Frequently asked questions

Throughline is a modular synth plugin. Patch oscillators, filters, modulation, routing, and effects as nodes on a canvas, then play the result like an instrument. The graph you see is the structure the audio engine runs.

Musicians, producers, sound designers, educators and the generally curious.

Throughline aims to be simpler and easier to learn than Max/MSP or Pure Data, but it will not offer the same level of control. Every node shares a common visual language. That consistency comes without the wider Eurorack community’s unique ideas, tastes, and approaches.

No. Play around. Break things. That is the best way to learn.

Yes. Throughline is currently in beta and moving toward a stable V1 release. Development is focused on plugin stability, DAW compatibility, reliable patch save/load, and a focused factory patch library. Features and workflows may still change as those areas are tested.

The current beta is a DAW plugin. A standalone build is part of the product direction, but there is no public release date yet.

macOS 13 or later and Windows 10 64-bit or later. Linux is not currently supported and does not have a committed release date.

Audio Unit and VST3 on macOS, and VST3 on Windows.

Logic Pro, Ableton Live, and Reaper are the initial compatibility targets. Throughline may work in other AU or VST3 hosts, but those hosts are not yet part of the formal compatibility pass. If you run into a problem, please get in touch.

Throughline is the synth instrument: it receives MIDI and produces audio. Throughline FX processes incoming audio. Throughline MIDI receives, transforms, and sends MIDI without acting as an audio instrument. Use the variant that matches the track and routing job.

Yes. Installation and normal plugin use do not require a continuous internet connection. You need internet access for the initial download and for website services such as purchases, refunds, release downloads, and support.

There is no licence key or online activation inside the plugin. A website account is required to buy Throughline and manage downloads, refunds, and support. I hate intrusive activation systems as much as you do.

As many as you personally need. The licence is for you, not your computer. I am not checking. You bought it. Do what you want.

Yes. Build a monophonic voice directly on the canvas, or place one voice inside a Polyphony Zone. Throughline runs that voice separately for each held note. Polyphony Zones currently support 1–16 voices.

Yes. Load Throughline FX, connect an Audio Input node to an Audio Output node, and put some other nodes in between.

Yes. Load Throughline MIDI, connect a MIDI Input node to a MIDI Output node, and put some other nodes in between.

Yes. Add a Clock node and set its Source to Host.

Yes. Throughline includes starter and example patches, with a focused V1 factory set being expanded as its workflows pass release testing.

Yes. Your DAW saves the current patch with the project, and you can also export it as a separate .tlpatch file for backup or later use.

Yes. Send them the exported .tlpatch file and they can import it into Throughline. They need a version that supports the nodes and features used by the patch.

Patch compatibility is a release requirement. Throughline versions its patch format and automatically migrates supported older patches when necessary. Compatibility is tested during the release process. Older versions of Throughline may not open patches saved by newer versions.

CPU use depends on the patch. More nodes, effects, active voices, and higher sample rates require more processing. Throughline’s audio engine is designed for bounded real-time processing and tested against native performance benchmarks. The exact load depends on your computer, DAW, and audio settings.

Throughline does not apply a fixed global latency and currently reports zero samples of latency to the DAW. Some nodes deliberately delay the signal as part of their sound—for example, delay effects and the Through-Zero flanger mode. Your audio interface and DAW buffer settings also affect monitoring latency.

It depends on your hardware and the complexity of your patches. Test the exact set before taking it on stage. Throughline’s Macros provide a compact set of host-automatable controls that you can connect to hardware through your DAW’s mapping tools.