PolySynth
side effects

PolySynth

Boutique polyphonic synthesizer — play it live in your browser

Local server required

The audio engine can't load over file://. Serve the docs folder with a local HTTP server:

python3 -m http.server 8080 --directory docs/

Then open localhost:8080

Warming up the engine...

Ready to play

Browsers require a tap before audio can start.

🎹
USB / MIDI Keyboard
Plug in before starting for full hardware control
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🖱
Virtual Piano
Click or tap the keys below the synth to play
Ready
Chord Buttons
One-tap chord demo — C, F, G7, Am, Em
Ready
Play:

Get PolySynth

Free download for macOS and Windows.

macOS Universal

Native performance on Apple Silicon and Intel. Installer package.

VST3 · AU · Standalone

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Windows x64

Optimised VST3 binary and Standalone application. Zip archive.

VST3 · Standalone

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What's inside

Professional-grade synthesis in a boutique package.

Dual Oscillator

Band-limited waveforms with cross-modulation, hard sync, and per-voice detuning.

24dB Filter

Zero-delay feedback state-variable filter. Self-oscillating. High resonance stability.

4-Stage ADSR

Independent envelope control on amp and filter. Shape your sound in time.

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LFO Modulation

Route to pitch, filter, or amplitude. Configurable waveform and rate.

8-Voice Polyphony

Configurable voice allocation and stealing. Unison and detune modes.

CI-Verified DSP

Every line of audio code verified against golden-master WAV files on every commit.

SEA_DSP

PolySynth runs on SEA_DSP — a bespoke real-time audio engine built from scratch. Lock-free, heap-free, and thread-safe in the audio path.

Every parameter change, every voice, every filter coefficient is verified against golden-master WAV files in headless CI. What you hear today is what ships.

View source on GitHub →

Specifications

Real-time safe Lock-free · Heap-free
Voices 8 polyphonic
Filter type ZDF State-Variable
Waveforms Saw · Square · Sine · Tri
Test coverage Golden master WAV
Platforms macOS · Windows · Web

Hear it for yourself

Unprocessed output from the synthesis engine. No reverb, no mastering.

Sawtooth Oscillator

Waveform Comparison

Oscillator Mix

Pulse Width Mod

Filter Sweep

Filter Resonance

Filter Envelope

LFO → Filter

LFO Vibrato

LFO Tremolo

Polyphonic Chords

Engine Polyphony

Factory Presets

side effects

Independent audio software. Made with care.

Side Effects Audio is a small independent studio building custom audio tools and effects. PolySynth is an ongoing project exploring high-quality polyphonic synthesis in software — designed to sound great, built to last, and verified at every commit.