Appearance
The Interface
MNodes interface is divided into several key areas.
Layout Overview
Header / Toolbar
The top bar provides access to:
- File operations: New, Open, Save, Save As
- Edit operations: Undo, Redo, Copy, Paste
- Preset browser: Browse and load presets by category
- Home button: Open the Home panel
- Settings: Open settings overlay
Graph Canvas
The central workspace where you build your audio patches by placing and connecting nodes.
Navigation
| Action | Input |
|---|---|
| Pan | Middle-click drag, or Space + left-click drag |
| Zoom | Mouse wheel or trackpad pinch |
| Select node | Click on a node |
| Multi-select | Ctrl/Cmd + click, or drag a selection box |
| Select all | Ctrl/Cmd + A |
| Add node | Right-click to open the Node Palette |
| Move nodes | Click and drag selected nodes |
| Delete | Select and press Delete/Backspace |
Drag and drop onto the graph
Drop files onto the editor to load them straight away. This works for presets, preset bundles, and factory packs, and also for looks: drop a .mnLook (or .hbLook) file onto the editor to apply that look immediately. Applying a dropped look is a single undo step, so Ctrl/Cmd+Z reverts it.
MiniMap
A small overview of the entire graph appears in the corner of the canvas. Click on the minimap to quickly navigate to any part of your patch.
Graph Toolbar
A floating toolbar at the bottom of the canvas. You can drag it to reposition it, and collapse/expand it. Here are all the controls from left to right:
| # | Button | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drag handle (dots) | Drag to reposition the toolbar anywhere on the canvas |
| 2 | Expand / Collapse | Show or hide the toolbar buttons. Click to toggle |
| 3 | Grid & Snap | Toggle the grid overlay on/off. When enabled, nodes snap to the grid |
| 4 | Grid Size (slider + number) | Adjust the grid spacing (5 to 80 pixels) |
| 5 | Zoom 100% (magnifying glass) | Reset zoom to exactly 100% |
| 6 | Fit to View (expand arrows) | Auto-fit all nodes into the current viewport |
| 7 | Zoom Level (slider + %) | Adjust zoom level (15% to 500%) |
| 8 | Show/Hide Panel | Toggle the Panel (control surface) visibility |
| 9 | Show/Hide Explorer | Toggle the left Explorer sidebar |
| 10 | Show/Hide Inspector | Toggle the right Inspector sidebar |
Explorer Panel (Left)
The left sidebar with four tabs, top to bottom: Files, Nodes, Modules / Subgraphs, and Lab.
- Files: Browse your computer's file system. Navigate to audio files and drag them onto the canvas or into a Sampler
- Nodes: Browse all available node types by category
- Modules / Subgraphs: Browse your saved modules and subgraphs
- Lab: Experimental features
- Favorites: Star folders and files for quick access
- Preview: Built-in audio player at the bottom lets you audition audio files before loading them. Supports Play, Loop, and Auto Play
Presets are no longer reached from this sidebar. Browse them through the preset controller (the preset browser opened from the toolbar). See Preset Library.
Needs: explorer-sidebar-tabs.png, the left Explorer sidebar showing its four tabs top to bottom: Files, Nodes, Modules / Subgraphs, Lab (no Presets/Library tab).
Inspector Panel (Right)
When you select a node, the Inspector shows all its parameters organized in collapsible sections.
The Inspector sections include:
- Node Presets: Save and load presets for this specific node type
- Main: The node's primary parameters (Value, Min, Max, Default, Increment, etc.)
- Appearance: Visual customization (colors, text size, corner radius, etc.)
- DAW: Expose parameters to your DAW for automation
- Interaction: Input behavior settings
- Panel: Control surface position and visibility
Each parameter row has three icons on the right:
- Randomize (circular arrows): Randomize this individual parameter
- Reset (target icon): Reset to default value
- Lock (padlock): Protects the parameter from the section's randomize button. You can still change it manually, via presets, or via its own individual randomize button
The Filter fields search bar at the top lets you quickly find parameters in nodes with many settings.
Node Palette
Opened by right-clicking on the canvas. A search-based picker with category filter tabs.
- Search bar: Type to filter nodes by name
- Category tabs: All, Audio, CV, Convert, Data, Debug, Flow, Math, Midi, Subgraph, Transport, UI, Utility, Widget
- Results list: Shows matching nodes with their category. Click to add a node at the cursor position
Home Panel
An overlay that appears on startup with:
- MNodes logo and version number
- Hub Projects: Recent content from MNodesHub (up to 8 items)
- Recent Presets: Quick access to your latest work
- Show on Startup toggle
Front Panel (Control Surface)
A separate view for live performance. See The Front Panel for details.
Settings
An overlay with sections for General, Audio/MIDI, and License. See Settings for details.