Monday, June 5, 2023

VintageRack (iOS/macOS) updated to version 1.3

This update improves the app's compatibility with Logic Pro for iPad. You may need to reboot your iPad for the app to appear in the list of Logic Pro plugins. Also made some improvements and fixed a few minor bugs.

VintageRack - Easy LoFi Vintage Vibe Effects >> App Store

VintageRack (iOS,macOS,Audio unit) is a minimalistic and convenient multi-effect app that contains modules realistically model notable retro gears from the early digital age with their natural and warm aesthetics. Most of the effects in this application have been inspired and based on the principles of actual hardware from the 70s and 80s, which is great for giving the sound of any instrument the nostalgic and emotional mood of old recordings.

>>> More about this app



Colin Powell - Vintage Rack Demo Jam

A brief walkthrough of the app and then a trawl through all of the included presets whilst jamming along with some other apps in AUM.


Ken Karsh - My Romance (Serenading Pandora)

My distinguished feline assistant Pandora is truly the star of this show, as you will see in this performance. The guitars were processed with VintageRack by Igor Vasiliev. I’m having some fun with the Jazz standard (and our wedding dance song) “My Romance.” Enjoy and Happy Holidays!


Synths and Apps EP1: Roland Juno-60 with VintageRack, AltiSpace, Classic FX, SpaceFields

This is a series of short demos of my apps with different synths. How they can change the sound, make it brighter and more engaging or even drastically change it. I really like hardware synths, but these apps will work great with any soft synth on iOS or Mac, also as with a live instruments. So it will be a small series of holiday sound experiments!







Thursday, May 18, 2023

GlitchScaper as gated effect

Each GlitchScaper generator can act as a gated effect. To use this feature, select the "Stream" mode in the "Tone" section of the generator panel. In this mode, the external input of the app (input of the Audio unit effect) becomes the signal source for the generator. The signal is processed by the generator directly, without recording to the loop. The "Gate" parameter in the "Tone" section defines the envelope that controls the input signal level of the generator. Parameters "Frequency / Envelope", "Frequency / Range" and "Modulate the frequency / Type" are not used in this mode. Thus, the each active step of the internal sequencer opens the gate (run the envelope) and passes the input signal through the generator effects.


The input signal is cut into steps associated to an external rhythm (BPM) when this app is used as an Audio unit in a DAW or host app. That allows you to create ambient or glitch patterns match to the rhythm of a drum machine (or another instance of the GlitchScaper audio unit) from any external sources, regardless of its original rhythmic structure. Of course, for creating ambient patterns with long sequencer steps, it is best to use smooth source material with a not very noticeable rhythm. Using all six GlitchScaper generators as gated effects, you can create quite complex patterns. For example from internet radio.

Tip: In usual mode, the tone constructor (button "Make tone") uses an internal tone or noise as the generator signal source. To use the tone constructor for an external signal, set the generator to the "Stream" mode in the "Tone" section. In this mode, you can use the tone constructor for an external signal.



In the following example, the GlitchScaper processes the signal from the minimalistic streaming internet radio app Ström and creates a patterns that matches well with the rhythm of the drum machine app Elastic Drums. AUM app is used as the Audio unit / Inter-app audio host.




GlitchScaper is a rhythm machine with six sound generators, each controlled by a two-layer cycle sequencer, designed to easily create glitchy patterns and scapes. >> App Store

>>> More about GlitchScaper (demo, reviews and guides)






Monday, May 15, 2023

GlitchScaper app (iOS/macOS) updated to version 1.1

GlitchScaper is a rhythm machine with six sound generators, each controlled by a two-layer cycle sequencer, designed to easily create glitchy patterns and scapes. >> App Store

>>> More about GlitchScaper (demo, reviews and guides)




More details about this update:

  • The new "Stream" mode for generators (in section "Generator - Tone") allows you to use this app as a six-channel gated effect. In this mode the generator uses a direct input stream as a signal source. This mode does not use the loop recorder and is similar to how gated effects work. The "Input" mode has been renamed to "Loop".
  • A new button "Space: On, Continue, Off" has been added in the "Output" section to control the common reverb space and reverb reflections of each generator. With this button, you can turn off the overall reverb space and reverb reflections of the generators, for use external reverb / spatial effects as needed. This button also allows you to make reverb tails continue after the sequencer stops.
  • Added the ability to create groups of presets. Now the list of presets can be organized more conveniently. You can create groups, move presets between groups and merge them. The "Favorites" group is created automatically when you make a preset a favorite. The "Factory" group contains all factory presets, and can be hidden in the settings.
  • Added the ability to export and import presets and groups. You can save a preset or group to an external file, then import it into the app on another device.
  • The "Solo" button has been added for all generators.
  • Several new factory presets added.
  • Improved work of generators in loop recording mode (the "Loop" mode).
  • Sequencer control parameters exposed as MIDI and external parameters of Audio unit.
  • Added a detailed description of the new modes to the built-in description of the app. Also available as a PDF file.



GlitchScaper tutorials from the channel "SoundForMore Tutorials"








Tuesday, April 18, 2023

SoundScaper old but still good

SoundScaper is an experimental sound mini lab for creating unusual soundscapes, atmospheric textures, drones, glitches and noises based on circuit bending principles.

>>> More about SoundScaper

This was my first experimental app inspired by circuit bending devices and implementing some of these principles. It is well suited for experimenting with creating new and unusual sounds from ordinary samples.

>>> Do you want to know more about Circuit Bending? (From Wikipedia)

Although it does not support audio units, it can work perfectly as an Inter-app Audio (IAA) module with any DAWs or hosts. And what's important, this app still works with minimum iOS 10, so you can use it on your older iPads where not many music apps still work.



Great new demo of SoundScaper from the channel The Sound Test Room.




Here's a great collection of use SoundScaper from Bill T Miller of Orgy Of Noise.





SoundScaper and BeatCutter just made for each other :)


BeatCutter - Rhythm slicing & recombining

BeatCutter (iOS, macOS, AUv3) is an experimental multi-channel app for slicing and recombining sound based on rhythm. In the center of the app is a matrix of sample cells with smoothly reconfigurable recording, playback and control busses. >>> More about this app



Some old demos






Did you know that the SoundScaper app has its own hardware prototype? Hardware DIY prototype of SoundScaper.

And this device also great with other apps.








Friday, April 14, 2023

BeatCutter app (iOS/macOS) updated to version 1.9

This update adds three new datasets that are great for slicing long, smoothly changing multi-timbral samples or external sources. Datasets are used to set specific parameter values when using a template.


Also: Fixed an issue where files added from other apps were not saved in presets. Fixed problem with starting playback in some DAWs (particularly GarageBand). Updated description and fixed some minor bugs.



BeatCutter app on iPad slicing eight simple melodic loops to chaotic ambient by using new dataset "Slow immersion" to the rhythm of GarageBand drum machine.




BeatCutter - Rhythm slicing & recombining >> App Store

BeatCutter (iOS/macOS) is an experimental multi-channel app for slicing and recombining sound based on rhythm. In the center of the app is a matrix of sample cells with smoothly reconfigurable recording, playback and control busses. This app is best for those who would like to experiment with long sound files or live instruments, creating chaotic constructions and patterns from sliced rhythm-driven samples.

>>> More about BeatCutter (demo, reviews and guides)

>>> BeatCutter - A series of step-by-step tutorials







Thursday, April 13, 2023

SynthScaper LE - Multitimbral atmospheric synth (demo)

Lush pads, psychedelic synths and atmospheric soundscapes in an easy to use app with a powerful sound engine.

>>> More about SynthScaper LE



Demo of SynthScaper LE from the channel "The Sound Test Room".


A quick jam using 2 apps: AudioModern LoopMix (a patch from the free BLEND II bank, called "Marigold Kit 98bpm") and SynthScaper LE (a patch in Soundscapes called "Window at Nebula") inside AUM and using my Arturia Keystep 37. From Colin Powell.




Demo of SynthScaper LE with AltiSpace 2 as audio units on iPad.

AltiSpace is a convolution reverb app with advanced controls that provides realistic sounding natural acoustic space or vintage reverb devices for any track or mix.

>>> More about AltiSpace 2




SynthScaper LE - Detailed tutorial.







Friday, March 31, 2023

GlitchScaper - What's coming in the next update

GlitchScaper is a rhythm machine with six sound generators, each controlled by a two-layer cycle sequencer, designed to easily create glitchy patterns and scapes.

In the new version that I'm planning to release next month, I want to add some new features that users of the first release would like to see.

- The "Solo" button will be added next to the "Mute" button.

- A button will be added to control all "spatial" effects for all generators including common reverb space. Values: "On" - current mode (as it is now), "Continue" - current mode with continued sound after the sequencer stops (a long tail), "Off" - all spatial effects are turned off (except echo, chorus, phaser).

- Another generator mode will be added to work with the input signal. The current "Input" mode will be renamed to "Loop", which means that the generator uses the input signal loop. The new "Stream" mode means that the generator uses a direct input stream without an internal buffer. In this mode, you will not be able to change the pitch of the generator. All parameters related to the generator frequency are not used. In this mode, the generator will work more like a gated effect, which can also be interesting.

- All sequencer parameters will be added to the list of assignable MIDI controls. Also it will be possible to assign MIDI controls for the "Make sequence" and "Make tone" buttons.

- The option to create directories in the list of presets will definitely be in this and possibly in other my apps. But not in this update. Maybe in the next.

- A useful addition could be a mode in which all the parameters of one generator will be placed in one section, and it will be possible to select the current generator. Also in this mode it will be possible to assign one MIDI control to a common parameter for all generators. In this case the MIDI control will change that parameter for the current generator. This will expand the ability to control the app through a MIDI controller. How it is done, for example, in BeatCutter app. But most likely, this mode will be added not in the upcoming update, but in the next one.

- Also will be added several new presets, the description will be updated and, of course, all found bugs will be fixed.



I want to remind you that this update will be free for those who bought GlitchScaper. All my apps don't have in-app purchases or subscriptions. You pay once.

>>> So if you like this app, please rate it on the App Store!

This will inspire me for future improvements and updates. :)



GlitchScaper can work on both iPad / iPhone and Mac (with Apple M1 chip and later). You can buy it from the iOS App Store, then install it on your Mac at no extra charge.

Read this article to know more about how to use iOS apps on Mac and see which of my apps are already available on Mac.

>>> How To Run iOS Apps On Mac




Tuesday, March 28, 2023

GlitchScaper - Rhythm & Glitch machine

GlitchScaper is a rhythm machine with six sound generators, each controlled by a two-layer cycle sequencer, designed to easily create glitchy patterns and scapes.

>>> Get this app on App Store
Universal app for iOS and macOS (AUv3)

To quickly find new ideas, each generator has separate options for making sequences and tones. The parameters of the new sequences and tones are set randomly, but are guided by several user-defined options, which in outline define the steps of the sequence and the type of tone or noise. This allows you make a quick draft of a pattern and then simply tweak it to get the final sound. The advanced copy function gives you ability to quickly make a new preset by copying sequences and tones from existing ones.

The tone generator makes bright and rich sounds based on 12 complex waveforms or various types of noise, and can also use an external input as a signal source. Effects transform the tone from smoothly varying to full of squeaks and rattles. Each effect is modulated by a special envelope generator with different shapes that change throughout the sequencer step.

The sound generators have individual spatial effects, as well as a common reverb space for all generators that adds an ambient layer to the final mix. The final mix can be even brighter and heavy or pumping with the built-in harmonic exciter and bass enhancer.

The intuitive interface and powerful sound design features make this application super convenient for creating your own, unique sound.

GlitchScaper is great for creating simple beats with an interesting and unusual sound, but it was originally designed for digital distorted patterns with longer steps that blend perfectly with the rhythms of classic drum machines and sequencers.







GlitchScaper is a universal application for iOS and macOS. It can work on iPhone and iPad as well as Mac / MacBook with M1 chip (and later). GlitchScaper works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, and supports Audiobus and Ableton Link. On MacOS, GlitchScaper can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs and audio unit hosts like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, GarageBand, MainStage, Cockos Reaper, Plogue Bidule, Hosting AU, and other hosts that support AUv3 plugins. All application features are available on iOS and macOS, including MIDI support (with a MIDI learn option) and audio unit parameters. GlitchScaper has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application site.



>>> Complete description of GlitchScaper 1.1 (pdf)

Demos and reviews:

GlitchScaper as gated effect (details and demo)

GlitchScaper - Tutorial 1: Getting Started (SoundForMore Tutorials)

GlitchScaper - Tutorial 2: V1.1 Stream Mode, Group (SoundForMore Tutorials)

Glitchscaper, The big tutorial (Ed The Outcast)

Awesome Rhythm & Glitch Machine GlitchScaper on iOS - How To App on iOS! (Jade Starr)

Riding the Glitch - a GlitchScaper live Jam Session (Colin Powell)

A Glitch in Space - a GlitchScaper live Jam Session (Colin Powell)

Glitchscaper, in 5 minutes you will know how to use it! (Ed The Outcast)

GlitchScaper - Pre-Release Walkthrough & Tutorial for the iPad (The Sound Test Room)



Want more ambient and scapes? Take a look at this application:

SpaceFields - Space Ambient Machine

SpaceFields (iOS, macOS, AUv3) is a mangler effect for creating slowly changing rhythmic sound structures in a deep reverb space from any external signal. Great for experimenting and designing ambient and noise backgrounds with rhythmic elements.




Thursday, March 23, 2023

GlitchScaper - Last preview before release

The Sound Test Room have made a great pre-release walkthrough and tutorial for upcoming GlitchScaper app. Expect next week!

GlitchScaper - Rhythm & Glitch machine (iOS/macOS). A rhythm machine with six sound generators, each controlled by a two-layer cycle sequencer, designed to easily create glitchy patterns and scapes.

To quickly find new ideas, each generator has separate options for making sequences and tones. The parameters of the new sequences and tones are set randomly, but are guided by several user-defined options, which in outline define the steps of the sequence and the type of tone or noise. This allows you make a quick draft of a pattern and then simply tweak it to get the final sound. The advanced copy function gives you ability to quickly make a new preset by copying sequences and tones from existing ones.