Here’s an ambient soundscape build video with ExoSphere app, with alto recorder and kalimba as the sound sources.
I recorded some short clips into GarageBand using an Aulos 709B “Haka” alto recorder and a Hokema B7 kalimba through an Audio Technica AT2020 condenser microphone. These clips were imported into ExoSphere to create the patch I used in this video. I also switch the recorder input from Sample to Input to demonstrate that the app can process sound in real time.
After the build walkthrough, I play some kalimba and recorder over the ExoSphere soundscape. All of this is done in AUM, with one slot for ExoSphere and one slot for the lead instruments through VintageRack app, a great multieffects. Both slots also use Spatializer to widen the stereo field.
Thanks for watching!
Produced with an iPad Pro
Written and recorded by Jonathan Block
ExoSphere is a creative tool for shaping continuous ambient and meditative compositions, based on five independent sound layers that merge into a seamless atmosphere. It provides an effortless way to create a foundation for ambient tracks or even a complete background piece with minimal adjustments. Designed with slow rhythmic structures in mind, it is especially suited for meditative music and calm soundscapes.
Every so often you come across a book that feels like a secret handshake for a very specific tribe. Vintage FX - The Book is exactly that - a gorgeous, oversized celebration of the strange, brilliant, sometimes downright eccentric studio effects that shaped the sound of the last half-century.
What kind of book is this?
Think of it as a museum you can hold in your hands. It showcases 75 legendary effects units - the kind of hardware that once lived in serious studios and now lives in the dreams of collectors. Each device gets its moment in the spotlight with lush photography, historical notes, and the kind of technical trivia only true gear lovers appreciate.
Let's take a look inside
It’s a guided tour through the golden age of audio engineering:
early digital reverbs that sounded like the future
analog delays with quirks that became iconic
rare processors from companies that no longer exist
and plenty of “I’ve heard this on a record but never knew what made that sound” moments
The author, Matthias Fuchs, clearly loves this stuff - and that passion spills onto every page.
And here’s the fun twist: the book’s website lets you listen to many of these machines. It’s like opening a time capsule and hearing the past hum, shimmer, and echo.
Will you enjoy it?
This isn’t just for audio engineers. It’s for:
anyone fascinated by retro tech
musicians who love the character of old hardware
readers who enjoy beautifully made niche books
curious wanderers who like discovering odd corners of creative history
Even if you never plan to buy a vintage reverb (or this book), it’s a joy to know it exists - a lovingly assembled tribute to machines that helped define entire genres.
It’s an interesting find!
In an age where everything is software and presets, this book reminds you that sound once came from boxes full of imagination, limitations, and happy accidents. These devices weren’t perfect - and that’s exactly why they mattered.
If you’re curious, take a minute to visit the book’s site and listen to the samples. It’s a surprisingly charming way to spend an afternoon.
When You Want a Touch of That Vintage Magic Yourself
And if exploring these old machines sparks a bit of curiosity, there’s a surprisingly accessible way to bring that same vintage atmosphere into your own music. The VintageRack app captures the character and quirks of classic hardware with an authenticity that feels remarkably close to the originals. It’s not a replacement for the real boxes, of course - but it’s a fun way to experiment with that warm, imperfect, wonderfully nostalgic sound without needing a room full of rare gear.
VintageRack is a minimalistic and convenient multi-effect application that contains modules realistically modeling notable retro gear from the early digital era with their inherent aesthetics and atmosphere. 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.
This is a major update that makes working with effect parameters and presets smoother, faster, and far more intuitive. The interface has been refined, the workflow improved, and the documentation significantly expanded.
What's new:
New unified parameter panel for faster access to all module controls
Knobs now control a single parameter each
List‑based controls use convenient popup menus
Added module activity and clipping indicators
New full preset list with preset renaming
Preset names now appear on on‑screen preset pads
Delay and Reverse Delay support time in seconds or beats
Additional waveforms for modulation LFOs
New response mode added to the auto filter
Added internal BPM panel; AUv3 now syncs BPM from host
Refined user interface and improved workflow
Optimized audio engine
Expanded and updated effect module documentation
The wonderful icon for VintageRack was created and implemented by Guido Flichman. The minimalist design reflects the essence of the app well. Look out his other works here - https://www.guidoflichman.com
In this demo, the evolving ambient soundscape generated by the ExoSphere app running as an Audio unit on iPad is enhanced with the rhythmic pulse of GarageBand built-in drum machine, whose output is further transformed in real time by the LoopMangler app.
Because ExoSphere sync tightly with the host BPM, and the quantization of all LFOs and effects to bars and beats, it becomes an excellent foundation for integrating more dynamic rhythmic structures. This opens the door to a wide range of creative approaches using drum machines, sequencers, and rhythm-driven effects.
Creative Rhythmic Approaches to Explore
1. Layered Drum Machine Patterns
Beyond simple beats, consider stacking multiple drum machine apps each with its own groove, swing, or polyrhythmic structure. When synced to ExoSphere BPM, these layers can create:
Minimalist pulses that subtly reinforce the ambient drift
Complex polyrhythms that contrast with ExoSphere slow evolution
Evolving percussive textures using probability-based sequencers
Apps like Patterning, Elastic Drums, or Ruismaker can add character and movement without overwhelming the atmosphere.
2. Granular and Spectral Rhythm Processing
Routing drum machine output through processors such as LoopMangler, GlitchScaper, or BeatCutter can transform rhythmic material into:
Fragmented micro‑loops
Spectral bursts
Time-stretched rhythmic clouds
Glitch-infused percussive textures
These processed rhythms blend especially well with ExoSphere Grain and Shard layers, creating a unified, evolving sonic field.
3. Rhythmic Modulation of ExoSphere Itself
Since ExoSphere supports tempo-synced LFOs and effects, you can introduce rhythm internally by modulating:
Filter cutoff in syncopated patterns
Sample position or grain density at rhythmic intervals
Presence or tone of the layer tied to beat divisions
This creates a subtle rhythmic “breathing” inside the soundscape, even before adding external percussion.
4. Using MIDI Driven Instruments for Additional Motion
Any sequencer controlled instrument - synths, samplers, FM engines, or even generative MIDI tools can complement ExoSphere with:
Soft arpeggios
Pulsing basslines
Evolving melodic fragments
Algorithmic rhythmic motifs
These elements can be mixed at low levels to add motion without disrupting the meditative quality.
5. Polymetric and Polyrhythmic Experiments
Because ExoSphere layers evolve independently, they pair beautifully with rhythmic structures that don’t strictly align with the main grid. Try:
5‑against‑4 or 7‑against‑3 drum patterns
Asymmetric loops (e.g., 13‑step sequences)
Slowly shifting Euclidean rhythms
These create a sense of drifting time, perfect for ambient and experimental music.
6. Sidechain‑Inspired Rhythmic Sculpting
Using volume‑shaping tools or envelope followers, you can create rhythmic interplay between ExoSphere and percussion:
Pulsing “breathing” textures
Ducking effects tied to kick patterns
Rhythmic gating synced to sequencer triggers
This technique adds clarity and movement while preserving the immersive atmosphere.
7. Field Recordings as Rhythmic Elements
Since ExoSphere allows loading custom samples, you can introduce rhythmic or semi-rhythmic field recordings (best used in the Shard layer):
Mechanical loops (train wheels, fans, clocks)
Natural cycles (waves, rain patterns, footsteps)
Textural percussive hits (stones, wood, metal)
These blend organically with ExoSphere Grain and Flow layers, creating hybrid rhythmic-ambient environments.
Experimental Directions Worth Exploring
Generative rhythm engines interacting with ExoSphere’s randomization features
MIDI-to-modulation routing, where rhythmic triggers modulate ExoSphere parameters
Cross-feedback loops between rhythmic processors and ExoSphere’s audio output
Slow-motion percussion, where beats are stretched to extreme lengths to match ExoSphere’s meditative pace
Rhythmic spectral freezing, capturing drum transients and turning them into shimmering pads
Each of these approaches can push ExoSphere into new creative territory, transforming it from a purely ambient generator into the core of a richly textured rhythmic ecosystem.
ExoSphere (iOS/Mac/AudioUnit) is a creative tool for shaping continuous ambient and meditative compositions, based on five independent sound layers that merge into a seamless atmosphere. It provides an effortless way to create a foundation for ambient tracks or even a complete background piece with minimal adjustments.
LoopMangler (iOS/Mac/AudioUnit) is an innovative multi-effect glitch sequencer designed to manipulate rhythmic samples, external input, or output from other applications. This powerful tool operates based on the effect sequence patterns, allowing you to transform ordinary loops into unusual glitchy and noisy textures.
There’s something endlessly inspiring about the iOS music ecosystem. It’s a world where compact, beautifully crafted tools open the door to surprisingly deep sonic exploration. With just a single instrument and a handful of creative apps, you can shape entire atmospheres - layering textures, sculpting space, and weaving live improvisation into a rich, multidimensional soundscape.
Watching how these elements interact feels almost magical. It’s a reminder that modern mobile music isn’t just convenient, it’s genuinely expressive, professional, and full of artistic possibility.
Musique concrète is an early form of experimental music that emerged in France in the late 1940s. Instead of relying on traditional instruments or written notation, its pioneers - most notably Pierre Schaeffer worked directly with recorded sounds from the real world.
Everyday noises, mechanical hums, fragments of speech, environmental textures, and accidental sonic moments became the raw material for composition. These sounds were cut, looped, reversed, slowed down, layered, and transformed using early tape editing techniques.
The result was a radical shift: music was no longer something performed, but something constructed from the concrete sonic reality around us.
From Experimental Collage to Meditative Space
A meditative sound environment is an auditory space designed to support presence, stillness, and sensory awareness. It doesn’t guide the listener with melody or rhythm, instead, it creates a field of sound that encourages attention to settle and expand.
Musique concrète can naturally evolve into this kind of environment. Its focus on texture, subtle detail, and non-linear structure makes it ideal for meditative listening. When the raw materials of musique concrète are softened, stretched, and arranged with spaciousness in mind, they become a sonic landscape that invites the listener to drift inward, detach from external demands, and inhabit the present moment.
In this context, musique concrète becomes less about experimentation and more about immersion an acoustic world that gently dissolves the boundaries between inner and outer experience.
Imagine a composition built not as a narrative, but as a place to inhabit:
A deep, steady atmospheric layer - a distant hum of wind, a softened mechanical drone, or the resonant body of a slowed down object creates a sense of grounding and continuity.
Sparse micro details emerge and fade - a soft crackle, a shifting texture of fabric, a single droplet of water stretched into a shimmering tone. These sounds appear unpredictably, encouraging attentive presence without demanding focus.
Organic yet abstract elements - a human voice transformed into a warm, breath-like texture, or footsteps reversed into gentle swells add a sense of life without pulling the mind toward meaning.
Low, tactile vibrations - subtly pulse beneath the surface, not as rhythm but as a bodily sensation, helping the listener sink deeper into stillness.
The overall effect is a soundscape that feels both familiar and unplaceable. It doesn’t tell a story, it simply is. And in listening, the mind gradually shifts into the same state-quiet, open, and anchored in the present.
Further Exploration
For readers interested in diving deeper into the origins and evolution of musique concrète, here are a few key points and figures worth exploring:
Pierre Henry - an early collaborator of Schaeffer who expanded the expressive possibilities of the form.
Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRM) - the Paris based institution that became the center of research and innovation in electroacoustic music.
Origins of sampling and musique concrète - Electronic music traces its origins to Pierre Schaeffer’s innovations in musique concrète, shaping modern sound design, sampling, and synthesis.
The new update expands ExoSphere’s creative flexibility with enhanced sample handling and additional expressive tools inside the Shard generator. Workflow becomes smoother, sound design more nuanced, and navigating personal sample libraries noticeably easier. It’s a focused, practical upgrade that strengthens both everyday use and deeper exploration.
What's new:
Added sample groups to the File Manager for organized sample management.
Added the Move function for assigning samples to groups or returning them to the main list.
Added Back navigation to switch between groups and the main sample list.
User sample selection now opens directly in the corresponding layer's group for faster workflow.
Implemented automatic grouping based on sample name prefixes.
Added missing sample indicator "(!)" to the select button when the sample is no longer found.
Added three playback modes to the Shard generator: Granular, Oneshot, and Repeat.
Some minor user interface improvements.
Description updated. Also available as a PDF file on app site.
Several minor bugs were fixed.
Click on image to enlarge
ExoSphere is a creative tool for shaping continuous ambient and meditative compositions, based on five independent sound layers that merge into a seamless atmosphere. It provides an effortless way to create a foundation for ambient tracks or even a complete background piece with minimal adjustments.
Jonathan Block - "I recorded short clips into GarageBand using an Aulos 709B 'Haka' alto recorder and a Hokema B7 kalimba through an Audio Technica AT2020 condenser microphone. I imported these clips into ExoSphere to create the patch I used in this video. I also switch the kalimba input from Sample to Input so that the app will process the sound in real time. To be honest, I’m good with just the samples and then playing recorder and kalimba solos over that."
Unfortunately, my Facebook account has been graciously tossed into the void. The reason is so ridiculous it could be performance art: I was simply replying to people who wished me a happy birthday. But their almighty "AI" decided this was a threat to the sacred integrity of their "community". Reaching a real human, of course, is impossible - their idea of "support" is as real as a unicorn sighting.
The quality of Facebook's service remains impressively low, right in line with what appears to be the competence level of whoever builds this machinery. But the corporation clearly doesn't mind. Their "community" isn't meant for creative people, or for anyone who wants to learn, think, or discover. The only thing that matters is the endless, brain-numbing scroll. One person, ten people, a hundred - irrelevant. They operate on a cosmic scale, where attention to detail has been replaced by a black hole.
What actually stings is losing the ability to talk to the few genuinely creative people who care about what I do.
Thankfully, I can still share my work and respond on YouTube, X, and Mastodon - platforms where you don't have to guess which arbitrary rule an algorithm will choke on today.
Two of my apps - ExoSphere and NoiseSpace, have been selected as the best of the year, and I'm truly delighted by this recognition. It means a lot that both users and bloggers have rated my work so highly. I'm also grateful to see my apps standing alongside other equally remarkable creations that shaped this year.
I hope that my apps will continue to help creative people discover new horizons of inspiration, explore bold ideas, and unlock fresh dimensions of artistic expression.
ExoSphere - Endless Ambient Drift
>> ExoSphere (iOS/Mac/AUv3) is a creative tool for shaping continuous ambient and meditative compositions, based on five independent sound layers that merge into a seamless atmosphere. >> More about this app
