mtytel/helm

---

mtytel/helm.json

{
  "createdAt": "2015-01-08T07:27:12Z",
  "defaultBranch": "master",
  "description": "Helm - a free polyphonic synth with lots of modulation",
  "fullName": "mtytel/helm",
  "homepage": "http://tytel.org/helm",
  "language": "C++",
  "name": "helm",
  "pushedAt": "2022-09-24T04:23:20Z",
  "stargazersCount": 2456,
  "topics": [],
  "updatedAt": "2025-11-21T11:50:40Z",
  "url": "https://github.com/mtytel/helm"
}

Helm

Helm is a free, cross-platform, polyphonic synthesizer that runs on GNU/Linux, Mac, and Windows as a standalone program and as a LV2/VST/AU/AAX plugin. Release is in beta so there are outstanding bugs. Please send any bugs found to matthewtytel@gmail.com

Installing:

Go to tytel.org/helm for builds.

Building:

If you want to build AAX plugins You’ll need its SDK located in ~/srcs
For AU on the Mac you’ll want to put the CoreAudio SDK in /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Extras/CoreAudio
Nothing extra is needed for building VST/LV2 plugins

Linux

To build and install the standalone, lv2 and vst plugin:

make
sudo make install

Other make commands:

# Build just the Linux standalone executable:
make standalone

# Build just the Linux LV2 plugin:
make lv2

# Build just the Linux VST plugin
make vst

# Install just the Linux standalone executable:
sudo make install_standalone

# Install just the Linux LV2 plugin:
sudo make install_lv2

# Install just the Linux VST plugin
sudo make install_vst

The standalone executable is built to standalone/builds/linux/build and installed to /usr/bin The LV2 plugin is built to builds/linux/LV2 and installed to /usr/lib/lv2 The VST plugin is built to builds/linux/VST and installed to /usr/lib/lxvst

OSX

Open /standalone/builds/osx/Helm.xcodeproj for standalone version
Open /builds/osx/Helm.xcodeproj for plugin versions

Windows

Open /standalone/builds/vs15/Helm.sln for standalone version
Open /builds/vs15/Helm.sln for plugin versions

Features:

• 32 voice polyphony
• Interactive visual interface
• Powerful modulation system with live visual feedback
• Dual oscillators with cross modulation and up to 15 unison oscillators each
• Sub oscillator with shuffle waveshaping
• Oscillator feedback and saturation for waveshaping
• 12 different waveforms
• Blending between 12 or 24dB low/band/high pass filter
• Low/Band/High Shelf filters
• 2 monophonic and 1 polyphonic LFO
• Step sequencer
• Lots of modulation sources including polyphonic aftertouch
• Simple arpeggiator
• Effects: Formant filter, stutter, delay, distortion, reverb