In this no-talking, step-by-step video, I build an envelope follower patch from scratch using Pure Data Vanilla.
I route the amplitude of an incoming drum beat to control various parameters of a sawtooth oscillator ([phasor~]) in real time:
🔹 First, the amplitude of the sawtooth wave follows the drum signal.
🔹 Next, the oscillator frequency responds dynamically to the drum’s envelope.
🔹 Next, I patch the drum’s amplitude to modulate the cutoff frequency of a filter.
🔹 Finally, I make an old-school envelope filter by applying the envelope-following filter to its own input.
This is a hands-on demo for anyone interested in interactive audio, modulation techniques, or learning how to build dynamic control structures in Pd. All done in Pure Data Vanilla, from scratch, with no external libraries. Perfect for beginners exploring envelope followers or anyone wanting to see modular ideas implemented visually.
More Pd no-talking tutorials here: