SynthEdit is a modular audio plugin development environment which uses a

visual editor A visual editor is computer software for editing text files using a textual or graphical user interface that normally renders the content (text) in accordance with embedded markup code, e.g., HTML, Wikitext, rather than displaying the raw text. ...

. First conceived in 1987 by programmer Jeff McClintock and initially distributed in 1999, it was officially released in 2005. Along with Native Instruments'

Reaktor Reaktor is a graphical modular software music studio developed by Native Instruments (NI). It allows musicians and sound specialists to design and build their own instruments, samplers, effects and sound design tools. It is supplied with many ...

and the closely-related FlowStone (previously known as ''SynthMaker'') by DSPRobotics, SynthEdit has been recognised as one of the few tools for independent synthesizer development that don't require traditional programming like

JUCE JUCE is an open-source cross-platform C++ application framework, used for the development of desktop and mobile applications. JUCE is used in particular for its GUI and plug-ins libraries. It is dual licensed under the GPLv3 and a commercial ...

, and the only visual programming environment with 64-bit

VST 3 ''VST 3'' is the fourth studio album by the Filipino group VST & Company. The back cover marked the second time on which lead singer Vic Sotto was included. The medley "VST Concerto in A Minor" (written by Vic Sotto) included the hit single "R ...

support.

Overview

SynthEdit provides a

GUI The GUI ( "UI" by itself is still usually pronounced . or ), graphical user interface, is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicator such as primary notation, inste ...

editing system and a full

MIDI MIDI (; Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, an ...

interface for hardware controllers. It can export projects as VST plugins, allowing creations to be used as instruments and effects inside of most DAWs and on

macOS macOS (; previously OS X and originally Mac OS X) is a Unix operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc. since 2001. It is the primary operating system for Apple's Mac (computer), Mac computers. Within the market of ...

, where SynthEdit isn't available.

Interface

Below a toolbar containing a switch (stylised as a green power button) to start and stop the audio engine, SynthEdit's interface is divided into three vertical sections: a left panel containing a list of modules, a section for the detached visual editing windows in the middle, and a panel showing the highlighted modules' properties and values on the right. Any number of modules can be nested in an organised structure called a ''container'', which will reveal its contents in another window upon being clicked, and any module can receive or send input of various

types Type may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc. * Data type, collection of values used for computations. * File type * TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file. * Ty ...

from other modules through colour-coded nodes.

Features

Modules

The SynthEdit SDK is an accompanying tool that can be used for the development of extensions, known as ''external modules'', using C++. These extensions interface directly with the program, appearing like stock modules within the program's visual environment. Since its release, the SDK has allowed developers to release additional

freeware Freeware is software, most often proprietary, that is distributed at no monetary cost to the end user. There is no agreed-upon set of rights, license, or EULA that defines ''freeware'' unambiguously; every publisher defines its own rules for t ...

and

payware Commercial software, or seldom payware, is a computer software that is produced for sale or that serves commercial purposes. Commercial software can be proprietary software or free and open-source software. Background and challenge While softwa ...

modules for use within SynthEdit, adding new features to the program like the ability to manipulate waveforms through

Fourier transforms A Fourier transform (FT) is a mathematical transform that decomposes functions into frequency components, which are represented by the output of the transform as a function of frequency. Most commonly functions of time or space are transformed, ...

(typically used in

digital signal processing Digital signal processing (DSP) is the use of digital processing, such as by computers or more specialized digital signal processors, to perform a wide variety of signal processing operations. The digital signals processed in this manner ar ...

as the basis of

additive Additive may refer to: Mathematics * Additive function, a function in number theory * Additive map, a function that preserves the addition operation * Additive set-functionn see Sigma additivity * Additive category, a preadditive category with f ...

and

wavetable synthesis Wavetable synthesis is a sound synthesis technique used to create quasi-periodic waveforms often used in the production of musical tones or notes. Development Wavetable synthesis was invented by Max Mathews in 1958 as part of MUSIC II. ...

engines), new filters and audio effects.

References

External links

SynthEdit
- Official Website Software synthesizers {{music-software-stub