Ratio9

Back End FX
Front End Synthesis

Inspiration

I've been producing electronic music for over 10 years, and FM synthesis has always fascinated me because of its incredible depth and sonic possibilities. Traditional FM synthesizers are extremely powerful, but they can also be intimidating and difficult to learn. I wanted to build an instrument that keeps everything people love about FM while making the workflow visual, intuitive, and fun.

What it does

Ratio9 is a modern FM synthesizer designed to make advanced sound design approachable without sacrificing power.

Features

Variable Envelopes that provide flexible, visual modulation.
Visual FM workflow that makes complex routing easier to understand.
Multiband Effects for processing different frequency ranges independently.
Performance-focused interface built for experimentation and fast sound design.

The goal is to help producers spend less time navigating menus and more time creating sounds.

How we built it

Ratio9 was built in C++ using the JUCE framework for cross-platform VST3 and AU support.

Throughout development I used OpenAI's ChatGPT and Codex as AI development partners. They helped with architecture, DSP implementation, debugging, refactoring, UI development, and solving difficult engineering problems. AI dramatically accelerated development while allowing me to focus on designing the instrument itself.

Challenges we ran into

Designing a modulation system that is both powerful and intuitive.
Building variable envelopes that remain flexible while staying easy to use.
Creating a multiband effects engine that sounds great without excessive CPU usage.
Maintaining consistent behavior across Windows and macOS.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

Building a unique variable-envelope workflow that feels natural to use.
Creating an FM synthesizer that is approachable without sacrificing depth.
Developing a flexible multiband effects architecture from the ground up.
Turning a long-term vision into a working instrument with the help of AI.

What I learned

This project reinforced how valuable AI can be as a development partner. Rather than replacing creativity, it accelerated implementation, helped solve difficult technical challenges, and allowed me to spend more time refining the user experience and sound design. I also gained a much deeper understanding of DSP, plugin architecture, and modern software development workflows.