DLC
Instruments Pack Guide
Learn all 10 instruments, how to craft them, and how to connect MIDI keyboards to play live music in Rust.
Learn all 10 instruments, how to craft them, and how to connect MIDI keyboards to play live music in Rust.
The Instruments Pack adds ten playable musical instruments to Rust, making the game a legitimate music creation platform. Connect real MIDI keyboards for live performance. Record tracks and loop them through speakers. Build a band with friends or create a solitary music studio on your base. This pack appeals to musicians, creative players, and music-focused servers.
Canbourine - A percussion shaker with bright, crisp tone. Light and portable conceptually, though all instruments behave identically mechanically. Excellent for rhythmic backing and percussion layers in any genre. Good starting instrument for learning the controls.
Cowbell - Classic percussive hit with sharp metallic sound. Adds groove and drive to live performances or recordings. Works as rhythm keeper or accent instrument. Popular for adding emphasis to song structures.
Jerry Can Guitar - An acoustic guitar made from a jerry can, reflecting Rust's survival aesthetic. Twangy, rustic tone that fits survival and rustic base aesthetics perfectly. Excellent for melodic lines and acoustic arrangements.
Junkyard Drum Kit - A full percussion kit crafted from scrap materials. Provides tunable kicks, snares, and cymbals. Central instrument for rhythm and timekeeping. Requires the most hand dexterity to play effectively across multiple drum pads.
Pan Flute - A wind instrument with warm, ethereal tones. Melodic and atmospheric, great for ambient music and lofi beats. Perfect for creating peaceful, cinematic underscore for your base ambiance.
Plumber's Trumpet - Brass instrument built from pipes with warm, bold tones. Adds body and presence to any arrangement. Works well for melodic lines or harmonic accompaniment. Strong projection makes it suitable for performances.
Shovel Bass - A bass instrument with deep, resonant tones. Anchors melodies and provides the foundation of any song. Essential for creating full-sounding compositions. Lowest range instrument in the pack.
Sousaphone - Large brass instrument with warm, tubular bass sounds. Adds richness and depth to orchestral arrangements. Similar range to Shovel Bass but with different tonal character.
Wheelbarrow Piano - Percussion keyboard instrument with metallic, bright tones. Acts as a full harmonic instrument alongside melodies. Provides both melodic and harmonic capabilities. Unique tonal character stands out in arrangements.
Xylobones - Wooden percussion mallet instrument with bright, playful tones. Great for rhythmic patterns and melodic fills. Works well layered with other instruments for texture.
All instruments require metal fragments, wood, and cloth. Exact recipes vary by instrument tier. Higher-tier instruments need more components. Craft them at a workbench or crafting table once you unlock the blueprint. Most instruments take between 5-15 seconds to craft depending on tier and workbench level.
Ingredient requirements scale with workbench tier. Level 1 workbenches craft lower-tier instruments faster. Level 3 workbenches craft all instruments efficiently. Have adequate materials before starting large-scale recording projects.
Place instruments on tables, shelves, beds, or the ground. They occupy floor space but require no power or fuel. Arrange multiple instruments in a room to create a band setup or music studio aesthetic. Stack instruments efficiently or spread them across multiple rooms based on your layout preference.
All instruments are fully playable without MIDI equipment. Bind standard note ranges (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) to any keyboard keys. Bind sharp and octave modifier keys to expand your playable range to over 20 notes on some instruments. This makes keyboard control viable for learning and casual play.
Playing without MIDI requires memorizing key bindings and developing finger dexterity on your standard computer keyboard. It is slower and less intuitive than MIDI but entirely functional. Casual players get satisfying results without expensive equipment.
Connect a MIDI keyboard to your computer via USB. Launch Rust and equip an instrument. The game automatically detects MIDI input from connected devices. Play your keyboard and hear sounds in real-time through the game. No additional setup or configuration needed beyond plugging in the device.
MIDI support is disabled by default. Enable it in the experimental options section of game settings. Once enabled, both keyboard controls and MIDI input work simultaneously.
Multiple players can play different instruments simultaneously on the same server. Form a live band with teammates. Each player controls their own instrument. This creates genuine musical collaboration experiences within Rust.
MIDI support transforms Instruments Pack from a novelty to a legitimate music creation tool. Serious musicians can compose complex arrangements, perform live for audiences, and record high-quality performances.
Rust includes a built-in recording system. Press the record button while playing to capture your performance. Save the file and play it back later or share with teammates. Recorded tracks loop continuously when placed on a boom box or speaker system.
Recording quality depends on your system performance and audio settings. Export recordings as MP3 or WAV for maximum compatibility and easy sharing. Store backups of important recordings in cloud storage or external drives.
Some servers maintain music libraries. Archive community-created content from all wipes. Create soundtracks for your server's highlights and memorable events. Music archives preserve server culture and musical achievements.
Music Studios - Dedicate a large room in your base to musical instruments. Arrange them in a setup resembling a real studio. Place workbenches nearby for convenient access. Create acoustic treatment with barricades and rugs for visual realism.
Nightclubs and Entertainment Venues - Combine instruments with the Voice Props Pack for disco lights and dance gestures. Host live performances on your server. Musicians play on stage while dancers use the disco floor. Boom boxes play recorded tracks between live sets.
Recording Sessions - Form a band with teammates and record original songs, covers, or instrumental arrangements. Save recordings to your library. Share with server community or use in video content.
Base Ambiance - Place a few instruments scattered throughout your base for creative atmosphere. They do not need to be functional, just present for aesthetics and roleplay. Conveys that musicians occupy the base.
Roleplay Servers - Music is core to roleplay experiences. Instruments enhance taverns, hotels, event spaces, and entertainment venues. Create musician NPCs and musical events. Roleplay as band members or music instructors.
Learn the layout of each instrument before attempting complex performances. Some instruments play best in particular octaves. Pan Flute excels for melodies. Shovel Bass provides foundation. Junkyard Drum Kit keeps time. Build your band with complementary instruments.
Test MIDI sensitivity settings. If your keyboard input feels laggy or unresponsive, adjust input settings in your MIDI device driver or game settings. Lower latency makes playing easier and more enjoyable. USB hubs and extensions can cause latency issues.
Create backup recordings of your best performances. Rust updates sometimes affect audio systems or game mechanics. Saved files preserve your work if issues occur. Store backups outside the game directory.
Practice basic songs before attempting complex compositions. Start with simple melodies using a single instrument. Gradually add layers and complexity. Familiarity with your chosen instruments makes performance significantly easier.
Consider your server's musical preferences. Some communities enjoy lofi and ambient music. Others prefer upbeat or energetic compositions. Match your content to your audience's taste for better reception and engagement.
Place instruments in a layout matching your MIDI keyboard or standard keybinds. Put melodies on the right, drums on the left, bass in the middle. This makes playing by ear easier and more intuitive. Muscle memory develops faster with organized layouts.
The Instruments Pack works perfectly with the Voice Props Pack. Install boom boxes near instruments for playback. Use cassette recorders to record live instrument performances. Add disco floors, lasers, and lights for nightclub atmospheres. This combination creates fully functional entertainment venues on your base.
Host live concerts combining both packs. Musicians perform on instruments while dancers use the disco floor. Boom boxes and cassette recorders create a complete entertainment experience that attracts server players to your base for events.
Streamers and video creators benefit greatly from the Instruments Pack. Create unique content around base building with musical accompaniment. Record lofi background music for building montages. Showcase your musical skill in streams. The content is inherently unique and engaging.
Rust music content attracts viewers interested in both gaming and music. Highlight your best performances. Create music channels on platforms like YouTube. The Soundtrack DLC provides official tracks; Instruments Pack enables original content creation.
Highly recommended for musicians, creative players, and music-focused server communities. The MIDI support makes this a legitimate music creation tool within Rust. For casual players without musical interest, it remains a nice optional cosmetic. The pack enhances roleplay immensely on music-focused servers. Frequently discounted during Steam events, improving value significantly.