bitcrust brings the gritty, 8-bit character of classic SID chips into a modern 12-voice polyphonic environment. It moves beyond simple chiptune emulation — a three-oscillator architecture with hard sync and ring modulation sits at the core, and vintage and modern oscillator modes let you move from authentic retro gaming leads to thick, contemporary arp basses. Two selectable chip models (6581 and 8580) give you the tonal difference between the two main SID hardware revisions. The app is a universal iPad and macOS purchase; iPhone is not supported.
The workflow revolves around an 8-slot modulation matrix, three global LFOs, and a 6-slot FX rack with bitcrushing, tempo-synced delay, and drive. The FX slots are drag-to-reorder, which keeps mixing in effects practical. In AUM, the raw digital character cuts through dense mixes without additional processing. The interface offers 14 themes including Amiga Workbench and Driftwood skins, and the 113-preset factory library covers a wide range of the engine’s tonal range. A note on the initial release: early users report that AUv3 dropdown menus currently have usability issues — adding new LFOs or changing sequencer rates inside an AUv3 host is difficult. The standalone app does not have this problem. Worth watching for an update if AUv3 plugin workflow is your primary use case.
Key features:
- 12-Voice Polyphony: Three oscillators per voice — triangle, saw, pulse, and noise
- SID-Style Filter: Global VCF with LP/BP/HP modes and selectable 6581 and 8580 chip models
- Deep Modulation: Three global LFOs, per-voice modulation envelope, 8-slot matrix with polyphonic aftertouch
- 6-Slot FX Rack: Drag-to-reorder — bitcrusher, tempo-synced delay, chorus, reverb, and five drive modes
- Visual Customization: 14 UI themes and 113 factory presets
- Universal: iPad and macOS standalone and AUv3 (iPhone not supported)
App price: $1.99. No in-app purchases.
Original release: April 23, 2026 | Latest update: April 23, 2026
