Features Studio Pricing Docs — Studio Docs — Music Player Docs Blog About

AUv3 Plugins Overview

Homecrate supports AUv3 (Audio Unit version 3) plugins — the same standard used by GarageBand, Logic Pro, and other iOS DAWs. This means any AUv3-compatible app you’ve already purchased will work here.

Plugins come in three types: effects, instruments, and MIDI processors. Each track supports up to 4 plugin slots.

What are AUv3 Plugins?

AUv3 plugins are audio processing extensions built by third-party developers and distributed through the App Store. Examples include:

  • Effects: reverb, delay, EQ, compression, amp simulation (e.g. AmpliTube, ToneStack, Nembrini Audio)
  • Instruments: synthesizers, samplers, drum machines that generate audio from MIDI (e.g. Moog Model D, KORG iMono/Poly, Homecrate Drum)
  • MIDI Processors: chord generators, arpeggiators, pitch correctors that transform MIDI data

You need to have the plugin’s parent app installed on your device for it to appear in Homecrate.

Plugin Slots

Each audio track has 4 plugin slots visible in the mixer strip, labeled with ＋ when empty and with the plugin name when loaded.

[SCREENSHOT: Mixer channel strip showing 4 plugin slots — one loaded, three empty]

Slots are processed in order: audio flows through Slot 1 → Slot 2 → Slot 3 → Slot 4 → main output. This lets you chain effects (e.g. amp sim → cabinet → reverb → delay).

Effect Plugins vs. Instrument Plugins

The slot type affects how audio is routed.

Effect Plugins

[SCREENSHOT: Effect plugin chain — mic input → plugin chain → output]

  • Receive audio from the track’s recordings/clips and process it
  • Are used for tone shaping: amp sims, EQ, compression, reverb, etc.
  • Clips on the track automatically flow through the effect chain at playback
  • The Route Clips to Input option controls whether recorded clips pass through the plugin chain — enabled by default for effect plugins

Instrument Plugins

[SCREENSHOT: Instrument plugin — MIDI track routing to plugin → audio output]

  • Generate audio from MIDI note data rather than a microphone or recorded clips
  • Are used for synthesizers, samplers, drum machines
  • Audio output goes directly to the main mixer — no audio input needed on the track
  • A MIDI track must be routed to the instrument plugin to trigger it. See Instrument Plugins & MIDI Routing.
  • The track’s recording input can be set to Plugin Output to capture the instrument’s audio to a clip

Apple System Plugins

Several high-quality Apple audio units are available even without installing additional apps:

  • AUDelay, AUReverb, AUPitch — classic Apple effects
  • These appear in the Effects category of the Plugin Browser

Performance Considerations

AUv3 plugins run in separate extension processes on iOS. This is by design — it prevents a crashing plugin from taking down your session. However it does mean:

  • Latency increases slightly with each plugin in the chain. Homecrate measures this automatically and compensates during recording. See Latency & Compensation.
  • CPU usage increases with complex plugins, especially neural amp simulations. If you hear dropouts, try increasing the IO buffer size in Audio Settings.
  • Plugins persist between sessions — your loaded plugin state is saved with the project and restored on open.

Supported Plugin Categories

CategoryBrowser TabNotes
EffectsEffectsamp sims, EQ, dynamics, reverb, delay, modulation
InstrumentsInstrumentssynths, samplers, drum machines
MIDI ProcessorsMIDI Processorsarpeggiators, chord tools, pitch correctors
GeneratorsInstrumentssome synths register as generators rather than instruments

Next Steps