Show HN: An experimental pattern-first DAW that supports MCP
Blokkily's pattern-first DAW and MCP agent control are technically ambitious, but the supplied discussion questions whether the README and frontend make the tool understandable or usable yet.
Blokkily is an experimental pattern-first DAW whose README describes synchronized tracker, piano-roll and step-grid editing of the same pattern, multi-track arrangement, CLAP/VST3 and SoundFont support, and an MCP bridge for agent control. It also includes an LLM composition assistant that proposes phrases for review.
The project is explicitly experimental, with missing comping, MIDI clock input and hardware MIDI output, and platform caveats around plugin editors and warped audio.
Key takeaways
- Patterns can be edited in tracker, piano roll or step grid and arranged across tracks with tempo steps, ramps and meter changes; a scene launcher records live performances into the arrangement.
- CLAP support is required in every build; VST3, SoundFont instruments and built-in keyed/drum samplers are supported, with plugin latency compensation in playback and export.
- An MCP bridge lets agents control the running application, while an LLM composition assistant proposes phrases that users review before applying; each generation is one undo step.
- Releases are CI-built for Linux, Windows and macOS; Linux is primary, macOS is ad hoc signed and not notarized, and plugin editor testing covers only the suite's own test plugins on standard-density screens.
- Limitations include no comping, no MIDI clock input, no hardware MIDI output, variable MPE support, and warped clips or sampler samples loading into memory.
- Rubber Band licensing makes binaries GPL unless a commercial licence is bought; bundled IBM Plex Sans and JetBrains Mono fonts are under SIL OFL 1.1.
What people think
Analysis details
2 comments analyzed. Analyzed .
The sample selects active discussion branches and includes available parent comments. It may omit parts of the full thread. Selected themes do not measure community opinion or how common a view is.
README organization and audience
The README is criticized for mixing high-level claims with internal technical details, making it hard to understand the product.
Frontend workflow and DAW scope
Questions remain about whether patterns sequence SoundFont instruments, audio clips, or both, and what the frontend actually does.
Onboarding demo
A recorded demo video and a demo song that plays out of the box are requested to reduce setup friction.