A processing suite for VCV Rack 2: a 16-band channel vocoder for spectral and vocal work, and a three-head tape echo modeled on 1970s tape delay hardware.
Developer: Jack Arky License: GPL-3.0-only
A 16-band channel vocoder with per-band level faders, an internal carrier oscillator, and extensive CV connectivity. Designed as a dedicated vocal processing instrument.
Highlights:
- 16-band Chamberlin state-variable filter banks (analysis + synthesis)
- Per-band level faders with live LED meters showing spectral energy
- Internal VCO: SAW / PULSE with PWM, automatically normalled to carrier input
- FORMANT control — shifts synthesis bands relative to analysis bands for vowel shaping
- FREEZE — latches all 16 envelope followers at their current values
- 16 per-band CV outputs (envelope follower signals, 0–8V)
- 16 per-band CV inputs with selectable Replace or Sum mode
- EVEN / ODD mix outputs for stereo spreading
- Context menu: band spacing (LIN / MEL / BARK), LFO target, Band CV mode
For full documentation, right-click the module in VCV Rack and select Manual.
A three-head tape echo and reverb combination modeled on the classic tape-based echo/reverb units of the 1970s. Goes beyond a clean delay: tape hysteresis and saturation, wow & flutter, self-oscillating feedback, and a "Tape Age" wear model reproduce the specific imperfections of a physical tape loop.
Highlights:
- 3 fixed tape heads (12-position Mode switch selects taps + reverb)
- Tape hysteresis/saturation feedback loop with measured self-oscillation
- Convolution-based spring reverb, with an optional reverse-follows-Reverse swell
- Tape Age wear model — per-instance random defect layout, HF rolloff, wow/flutter, and dropouts above 50% wear
- Clock sync (patch CLOCK to engage) with note-value divisions and a ±6% Rate nudge trim
- Gang — links Intensity and the rate axis as one performance gesture
- Individual H1/H2/H3 head outputs, plus a feedback-loop Send/Return insert point
- Context menu: Eco mode, machine noise floor, Tape Age presets, Drive tilt, Send/Return routing
For full documentation, right-click the module in VCV Rack and select Manual.
Download the latest .vcvplugin file from the Releases page.
Requirements: VCV Rack 2.x
Requires the VCV Rack 2 SDK.
git clone https://github.com/JackArkyDev/Astravox.git
cd Astravox
export RACK_DIR=/path/to/Rack-SDK
make
make install # installs to your Rack user folderThis plugin incorporates the following third-party code and assets:
- AnalogTapeModel by Jatin Chowdhury — the magnetic hysteresis model used by Tape Echo's tape saturation is adapted from this project. Licensed under GPL-3.0.
- Inter by The Inter Project Authors — used as a UI
typeface. Licensed under the SIL Open Font License 1.1; full license text in
res/fonts/OFL.txt.
Copyright (C) 2026 Jack Arky
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, version 3.
See LICENSE for the full license text.