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Rustortion
What it is
Rustortion is a free guitar and bass amplifier simulator for Linux and Windows. It can operate as a standalone program with JACK, or load into a digital audio workstation as a VST3 or CLAP plugin. Its signal path contains 12 configurable DSP stages, covering preamp, compressor, tone stack, power amp, effects, graphic equalizer, and NAM model loading. Oversampling settings range from 1x through 16x. Impulse-response cabinet simulation is available for guitar and bass. Musicians can save and load presets, switch presets with keyboard shortcuts, record in real time, tune instruments, shift pitch with FFT processing, and use MIDI controllers. Plugin bundles are listed for Linux x86_64, Linux aarch64, and Windows x86_64. The interface supports English and Simplified Chinese. Rustortion is MIT-licensed, experimental, and under active development. Linux use requires PipeWire, JACK support, and a Rust toolchain; there is no macOS build.
For and against
For
- Free MIT-licensed software
- Standalone and VST3/CLAP operation
- Configurable 1x–16x oversampling
- Impulse-response cabinet simulation
- Built-in tuner and MIDI support
Against
- No macOS build
- Experimental, active-development project
- Linux requires PipeWire, JACK, and Rust
- Some plugin builds are not hand-tested
The verdict
Rustortion combines a broad amp-simulation chain with standalone and plugin formats at no cost. Its experimental status, Linux requirements, and lack of macOS support are important constraints.
Who it suits
Rustortion suits guitarists and bassists on Linux or Windows who want standalone or DAW-based amp simulation. It also fits users needing cabinet impulse responses, presets, MIDI control, and recording tools.
Plans and prices
Rustortion
MIT-licensed; standalone and VST3/CLAP builds
Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Audio formats
- It runs standalone with JACK or as a VST3 or CLAP plugin in a DAW.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- The README lists Linux with PipeWire and JACK support and a Rust toolchain as requirements.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Cabinet simulation
- Impulse response cabinet simulation is available for guitar and bass.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Hardware testing
- The project says it has been tested on a Raspberry Pi 4 and a reasonably high-end desktop PC, and that results may vary on other hardware.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- License and maturity
- The project is MIT-licensed, described as experimental and under active development, and says it should be used at the user's own risk.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Localization
- The README lists English and Simplified Chinese UI support.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Other tools
- The feature list includes real-time recording, a built-in tuner, FFT-based pitch shifting, and MIDI controller support.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Platform limitation
- The README says there is no macOS build because plugin signing and notarization require an Apple Developer ID.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Plugin builds
- The release page lists VST3 and CLAP plugin bundles for Linux x86_64, Linux aarch64, and Windows x86_64.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Plugin testing
- The latest release labels Linux x86_64 as tested in a DAW and Linux aarch64 and Windows x86_64 as built in CI but not hand-tested.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Presets
- Users can save and load presets and switch presets with keyboard hotkeys.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Processing
- It offers configurable 1x–16x oversampling and 12 DSP stages, including preamp, compressor, tone stack, power amp, effects, graphic EQ, and NAM model loading.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Rustortion is a low-latency guitar and bass amp simulator built in Rust.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
