================================================================
 SQUELCRUDE  v1.2.0
 Acid Bass Synthesizer / Tonecraft Tokyo
================================================================

* Overview

A monophonic acid bass synthesizer specialized in squelchy,
rolling TB-303 style basslines.

  - Filter with aggressive resonance and an acid envelope
  - Expressive performance with slide and accent
  - 16-step sequencer with customizable key and scale
  - Step cutoff lane for drawing brightness per step
  - MORPH feature to save two patches and blend between them
  - 32 factory presets (8 each for ACID, BASS, LEAD, and FX)

In addition to basslines, it can also be used for leads, drones,
and wild sound effects.


* Requirements

  OS               Windows 10 / 11 (64bit)
                   macOS 11 or later (Apple Silicon / Intel)
  Format           Windows: VST3 plugin / Standalone
                   Mac: VST3, AU plugin / Standalone
  Supported DAWs   DAWs supporting VST3 or AU
                   (Tested in Ableton Live)
  Polyphony        Monophonic (1 voice at a time)
  Sample rate      44.1 kHz - 192 kHz
  Window size      1100 x 864 px
                   (UI scale switchable: 75% / 85% / 100%)

A slight latency is introduced for audio quality, but it is
automatically reported to your DAW so recording alignment is
preserved.


* Installation (Windows)

[Using as a VST3 Plugin]

  1. Extract this ZIP file.
  2. Copy the SQUELCRUDE.vst3 folder directly to the following
     location:

       C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\

  3. Launch your DAW and perform a plugin rescan.

  * If you copy files while your DAW is running, changes may not
    take effect. In that case, close your DAW before copying.

[Using as Standalone]

  Launch SQUELCRUDE.exe directly. No installation is required.
  Audio device and MIDI input settings are required on first launch.


* Installation (Mac)

  1. Extract this ZIP file.
  2. To use as plugins, copy SQUELCRUDE.vst3 and SQUELCRUDE.component
     to the following locations respectively:
     (~ represents your user home folder. You can open it by pasting
     the path into Finder: Go -> Go to Folder. Create the folder if
     it does not exist.)

       SQUELCRUDE.vst3      -> ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
       SQUELCRUDE.component -> ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/

     To use as standalone, copy SQUELCRUDE.app to the Applications
     folder.
  3. Open Terminal (Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal), paste the
     following lines one by one, and press Return. You can skip lines
     for formats you do not use:

       cd ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins
       xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine VST3/SQUELCRUDE.vst3
       xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine Components/SQUELCRUDE.component
       xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/SQUELCRUDE.app

     If nothing is displayed, it succeeded. If you do not run this,
     macOS will show messages like "is damaged and cannot be opened"
     or "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified",
     and the DAW will not load the plugin (and the app will not
     launch). This command only removes the quarantine attribute
     that macOS attaches to downloaded files (you need to run it
     again when updating or reinstalling).
  4. Launch your DAW and perform a plugin rescan.
     (If the AU plugin does not appear in Logic Pro or other DAWs,
     restart your Mac.)

  Audio device and MIDI input settings are required on first launch
  for the standalone application.


* Uninstallation

  [Windows]
  Delete the C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\SQUELCRUDE.vst3
  folder.

  If you also want to completely remove settings and user presets,
  delete the following folder:

    %APPDATA%\Tonecraft Tokyo\SQUELCRUDE\

  [Mac]
  Delete the copied SQUELCRUDE.vst3, SQUELCRUDE.component, and
  SQUELCRUDE.app. If you also want to remove settings and user
  presets, delete ~/Library/Tonecraft Tokyo/SQUELCRUDE/ as well.


* Quick Start

  1. Load SQUELCRUDE onto an instrument track in your DAW.
  2. Select a preset from the preset bar at the top of the window.
     Start by trying "01 ACID RIFF 303".
  3. Play notes in a lower register (around C1 - C3).
  4. Turn CUTOFF and RESO in the FILTER section to shape the
     characteristic acid squelch.
  5. To create phrases automatically, press SEQ ON in the SEQUENCER
     section at the bottom, press RANDOM, and then hold down a key.

  To match the key of your song, set ROOT / KEY to "KEY" in the
  SEQUENCER section, and adjust KEY and SCALE to match your song.

  If the window is too large, right-click the background to select a
  UI scale from 75% / 85% / 100%.


* Using MORPH

  Located at the top of the window, to the right of the hint display
  (InfoBar). This feature allows you to save two patches and smoothly
  blend between them.

  1. Create a sound and press A (the purple LED lights up).
  2. Load another preset or tweak the sound.
  3. Press B (the pink LED lights up).
  4. Move the slider to morph between A and B, moving the controls
     along with it.

  - The slider does not take effect until both LEDs are lit.
  - Pressing a lit button again clears that snapshot.
  - Only continuous tone-shaping controls move. Stepped selectors
    (such as waveforms) and SEQUENCER settings do not move.
  - A and B snapshots are saved with your DAW project. They are not
    included in presets.


* Shaping Brightness per Step (MOD Lane)

  Switch the view using the NOTE / MOD buttons under VIEW in the
  SEQUENCER section.

  1. Switch to MOD.
  2. Drag steps up or down to draw brightness adjustments. Drag
     horizontally to draw continuously across steps. Double-click
     a step to reset it to neutral (no modulation).
  3. Adjust CUT DEPTH (the rightmost knob in the SEQUENCER row) to
     determine how strongly the drawn curve affects the sound.

  * If CUT DEPTH is set to 0, drawing in the lane will not change
    the sound. Turn up CUT DEPTH first.

  The drawn lane data is saved with your DAW project. Pressing RANDOM
  does not erase the lane.


* About First-Launch Warnings

  [Windows]
  Because the software is not code-signed, Windows SmartScreen may
  display a warning on first launch. Click "More info" and then
  select "Run anyway" to proceed.

  [Mac]
  Run the command in Step 3 of Installation (Mac). Do the same when
  updating or reinstalling.


* Frequently Asked Questions

  Q. Sound is produced even when OSC A and OSC B levels are set to 0.
  A. SUB is an independent sound source. Please set the SUB level to 0
     as well.

  Q. Sound continues playing even after releasing the keys.
  A. When RESO is turned all the way up, the filter self-oscillates
     and continues producing sound even without input (by design).
     Turn RESO down.

  Q. Changing presets does not change sequencer settings.
  A. This is by design. Presets store tone settings, while the
     sequencer stores performance settings. Switching presets during
     playback will not interrupt the running phrase.

  Q. The sequencer phrase does not match the key of my song.
  A. Switch ROOT / KEY to "KEY", and set KEY and SCALE to match your
     song. If kept on "ROOT", the played note is treated directly
     as the tonic.

  Q. Drawing in the MOD lane does not change the sound.
  A. CUT DEPTH is set to 0. Please turn up CUT DEPTH.

  Q. Moving the MORPH slider does not change anything.
  A. Both A and B LEDs must be lit. If only one snapshot is saved,
     there is no target to morph toward, so nothing happens.

  Q. Moving MORPH does not move SEQUENCER knobs.
  A. This is by design. MORPH only controls continuous tone-shaping
     knobs. SEQUENCER settings and stepped selectors (such as
     waveforms and filter types) are excluded.

  Q. Can MORPH be automated in a DAW?
  A. Yes. MORPH movements can be recorded and automated directly, and
     the on-screen knobs move during playback. However, if you also
     automate individual knobs controlled by MORPH, those knobs will
     receive competing automation from two sources. Please use one
     or the other.

  Q. Turning DENSITY erases manually edited steps.
  A. This is by design. Turning DENSITY, ACCENT, or SLIDE regenerates
     the phrase on the fly. Please make manual edits after setting
     the general feel with these knobs.

  For other usage instructions, please see the bundled
  SQUELCRUDE_Manual.html.


* Notes

  - This product is distributed free of charge (freeware) as-is,
    without support.
  - The source code is closed source.
  - The copyright of this product belongs to Tonecraft Tokyo.
  - Modification, reverse engineering, redistribution, and resale
    are prohibited. Please obtain downloads only from the official
    Tonecraft Tokyo website and Gumroad.
  - Free to use for both commercial and non-commercial purposes.
  - This product uses JUCE.


* Disclaimer

  - This product is provided "AS IS", without warranty of any kind,
    express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability,
    fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement of
    third-party rights.
  - Tonecraft Tokyo is not liable for any damages arising from the use
    of, or inability to use, this product, including but not limited
    to loss or corruption of project files or audio data, equipment
    malfunction, lost working time, or lost profits.
  - Operation is not guaranteed for every combination of DAW,
    operating system, and hardware.
  - Specifications may change, and the product may be discontinued,
    without notice.
  - Use this product at your own risk. Back up your projects before
    important work.


* Feedback

  We welcome your feedback and impressions.

    info@tonecraft.blue-x.tokyo

  We cannot promise individual support. However, your feedback will
  be used as reference for future product development.


* Distributed by

  Tonecraft Tokyo
  https://www.tonecraft.blue-x.tokyo/en/plugins/squelcrude

================================================================
 (C) 2026 Tonecraft Tokyo. All rights reserved.
================================================================
