Pd-Vanilla opens with a “main” or console window, in which status, error or print messages will appear and the DSP can be turned on/off. In plugdata, the console appears on the right side of the plugdata window.
In Pd-Vanilla, a new patch (CMD-N on a Mac, CTRL-N in Windows) opens in a new window. In plugdata, new patches open as tabs in the application window.
CMD-E toggles between run and edit modes. CMD-clicking on white space in a patch does the same when using plugdata.
CMD-/ starts audio processing, CMD-. stops audio processing (though plugdata allows the user to define arbitrary shortcuts).
Connections between “inlets” and “outlets” are made with “patch cords.”
There is no “reference manual” describing all the available Pd objects. However, you can open a “help” window by right-clicking on a specific object (in edit mode) or use the “Help” menu to view program documentation.
There are also “reference” subpatches available for objects to explain the functions of all inlets and outlets and the types of messages they take and output.
The Pd Manual
is a good place to start if you have not used Pd before.
An extensive set of example patches, which accompany Miller's “The Theory and Technique of Electronic Music”
book, can be found in the Help Browser under “Pure Data/” (in plugdata, they are found in the documentation browser, which can be opened by clicking on an icon located on the right edge of the window).
Different types of boxes: object, message, GUI, comment
Use the TAB key to cycle through boxes or patch cords.
Various keyboard shortcuts exist that can be learned and used to speed up the creation of patches.
Use the trigger object to disambiguate the order of operations within a patch.
send and receive objects can be used instead of patchcords. The object names can be (and are often) abbreviated as s and r.
