How To Install VCV Rack Ubuntu

VCV Rack
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It works for me :partying_face:

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You’re welcome, I’m glad you got your Rack working :slight_smile:

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Here is a procedure to install VCV Rack on Ubuntu (Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS). It may not be the best way to do it, but it worked for me ;o)

In the following text, replace “MyFolder” with your ID used when connecting on Ubuntu.

Download the VCV Rack Linux zip file :

Depending on your browser, go to the Download directory.

  • /home/MyFolder/Downloads

Double-click on the Zip file. It should extract the content in the same directory. You should have a directory like: “RackFree-2.6.3-lin-x64” In it, you have the distribution of this VCV Rack for this version. Double-click on this directory. Inside, you have the “Rack2Free” directory. This is the directory we are going to copy.

Copy this “Rack2Free” to /home/MyFolder:

  • Open the Terminal.
  • You should be in your home directory (e.g. /home/MyFolder).
  • To be sure, enter: pwd. You should have “/home/MyFolder” as a result.
  • Copy VCV Rack in this directory
    • cp -r Downloads/RackFree-2.6.3-lin-x64/Rack2Free .
    • cp for copy
    • -r recursive copy
    • Downloads/RackFree-2.6.3-lin-x64/Rack2Free: relative path to the source
    • “.”: destination is the current directory
  • Check the copy is ok (e.g. in a File window, you should have the directories and files in “/home/MyFolder/Rack2Free”.

Then we have to install different libraries (i.e. zenity and libjack0). Enter the following commands, still in the Terminal:

  • sudo apt-get install zenity
    • Your password will be asked.
    • sudo: the command will be done as an admin.
    • apt-get install: command to install a library (i.e. package from a depot).
    • zenity: name of the library needed.
  • sudo apt-get install libjack0
    • Same as previous library, but this time, no password is needed.

To check these installations:

  • apt-cache show zenity
  • apt-cache show libjack0

Launch VCV Rack:

  • You can launch it from the Terminal:
    • cd Rack2Free
    • ./Rack
  • Or You can launch it from the File window:
    • Locate /home/MyFolder/Rack2Free
    • Right click on Rack icon
    • Select the menu “Run”

Welcome to VCV Rack!

Then, let’s connect with your account in the Library menu (i.e. email & pwd). You should have now a red dot on the Libray menu, indicating you have to download/update your modules (in case of). So, select “Update all”. Update time depends on your network connection…

These modules will be located here: /home/MyFolder/.local/share/Rack2

  • To go directly in your user folder, or to find it, select: “Help / Open user folder”. .

Last thing, where your future Patches will be?

  • /home/MyFolder/.local/share/Rack2/patches
    • “.local” means this directory is hidden. To see it with the File window, you have to select “See hidden files” menu.
  • An other way to find this location, save a patch from VCV Rack, and you will in this directory!

Hope that will help newcomers like me in Ubuntu! Alain

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As promised. Feel free to check my English, and if this lines are correct… Alain PS: Is there a wiki somewhere here to write small manuals like that, in a collaborative way?

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(former professional technical editor here)

Your English is fine, other than truncated the word “click”, and some extra periods. Perfectly intelligible, so no need to change anything. Nice work!

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Thank you!

“Click” corrected, and itemised list level 2 improved. Some spelling corrections too.

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New corrections (spelling) and layout… Alain

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The script is interesting. Thanks! Alain

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You’re welcome, your write-up is interesting and useful as well :slight_smile:

I hope either your instructions or my scripts help others install Rack under Linux more easily :slight_smile: .

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