Onda

Getting started

Try Onda in your browser

The quickest way to get started is the Onda playground. It lets you edit, compile, and hear Onda programs directly in your browser, with no installation. Start with the included patch or open a program from the example cookbook.

Install Onda when you are ready to work with local files, use native audio tools, or embed it in an application.

Install a precompiled release

Precompiled release packages are available for:

  • Linux x64 and arm64
  • macOS arm64
  • Windows x64

Download the archive for your platform and extract it. It includes the onda executable, documentation, and examples. Add its bin directory to your PATH to run onda from a terminal. SHA-256 checksums are published with each release.

On Linux, run ./install.sh from the extracted archive to install the CLI in ~/.local/bin and add Onda Run to your applications menu. Run ./uninstall.sh from the archive to remove them.

Launching onda without command-line arguments opens the Onda Run file picker. The macOS package also includes Onda.app, and Windows packages include a console-free Onda.exe launcher. Keep the Windows launcher in the extracted package. Create a shortcut if you want to launch it from the desktop or Start menu.

The precompiled macOS binaries, including Onda.app, are not signed with an Apple Developer ID and are not notarized. If macOS blocks an app you trust, try opening it once, then go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway and confirm Open. See Apple’s instructions for details. Separate executables or plug-ins may require their own approval.

Windows binaries are not code-signed (Authenticode). Windows may warn about unrecognized downloads and it may trigger Microsoft Defender SmartScreen’s Windows protected your PC dialog. To run Onda.exe, select More info → Run anyway, when offered. See Microsoft’s SmartScreen guidance.

Check the installation:

onda --help

Write your first patch

Create a file named sine.onda:

params:
  freq = 440.0 {20, 10000, scale = log}

init:
  phase = 0.0

block:
  incr = freq * TWO_PI / SR

  sample:
    out1 = sin(phase)
    phase = phase + incr
    if phase > TWO_PI:
      phase = phase - TWO_PI

The freq parameter controls the pitch. The program keeps track of oscillator phase between samples and produces a sine wave.

Check and run it

Open the standalone run window to play with the patch:

onda run sine.onda

Adjust freq in the window to change the pitch. Saving edits to the file reloads the program.

Next steps

  • Examples — try instruments, effects, and soundscapes.
  • CLI and editor tools — choose audio devices, use MIDI and samples, set up an editor, or compile WebAssembly.
  • Working with projects — keep source files and assets together and share your programs.
  • Onda VST3 plugin — use OndaSynth for instruments and OndaFX for effects inside a DAW.