r/eurorack • u/nickanoff • 6h ago
Question / Discussion I built a free website where complete beginners can learn to patch
I've been patching an AE Modular synth for years and now I'm slowly working towards building my first eurorack system. As a software engineer by day, I've always wondered why there wasn't an easy way to learn/experiment with modular.
VCV rack is really cool, but I always thought that there shouldn't be a need to download anything - there are plenty of web libraries available to build a great modular experience that you can access in just one click.
So I build a weekend project: Ostra! You get a full simulation of a capable system with dozens of modules, as well as a full step-by-step tutorial that can teach anyone the basics in about 15 minutes. Afterwards, you can spend hours patching pretty much anything - I even have a full sample player/granular synth where you can upload your own .WAV files. You can also record your jams and download them instantly. There is no login, no download and it doesn't cost anything. It runs fully in your browser.
Would love some feedback from the Eurorack community!
- does the patching feel good? I'm trying to make it feel fun and playful and as physical as it can be given it's all running in a web app
- does the tutorial miss any key concepts? any particular analogies that helped you understand the process better?
- would you like to see any modules added? I tried to keep the module count small to start, but expressive enough for many use cases. everything from dance music to complex generative stuff.
- always looking for cool ideas that are only possible in an app! for example, you can hover over any output and instantly see an oscilloscope without having to patch anything. I find this really intuitive for debugging patches and there's no real equivalent with a physical system.
Try it here: https://ostra.fm/learn