Help getting started with C++ patch development for OWL Modular

iacoloco · December 6, 2025, 6:47pm

Hi everyone,

I’m completely new to the OWL SDK and to programming patches for the OWL Modular. I’ve done some plugin development in VCV Rack, very simple things, but this is my first time trying to write audio effects in C++ for OWL, and I’m not sure where to start.
I have decided to do a sounds effect in an Owl Module for my Final project as an Audio Software Engineer, but I feel very lost.

I’m mainly looking for:

A beginner-friendly workflow or guide (something like the VCV Rack Plugin Development Tutorial)
How to set up the OWL SDK / OwlProgram
How to compile and upload a patch to the module

antisvin · December 7, 2025, 9:57pm

Here are some starting points

github.com

RebelTechnology/OwlProgram/blob/develop/README.md

# OwlProgram
Dynamically loaded OWL program.

OwlProgram is the patch build environment for the OWL Pedal, OWL Modular, Magus, Wizard and Alchemist products from Rebel Technology. For more details see [www.rebeltech.org](https://www.rebeltech.org), the [community forum](community.rebeltech.org), or refer to [www.openwarelab.org](https://www.openwarelab.org/) for documentation.

It is used to build, run and store patches written in Pure Data, FAUST, Max Gen, SOUL, Maximilian and C++.

# Instructions

## Prerequisites
* gcc arm compiler (to make patch binary) [[1]](#ref1)
* FirmwareSender (to make, load and store sysex) [[2]](#ref2)
* emcc (to make web) [[3]](#ref3)
* faust2owl (to compile FAUST patches) [[4]](#ref4)
* The Heavy `hvcc` compiler (to compile PD patches) [[5]](#ref5)
* The `soul` compiler (to compile SOUL patches) [[6]](#ref6)
* gcc native compiler (to test locally) [[9]](#ref9)

* On Windows, you'll need a MAKE utility [[7]](#ref7).  You'll also need to open compile.mk and point TOOLROOT to your gcc installation directory, using a path string without spaces (such as using 8.3 filenames).

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And of course you should start with studying existing patches. Other than the Rebeltech patch library, there are a few collections on github:

What effect specifically are you planning to write?