PIKOPIKO is a browser-based modular-style synthesizer: up to 16 independent patches, each its own little rack of oscillators, filters, and a delay, blended together by an automation-enabled, interactable circle: Morph.
The synth is browser based, so you don't need to install any programs to use it. It's compatible with computers, tablets, and mobile devices.
Press ▶ at the top to start the synth — Source 1 is already making sound at default settings. Press it again to stop. The ● button next to it records the master output to a downloadable audio file while the synth is running. In order to stop the recording and export the file, press ● again while the recording is in progress.
Each patch flows left to right through four stages: ① source (5 oscillator+volume channels, plus one noise channel), ② filter (lowpass and highpass, routed per-channel via the FILTER ROUTE buttons), ③ delay, and ④ output (master volume and compressor). Every slider shows its live value next to it.
Almost every slider has a small M button beside it. Clicking it opens a panel to modulate that parameter automatically between a min and max value, at a chosen speed and shape (sine, triangle, saw, square, or random) — then a power button in that panel turns the sweep on or off. The little graph at the bottom of the panel previews the shape and shows the live position.
The 🎲 button randomizes the whole patch; every node also has its own small dice in its header to randomize just that one node. "Dice Settings" next to the big dice controls the functionality of the dice. The parameter "Mod Madness" controls the probablity of randomization of modulation parameters. The scale or master section can also be target of randomization.
The tab strip under the top bar holds your patches — + adds a new one, right-click (or long-press on a phone) a tab to duplicate, remove, or mute it. The Morph tab shows every patch as a point on a circle; drag the center point around to blend between them live. Record a movement as a sequence and loop it back — Overdub re-records over the sequence as you drag, "Audit" just previews without changing it. Adding/deleting a patch changes the layout of the morph circle, but muting/unmuting a patch doesn't.
The button keeps a full undo/redo history, per patch and for the morph sequence separately — right-click any entry to save it as a named snapshot. Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y undo/redo whichever tab is focused.
The 💾 button saves or loads a whole preset (every patch, the morph sequence, and settings) as a .json file, and includes a couple of built-in presets to start from.
Screenshots, sound samples, and a short writeup for coverage or write-ups.
Questions, bugs, or just want to say hi — amu@amuuu.net.
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PIKOPIKO is free, and stays that way. If it's been useful or fun and you'd like to support the project, you can leave a tip here.
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