# SyncSawSynth

SyncSawSynth is a 32 voice polyphonic synthesizer using up to 10th order PTR sawtooth oscillator. Just a basic synthesizer but very easy to make a noise similar to low battery sound of some toys.

- Download SyncSawSynth 0.1.32 `full` - VST 3 (github.com)
- Download SyncSawSynth 0.1.32 `macOS` - VST 3 (github.com)
- Download Presets (github.com)

`full` package contains following builds.

- Windows (x86_64)
- Linux (x86_64)
- macOS (Universal 2)

Linux build is built on Ubuntu 24.04. If you are using distribution other than Ubuntu 24.04, plugin will not likely to run. In this case, please take a look at build instruction.

`macOS` package is recommended for macOS user. I can’t purchase Apple Developer Program, therefore installation requires a workaround to bypass Gatekeeper. Details of workaround are written in Installation -> macOS Specific section.

## Contact

Feel free to contact me on GitHub repository or `ryukau@gmail.com.`

You can fund the development through paypal.me/ryukau.

## Installation

### Plugin

Move `*.vst3` directory to:

- `/Program Files/Common Files/VST3/` for Windows.
- `$HOME/.vst3/` for Linux.
- `/Users/$USERNAME/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST3/` for macOS.

DAW may provides additional VST3 directory. For more information, please refer to the manual of the DAW.

### Presets

Notice: Some plugins don’t have presets provided by Uhhyou Plugins.

Presets are included in the plugin package linked at the top of this page. To install presets, follow the steps below.

1. Download plugin from a link at the top of this page.
2. Extract downloaded zip file.
3. Open `presets` directory placed in extracted package.
4. Move `Uhhyou` directory into an OS specific preset directory (see below).

Below is a list of preset directories for each OS.

- Windows : `/Users/$USERNAME/Documents/VST3 Presets`
- Linux : `$HOME/.vst3/presets`
- macOS : `/Users/$USERNAME/Library/Audio/Presets`

Preset directory name must be the same as the plugin. If preset directory does not exist, create it.

- Preset Locations - VST 3 Developer Portal

### Windows Specific

If DAW doesn’t recognize the plugin, try installing C++ redistributable (`vc_redist.x64.exe`). Installer can be found in the link below.

- Latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads | Microsoft Learn

### Linux Specific

On Ubuntu 24.04, those packages are required.

    sudo apt install libxcb-cursor0  libxkbcommon-x11-0

If DAW doesn’t recognize the plugin, take a look at `Package Requirements` section of the link below and make sure all the VST3 related package is installed.

- VSTGUI: Setup

REAPER on Linux may not recognize the plugin. A workaround is to delete a file `~/.config/REAPER/reaper-vstplugins64.ini` and restart REAPER.

### macOS Specific

Important: `full` package is not confirmed working. When using `full`, try removing following files.

- `Contents/Resources/Documentation`
- `Contents/x86_64-linux`
- `Contents/x86_64-win`

`macOS` package doesn’t contain above files. Also, all packages are in “ad-hoc signing” state set by `codesign` command.

#### Remove Quarantine

When trying to run plugin first time, following message may appear on macOS.

    <PluginName>.vst3 is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash.

In this case, open terminal and try running one or both of following command to unzipped `.vst3` directory. Replace `/path/to/PluginName.vst3` according to your install location.

    xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /path/to/PluginName.vst3
    xattr -rc /path/to/PluginName.vst3

#### Bypass Gatekeeper

Plugin may be considered as unsigned/un-notarized application. In this case, open System Preferences, go to Security & Privacy → General, then click the Open Anyway button. The offcial Apple help page linked below has screenshots for the procedure. See “If you want to open an app that hasn’t been notarized or is from an unidentified developer” section.

- Safely open apps on your Mac - Apple Support

If the plugin is still not working, try changing install location to `/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST3/` or `/Users/$USERNAME/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST3/` whichever still haven’t tried.

If all the above methods do not work, try following the steps below.

1. Open terminal and run `sudo spctl --master-disable`.
2. Go to System Preferences → Security and Privacy → General → Allow apps downloaded from, then select “Anywhere”.

Beware that steps above degrades security of your system. To revert the settings, follow the steps below.

1. Go to System Preferences → Security and Privacy → General → Allow apps downloaded from, then select option to “App Store and identified developers”.
2. Open terminal and run `sudo spctl --master-enable`.

#### Applying `codesign`

Note This section may not relevant to `macOS` packages. However it’s not verified. (GitHub issue)

To use `full` package, following command might be used.

    sudo codesign --force --deep -s - /path/to/PluginName.vst3

`codesign` might not be available without installing Xcode.

#### Reference

- Safely open apps on your Mac - Apple Support
- java - “libprism_sw.dylib” cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified. on mac JAVAFX - Stack Overflow
- How to Fix App “is damaged and can’t be opened. You should move it to the Trash” Error on Mac
- Allowing unsigned/un-notarized applications/plugins in Mac OS | Venn Audio

## GUI Style Configuration

At first time, create color config file to:

- `/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Roaming/UhhyouPlugins/style/style.json` on Windows.
- `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/UhhyouPlugins/style/style.json` on Linux.
  - If `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` is empty, make `$HOME/.config/UhhyouPlugins/style/style.json`.
- `/Users/$USERNAME/Library/Preferences/UhhyouPlugins/style/style.json` on macOS.

`style.json` will be loaded for each time a plugin window opens.

Several color themes are available on the link below. To use, copy the text to `style.json`.

- VSTPlugins/package/style/themes at master · ryukau/VSTPlugins

Below is an example of `style.json`.

    {
      "guiScale"          : 1          ,
      "fontFamily"        : "Tinos"    ,
      "fontBold"          : true       ,
      "fontItalic"        : true       ,
      "foreground"        : "#000000"  ,
      "foregroundButtonOn": "#000000"  ,
      "foregroundInactive": "#8a8a8a"  ,
      "background"        : "#ffffff"  ,
      "boxBackground"     : "#ffffff"  ,
      "border"            : "#000000"  ,
      "borderCheckbox"    : "#000000"  ,
      "borderLabel"       : "#000000"  ,
      "unfocused"         : "#dddddd"  ,
      "highlightMain"     : "#0ba4f1"  ,
      "highlightAccent"   : "#13c136"  ,
      "highlightButton"   : "#fcc04f"  ,
      "highlightWarning"  : "#fc8080"  ,
      "overlay"           : "#00000088",
      "overlayHighlight"  : "#00ff0033"
    }

### GUI Scale

- `guiScale`: GUI scaling. For example, `0.75` is 75%, and `2.0` is 200%.

The minimum of `guiScale` is `0.01`. The maximum is practically non-existent (the max value of 64-bit float).

Notice: If `guiScale` is too large, DAW may place the “close” button on the plugin window out of screen, making it unclickable.

### Font Options

Following is a list of font options.

- `fontFamily`: Font family name.
- `fontBold`: Enable bold style when `true`, disable when `false`.
- `fontItalic`: Enable italic style when `true`, disable when `false`.

System font can be used as `fontFamily`. To use different fonts for different plugins, place `*.ttf` file into custom font path: `*.vst3/Contents/Resources/Fonts`.

Notice: If the combination of `fontFamily`, `fontBold`, `fontItalic` does not exist in custom font path, default font of VSTGUI is used.

If `fontFamily` is set to empty string `""`, then `"Tinos"` is used as fallback. If the length is greater than 1 and the font family name doesn’t exist, default font of VSTGUI is used.

Styles other than bold, italic or bold-italic are not supported by VSTGUI. For example, “Thin”, “Light”, “Medium”, and “Black” weights cannot be used.

### Color Options

Hex color codes are used.

- 6 digit color is RGB.
- 8 digit color is RGBA.

First letter `#` is conventional. Plugins ignore the first letter of color code, thus `?102938`, `\n11335577` are valid.

Do not use characters outside of `0-9a-f` for color value.

Following is a list of color options. If an option is missing, default color will be used.

- `foreground`: Text color.
- `foregroundButtonOn`: Text color of active toggle button. Recommend to use the same value of `foreground` or `boxBackground`.
- `foregroundInactive`: Text color of inactive components. Currently, only used for TabView.
- `background`: Background color.
- `boxBackground`: Background color of inside of box shaped components (Barbox, Button, Checkbox, OptionMenu, TextKnob, VSlider).
- `border`: Border color of box shaped components.
- `borderCheckbox`: Border color of CheckBox.
- `borderLabel`: Line color of parameter section label.
- `unfocused`: Color to fill unfocused components. Currently, only used for knobs.
- `highlightMain`: Color to indicate focus is on a component. Highlight colors are also used for value of slider components (BarBox and VSlider).
- `highlightAccent`: Same as `highlightMain`. Used for cosmetics.
- `highlightButton`: Color to indicate focus is on a button.
- `highlightWarning`: Same as `highlightMain`, but only used for parameters which requires extra caution.
- `overlay`: Overlay color. Used to overlay texts and indicators.
- `overlayHighlight`: Overlay color to highlight current focus.

## Controls

`Right Click` on the controls pops up a context menu provided by DAW.

Knob and slider provides following controls:

- `Ctrl` + `Left Click`: Reset value.
- `Shift` + `Left Drag`: Fine adjustment.
- `Middle Click` : Rotate through minimum, default and maximum value.
- `Shift` + `Middle Click` : Take floor of current value.
  - Note: For decibel (`dB`) parameters, floor is applied after the value is converted to amplitude.

## Caution

The peak value of gain envelope is determined by the length of attack. When gain envelope attack is small, the peak may be a bit higher than usual.

When turning `Dirty Filter` on, a glitch may pops at the timing of note on.

Some parameter configuration leads to massive DC offset. To be stay safe, it’s better to insert high-pass filter after SyncSawSynth. Monitoring output with oscilloscope is recommended.

## Terms

An oscillator of SyncSawSynth internally have 2 separate oscillators. One is for generating waveform, and other is to trigger hardsync. In term of hardsync, waveform generator is called slave and oscillator used to trigger is called master.

## Block Diagram

If the image is small, use `Ctrl` + `Mouse Wheel` or “View Image” on right click menu to scale.

Diagram only shows overview. It’s not exact implementation.

## Parameters

### Osc

Gain

  Oscillator gain. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

Semi

  Oscillator pitch. Range is -24.0 to 24.0. Unit is semitone.

  The value will be floored. For example 6.3 becomes to 6 and -11.5 becomes to -12.

Cent

  Oscillator pitch. Range is -100.0 to 100.0. Unit is cent.

Sync and SyncType

  Meaning of the value of `Sync` will be changed by `SyncType`. Range of `Sync` is 0.01 to 16.0.

  `SyncType` has 4 options.

  - `Off`
  - `Ratio`
  - `Fixed-Master`
  - `Fixed-Slave`

  Option `Off` turns off hardsync by setting master frequency to 0 Hz. However, if the value of `Osc*->Sync1` is greater than 0, phase of master will be moved and possibly triggers hardsync. When `SyncType` is `Off`, the value of `Sync` won’t be used.

  Option `Ratio` sets note frequency to master frequency. Slave frequency will be the value of `Sync` multiplied by master frequency. Also the destinations of modulation from `To Freq/Sync` will be swapped.

  Option `Fixed-Master` sets note frequency to slave frequency. Master frequency will be only determined by the value of `Sync`.

  Option `Fixed-Slave` sets note frequency to master frequency. Slave frequency will be only determined by the value of `Sync`.

  Below is equation of conversion of the value `Sync` to freqeuncy used for `Fixed-Master` and `Fixed-Slave`.

      frequency = 2 * Sync^3

OscType

  Oscillator waveform.

  0 to 10th order PTR sawtooth oscillator and sine wave are available.

Phase

  Oscillator phase. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

  If `Lock` is checked, phase will be reset for each note on.

  If `Invert` on `Osc2` is checked, phase will be inverted by changing sign of the output of `Osc2`.

Unison

  When checked, add same tone with different phase for each note. CPU load will also be doubled.

Number of Voice

  Maximum polyphony. Lowering the number of this option reduces CPU load.

### Modulation

Osc1->Sync1

  Modulation from `Osc1` output to `Osc1` master frequency. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

Osc1->Freq2

  Modulation from `Osc1` output to `Osc2` slave frequency. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

Osc2->Sync1

  Modulation from `Osc2` output to `Osc1` master frequency. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

Attack

  Attack of modulation AD envelope. Range is 0.0 to 4.0. Unit is seconds.

  Equation of AD envelope.

      env(t) := t^a * exp(-b * t)

      t: time.
      a, b: some constants.

Curve

  Curve of modulation AD envelope. Range is 1.0 to 96.0.

  The length of decay is depends on the value of Curve.

To Freq1 (AD Envelope)

  Modulation from AD envelope to `Osc1` slave frequency. Range is 0.0 to 16.0.

To Sync1 (AD Envelope)

  Modulation from AD envelope to `Osc1` master frequency. Range is 0.0 to 16.0.

To Freq2 (AD Envelope)

  Modulation from AD envelope to `Osc２` slave frequency. Range is 0.0 to 16.0.

To Sync2 (AD Envelope)

  Modulation from AD envelope to `Osc２` master frequency. Range is 0.0 to 16.0.

LFO

  LFO Frequency. Range is 0.01 to 20.0. Unit is Hz.

NoiseMix

  Ratio of LFO and pink noise. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

  If the value is 0.0, the output becomes LFO only. If the value is 1.0, the output becomes pink noise only.

  Note that modulation of pink noise causes some nasty spikes. To avoid spikes, set the value of `To Freq/Sync` to lower than 1.0. Spike is clipped to avoid exceeding 0dB.

To Freq1 (LFO/Noise)

  Modulation from LFO/Noise to `Osc1` slave frequency. Range is 0.0 to 16.0.

To Sync1 (LFO/Noise)

  Modulation from LFO/Noise to `Osc1` master frequency. Range is 0.0 to 16.0.

To Freq2 (LFO/Noise)

  Modulation from LFO/Noise to `Osc２` slave frequency. Range is 0.0 to 16.0.

To Sync2 (LFO/Noise)

  Modulation from LFO/Noise to `Osc２` master frequency. Range is 0.0 to 16.0.

### Gain

Gain

  Gain of the synthesizer output. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

A

  Length of gain envelope attack. Range is 0.0001 to 16.0. Unit is seconds.

D

  Length of gain envelope decay. Range is 0.0001 to 16.0. Unit is seconds.

S

  Value of gain envelope sustain. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

R

  Length of gain envelope release. Range is 0.0001 to 16.0. Unit is seconds.

Curve

  Curve of gain envelope. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

  This curve is linear interpolation between direct output and saturated output.

      gainEnv(t) := expEnv(t) * (tanh(3 * Curve * expEnv(t)) - expEnv(t))

### Filter

Cut

  Filter cutoff frequency. Range is 20.0 to 20000.0. Unit is Hz.

Res

  Biquad filter resonance. Range is 0.001 to 1.0.

  When the value is set to minimum, the output volume will be very small.

Feed

  Feedback of serial filter section. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

  Internally, 4 biquad filters are serially connected. Feedback send the last output of the filter to first biquad filter in serial section.

Sat

  Saturation of filter. Range is 0.01 to 8.0.

  This value is multiplied to the sum of input signal and feedback before going into wave shaper.

      filterIn = shaper(Sat * (input - Feed * filterOut))

Dirty Buffer

  If `Dirty Buffer` is not checked, the buffer of filter will be cleared for each note on.

  Note that while `Dirty Filter` is turned on, sometimes a glitch pops up at note on.

FilterType

  Type of filter.

  - `LP` : Low-pass
  - `HP` : High-pass
  - `BP` : Band-pass
  - `Notch` : Also called as band-stop
  - `Bypass`
ShaperType

  Type of wave shaper used for filter saturation.

      HardClip(x) := clamp(x, -1.0, 1.0)
      Tanh(x)     := tanh(x)
      ShaperA(x)  := sin(2 * pi * x) / (1 + 10 * x * x)
      ShaperB(x)  := 0.7439087749328765 * x^3 * exp(-abs(x))

A

  Lenght of filter envelope attack. Range is 0.0001 to 16.0 。単位は.

D

  Lenght of filter envelope decay. Range is 0.0001 to 16.0 。単位は.

S

  Value of filter envelope sustain. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

R

  Lenght of filter envelope release. Range is 0.0001 to 16.0 。単位は.

To Cut

  Modulation from filter envelope to cutoff frequency. Range is -1.0 to 1.0.

To Res

  Modulation from filter envelope to resonance. Range is 0.0 to 1.0.

Key->Cut

  Modulation from MIDI note number to cutoff frequency. Range is -1.0 to 1.0.

Key->Feed

  Modulation from MIDI note number to feedback. Range is -1.0 to 1.0.

## Change Log

- 0.1.32
  - Fixed a bug that plugin to show up with incorrect window size (likely 512x512 pixels) at initialization.
- 0.1.31
  - Added GUI scaling.
  - Updated the Linux patch for VSTGUI4.
- 0.1.30
  - Changed to reduce click at note-on when a note number is repeatedly played. This happened when proper note IDs are not provided from DAW. Bitwig, Live, REAPER are affected.
- 0.1.29
  - Fixed GUI on Linux.
- 0.1.28
  - Changed to include presets in plugin zip package.
  - Fixed a bug that invalid `style.json` crashes plugin.
- 0.1.27
  - Changed default style color of `foregroundInactive`.
  - Fixed performance drop caused by subnormal floating point numbers.
- 0.1.26
  - Fixed crash on Renoise. Previous code was trying to access freed memory of GUI widgets, and it was causing the crash.
- 0.1.25
  - Added to `virtual` to destructor of common components. This may prevent some cause of crash or memory leak.
- 0.1.24
  - Updated VST 3 SDK to version 3.7.6. This also fixes the crash when opening multiple GUI of same plugin on Linux.
- 0.1.23
  - Resume macOS build.
- 0.1.22
  - Fixed crash on Linux.
- 0.1.21
  - Fixed the condition of acceptable channel count. This is a fix for unintentional muting on sidechain in REAPER.
- 0.1.20
  - Added custom font options for `style.json`.
- 0.1.19
  - Updated VSTGUI from 4.10 to 4.11.
- 0.1.18
  - Changed font to Tinos.
- 0.1.17
  - Fixed a bug that insufficient reset of the sustain interpolation filter in amplitude envelope was causing pop noise.
- 0.1.16
  - Fixed to reset properly.
  - Fixed `bypass` parameter behavior. This fixes playing all the notes at the moment of unmute, even if host sends note to plugin while muting. This bug was only happening on the hosts which respect VST 3 `bypass` parameter.
- 0.1.15
  - Implemented process context requirements.
- 0.1.14
  - Added check that DSP is initialized or not.
- 0.1.13
  - Added color configuration.
- 0.1.12
  - Changed parameter smoother to the one which works with variable size audio buffer.
- 0.1.11
  - Fixed a bug that cause crash when drawing string.
- 0.1.10
  - Changed display method for pop-up which shows up by clicking plugin title.
- 0.1.9
  - Fixed a bug that was causing noise on PreSonus Studio One 4.6.1.
- 0.1.8
  - Enabled GUI for Linux build.
- 0.1.7
  - Added support for synchronization between multiple GUI instances.
  - Fixed a bug that opening splash screen causes crash.
  - Fixed GUI to follow host automation.
- 0.1.6
  - Fixed note on/off event to be triggered at exact timing.
- 0.1.5
  - Fixed smoothing algorithm to prevent blow up.
- 0.1.4
  - Changed semitone control to NumberKnob.
- 0.1.3
  - Added unison parameter.
  - Added number of voice parameter.
  - Changed internal parameter structure.
  - Changed UI looks.
  - Made filter and math function faster.
- 0.1.1
  - Added pitchbend support.
  - Added double precision PTR options.
  - Fix a bug that releasing gain envelope while attacking jumps the output value of gain envelope to sustain level.
- 0.1.0
  - Initial release.

## Old Versions

- SyncSawSynth 0.1.31 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.30 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.29 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.28 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.27 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.26 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.25 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.24 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.23 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.22 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.21 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.20 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.18 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.17 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.15 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.14 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.13 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.12 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.11 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.9 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.8 - VST 3 (github.com)
- SyncSawSynth 0.1.7 - VST 3 (github.com)

## License

SyncSawSynth is licensed under GPLv3. Complete licenses are linked below.

- https://github.com/ryukau/VSTPlugins/tree/master/License

If the link above doesn’t work, please send email to `ryukau@gmail.com`.

### About VST

VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, registered in Europe and other countries.