🎓 PatchPath Academy: Comprehensive Modular Synthesis Education Platform #34
Description
🎓 PatchPath Academy - Education System Initiative
Epic: Education Platform
Codename: Raspberry Beret
Priority: High
Type: Major Feature Enhancement
📋 TL;DR
Transform PatchPath AI into the definitive learning platform for modular synthesis (audio + video). Launch "PatchPath Academy" - a gamified, AI-powered degree program with structured curriculum, interactive lessons, personalized patch exercises, and achievement tracking.
Current State: Video synthesis docs buried in /docs, no audio education, zero structure.
Vision: Full-featured education platform earning 25,000 students and 3,000+ certificates in Year 1.
🔥 Why This Matters
Market Research Shows MASSIVE Gap
Video Synthesis Education:
- LZX founder literally wants to create "100 patches textbook" but has no time
- Community is ~500-1000 people globally with scattered forum posts
- Learning method: "Patch more hours = understanding" (DIY chaos)
Audio Modular Education:
- Best option: $39-$199 video courses with ZERO gamification
- Berklee offers traditional courses (expensive, gatekept)
- Forums are intimidating for beginners
Gamification in Synthesis:
- NOBODY is doing this (IBM study: 87% more engaged with badges)
The Opportunity
PatchPath AI can dominate this space by offering:
- ✅ Structured curriculum (Beginner → Expert)
- ✅ Gamification with badges/XP/certificates
- ✅ AI-personalized patches for YOUR rack
- ✅ Video + Audio synthesis combined
- ✅ Free "degree" program
- ✅ Interactive learning with real patch testing
🎯 Core Features
1. Structured Curriculum
- Audio Track: Fundamentals → Subtractive → FM → West Coast → Generative → Performance
- Video Track: Basics → LZX → Signal Flow → Feedback → Performance → Installation
- Combined Track: Audio-visual integration techniques
2. Gamification System
- Badges: Technique mastery (e.g., "FM Wizard", "Feedback Artist")
- Levels: Beginner (0-100 pts) → Intermediate → Advanced → Expert (1501+)
- Certificates: Official completion credentials (Audio, Video, Associate, Masters)
- Streaks: Daily practice tracking with notifications
- Leaderboards: Optional community competition
3. AI-Powered Personalization
- Rack-Specific Lessons: "Here's FM synthesis with YOUR modules"
- Adaptive Difficulty: System suggests next lesson based on progress
- Practice Patches: Claude generates exercises for user's actual rack
- Smart Recommendations: AI analyzes skill gaps and suggests optimal path
4. Interactive Learning
- Video Demonstrations: Embedded technique videos
- Theory Content: Text lessons, history, technical deep-dives
- Practice Exercises: Try patches on your rack
- Quizzes: Verify understanding before advancing
- Community Patches: User-submitted examples earn points
5. Certificate Program
- Marketing Angle: "Signed by former VP who issued 5000+ diplomas"
- Serious Content: University-level synthesis rigor
- Tracks:
- Certificate in Audio Synthesis (50 lessons, 20 hours)
- Certificate in Video Synthesis (40 lessons, 15 hours)
- Associate Degree (100 lessons, 40+ hours)
- Masters Degree (150 lessons, 60+ hours)
🏗️ Technical Architecture
New Database Containers
- lessons: Curriculum content, videos, exercises, prerequisites
- userProgress: XP, levels, streaks, completed lessons
- badges: Achievement definitions and unlock criteria
- certificates: Issued credentials with verification
New API Routes
/api/academy/
├── lessons/ (list, get, recommend)
├── progress/ (user stats, complete, quiz, streak)
├── badges/ (list, earned, unlock)
├── certificates/ (issue, view, verify)
└── leaderboard/ (optional)
New UI Pages
/app/academy/
├── page.tsx (landing)
├── dashboard/ (progress)
├── lessons/[slug]/ (lesson view)
├── tracks/ (audio/video/combined)
└── certificates/[id]/ (shareable)
AI Integration
- Practice Patch Generator: Personalized exercises for user's rack
- Lesson Recommender: Adaptive next-lesson suggestions
- Cost Estimate: ~$500-$1000/month for 10k users
📅 Phased Implementation
Phase 1: Foundation (MVP) - 4 weeks
Goal: Launch with 10 lessons, badge system, progress tracking
Deliverables:
- Database schema + API routes
- Academy landing + dashboard
- 10 core lessons (5 audio, 5 video)
- Basic badge system (10 badges)
- Progress tracking with XP
- Lesson completion flow
Success: 100 users complete ≥1 lesson, 20 earn first badge
Phase 2: Gamification & Practice - 4 weeks
Goal: Add AI practice patches, quizzes, streaks
Deliverables:
- AI practice patch generator (rack-specific)
- Quiz system with scoring
- Streak tracking + notifications
- 20 additional lessons
- 30 more badges
- Visual learning path roadmap
Success: 50 users complete practice patch, 200 maintain 7+ day streak
Phase 3: Certificates & Advanced Content - 6 weeks
Goal: Launch certificate program, expert content, community
Deliverables:
- Certificate generation (PDF + shareable URLs)
- 40 advanced lessons (expert techniques)
- User-contributed lesson system
- Certificate verification
- Leaderboard (opt-in)
Success: 50 certificates issued, 10 community lessons approved
Phase 4: Community & Expansion - 8 weeks
Goal: Community features, Masters degree, mobile
Deliverables:
- Discussion forums per lesson
- Patch sharing integration
- Live Q&A events with experts
- Masters degree track (60+ lessons)
- AI search + recommendations
- Mobile app (PWA)
- ModularGrid integration
Success: 10 Masters degrees, 500+ active community, featured in major publications
🎯 Success Metrics
Year 1 Targets
- 25,000 registered Academy students
- 300,000 lessons completed
- 3,000 certificates issued
- 60% 7-day retention rate
- 40% course completion rate
North Star Metric
"Hours of Learning Completed" - Total educational engagement
🚀 Go-to-Market
Launch Strategy
- Beta test with 20 users (LZX community, ModWiggler)
- Press outreach (Synthtopia, Perfect Circuit, Fact Mag)
- Partner with influencers (Ricky Tinez, Hainbach)
- Social campaign: "Earn your degree in synthesis - for free"
Positioning
"The only place to earn your degree in modular synthesis - for free."
Competitive Edge
| Feature | PatchPath | Learning Modular | LZX Forum | Berklee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Curriculum | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Gamification | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| AI Personalization | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Video Synthesis | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | |
| Certificates | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cost | FREE | $39-$199 | Free | $$$$ |
📚 Full Documentation
Complete PRD: /docs/github-issues/education-system-prd.md
Includes:
- Detailed market research and competitive analysis
- Complete technical architecture and database schemas
- User stories for all personas
- Design principles and UX guidelines
- Risk analysis and mitigation strategies
- Analytics instrumentation plan
- Content creation guidelines
- Open questions and next steps
✅ Definition of Done (Phase 1 MVP)
- 10 lessons published (5 audio, 5 video)
- User account, lesson viewing, completion tracking
- Progress system (XP, levels, badges)
- 10 badges implemented with auto-awards
- Academy landing page with clear value prop
- 100 users complete ≥1 lesson
- Analytics instrumented
- Responsive design (mobile-friendly)
🎸 Next Steps
- Review & approve this PRD with stakeholders
- Finalize scope for Phase 1 lesson topics
- Content sprint - Write first 10 lessons
- Video production - Record/source lesson videos
- Technical spike - Validate DB schema
- Design mockups - Create UI mockups (Figma)
- Build Phase 1 - 4-week sprint to MVP
- Beta test - 20-user closed beta
- Launch - Public release with marketing
Created by: Raspberry Beret Documentation Agent
For: PatchPath AI Education Initiative
Vision: Make PatchPath Academy THE definitive place to learn modular synthesis
28 years in the making. Let's give synthesis education away for free. 💜🎸