Learn the basics of ppooll

Membership plan: Getting Started | Topics: Music Production

Course overview

ppooll is hard to define, it is a versatile open-source DSP environment built from Max, which allows for audio signal processing, performance and routing without prerequisite knowledge of Max. It contains more than 50 modules for looping, synthesis, effects & more. Those who know how to use it are capable of making stunningly beautiful music with an idiosyncratic flair, as demonstrated by artists such as Tim Hecker, Oneohtrix Point Never, and FENNESZ.

One of its developers is musician and artist Elin, who helped to rebuild the now steadily growing community around ppooll. In this workshop, he gives an introduction to this fascinating music environment and help to fill some of the gaps in its notoriously patchy documentation. The workshop covers installation & config, basic module operation & features, routing, buffers/samples, saving & loading, recording, looping, granular synthesis, live input, signal processing/signal chains, modulation, and live.ppooll (more details below).

What you'll learn

Understand the basic setup and configuration of the ppooll environment.
Operate core modules for audio signal processing, synthesis, and effects routing.
Apply looping, granular synthesis, and live input techniques to create unique audio textures.
Gain the skills needed to submit an original track for a community compilation on Bandcamp.

Who is this course for?

Musicians, sound artists, and audio enthusiasts looking to explore open-source DSP tools.
Beginners interested in learning innovative audio processing and synthesis techniques.
Intermediate to advanced Max users who want to expand their creative toolkit with ppooll.

Course content

Watch back the workshop recording here

Worksop Recording

Requirements

Participants should bring a laptop with Max installed (free trial available).
Basic familiarity with audio production or DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) is helpful but not required.

Course schedule

Meet your instructor

Elin is a leading ppooll developer. He founded the Discord server and designed a new website to help establish the current community. He has helped develop the software, produce tutorial materials for YouTube, and a PDF guidebook, and generally is on hand to assist new users. He is knowledgeable about the program, its framework, and its potential as alternative software.