diff --git a/packages/core/controls.mjs b/packages/core/controls.mjs
index 5a275294..e0057c67 100644
--- a/packages/core/controls.mjs
+++ b/packages/core/controls.mjs
@@ -73,6 +73,49 @@ export function registerControl(names, ...aliases) {
  */
 export const { s, sound } = registerControl(['s', 'n', 'gain'], 'sound');
 
+/**
+ * generic macro param for a sound synth
+ *
+ * @name z1
+ * @synonyms z
+ * @param {number | Pattern}
+ * @example
+ * n(run(8)).scale("D:pentatonic").s("supersaw").x(".01 .75").release(0.5)
+ *
+ */
+export const { z1, z } = registerControl(['z1', 'z2', 'z3', 'z4'], 'z');
+
+/**
+ * generic macro param for a sound synth
+ *
+ * @name z2
+ * @param {number | Pattern}
+ * @example
+ * n(run(8)).scale("D:pentatonic").s("supersaw").x2("2 .7").release(0.5)
+ *
+ */
+export const { z2 } = registerControl('z2');
+
+/**
+ * generic macro param for a sound synth
+ *
+ * @name z3
+ * @param {number | Pattern}
+ * @example
+ * n(run(8)).scale("D:pentatonic").s("supersaw").x3(".1 .75").release(0.5)
+ *
+ */
+export const { z4 } = registerControl('z3');
+
+/**
+ * generic macro param for a sound synth
+ *
+ * @name x4
+ * @param {number | Pattern}
+ *
+ */
+export const { x4 } = registerControl('z4');
+
 /**
  * Define a custom webaudio node to use as a sound source.
  *
diff --git a/packages/superdough/synth.mjs b/packages/superdough/synth.mjs
index 621a6e59..113fb4e5 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/synth.mjs
+++ b/packages/superdough/synth.mjs
@@ -73,8 +73,9 @@ export function registerSynthSounds() {
     'supersaw',
     (begin, value, onended) => {
       const ac = getAudioContext();
-      let { duration, n, unison = 5, spread = 0.6, detune } = value;
-      detune = detune ?? n ?? 0.18;
+      const {z1, z2, z3} = value;
+      let { duration, n, unison = z2 ?? 5, spread = z3 ?? 0.6, detune, } = value;
+      detune = detune ?? n ?? z1 ?? 0.18;
       const frequency = getFrequencyFromValue(value);
 
       const [attack, decay, sustain, release] = getADSRValues(