In this "quick" tutorial, we will learn
how to run Pd and create patches. We will also make patches of noise
generator, sinusoidal oscillator, and finally a simple additive
synthesis.
For more detailed information, please see the
official Pd documentation.
Instruction
Run & new patch
Run Pd (Main Menu - Sound & Video - Pd, or just type pd in a
terminal)
Make a new patch (File - New, or ctrl-n)
In the patch window, we can create a new object (Put - Object, or
ctrl-1). You can specify the type of object by typing its name (to see
the list of "object" classes, right-click on the "canvas" and choose
"Help").
Noise generator
To make a noise generator, we need a noise object. Type "noise~"
and click outside the object box to 'activate' it.
The "~" at the end of the name means it's working at audio frequency
rate.
And to hear the sound, a digital-to-analog converter is needed.
Put another object named "dac~" the same way.
By dragging the mouse, connect the bottom-left corner of "noise~"
(which is the output of the object) to top-left of "dac~" (the input to
the left channel of the DAC). Notice that the cursor turns into a small
circle when placed on the "nodes".
Turn on the audio (Audio - On, or ctrl-/), and check the noise
coming from left channel.
(If you want the same noise coming from both channels, make another
connection from the "noise~" object to the top-right of "dac~".
Sinusoidal oscillator
Now we need an oscillator, not a noise generator.
Convert the noise object into a sinusoidal oscillator; rename it as
"osc~".
It has two inputs and one output.
To get more information about them, see the "Help" in its patch by
right-clicking on the object and choosing "Help".
Now you know that the left one is for frequency, the right one for
phase (which we won't care within this tutorial).
Turn the audio on. Since you didn't put any frequency value to
the oscillator, you won't hear any sound by now.
Let's specify the frequency; put a "Number" (Put - Number, or
ctrl-3), and connect its output to the frequency input (left) of the
"osc~".
Now get out of the edit mode (Edit - Edit Mode, or ctrl-e), and
change the value of the number object (that is, oscillator frequency)
by drag-n-dropping the mouse over it. You should be able to hear the
sound (BTW, this is a very good patch to test your hearing ability in
terms of frequency ;> ).
(Probably the simplest) additive synthesis patch
Now we need one more oscillator(s), add their outputs, and send
it to DAC.
First, make sure you're back in the Edit mode.
Disconnect the oscillator from the DAC; select the connection by
mouse and press "Delete".
Copy the number and the oscillator set; select them by mouse and
Edit - Copy (or ctrl-c).
Paste them, and move it away from the original one.
Now add the outputs of those oscillators
Put a new object, name it as "+~". Make connections from each
oscillator to the inputs of the adder. Also, connect its output to DAC.
Get out of the edit mode, and change the frequencies the same way.
Question: what will happen if we use "*~" instead of "+~"?
