How to install
Just copy the downloaded .dll-s to your 64bit VST Plug-ins folder.
What is a node editor?
Node graph architecture is a type of software design which builds around modular node components which can be connected to form a graph. This type of visualization helps understanding complex structures and signal flow.
The editor
The editor of Alpha Forever - as mentioned before - is a node editor. It features a palette, where you can instantiate nodes, a designer level indicator to know which designer you are editing, a hamburger menu a plug-in info, nodes and wires.
You can pan / zoom / resize your Alpha Forever window as you like. You can also select, deselect, group select, align, copy / paste, delete elements of your patch (see the Navigation tab for details). The editor of Alpha Forever was designed to help your creation and make patching fun and simple.
Structure of a node
In Alpha Forever you can think of a node as a small device, that processes or generates signals. It's a box on your screen with input, outputs and controls and a header part.
You can find the inputs on the left side, the outputs on the right side of a node. We will reference these as 'plugs' later on. The top area of a node is the header of the node, on GUI controls (if there is any) can be found in between the input and the output plugs.
Note: each node must have a unique name on designer level.
Visualization modes
Alpha Forever has 5 different visualization modes. These modes help you to analyze or understand a patch.
'No information' view
This is the default view of a patch.
'Plug description all ON' view
Next to the plugs a short description appears. Usually it contains the plug name and the range of values it usually receives or outputs.
'Miniscope all ON' view
A basic green scope appears next to the plugs, which help visualizing signal flow. On the right side of the screen horizontal grey bars show the output levels of each polyphonic voice for each active audio output.
'Hover over mini scopes' view
When hovering above a plug, the scope, the value of the plug, and the plugin information appears.
Navigation
LMB + DRAG on empty area Panning
MW on empty area Zoom In / Out
2xLMB on designer Enter designer
2xLMB on empty area Return to parent designer
Select / Deselect
CTRL + LMB above node Select / deselect node
Shift + LMB DRAG on empty area Box select
LMB on empty area Deselect
Editing
LMB on plug and drag Create connection
RMB on plug Remove connection
RMB on empty area Palette
RMB above node surface Exchange node
LMB on input plug Palette + connect new node to first output
LMB on output plug Palette + connect new node to first input
LMB on plug with connection Palette + insert new node to first input
RMB on header Rename node
LMB on node Select node
LMB + DRAG on node header Move selected nodes
LMB + SHIFT + DRAG on node header Move selected nodes horizontal / vertical
Editing
1 above input plug Create constant with 1
0 above input plug Create constant with 0
K above input plug Create knob
Del Delete selected node(s)
I above input plug Create an input node
O above output plug Create an output node
0..9 while dragging a wire Connect multiple wires in parallel at once
M while dragging a wire Connect multiple input plugs to an output plug
R Replace selected nodes to active node
Clipboard
CTRL + C Copy to clipboard
CTRL + X Cut to clipboard
CTRL + V Paste from clipboard
Selection
CTRL + A Select all
History
CTRL + Z Undo
CTRL + Y Redo
Organize nodes
LEFT arrow Align selected nodes to the left
RIGHT arrow Align selected nodes to the right
UP arrow Align selected nodes to the top
DOWN arrow Align selected nodes to the bottom
S above plug Straighten wire
