VCV Rack is a free and open-source cross-platform software modular synthesizer.
VCV Rack is a free open-source virtual modular synthesizer: multiple modules can be connected to synthesize a sound. By default, the software contains several VCOs, LFOs, mixers, and other standard synthesizer modules. However, more can be added as plugins through the VCV Rack website.
Version 1.0.0 added a stable API, a multithreading engine and support for polyphonic signals.
Version 2.0.0 was officially announced in September 2021 and released on November 30, 2021.
In addition to the above features, VCV Rack can also connect to other hardware and software by outputting analog CV/gate and digital USB or MIDI signals. The software can also connect to other VST plugins though the module "host". The ability to use VCV Rack itself as a VST plugin within other audio applications was added upon the release of Rack 2.0.
What is VCV Rack?
VCV Rack by VCV is open-source Windows software in the audio editors & daw category. It ranks 15th by popularity among audio editors & daw in this catalogue. It is written in C++. Besides Windows, it is available for GNU/Linux and macOS.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit Windows. The main installer is 15.5 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.6.4, released on November 20, 2024. The version history goes back to March 30, 2021: 7 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 1.9 releases a year. The last update is more than a year old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 6,849 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 5 of our languages. Similar programs include Audacity, MuseScore and LMMS.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Also runs on GNU/Linux and macOS
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
- No update for more than a year
In short: VCV Rack is an open-source audio editors & daw tool for 64-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is VCV Rack safe to download?
- The file is served by vcvrack.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
3B5BE116598E6B50CB178B0AC2315061FE75F444A5472B5506281223E174726E· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 7 versions ›7 versions over 4 years · about 1.9 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6.4Latest | November 20, 2024 | 15.5 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.6.0 | November 20, 2024 | 6.7 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.5.2 | May 9, 2024 | 6.0 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.4.1 | August 24, 2023 | 5.8 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.3.0 | March 8, 2023 | 5.7 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.0.3 | December 19, 2021 | 5.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.1.6 | March 30, 2021 | 4.9 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id VCVRack.VCVRack -echoco install vcvrack -yRackFree-2.6.4-win-x64.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask vcv-rackInformation
- Publisher
- VCV
- Category
- Audio editors & DAW
- Licence
- GPL-3.0-only with VCV Rack Non-Commercial Plugin License Exception
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com
- Written in
- C++
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- GNU/Linux, macOS
- Version
- 2.6.4
- Released
- November 20, 2024
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 7
- Updates / year
- 1.9
- Chocolatey downloads
- 6,849
- Website
- vcvrack.com
- winget ID
- VCVRack.VCVRack
- Chocolatey package
- vcvrack
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is VCV Rack free?
Yes. VCV Rack is open-source software under the GPL-3.0-only with VCV Rack Non-Commercial Plugin License Exception licence.
Is VCV Rack safe to download?
The download comes from vcvrack.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install VCV Rack with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can VCV Rack be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does VCV Rack run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of VCV Rack?
The versions page lists all 7 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
What are alternatives to VCV Rack?
Audacity, MuseScore, LMMS, REAPER and Bespoke Synth. The alternatives page compares them.
