The Patcher acts as the canvas where these nodes are placed and connected, and each node represents a specific function or operation, such as generating sound, applying effects, or routing audio.
Adding & Editing Nodes
With Mouse & Keyboard:
Adding Nodes:
- Right-click on an empty area to open the node browser.
- Click on a category to expand it, then click the node you want to place.
Selecting Nodes:
- Left-click on a node to select it.
- Hold Ctrl while left-clicking to toggle-select additional nodes without deselecting previous ones.
- Hold Alt, then left-click and drag to select multiple nodes in an area.
- Click on an empty area to deselect everything.
Editing Nodes:
- Right-click on a node to open its menu with options like copy, delete, and access to the node’s properties.
- Double left-click on a node to quickly reveal its properties.
- Right-clicking on a node will also select it.
Connecting Nodes:
- Click on the output (small dot to the right) of one node, then click on the input (small dot to the left) of another node to create a connection.
- Alternatively, drag the output onto the input to make a connection.
- You can also click one or more inputs, then click an output to create multiple connections at once.
Managing Connections:
- Right click on a connection to open its mini-menu where you can delete it.
- Hold Shift, left-click, and drag on an empty area to cut connections with your cursor.
Moving Nodes:
- Drag a node with left-click to move it around.
- Nodes with sliders around them: dragging the slider adjusts the node’s main setting for increased precision.
On Touch Devices:
Adding Nodes:
- Touch and hold on an empty area until the circle completes to reveal the node browser.
- Tap on a category to expand it, then tap the node you want to place.
Selecting Nodes:
- Tap on a node to select it and reveal additional settings in the header.
- The header replaces with the node menu until the node is deselected.
- Touch and hold buttons in the menu to see tooltips explaining their functions.
- Tap the multi-select button (double checkmark icon) to enable multi-select. Tap on nodes to toggle-select them while keeping previous selections.
- Tap on an empty area to deselect everything.
Editing Nodes:
- Tap on the output of a node (small dot to its right), then tap the input of another node (small dot to its left) to create a connection.
- Tap on a connection to open its mini-menu where you can delete it.
Moving Nodes:
- Touch and drag a node to move it around.
- Nodes with sliders around them: dragging the slider adjusts the node’s main setting for increased precision.
Navigating the Screen
Navigating the Patcher is intuitive and flexible, much like navigating a Timeline, but with the advantage of an unlimited canvas in all directions. Before you can navigate, ensure you have at least one node placed on the screen.
- Pan the View: Click and drag on an empty area of the screen (left or middle mouse button) to move the view around.
- Zoom: Use the mouse wheel to zoom in or out. On touch devices, use a pinch gesture to zoom.
- Reset Viewport: If you lose your way, click the reset viewport button in the bottom left corner to return to the default view.
This setup allows for easy exploration and management of your Patcher workspace.
Guides & Tutorials
The following docs cover practical uses of the Patcher: