VCV Rack creator Andrew Belt (who was featured in a recent interview) today announced a new collaboration with Mutable Instruments creator Émilie Gillet on a project that promises to let you preview new hardware synth modules as software.

Here’s how it works:

Mutable Instruments creates a new module design , like its recently introduced Plaits Macro Oscillator. MI keeps the source code closed for the first run of the module, to help ensure a successful initial run and to protect dealers from cancelled orders.

, like its recently introduced Plaits Macro Oscillator. MI keeps the source code closed for the first run of the module, to help ensure a successful initial run and to protect dealers from cancelled orders. VCV and Mutable Instruments create a VCV Rack version of the new module and make it available via the Audible Instruments Preview plugin. This allows users to try it out in software form, within the free modular platform VCV Rack.

of the new module and make it available via the plugin. This allows users to try it out in software form, within the free modular platform VCV Rack. After several months, the source code is released. This allows derivative works to be created of the new module design, including hardware clones and free software versions.

The collaboration means that:

Hardware modular owners get an inexpensive way to test-drive a new hardware module; and

Software modular users can get early access to new hardware module designs.

Pricing and Availability

The Audible Instruments Preview plugin is available now for US $20 and includes the VCV Rack version of the Plaits module.

Belt says that they don’t intend to profit from the fee, but they’re charging to limit widespread distribution until each module is mature enough to be merged into the standard ‘Audible Instruments’ line of free Mutable Instruments clones. 80% of sales are donated to the Direct Relief Humanitarian Medical Aid charity organization.

What do you think of this new collaboration? Would you like to see more developers of digital modules make their new designs available to preview in VCV Rack?