Your First Patch

Let's build a simple synthesizer patch from scratch. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a playable synthesizer with an oscillator, filter, envelope, and output.

Completed First Patch The completed first patch

Step 1: Add an Oscillator

Every synthesizer needs a sound source. Let's start with an oscillator.

  1. Right-click on the canvas to open the module browser
  2. Navigate to Sources > Oscillator
  3. Click to add the oscillator

Adding an Oscillator Adding an oscillator from the context menu

The oscillator generates a continuous tone. By default, it produces a sine wave at 440 Hz (the note A4).

Oscillator Settings

  • Waveform: Select between Sine, Saw, Square, or Triangle
  • Frequency: The pitch in Hz (or controlled by V/Oct input)
  • Detune: Fine-tune adjustment in cents

Try changing the waveform to Saw for a brighter, more harmonically rich sound.

Step 2: Add Audio Output

To hear the oscillator, we need to connect it to the audio output.

  1. Right-click on the canvas
  2. Navigate to Output > Audio Output
  3. Click to add the output module

Position it to the right of the oscillator.

Connect the Oscillator to Output

  1. Click on the oscillator's Audio Out port (right side, blue)
  2. Drag to the output's Left input port
  3. Release to create the connection

First Connection Connecting the oscillator to the output

You should now hear a continuous tone! If not, check that:

  • Your audio device is working
  • The output module's Level knob is turned up
  • Your system volume is audible

Stereo Output

For stereo sound, also connect the oscillator to the Right input, or use the Mono input which sends to both channels.

Step 3: Control the Pitch

A synthesizer that plays only one note isn't very useful. Let's add keyboard control.

  1. Right-click > MIDI > Keyboard Input
  2. Position it to the left of the oscillator

Connect Keyboard to Oscillator

  1. Connect the keyboard's V/Oct output to the oscillator's V/Oct input
  2. Connect the keyboard's Gate output (we'll use this later)

Keyboard Connected Keyboard controlling the oscillator pitch

Now press keys on your computer keyboard:

  • Z, X, C, V, B, N, M play notes C through B
  • A, S, D, F, G, H, J play sharps/flats
  • Q-P row plays an octave higher

The oscillator pitch follows your keyboard input!

Step 4: Add an Envelope

Right now, the sound plays continuously. An envelope shapes the sound over time, giving it a beginning and end.

  1. Right-click > Modulation > ADSR Envelope
  2. Position it between the keyboard and output

Envelope Parameters

The ADSR envelope has four stages:

  • Attack: How quickly the sound rises (0 = instant, higher = gradual fade in)
  • Decay: How quickly it falls to the sustain level
  • Sustain: The level held while the key is pressed
  • Release: How quickly the sound fades after key release

Set these initial values:

  • Attack: 10ms (quick start)
  • Decay: 200ms (moderate decay)
  • Sustain: 0.5 (half volume while held)
  • Release: 300ms (gentle fade out)

Connect the Envelope

  1. Connect the keyboard's Gate output to the envelope's Gate input
  2. Connect the envelope's Env output to... we need a VCA!

Step 5: Add a VCA

A VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) controls the volume of a signal. We'll use it to apply the envelope to our oscillator.

  1. Right-click > Utilities > VCA
  2. Position it between the oscillator and output

Connect Everything

  1. Disconnect the oscillator from the output (right-click the cable)
  2. Connect the oscillator's Audio Out to the VCA's Input
  3. Connect the envelope's Env output to the VCA's CV input
  4. Connect the VCA's Output to the audio output's Mono input

VCA Added The patch with VCA and envelope

Now when you press a key:

  • The keyboard sends Gate and V/Oct
  • The envelope responds to the Gate
  • The VCA shapes the oscillator volume based on the envelope

Try adjusting the envelope parameters to change the character of the sound!

Step 6: Add a Filter

Filters shape the harmonic content of a sound by removing frequencies. Let's add a low-pass filter to warm up our tone.

  1. Right-click > Filters > SVF Filter
  2. Position it between the oscillator and VCA

Connect the Filter

  1. Disconnect the oscillator from the VCA
  2. Connect oscillator Audio Out to filter Input
  3. Connect filter Lowpass output to VCA Input

Filter Settings

  • Cutoff: The frequency where filtering begins (lower = darker sound)
  • Resonance: Emphasizes frequencies at the cutoff (creates a peak)

Set cutoff to around 1000 Hz and resonance to 0.3 for a warm, slightly vocal quality.

Filter Added Adding the SVF filter to the signal chain

Step 7: Modulate the Filter (Optional)

For a more dynamic sound, let's make the filter open and close with each note using the envelope.

Add Filter Envelope Control

You can use the same envelope or add a second one:

  1. Connect the envelope's Env output to the filter's Cutoff input

Now the filter cutoff follows the envelope shape:

  • Filter opens during attack
  • Closes during decay
  • Stays partially open during sustain
  • Closes during release

Adjust the Cutoff knob to set the baseline, and the envelope adds movement on top.

Complete Patch Overview

Here's the final signal flow:

[Keyboard] ──V/Oct──> [Oscillator] ──Audio──> [Filter] ──Audio──> [VCA] ──Audio──> [Output]
    │                                            ↑                   ↑
    └───────Gate────> [ADSR Envelope] ───────────┴───────────────────┘

Complete Patch The complete first patch

What You've Learned

  • Adding modules from the context menu
  • Connecting modules by dragging between ports
  • Signal flow: Oscillator → Filter → VCA → Output
  • Control signals: Gate triggers the envelope, V/Oct controls pitch
  • Modulation: Using the envelope to control both VCA and filter

Experimentation Ideas

Try these modifications:

  1. Change the waveform - Saw and Square have more harmonics for the filter to work with
  2. Add an LFO - Connect it to the filter cutoff for a wobbling effect
  3. Increase resonance - Higher resonance creates a more dramatic filter sweep
  4. Adjust envelope - Long attack creates pad sounds, short attack creates plucks
  5. Add reverb - Insert a reverb effect between VCA and output

Next Steps

Now that you've built your first patch: