When the Spec Becomes Code: Building a Norns Instrument with AI

video upload by Lesjamusic

"Building PolyNexus: A Complete Norns Instrument, using Claude AI

I used to struggle with "vibe coding" - throwing prompts at AI and hoping for working software. Then I discovered the article "When the Spec Becomes the Code," and everything changed.

Spec-driven development (SDD) transformed my workflow. Instead of generating code through endless prompts, I focus on creating clear specifications first. The spec becomes the blueprint, and Claude AI helps compile it into working code.

PolyNexus is the result of this approach - a complete generative polyphonic instrument for Monome Norns that evolved far beyond my initial vision. What started as a chord sequencer grew ambitious: I built PolyVoice, a custom 6-voice synthesizer engine in SuperCollider, based on three Plaits oscillator models with wavefolding, sample rate reduction, and comprehensive modulation.

The best part? Spec-driven development gave me the confidence to tackle SuperCollider synthesis, something I wouldn't have attempted with traditional "vibe coding."

🎹 PolyNexus Features:

PolyVoice Synthesis Engine: • Custom 6-voice polyphonic SuperCollider engine • Three Plaits-inspired oscillator models (morph, waveshaping, wavetable) • Wavefolding for harmonic complexity • Sample rate reduction for lo-fi textures • Independent LFOs and envelope control per voice

Generative Sequencer: • 16-chord harmonic palette (monome Grid row 1) • Probabilistic note retriggering engine • Random chord sequencer for compositional surprises • Bass and sub-bass sequencer for rhythmic foundation • Real-time playable notes (Grid row 5)

Analog-Style Effects Chain: • Tape character: flutter, wow, saturation, tape noise • Tape-style delay with feedback and rate control • Multi-mode filtering for tone shaping

🔗 Resources: • Jean Bovet: "When the Spec Becomes the Code" - / when-the-spec-becomes-the-code • PolyNexus (coming soon to lines community) • monome Norns - https://monome.org • Mutable Instruments Plaits • SuperCollider synthesis language

⏱️ Timeline:
0:00 - Introduction: The Struggle with Vibe Coding
01:51 - Discovery: Spec-Driven Development
04:33 - What is PolyNexus?
12:37 - Live Performance

Want to try spec-driven development? Start by describing what you want to build in clear, detailed language. Iterate on the specification until it's crystal clear. Then let AI help compile it into code. You'll be amazed at what becomes possible."

Creepy Stylophone CPM DS 2 Jam 10 26 2025

video upload by I Love Cats and Synths

"Something to psych you up for Halloween. I made a creepy ethereal soundscape with the Stylophone CPM DS-2 drone synth and the Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer pedal to add chorus, delay, cloud grain FX and reverb. Enjoy!"

Ambient Performance // Polygene II // Torso S-4 // Onward // Lossy // Slöer

video upload by Lesjamusic

"Nine and a half minutes of synthy washy reverby goodness. Using the upper touch keyboard of the sublime ‪@genesynths‬ Polygene II gives such lovely raw oscillator tones. ‪@ChaseBlissAudio‬ Lossy + Onward + ‪@walrusaudioeffects‬ Slöer breaks, shifts and widens the sound. There's 4 different loops on the ‪@torsoelectronics‬ S-4, two of which make use of the filterbank, which can take field recordings and turn them into something harmonic. No talking on this one, just synth, synth, synth ❤️"

"Timeless" dawless jam with Teenage Engineering OP-XY, Walrus Qi

video upload by Aurélien Vieira Lino

"Another dawless jam with the amazing OP-XY and the ambient master FX, the Walrus Qi. Really loving how these two complement each other for this kind of vibe!"

Melancholy Jam 8/3/2025 Oberheim TEO-5 Stylophone CPM DS -2 Walrus Audio Slöer

video upload by I Love Cats and Synths

"A slow melancholy jam on a couple of my favorite analog synths and effects units. Oberheim TEO-5 with Walrus Audio Slöer Ambient Reverb, and Stylophone CPM DS-2 drone synth with Korg NTS-1 pulling effects duty.

Recorded live on a Zoom H6."

"Echoes" ambient jam with Teenage Engineering OP-XY, Walrus Qi

video upload by Aurélien Vieira Lino

"First jam with the incredible OP-XY by Teenage Engineering!
This little device is packed with potential — powerful, ultra-portable, and full of creative possibilities. I’m excited to see how it evolves over time, and I hope the updates keep coming! If you’ve got any questions about it, feel free to reach out.

Enjoyed the jam? Follow me here for more music soon: @aurelienmvl 🎧
You also can check my SoundCloud: / aurelienmb"

Walrus Audio MAKO R1 Reverb MKII Sound Demo with Synthesizer (no talking)

video upload by Limbic Bits

0:00 Boarder Pad
2:06 Dub Chords
3:27 Ambient Pluck (grainy reverb)
3:43 Indie Lead
5:02 Retro Pad
6:43 Pulse Pad (Warm Reverb)

Mermaid - Oberheim TEO-5 Stylophone DS-2 Walrus Qi Etherealizer Korg NTS-1 Ambient Jam 05/24/2025

video upload by I Love Cats and Synths

"A relaxing ambient jam using a new patch I created on the Oberheim TEO-5, accompanied by the Sylophone CPM DS-2 drone synth. Effects for TEO-5 were provided by the Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer pedal, and the Korg NTS-1 (offscreen) provided effects for the DS-2. Recorded on a Zoom H6."

Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer Demo (no talking) with TWISTfm

video upload by Limbic Bits

0:00 Dub Chord
2:10 Delay Lead
3:30 Bell Wave Variations
5:18 FM Improv
7:10 Ballad for Drift Wood

▶ Book "Electronic Music Production": https://limbicbits.com/book-electroni...

Walrus Audio QI Etherealizer with Twisted Electrons TWISTfm

video upload by Bonedo Synthesizers

Ambient performance and patch explanation // Cocoquantus // Elmyra // Palmelund BAAS // Borderlands

video upload by Lesjamusic

"I really enjoyed putting this one together. First half: Performance, second half: Patch notes.

Gear used:
Borderlands Granular
Neutral Labs Elmyra 2
Ciat-Lonbarde Cocoquantus
Palmelund Synthesizers BAAS
Chase Bliss Mood Mk2
Off camera: Soma Cosmos, Walrus Audio Slöer, Oto Boum

00:00 Performance
07:49 Patch Notes"

Vangelis Inspired Jam MPC Key 37 NI Cloud Supply OB-6 Walrus Qi 2/20/25

video upload by I Love Cats and Synths

"A mellow jam inspired by one of my favorite Vangelis pieces, done on NI Cloud Supply on MPC plus OB-6, with effects added by the Walrus Qi Etherealizer."

Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer Pedal Unboxing and Demo with Sequential OB-6

video upload by I Love Cats and Synths

"Unboxing, demo and jam of the new Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer Effects Pedal with Sequential OB-6 synthesizer.

0:00 Unboxing
2:35 First test
4:04 Demo Patch on OB-6 and Qi Chorus
4:52 Delay and Filter
5:55 Grain Cloud
7:26 Phrase Sampler
8:12 Reverb
9:35 Jam"

Stylophone CPM DS-2 and Oberheim TEO-5 Drone Synth Jam with Walrus Slöer Reverb Pedal 2/8/2025

video upload by

"A nice mellow ambient jam featuring the Oberheim TEO-5 with Walrus Audio Slöer Reverb Pedal, and the Stylophone CPM DS-2 with Korg NTS-1 providing flanger, ping pong delay and riser/shimmer reverb.

Bella helps out with the camera work too. 🐱"

Cinematic intergalactic - live synth performance with Prophet Rev2, Walrus Qi, piano, strings

video upload by Jay Hosking

"Here, I used the 5-pin MIDI out of the M-Audio Keystation 61 Mk3 to control the Sequential Prophet Rev2, and used the Keystation's USB MIDI out to control a number of plug-ins at the same time. What you're hearing here is a single MIDI line that's being split to multiple instruments that get layered on top of each other. I'm really happy with the final result.

This song was inspired by exploring the Walrus Qi Etherealizer, which is adding granular, reverb, and delay to the Prophet Rev2. Once I had the basic idea on the Rev2, I realized that I could use the Keystation's USB MIDI out to control software instruments at the same time. Mostly what you're hearing are a collection of Spitfire plug-ins (piano, strings, mandolin) being stacked on top of the Rev2, using the same live MIDI data that I'm sending to the Rev2. It's a neat effect.

Thanks for listening.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"

Walrus Qi Etherealizer - exploration w/ hardware synths (SH-101, Prophet Rev2, 303, Nymphes, OP-XY)

video upload by Jay Hosking

"Trying out Walrus's new multi-effect with some hardware synthesizers.

Full disclosure: Walrus sent this pedal along for me to try for free. I'm a big fan of their Slöer pedal and also really like the Meraki (both of which I bought with my own money), so I was happy to give the Qi a spin. Happy to report that I am super impressed with this one. You can think of the Qi as kind of complementary to the Hologram Chroma Console: if the Chroma Console gives everything grit, colour, and texture, the Qi gives everything space, width, and ambience.

Here, I use it with a few synths I love and found myself lost for my entire Sunday exploring what the Qi could create with the right synthesizers. In fact, one of the improvisations (not in the final video here) has turned into a full song, which I'll put up as soon as I have time to record a performance. It's a really inspiring pedal and works very well with hardware synths.

00:00 - with Prophet Rev
04:25 - with Cyclone Analogic Bassbot TT-303
06:34 - with Dreadbox Nymphes
10:02 - with Teenage Engineering OP-XY
12:33 - with Roland SH-101


Recorded live to a stereo output, with only limiting on the master (no compression, EQ, or other effects).

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"

TR-707 & x0xb0x (TB-303 - acid)

video upload by James Vanaria

"Simple acid track with the TR-707 on drums and the x0xb0x pumped through a few effects - Walrus Audio Juliana (Chorus), Eventide Stereo Memory Man (Delay), Strymon Bigsky (Reverb), Keeley Aria (overdrive, compression). The TR-707 has some Valhalla Vintage Verb added in post."

SQRL-01 - Synth guitar for the rodents

video upload by Love Hultén

"Synth axe 🎸 for @catbeatsofficial + forest critter friends 🐿️ From an outdoor session a few days ago 🌲

Incl
C&G Pocket Piano
Walrus Fundamental Reverb
Built-in speaker
Overengineered-drawbridge-nut-dispenser"

Sequential Take 5, Moog Subharmonicon, Walrus Slöer - cinematic synth performance

video upload by Jay Hosking

"A live synthesizer jam performed entirely on hardware.

I'm on a big kick right now in just playing the gear in front of me. Here, I brought out my favourite all-arounder, the Sequential Take 5, and paired it with the Moog Subharmonicon to create a little rhythm and arrangement. The Walrus Slöer adds reverb to the Subharmonicon; the Take 5's delay and reverb are both from its internal effects.

It's incredible how the Subharmonicon can quickly inspire some chords, and how the Take 5 can take you from an idea to a finished song with just a little tweaking.

Thanks for listening.

Performed and recorded live, with EQ, compression, and limiting on the master.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"

Magnetic Heart - Defeat (Poem by Kahlil Gibran)

video upload by Magnetic Heart

"A live electronic music performance by Magnetic Heart.

The poem is written by Kahlil Gibran and spoken by Shane Morris (here's to hoping that the Copyright doesn't slap me in the face about this...).

First video with my new setup which has been extended quiet dramatically.
Hardware used:
- Squarp Hapax
- Elektron Analog Four
- Elektron Analog Rytm
- Novation Summit
- Empress Reverb
- Walrus Audio Julianna Chorus
- Suonobuono nABC+ Compressor
- Behringer 1003B Mixer
- Elektron Analog Heat+FX on the master signal

Recorded straight into Ableton, no additional mixing or mastering done there."