Your First Audio Generator

What you'll build

A simple synthesizer: one oscillator at 440 Hz running through a gain stage into the audio output. You'll hear your first tone and learn how audio operators chain together.

Operators used

Step 1: Create a new graph

Choose File → New Graph. The canvas opens empty.

Step 2: Add an Oscillator

Add Oscillator. Set its parameters: - frequency → 440 (A4, the standard tuning reference) - amplitude → 0.5 (half volume — good starting point) - waveform → sine (purest tone, no harmonics)

Step 3: Add Gain

Add Gain. Connect osc1/output → gain1/input. Set gain to 0.8.

The Gain node gives you a master volume control independent of the oscillator's own amplitude.

Step 4: Connect to audio output

Add audio_out (or use the one already on the canvas). Connect gain1/output → audio_out/input.

Press play. You should hear a 440 Hz sine tone.

Step 5: Explore waveforms

Change Oscillator waveform and listen to the difference:

Step 6: Map frequencies to musical notes

The Oscillator uses Hz. Common reference points:

Every octave doubles the frequency.

What's happening

Oscillator (Audio) → Gain (Audio) → audio_out

Audio operators process blocks of samples at ~48,000 samples per second on a dedicated real-time thread. Each operator in the chain receives a buffer of samples, processes it, and passes the result downstream. The audio_out node submits the final buffer to the system audio device.

Volume is controlled at two places: amplitude on the Oscillator sets the raw output level, and gain on the Gain node scales the whole chain. Keeping Oscillator amplitude below 1.0 leaves headroom for effects and mixing.

Next steps

• Your First Audio Effect — add reverb and delay to this signal
• Control and Modulation — modulate oscillator frequency with an LFO
• Using MIDI Input — play notes from a keyboard instead of a fixed frequency