Blocks and modulation
A tour of the built-in block library, plus LFOs, envelopes, and how to make any knob move.
For patch builders who want to know every tool in the box.
Blocks are the building material of every patch. This page lists what ships with Patchwerk and shows how to bring patches to life with modulation.
The block library
Open the block palette with the Browse blocks button in the DSP tab's floating toolbar. Blocks are grouped into categories:
Sources
| Block | What it does |
|---|---|
| Oscillator | Classic waveform oscillator — the starting point for most synths |
| Wavetable | Wavetable oscillator; load or generate tables from the Assets panel |
| Sampler | Plays a sample pitched across the keyboard |
| Sample Player | Triggers a sample on each note |
| Noise | White-noise source for percussion, texture, and breath |
| Sequencer | Built-in step sequencer that generates notes |
| MIDI In | Brings raw MIDI into the graph |
| MIDI Player | Plays back a MIDI melody on loop |
| Input / Output | Your plugin's audio input and output — the Output block includes a level meter and gain |
Processing
| Block | What it does |
|---|---|
| Filter | Multi-mode filter with cutoff and resonance |
| Ladder | Ladder-style filter with a classic analog character |
| Gain / VCA | Level control; the VCA is built for being modulated |
| Mixer / Sum 4 | Combine several signals into one |
| Panner | Stereo placement |
| Compressor | Dynamics control |
| Distortion / Drive / Wavefolder | Three flavors of saturation, from gentle warmth to folded mayhem |
| Combine / Split / PolyMix | Utilities for moving between per-voice and global signal paths |
Effects
| Block | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay / Stereo Delay / BBD Delay | Echoes — clean, wide, or dark and tape-like |
| Chorus / Phaser / Tremolo | Classic modulation effects |
| Reverb | Space and depth |
| EQ 3 | Three-band tone shaping |
| Limiter | Keeps the output under control |
| Crusher | Bit-crushing and sample-rate reduction |
| RingMod | Ring modulation for metallic, bell-like tones |
Display
| Block | What it does |
|---|---|
| Probe | Inspect any signal in the graph |
| FFT | Real-time spectrum display |
You can also ask the AI assistant to create a custom block when nothing in the library fits — it becomes part of your project like any other block.
Modulators
Modulators are signals that move your parameters over time. They live in the Modulators panel in the left sidebar — open it and click the add picker to create one. Each card shows its own controls and a live scope so you can see the signal move.
LFO
Cyclic movement: vibrato, wobble, slow sweeps. Pick a waveform, set the rate in Hz or sync it to your project tempo.
ADSR
An envelope that follows each note — attack, decay, sustain, release. Drag the points on the curve or use the knobs.
Macro
A single knob you can route to many parameters at once — perfect for a "big sound" control on your plugin.
Clock
Tempo-synced pulses that follow your project BPM — great for rhythmic gating and sidechain-style pumping.
S&H
Sample-and-hold for stepped random movement. Slew smooths the steps; Chance makes the steps skip unpredictably.
Channel Count and Channel Index
These react to your playing: Channel Count tracks how many notes are held, Channel Index tells each voice which one it is — useful for unison spreads.
Assigning modulation
There are two ways to route a modulator to a parameter:
- Right-click a knob on any block. The menu lists available modulation sources — pick one to assign it. The same menu shows what's already assigned so you can remove routes.
- Drag a cable from a modulator block's output to the small modulation handles that appear along the top edge of a block while you drag.
Once assigned:
- A colored ring around the knob shows the modulation in motion, live.
- Click the ring to open the slot editor, where you set the amount (depth) and polarity — bipolar swings both ways around the knob position, unipolar pushes only up or only down.
- Each parameter has up to four modulation slots, so you can stack an LFO on top of an envelope on top of a macro.
Tip The AI assistant handles modulation too — try "add a slow LFO on the filter cutoff, subtle" and then fine-tune the amount by hand.
Bypassing and suspending blocks
Every block can be taken out of the signal path without unpatching it:
- Click the bypass button on a block to toggle a dry pass-through — audio flows around the block untouched, and the block stops using CPU.
- Right-click a block for the full menu: Active, Bypass (dry through), or Suspend (silent) — suspend mutes the block's output entirely.
A bypassed or suspended block stays on the canvas with all its settings, so it's perfect for A/B-ing an effect or parking an idea.