Audio Link aligns wet and dry paths using reported plug-in latency and reports chain latency to the DAW. Lookahead, oversampling, or mode changes can alter latency. Final behaviour still depends on the host and third-party effect reporting and handling latency correctly.

1. 01

   Route the source in the host

   Logic: use the Side Chain menu above Audio Link. REAPER: send the source to channels 3/4 of the Link track. Cubase / Nuendo: enable Audio Link’s sidechain input, then create a sidechain send from the source track.

2. 02

   Enable SC on the target slot

   Turn on SC for the intended effect in Rack or Audio Link. Play the source and check the help/status indication for incoming audio.

3. 03

   Enable the effect’s native sidechain

   Use an effect with a native sidechain input. SC routes the source to that input. In effects such as Pro-C, also select External internally. The effect’s own parameters control its response to the sidechain.

4. 04

   Listen and confirm

   Compare with B, MIX, and the source enabled/disabled. If no signal arrives, check source playback, the host send, and the target Audio Link instance.

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1. 01Track name: each connected track has its own Rack.
2. 02Effect cards follow processing order.
3. 03PAN: stereo position, with level and peak readouts below.
4. 04Fader and stereo meters; select tracks for group moves.
5. 05M / S: mute and solo.

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1. 01Play: send a play command to the connected DAW.
2. 02Pause.
3. 03Stop.

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DAW Link supports Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Nuendo, Cubase, and REAPER, with more DAWs planned. A second display makes it easier to keep Ultimate Rack and your DAW visible side by side.

The DAW Link page shows tracks that have Budgie Audio Link inserted. Selecting one brings its chain into the left Rack. When host control is connected, selection in the DAW can also drive the app’s focus.

After setup, click Check again in Settings. Test selection follow, level, PAN, and M / S on one track. Logic feedback depends on the current control-surface bank; the Cubase / Nuendo remote script also has a bank-limited range.

Audio Link performs the audio processing inside the DAW. Its plug-in list selects effects in the Rack. The native editor path uses the same effect instance, and closing the manager does not unload the chain. Link’s overall MIX blends the full chain, separately from each slot’s MIX. When host track control is connected, OUTPUT can correspond to the track fader. Check the displayed track level before treating it as a separate gain stage.

Hosted parameters are exposed to the DAW through Audio Link proxy mappings. Touch a parameter in a hosted effect to establish an automation mapping, then use the DAW’s automation recording and editing workflow. The current implementation provides 512 proxy slots. Mappings are saved with the project.

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1. 01Copy the current chain; transfer up to 8 effects to MB Rack.

1. 01

   Select the correct Rack

   Choose the target track in Ultimate Rack and keep its Audio Link connected. Wait for loading and state synchronisation to finish.

2. 02

   Copy the current chain

   Click Copy in the Rack header. Success shows Copied · count. Complete plug-in state is required; resolve any reported failure before continuing.

3. 03

   Paste into MB Rack

   In a compatible version of MB Rack, use Paste in the intended processing chain. A transferred chain contains at most 8 effects; check the destination capacity before pasting.

4. 04

   Check sound and routing

   Confirm order, plug-in state, and output, then use MB Rack’s multiband, serial/parallel, and Macro tools. After copying, the two chains operate independently.

Both products and versions supporting this integration are required. A shared library reduces duplicate scanning; third-party effects still need local installation and licences. Copy Current Rack copies only the current chain, not the entire Shelf or all tracks.

Built-in editor reference: the same effect-family images used in the MB Rack manual. Follow the controls in your installed version. Click any image to enlarge.

The library contains 14 built-in entries under Budgie Audio. Audio Link hosts them internally; drag them into a Rack like other effects. The three Compressor variants belong to one processing family.

For individual processor controls, see the Budgie Essentials section of the MB Rack manual. Follow the interface in your installed version.

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Settings contains language, UI scale and default scale, plug-in folders, preferred format, DAW choice, shortcuts, diagnostics, and licensing. The pin keeps the app on top; sidebar and Universe controls manage visibility. The play, pause and stop buttons above the left Rack control the connected DAW. Turn on ? help and hover for explanations. Help reflects customised shortcuts.

To change a shortcut, click its binding in Settings and press the new combination. Escape cancels; Backspace / Delete clears. Conflicts require explicit reassignment. Reset shortcuts restores defaults. Text inputs and third-party editors may take keyboard focus.

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1. 01History shows recent edits; ⌘Z undoes and ⇧⌘Z redoes.

The DAW project stores Audio Link’s chain, plug-in state, and mappings. The app’s library, Shelf, and preferences are stored locally and separately. App data is under ~/Library/Application Support/Budgie/UltimateRack, with presets in its presets folder. Rack presets use .budgierack; Shelf presets use .budgielanes.

Normal app edits support undo/redo and recent edit history. Do not assume every knob move inside a third-party editor belongs to the app’s edit history; detailed parameter undo depends on the effect and host. Safe writes and backups help protect app data, but still save DAW projects and export important presets regularly.

To move a project, install compatible Audio Link and third-party effects on the destination computer. A missing effect’s retained slot/state supports later recovery; it does not reproduce that effect while the plug-in is absent. Format or version differences can also affect restoration. Export a final audio version on the original machine before transferring important work.

1. 01

   Prepare tools by style

   Create R&B Vocal and Rock Drums Shelves with alternatives organised by type. Save each collection. Switch the Shelf for a new project, then build chains for the actual material.

2. 02

   Break a fixed template

   Narrow Compressor to VCA and pick a random candidate. Try it on a test track, match level, and compare using B and Δ. Save a Rack preset when it works.

3. 03

   Manage the project centrally

   Insert an Audio Link on each track you want to manage. Review track names and chains in DAW Link, Option-copy reusable effects, and adjust faders for explicitly selected track groups.