BeatCutter is a playground for anyone who loves experimenting with sound. It’s an innovative multi-channel tool that slices, reshapes, and recombines audio based on rhythm, letting you build evolving textures, chaotic patterns, and completely unexpected musical structures.
Basically it is maintenance update, which nevertheless makes the app more optimized for new iOS devices and improves its performance on previous generations devices.
What's new:
New application icon
Significantly optimized sound engine
Some improvements of the user interface
Minor bugs were fixed
The wonderful icon for BeatCutter 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
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
