sound design

Shaping raw oscillators and noise into drums, basses, textures, and full soundscapes.

Close-up of an orange knob on a Eurorack module with blue sine waves drawn over it

3 min read

Through-zero FM: an interactive guide

See what happens to a carrier when the modulator takes its frequency below zero, with an interactive visualization.

Close-up of the Korg Phase 8's row of metal resonating bars

3 min read

Korg phase8: sound design you can touch

Korg’s phase8 starts sound with prongs you can pluck and shape, making it feel more like an electro-acoustic instrument than a typical polysynth.

Piston Honda MkIII dual wavetable oscillator module with orange knobs and a small display

4 min read

Better wavetables for the Piston Honda MkIII

An in-depth look at why wavetable structure matters on the Piston Honda MkIII, and how stock table organization shapes scanning, modulation, and playability.

Close-up of gold-ringed jacks on a Eurorack panel with band pass symbols

4 min read

Stop ignoring band pass filters

Band pass filters cut clutter, add motion, and unlock formant tones. Stop ignoring them, they’re tools for clarity, not throwaway extras.

Close-up of a mixing console with knobs, faders, and level meters

8 min read

Muddy mix? Carve space for every voice

Stop your modular mix from turning into pudding. Simple filter tweaks, smarter dynamics, and controlled reverb bring clarity and punch back.

Misty forest with green ferns and tall trees

13 min read

Synthetic wilderness: recreating nature sounds

Learn how to recreate natural textures like wind, rain, and birdsong on your modular synth.

Close-up of Eurorack faders and knobs in pink lighting

21 min read

Waveforms 101: an intro to squiggly lines

Explore the structures of triangle, square, and sawtooth waveforms. Learn how frequency and amplitude can impact timbre.

Befaco Crush Delay Eurorack module with a large orange knob and Time control

9 min read

Befaco Crush Delay: a gloriously glitchy delay

Transform your sounds with the Befaco Crush Delay—a digital delay module with a twist of glitchy chaos. Perfect for adding gritty, experimental textures.

Close-up of Eurorack knobs and jacks in warm light with arrows printed on the panel

13 min read

Ring modulation: from Daleks to X-Wing pilots

Explore how ring modulation creates rich, inharmonic textures, from bell-like tones to metallic sounds, with patch examples and top module recommendations.

Doepfer A-130-8 module with a grid of jacks lying on a wooden surface

10 min read

The versatile VCA: more than volume

Discover the versatile uses of VCAs beyond volume control. Learn how they shape sound, manage amplitude, and explore dynamic effects in synth patches.

Close-up of blue patch cables plugged into a row of In and Out jacks

11 min read

Feedback fundamentals: taming chaos

Discover practical feedback techniques for modular synths, covering safety, basic patches, and advanced applications.

Close-up of a Eurorack filter with a large knob and Freq, Res, and Mode controls in purple light

10 min read

Fun with filters: uncommon tricks to try

Exploring uncommon uses for synthesizer filters: learn how to control input levels, maximize FM inputs, and convert LPFs into HPFs.