Motion Soundscape: 2019

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Something new in the new year

A new app is on the way. Classic FX - Reworked classic audio effects units.

This app consists a lot of different simple audio processing units like filters, delay, chorus, panner, vibrato, etc. The algorithms are define connections between these units and construct more complex effects. The presets integrate the algorithm and parameters of the processing modules. So you can have several options of using the same algorithm with different parameters.

You can choose two different presets and morph between them manually or cycle mode. Sophisticated morphing smoothly transforms one algorithm into another and can create stunning transition effects.

To give more dynamic, it is possible to change the effects depending on the level of the input signal, as well as make changes related to the rhythm using the internal step sequencer.

This app will support AUv3, Inter-App audio (Audiobus) and work as standalone audio processing app. It will be universal app for iPad and iPhone. No in-app purchases, no subscriptions.

Happy New Year!

Know more about existing apps:

SynthScaper >> More about this app >> App Store
Synthesizer specially designed for creating and experiments with ambient soundscapes in wide range from noises to melodic instruments and everything in between.

SynthScaper LE >> More about this app >> App Store
The special lightweight version of SynthScaper LE lets you easily create and modify your own multi-timbral pads and atmospheric soundscapes.

FieldScaper >> More about this app >> App Store
Advanced field recorder combined with a sound warp engine and a collection of ready to use dynamic presets for iPad and iPhone. Discover new ways to create and construct unusual and exciting sounds from any environmental audio recordings or samples recorded from other apps.

SoundScaper >> More about this app >> App Store
SoundScaper is an experimental sound mini lab for creating unusual soundscapes, atmospheric textures, drones, glitches and noises based on circuit bending principles.

Monday, December 16, 2019

Digital Domain Soundscapes

Another impressive scenes pack for SynthScaper / SynthScaper LE apps from Robert Dowell.

This pack contains 74 unique scenes full of strange rustlings and sudden cracklings, mysterious signals and it seems the weird sounds of communications among the old electronic devices.

These scenes use samples with unique and very impressive sounds recorded from the original Harwell Dekatron computer, also known as the WITCH (Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computation from Harwell), from the early 1950s which is displayed at The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) at Bletchley Park.

They are all ordered as follows:

NWxx = No WITCH sounds, only existing instrument and sounds in the other scenes and packs.
PWxx = Old WITCH Scene pack updated using and evolved.
Wxx = At least 2 OSC using WITCH sounds.
EW = Exclusive WITCH sounds nothing else.

You can easily use this pack with the SynthScaper LE app by downloading it and then use scenes and presets from this pack or creating new sound scenes by combining existing presets. Or you can use the samples from this pack to create your own completely new presets or modify existing presets in the advanced version of SynthScaper.

Scenes pack file: DigitalDomainSoundscapes.synthscaper

You can download this file in several ways:

1) There is the great guide "How to manage downloads in Safari on iPadOS". When this file will be downloaded to your device you can found it in "iCloud Drive - Downloads" in the system app "Files". Just click to this file and it will be open in the SynthScaper / SynthScaper LE app.

2) Download this file to desktop Mac / PC and save it to your Dropbox or iCloud account. Or use any other way to copy this file to the Dropbox or iCloud. Use the system app "Files" on your iPhone / iPad to select this file and open it, specifying the app SynthScaper or SynthScaper LE as the target. Also you can copy this file to the existing folder "SynthScaper" or "SynthScaper LE" by using the system app "Files".

3) Download this file to desktop Mac / PC and use app "iTunes" - "File sharing" to copy this file to the app SynthScaper or SynthScaper LE.

Open the scenes pack file in the SynthScaper app:

If you open this file in the system app "Files", web browser or any other app, and specify the app SynthScaper LE as the target, this file will be imported automatically. You will see the group with name "... DigitalDomainSoundscapes" in the list of scene groups on the panel "Scenes". This group contains all new scenes.

If you copy this file to the folder "SynthScaper LE" by using system app "Files" or any other app, you need to import this pack to the SynthScaper LE app. Open the panel "Scenes", tap the button "Import scenes" and select the scenes pack file from the folder "SynthScaper LE" or from any other folder.

If you open this file for the advanced version of SynthScaper, this file will be copied to the folder "SynthScaper" and will be available on the panels "File manager" and "Scenes". You need to unpack it manually. Open the panel "Scenes", select this file and tap the button "(Un) Pack" at the title of panel. The group with the name of this file will be created. This group contains all new scenes. All samples from this pack will be available on the panel "File manager" and on the panel "Samples library" - "User".

After importing / unpacking the scenes pack file, you can delete this file if you do not need it.

More presets and samples:

>>> TNMOC Samples

Over 180 high-quality samples with sounds recorded from historic computing devices at The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) at Bletchley Park.

>>> The sound of WITCH

The free scenes pack for SynthScaper app contains 14 presets and 11 samples of unique and very impressive sounds of the original Harwell Dekatron computer, also known as the WITCH (Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computation from Harwell), from the early 1950s.

>>> SynthScaper PolyTron800 presets

This scenes pack for SynthScaper / SynthScaper LE apps contains samples recorded from modded Korg Poly-800 mkII and presets based on these samples. It contains 30 unique samples and 17 very atmospheric scenes / presets.

>>> Noise scenes pack from Noise Inc

Great and totally free scenes pack for SynthScaper with 15 noise scenes and 55 samples.

Also look at the video demo about how to download and use scenes pack:

SynthScaper LE - New FREE Sound Bank - iPad Demo

SynthScaper - Soundscapes synthesizer specially designed for creating and experiments with ambient soundscapes in wide range from noises to melodic instruments and everything in between.

>>> More about SynthScaper app

>>> More about SynthScaper LE app (lightweight version with AUv3 support)

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Project "Vintage loudspeaker" (final)

An experimental loudspeaker stylized as vintage speakers.

This loudspeaker built with using three low / mid range speakers and two tweeter and based on "Open box" design with using some horn elements. It copies the typical design of the old radio and reel-to-reel equipment where speakers were in the same box with PCBs and mechanical parts. All of these parts organized the internal space something like acoustic labyrinth or specific horns, that is gave a special sound to these speakers. Please note there were no any additional calculation of the acoustic space.

In this construction I used old dynamic speakers with paper cone which were widely used in mid range soviet audio equipment in those years. This is well known pair of broadband speaker 5gdsh-3 (3gd-42) and tweeter 3gdv-1 (2gd-36). The 5gdsh-3 and 3gdv-1 speakers are connected in series with each other. 5gdsh-3 speakers connected directly to the amplifier output. 3gdv-1 speaker connected through 3uF non-polarized capacitor.

Click on image to enlarge

The main benefit of this loudspeaker with using together with tube reel-to-reel tape recorder will be the possibility of obtaining the most realistic and authentic sound of the Mellotron when using any samples.

Click on image to enlarge

The recording device that I plan to use is the old soviet tube reel-to-reel tape machine "DAINA 3-29" manufactured in 1969. This is one track two side monophonic recorder with Single-ended tube amplifier on 6P14P (similar to EL84, 6BQ5) tube. It uses tape 1/4" on 3,3/4 ips (9.5 cm/s).

I plan record wide range of samples from modern synthesizers to natural sounds to the old "Cellulose acetate" magnetic tape (similar to 3M/Scotch 111 Magnetic tape) on this tape machine. Next I will playback these records and get two types of the final hi-res samples first from the line output and second recorded from this loudspeaker thru microphones. I will use these samples in my apps with the audio engine that was specially designed to most accurate reproduce the sound of old analogue synthesizers.

Click on image to enlarge

This loudspeaker was designed in OpenSCAD software for laser or milling cutter and can be easily adapted for any other speakers and the size of box. You can download source file with complete design from GitHub

https://github.com/zzzwiw/vintage-loudspeaker

Click on image to enlarge

Friday, November 29, 2019

Black Friday Sale!

SynthScaper >> More about this app >> App Store
Synthesizer specially designed for creating and experiments with ambient soundscapes in wide range from noises to melodic instruments and everything in between.

SynthScaper LE >> More about this app >> App Store
The special lightweight version of SynthScaper LE lets you easily create and modify your own multi-timbral pads and atmospheric soundscapes.

FieldScaper >> More about this app >> App Store
Advanced field recorder combined with a sound warp engine and a collection of ready to use dynamic presets for iPad and iPhone. Discover new ways to create and construct unusual and exciting sounds from any environmental audio recordings or samples recorded from other apps.

SoundScaper >> More about this app >> App Store
SoundScaper is an experimental sound mini lab for creating unusual soundscapes, atmospheric textures, drones, glitches and noises based on circuit bending principles.

Additional free presets and samples for SynthScaper / SynthScaper LE apps here:

>>> The sound of WITCH

Scenes pack contains 14 presets and 11 samples of unique and very impressive sounds of the original Harwell Dekatron computer, also known as the WITCH (Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computation from Harwell), from the early 1950s which is displayed at The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) at Bletchley Park.

>>> SynthScaper PolyTron800 presets

This scenes pack contains samples recorded from modded Korg Poly-800 mkII and presets based on these samples. It contains 30 unique samples and 17 very atmospheric scenes / presets.

>>> Noise scenes pack from Noise Inc

Great and totally free scenes pack with 15 noise scenes and 55 samples.

>>> TNMOC Samples

Over 180 high-quality samples with sounds recorded from historic computing devices at The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) at Bletchley Park.

Great for SoundScaper, FieldScaper and SynthScaper apps to design unique and atmospheric soundscapes and textures based on mechanical and environmental sounds.

Live performance with SynthScaper and FieldScaper apps

Thursday, November 28, 2019

TNMOC Samples

Over 180 high-quality samples with sounds recorded from historic computing devices at The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) at Bletchley Park.

These samples include the sounds of the original Harwell Dekatron computer, also known as the WITCH (Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computation from Harwell), the sound of working the Turing-Welchman Bombe machine, which was an electro-mechanical device used to break Enigma-enciphered messages, the sound of M3 Enigma machine, the sound of the Colossus, which was the world's first electronic computer with a single purpose: to help decipher the Lorenz-encrypted (Tunny) messages, and many other very impressive and special sounds.

All of these samples were recorded and kindly provided for free and unlimited use by Robert Dowell who works as a guide at TNMOC.

Click on image to enlarge

You can use these samples with SoundScaper, FieldScaper or SynthScaper apps to construct unique and very atmospheric soundscapes and textures. All of these apps can use external samples for create new presets and scenes and are ideal for sound design using mechanical and environmental sounds.

Moreover the SynthScaper and SoundScaper apps have special neural network based algorithms that help you generate new presets from the specified set of samples. With this option, you can easily create an almost unlimited number of new presets, then select the most interesting and slightly tweak it to achieve the best result.

>>> TNMOC Samples.zip

Archive zip file size about 140 Mb. Samples were compressed with lossless ALAC codec.

The best way to get these samples is to download the zip file to your Mac / PC desktop, then unpack it and use iTunes (iTunes File Share), iCloud or Dropbox to transfer these samples to your iPad or iPhone. On iPad / iPhone use system app "Files" to copy these samples to the SoundScaper, FieldScaper or SynthScaper application directory.

Or you can download this file directly to your iPad / iPhone from this site with Safari browser then unpack it with system app "Files". See more in this guide "How to manage downloads in Safari on iPadOS".

SynthScaper >> More about this app >> App Store
Synthesizer specially designed for creating and experiments with ambient soundscapes in wide range from noises to melodic instruments and everything in between.

FieldScaper >> More about this app >> App Store
Advanced field recorder combined with a sound warp engine and a collection of ready to use dynamic presets for iPad and iPhone. Discover new ways to create and construct unusual and exciting sounds from any environmental audio recordings or samples recorded from other apps.

SoundScaper >> More about this app >> App Store
SoundScaper is an experimental sound mini lab for creating unusual soundscapes, atmospheric textures, drones, glitches and noises based on circuit bending principles.

Friday, November 8, 2019

The sound of WITCH

The free scenes pack for SynthScaper app contains 14 presets and 11 samples of unique and very impressive sounds of the original Harwell Dekatron computer, also known as the WITCH (Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computation from Harwell), from the early 1950s which is displayed at The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) at Bletchley Park.

The history of the Harwell Dekatron is fascinating. In 1951 it was one of only a handful of computers in the world, and by 1973 it was acclaimed the world's most durable computer. Sequence control is entirely relay based, but arithmetic is all electronic, built using valves, trigger tubes and Dekatrons. There are also two high voltage power supply units - the rectifier unit converts the AC mains into several high DC voltages, and the stabilizer unit generates about a dozen precise voltages for use in the various circuits.

Click on image to enlarge

These presets were created by Robert Dowell who works as a guide at TNMOC. He also recorded the sounds of a working WITCH computer.

Robert Dowell: "For 20 years I worked in the IT industry, but eventually escaped and took up residence at TNMOC. I've been there in one capacity or another, helping find interesting ways to explain the history of computing. I discovered SynthScaper app after watching Doug Woods on the Youtube channel "The Sound Test Room". Within 30 minutes I had grasped most of the concepts and wondered if the sounds around the museum, especially the WITCH would make a good foundation for SynthScaper to work from."

You can easily use this pack with the SynthScaper LE app by downloading it and then use scenes and presets from this pack or creating new sound scenes by combining existing presets. Or you can use the samples from this pack to create your own completely new presets or modify existing presets in the advanced version of SynthScaper.

Scenes pack file: Sound of WITCH.synthscaper

You can download this file in several ways:

1) There is the great guide "How to manage downloads in Safari on iPadOS". When this file will be downloaded to your device you can found it in "iCloud Drive - Downloads" in the system app "Files". Just click to this file and it will be open in the SynthScaper / SynthScaper LE app.

2) Download this file to desktop Mac / PC and save it to your Dropbox or iCloud account. Or use any other way to copy this file to the Dropbox or iCloud. Use the system app "Files" on your iPhone / iPad to select this file and open it, specifying the app SynthScaper or SynthScaper LE as the target. Also you can copy this file to the existing folder "SynthScaper" or "SynthScaper LE" by using the system app "Files".

3) Download this file to desktop Mac / PC and use app "iTunes" - "File sharing" to copy this file to the app SynthScaper or SynthScaper LE.

Open the scenes pack file in the SynthScaper app:

If you open this file in the system app "Files", web browser or any other app, and specify the app SynthScaper LE as the target, this file will be imported automatically. You will see the group with name "... Sound of WITCH" in the list of scene groups on the panel "Scenes". This group contains all new scenes.

After importing / unpacking the scenes pack file, you can delete this file if you do not need it.

More presets:

>>> SynthScaper PolyTron800 presets

This scenes pack for SynthScaper / SynthScaper LE apps contains samples recorded from modded Korg Poly-800 mkII and presets based on these samples. It contains 30 unique samples and 17 very atmospheric scenes / presets.

>>> Noise scenes pack from Noise Inc

Great and totally free scenes pack for SynthScaper with 15 noise scenes and 55 samples.

Also look at the video demo about how to download and use scenes pack:

SynthScaper LE - New FREE Sound Bank - iPad Demo

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Project "Vintage loudspeaker"

My project to reproduce authentic sound of old tube radio and reel-to-reel tape machines. This loudspeaker intended to work with old soviet reel-to-reel tape machine with amplifier on single ended tube 6p14p and monophonic sound.

The design of this loudspeaker was inspired of that kind of devices where speakers often were placed in the same box with PCBs and mechanics. These parts organized the internal acoustic space something like labyrinth or specific horn, and it gave a special sound to these speakers.

Click on image to enlarge

I use old dynamic speakers with paper cone which were widely used in mid range soviet audio equipment in those years. This is well known pair of broadband speaker 5gdsh-3 (3gd-42) and tweeter 3gdv-1 (2gd-36). For the broadband 5gdsh-3 the best acoustic design is "open box" and the location of the side speakers and internal partitions organize the audio space into something like horns. Total box size is 380x320x140mm.

I have not yet thought about the speakers connection diagram. This will be another experiment. Will add the result to this post.

This loudspeaker was designed in OpenSCAD software for laser or milling cutter and can be easily adapted for any other speakers and box size. After I make this box and testing it I'll share source code for OpenSCAD on GitHub.

This loudspeaker together with tube reel-2-reel tape machine will be used for creating authentic and atmospheric samples which will be used in my apps, mainly in SynthScaper.

SynthScaper - Soundscapes synthesizer specially designed for creating and experiments with ambient soundscapes in wide range from noises to melodic instruments and everything in between.

>>> More about SynthScaper app

>>> More about SynthScaper LE app (lightweight version with AUv3 support)