Overview
The Modular Grid is a visual audio/MIDI patching environment — think of it as a modular synthesizer inside the DAW. Build custom instruments and effects by connecting nodes, split and merge signals visually, and save your creations as reusable devices.
Open via View > Utility > Modular Grid.
Port Types
- Audio — continuous audio signal
- Control — modulation signals (envelopes, LFOs)
- Gate — on/off trigger signals
- MIDI — note, CC, and pitch bend data
- Value — static parameter values
Node Categories
Nodes are created from the palette via the ModularGridFactory:
- Oscillators — VCO with multiple waveforms
- Filters — VCF with multiple modes
- Envelopes — ADSR generators
- LFOs — modulation sources
- Utilities — math, logic, routing helpers
- MIDI — note/gate/velocity extractors
Making Connections
Click and drag from an output port to an input port. Audio connections appear as orange cables; MIDI connections are blue.
You can split signals by connecting one output to multiple inputs. Merge signals by connecting multiple outputs to one input — the Grid automatically sums them.
Building Custom Chains
Drag any instrument or effect from the Device Browser into the Grid. It appears as a standalone node you can wire into any signal path.
Examples: - Reverb feeding back into distortion - Sidechain compressor driven by a different track - Parallel processing chains with custom blend
Saving Devices
Select nodes and choose Save as Device. The Grid collapses your chain into a single reusable device with the inputs and outputs you specify. Install it on any track or share it with the community.
Tips
- Hold Shift while dragging to create a feedback loop (with automatic delay compensation) - Right-click a cable to insert an effect inline - Double-click any node to expand it and see its internal routing - The Grid uses double-buffered lock-free audio processing for real-time safety - All patches are fully serializable and save/load with your project