Improve the README; placeholder the manual

README.md

@@ -1,3 +1,54 @@
 # Six Sines
 
-Maybe, before 1 Jan 2025, as a new years present, Six Sines will get released.
+Six Sines is a small synthesizer which explores audio rate inter-modulation of signals.
+Some folks would call it "an FM synth" but it's really a bit more PM/AM, and anyway that's
+kinda not the point.
+
+If you want to read a manual, [go here](doc/manual.md)
+
+If you want to download a release or recent version, [go here](releases)
+
+## Background
+
+The project exists for a few reasons
+
+1. At the end of 2024, I was in a bit of a slump dev-wise for a variety of reasons and wanted a 
+   small project to sort of jump-start me for 2025. I had watched [Newfangled Dan ship obliterate](https://www.newfangledaudio.com/obliteratefrom 
+from idea to loved plugin in November, and I thought hey can I do the same in December
+2. As I wrapped up 2024, I also wanted to take account of how well our project to factor code into libraries
+went and make a sort of todo-list of why it was hard to build a synth. This includes some 
+insights into the sst- libraries and the clap-wrapper
+2. Another india audio dev, who asked to not be named here in case this sucks, which it doesn't I dont think,
+said to a group of users in a discord "the most useless thing is a 6 op fill matrix pure FM synth".
+3. It seemed fun, and I thought some people would download it.
+4. It had been in my head for a while and I wanted to hear how it sounded
+
+## How to build this software
+
+We provide pre-build windows, linux, and macOS binaries at the [release page](releases) but especially on 
+Linux, you may want to build it yourself, since we use ubuntu 24 machines and linux doesn't really exist.
+
+So to build it, do the standard
+
+```aiignore
+git clone https://github.com/baconpaul/six-sines
+cd six-sines
+cmake -Bignore/build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+cmake --build ignore/build --config Release --target six-sines_all
+```
+
+various plugins and executables will now be scattered around ignore/build.
+
+## I found a bug or want a feature added
+
+So this was really a one month sprint. And its pretty self contained thing. So feature requests
+are things I may say no to. But open an issue and chat. Or send a PR!
+
+Bugs especially let me know.
+
+But remember, "Programming an FM/PM/RM synth is hard" is not a bug in six-sines!
+
+## Why is this a `baconpaul` and not a `surge-synthesizer` project
+
+Well you know. It's not quite up to snuff for a surge project. And its pretty idiosyncratic.
+I may do a few more side quest projects in 2025. Lets see.

doc/design.md

@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ GENERAL AND CLEANUPS
   - Toggles and Multiswitches dont have accesible set actions
   - Show menu doesnt work for set value
 - Ctrl/Knob quantizes on ratio to PO2
-- AM is somehow not quiet right. Signal to zero seems 'no modulation' not 'no output'
-- Write a better README
-- Write some semblance of documentation
+- Write some semblance of a manual
 
-THINGS I DIDNT DO
+THINGS I DIDNT GET TO FOR 1.0
+- AM is somehow not quiet intuitive. Modulator signal to zero results in 'no output' but it sort of intuitively should me
+  'no modulation'
 - 90%-100% of internal nyquist mute fades (maybe ship without this tho)
 - Main DAHDSR at DAHD=0 SR=1 means voice lifetime is longest active op mixer DAHDSR and main DAHDSR bypassed
 - Note Expressions

doc/manual.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Six Sines Manual
+
+It has knobs. Play with them! 
+
+(More coming soon)