Questions and answers

Short answers to what people ask first. Each one links to the page with the details.

Which Macs does it run on?#

An Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or newer) with macOS 12 Monterey or later. One copy of Shadow Rack runs at a time; double-clicking a session opens it in the one that's running.

Is there a Windows version?#

Not yet. Shadow Rack is made for macOS first.

Do I need a Behringer WING?#

No. Rack FX and Rack IEM work with any Core Audio interface, the same way on each. The WING Extension is an add-on for WING owners, sold separately – see WING Extension.

Does it load Audio Units?#

The plugin list only shows VST3 plugins. Almost every plugin also comes as VST3, so pick that version in Setup > Plugins.

What happens if a plugin crashes in the middle of a show?#

Plugins run inside Shadow Rack, so when one crashes, the app goes down with it. Shadow Rack starts again by itself within seconds, with exactly the same rack, and the plugin that caused the crash is switched off, so it can't happen again. A plugin that hangs the audio for 4 seconds is treated the same way. The in-ear mixes run in their own process and keep playing. Details: Crash safety.

How many channels can it run?#

Up to 256 in the rack (channels and New York buses together), on an interface with up to 128 inputs and outputs. In practice your plugins and your Mac decide: watch CPU (AUDIO) in Setup > Audio. Shadow Rack spreads the channels over several of the Mac's cores (up to eight, always leaving one free for macOS). Rack IEM takes up to 16 musicians and 64 sources.

How much latency does it add?#

At 48 kHz with a buffer of 64, the Mac adds 2.67 ms from USB in to USB out (1.33 ms each way). The interface's converters and USB add a little more, and each plugin adds its own delay – many add nothing, linear-phase EQs and lookahead limiters add milliseconds. Shadow Rack shows it all: per plugin, per channel, and the whole loop measured through your desk. See Latency.

Does it need the internet?#

Not during a show. At start the licence is checked on the Mac only, so Shadow Rack starts at once without a network; the check with shadowrack.eu happens afterwards, in the background, and never switches anything off while it runs. A Mac activated online has to see the internet once in 60 days. A Mac activated with files never has to. See Activating Shadow Rack.

How many Macs does one licence cover?#

Three. You activate each Mac once. On each one you can switch modules off in Setup > Licence – say Rack FX on the monitor Mac that only does in-ears. Moving to a new Mac: deactivate the old one first, in Setup > Licence or in My account.

Can Rack FX and Rack IEM run on different Macs?#

Yes. Rack IEM works on its own with any interface – at the monitor desk, for example – or next to Rack FX on the same Mac, where it can take the rack's channels after their plugins. See Modules.

Is there a trial?#

Not at the moment: activation needs a bought licence.

Can I update right before a show?#

Only if the new version is a fix-only one (the last number changed, e.g. 0.5.0 to 0.5.1). Anything with new features: after the show, try it at a rehearsal first. Shadow Rack doesn't update itself – you install a new version when you choose. At the first start after an update the in-ear engine is replaced once, and the in-ears drop out for about a second. See Versions and updates.

Do the musicians need an app?#

No. Each musician scans their code with the phone's camera and their mix opens in the browser, on the same network as the Mac. The phone only controls their own mix; the sound goes to their in-ears through your interface and transmitters as usual. See Phones.

Does distance on the in-ear scene change the sound?#

Not yet. Direction, height and width are heard; how far a source sits from the head only changes the picture. Set its level with the fader.

Are there ready-made knob maps for my plugins?#

No. A controller's knobs turn what you program for each plugin, once, and Shadow Rack remembers it per plugin. The one thing that works without programming: on FabFilter Pro-Q 3 / 4 and Waves F6 the FX knobs follow the EQ band you touch. See MIDI controllers and Setup > MIDI.