Friday, August 29, 2025

Sound Design

Sound design is as much about imagination as it is about tools.

In one approach, we step into the world of a seasoned professional - surrounded by high‑end microphones, specialized equipment, and the acoustics of a dedicated studio. Here, real‑world sounds are captured with precision, in the tradition of foley - a technique developed for film and television where everyday noises, like footsteps, rustling clothes, or the clink of objects, are recreated and recorded in sync with the visuals to add realism and depth. These recordings are then shaped and refined with advanced software to create the sonic worlds of major films, often in collaboration with well-known composers.


In another, the setting is far simpler - an iPad (or even iPhone), a microphone, and a curious ear. Everyday noises become raw material for atmospheric soundscapes, textured effects, and experimental tracks, all processed within mobile apps. This method may not offer the same depth and flexibility as a professional studio, but it opens the door to quick, affordable, and surprisingly rich results - perfect for indie games, personal videos, or creative music projects.

Both paths share the same essence: listening closely to the world around us, recording its details, and transforming them into something new. Whether working with a full studio or a portable device, the art of sound design remains an open invitation to explore, experiment, and tell stories through sound.





Monday, August 4, 2025

Ambient Tron Soundscaping

In these demos, Jonathan Block takes a hands-on approach to sound design, running a Mellotron M4000 and bass guitar straight through an iPad.

Using both live jams and studio sessions, he shows how today's iOS apps offer a surprisingly full-featured toolbox - from flexible signal routing to fine-tuning effects with precision.

The setup hinges on one key addition: a good external audio interface. With that, the iPad steps up as a lean and portable audio workstation.

It’s a workflow that's both intuitive and affordable, yet capable of delivering studio-quality sound - something that speaks to pros and passionate hobbyists alike.




Here's an ambient Mellotron improv in AUM using the following apps: Stellarvox, VintageRack and Classic FX. The main Mellotron sound is the classic Mk2 3 Violins but I also use sounds from the M400 such as cello, choirs, flute, oboe and saxophones.

This improv is based around Stellarvox, a hybrid reverb app that’s gives you extensive control over reverb tails, including space, tone and time. ClassicFX provides some modulation and delay while Vintage Rack is at the end of the chain for compression and to widen the stereo field with a Dimension D effect.





Here's an ambient bass improv in AUM using Stellarvox and VintageRack apps.

I used a Gibson SG Standard bass with LaBella flatwound strings. This improv is based around Stellarvox, a hybrid reverb app from Igor that’s gives you extensive control over reverb tails, including space, tone and time. I used his VintageRack for compression, modulation and delay at the beginning of the chain. Another instance of VintageRack at the end of the chain for some soft limiting to tame some peaks while using Stellarvox.