Minimoog Emulator (SuperCollider)

A high-fidelity virtual analog synthesizer built entirely in SuperCollider. This project recreates the iconic signal path, harmonic richness, and user experience of the legendary Moog Minimoog Model D, optimized for desktop use without external MIDI hardware.

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Overview

This emulator is a complete software instrument featuring a triple-oscillator synthesis engine and a custom GUI. It allows for deep sound design through real-time manipulation of filters, envelopes, and a built-in arpeggiator.

Key Highlights:

• True Triple-Oscillator Design: Independently controllable VCOs with multiple waveforms.
• Moog Ladder Filter Modeling: Implementation of the MoogFF UGen for authentic 24dB/octave resonant filtering.
• Integrated Arpeggiator: Custom SuperCollider Routine supporting Major, Minor, and Up/Down patterns.
• On-Screen Performance: A 44-key interactive GUI keyboard for immediate playability.

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Technical Architecture

The system uses a modular approach, separating audio generation from control logic to ensure low-latency performance.

graph TD;
    subgraph "The Audio Engine (Synths)"
        OSC[Triple VCO Synth] --> Mixer[Moog Ladder Filter & VCA]
        Noise[Noise Gen] --> Mixer
    end

    subgraph "The Control Logic"
        GUI[Qt GUI Interface] -->|Bus.audio| OSC
        GUI -->|Synth.set| Mixer
        Arp[Arpeggiator Routine] -->|Frequency Triggers| OSC
    end

    Mixer --> Output[Stereo Audio Out]

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DSP Details

• Oscillators: Built using LFTri, LFSaw, and Pulse UGens. Also a noise generator is present.
• Filter Path: Uses a specialized Filter Envelope mapped to the MoogFF cutoff frequency via a contour amount.
• Amplification: Employs a dedicated ADS envelope with custom curve shapes to mimic analog capacitor discharge.

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Getting Started

Prerequisites

• SuperCollider (Tested on version 3.12+)
• A running SuperCollider Server (scsynth).

Installation & Execution

1. Clone the repo
2. Open the script: Launch MiniMoogEmulator.scd in the SuperCollider IDE.
3. Run Program: Select the code block into external round parenthesis and press Ctrl+Enter.
4. Play: Choose a waveform, turn up the Oscillator Gain, and click the GUI keys!

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Development & Best Practices

• State Management: The project uses Environment Variables (~) for global synth nodes and audio buses to allow for dynamic real-time updates.
• Clean Code: Variables are lexically scoped at the start of blocks to ensure efficient compilation and readability.
• UI/UX: The interface uses a custom drawFunc() to create the classic Moog panel aesthetics using Pen stroke rectangles.

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Here are the classical instructions to work on the project.

1. Fork the Project.
2. Create your Feature Branch.
3. Open a Pull Request.

There are fex topics that could be developed but you can come with whatever you want:

• MIDI support
• Improve Ladder filter
• Improve filter resonance curve
• Add new arpeggio patterns
• Add glide