Today I finished working on another application. Stellarvox is an experiment in which I tried to expand the algorithm of the space impulse response (IR) generator, supplementing it with a set of various single pulses (very short IR), which are essentially filters in the impulse response sample for convolution reverb and form the timbre of the reverberation space. The result is very interesting virtual spaces with different sound characteristics.
To experiment with the sound of space and in order to make it somehow more unusual and unrealistic, I made it possible to add an additional signal with different frequency spectra to the generated IR sample and the ability to process this signal with various filters in which the frequency changes from the beginning to the end of the signal (length which corresponds to the reverberation time). This signal gives a very peculiar tail of reflections that are not tied to the space model itself, but are audibly felt as its continuation.
Well, in order to make this application completely experimental, I added the so-called "Schroeder reverb" algorithm, which is built on the principle of a series of delays with all-pass filters. This algorithm is good because it gives a fairly blurry tail of reflections for almost any source signal. Combined with the convolution reverb, it adds blur to the reflections tail and makes the reverberation space more saturated and vibrant, although even less reality. Also, when the inverted convolution sample mode is selected, the algorithmic reverb may produce early reflections before the convolution reverb begins to sound.
The goal of this project was not to make another virtual room simulator, but to create a generator of unusual, deep and rich spaces with a long reverberation time and a long reflections tail. The result is an interesting and quite unique application that is very well suited for adding spatial and background to sequences and arpeggios of various synths, including those with a predominant low-frequency spectrum in electronic music. But even more interesting is the sound of individual notes and sounds in which all transitions in space are clearly audible. This is great for ambient and experimental projects.
Paul Williams - No input mixing is a boutique synthesis technique used by sound designers usually armed with only a mixer and some cables. It offers an exploratory approach focused on the creative control of noise and feedback. If interested in new frontiers of sonic exploration, this is a sound design area worthy of your notice.
Simply experimenting remains the right approach to get the most out of the app. There are no mistakes when using NoInputMixer! For example, during one of my first sessions with the app, I somehow stumbled upon this interesting rhythm. Working in AUM, I simply hit record with the following result.
Stellarvox - Ambient reverberation space designer (iOS/Mac/Audio unit).
Hybrid reverb with an artificial space designer and a second stage of algorithmic reflections is ideal for creating rich sound atmospheres and whispering backgrounds in ambient, electronic, experimental and sound design.
Which app is best for experimenting with deep and rich backgrounds? Maybe NoInputMixer?
NoInputMixer (iOS, macOS, AUv3) is an experimental feedback-based musical instrument that models an analog mixing console, designed to create a wide range of amazing, otherworldly electronic sounds by feeding the mixer's output back to its input. >>> More about this app
This year I published two very interesting apps for creative sound production on iPad and Mac - GlitchScaper and NoInputMixer.
GlitchScaper is a rhythm machine for creating glitch and noise patterns with easy controls and great sound design capabilities. And the NoInputMixer is a unique feedback-based musical instrument, with truly endless possibilities for creating monotonous drones, multi-layered soundscapes and for advanced sound design.
Next year you'll see a new app that takes any instrument or voice into deep ambient spaces and alien worlds. It will be easy to tweak and has a huge number of variations. Stay tuned :)
In the meantime, take a look at some demos of NoInputMixer and GlitchSacper:
NoInputMixer (iOS, macOS, AUv3) is an experimental feedback-based musical instrument that models an analog mixing console, designed to create a wide range of amazing, otherworldly electronic sounds by feeding the mixer's output back to its input. >>> More about this app
GlitchScaper (iOS, macOS, AUv3) is a rhythm machine with six sound generators, each controlled by a two-layer cycle sequencer, designed to easily create glitchy patterns and scapes. >>> More about this app
Follow the link "More about this app" to learn more about the app, download the PDF description (also built-in the app) and watch the video demos and tutorials.
NoInputMixer (iOS, macOS, AUv3) is an experimental feedback-based musical instrument that models an analog mixing console, designed to create a wide range of amazing, otherworldly electronic sounds by feeding the mixer's output back to its input. >>> More about this app
GlitchScaper (iOS, macOS, AUv3) is a rhythm machine with six sound generators, each controlled by a two-layer cycle sequencer, designed to easily create glitchy patterns and scapes. >>> More about this app
VintageRack (iOS, macOS, AUv3) is a minimalistic and convenient multi-effect application that contains modules realistically simulating notable retro gear from the early digital age with their natural lo-fi and warm aesthetics. >>> More about this app
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. >>> More about this app
AltiSpace (iOS, macOS, AUv3) 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 this app
SoundSaw (iOS, macOS, AUv3) is a complex sound processing app with easy-to-use controls designed to distort the sound of musical instruments or voice, and give the sound the aesthetics and atmosphere of noise, lo-fi, chiptune and experimental music scene. >>> More about this app
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
A complete sound effects processor and a mono to stereo converter with equalizer, effects and reverb, based on specially designed high-quality processing algorithms and suitable for any kind of audio sources. >>> More about this app
Synthesizer specially designed for creating and experiments with ambient soundscapes in wide range from noises to melodic instruments and everything in between. >>> More about this app
The special lightweight version of SynthScaper LE lets you easily create and modify your own multi-timbral pads and atmospheric soundscapes. >>> More about this app
Advanced field recorder combined with a sound warp engine and a collection of ready to use dynamic presets for iPad and iPhone. >>> More about this app
SoundScaper is an experimental sound mini lab for creating unusual soundscapes, atmospheric textures, drones, glitches and noises based on circuit bending principles. >>> More about this app
Two apps create an extensive and deep texture with many levels transforming to each other. Noise and feedback, SoundScaper and NoInputMixer (iOS/Mac).
Live performance and recording, no editing. Apps control with two MIDI controllers and output sound thru external audio interfaces. Mixing and recording with portable recorder.
SoundScaper is an experimental sound mini lab for creating unusual soundscapes, atmospheric textures, drones, glitches and noises based on circuit bending principles.
NoInputMixer is an experimental feedback-based musical instrument that models an analog mixing console, designed to create a wide range of amazing, otherworldly electronic sounds by feeding the mixer's output back to its input.
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.
This update makes GlitchScaper an even more convenient for designing a variety of glitchy patterns and scapes.
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What's new:
The new button "Multi/Single" toggles the main screen between displaying all six sound generators or displaying all controls for the selected generator on the single screen.
The new option "Undo" allows you to revert parameters to their previous state after "Make sequence" / "Make tone" operations for each generator, as well as return to a save point that you can set before making changes to the parameters of different generators.
Buttons that have multiple values now open a pop-up menu (but you can set the toggle values mode in app settings).
Also have been improved the assignment of MIDI controls, export presets and built-in description.
NoInputMixer is an experimental feedback-based musical instrument that models an analog mixing console, designed to create a wide range of amazing, otherworldly electronic sounds by feeding the mixer's output back to its input.
What's new:
Added a lot of new presets (Thanks to Robert Dowell who made most of them).
Added option to copy channel parameters between presets.
Added options to randomize the parameters of one or all channels.
Added options to randomly adjustment the parameters of one or all channels.
Some options on the main screen are placed in the pop-up menu on the "More" button.
All knobs and faders can be controlled via MIDI.
The list of MIDI controls is divided on channels for more convenience.
Added direct mode of MIDI controls for setting values from another app.
To the titles which also switch sections, added the special marker.
The description has been updated with sections with new features.
"SoundSaw is definitely one of the most interesting apps available for iOS, and perhaps even for desktop as well, in terms of creating complex distortion effects. This video is a detailed walkthrough, tutorial and demo showing you from top to bottom how to use this incredible app. By the standards of Igor's apps, this one is fairly easy to grasp, but I think it's still worth reading the manual or watching a tutorial video as it's not really the kind of app that you can just blindly apply factory presets from since one of its most interesting and powerful features is the envelope follower section. The real enjoyable aspect is in making custom presets for the sounds that you're processing using the app, and also perhaps doing some live tweaking." - Gavinski’s Tutorials
SoundSaw is a complex sound processing app with easy-to-use controls designed to distort the sound of musical instruments or voice, and give the sound the aesthetics and atmosphere of noise, lo-fi, chiptune and experimental music scene.
Depending on the settings, it can add light distortion and saturation to the sound for a more natural and lively sound, or drastically change the sound and make it as loud and harsh as possible, full of all kinds of harmonics, crackles and rattles. The settings of this app provide great opportunities for experiments with sound destruction.
NoInputMixer is an experimental feedback-based musical instrument that models an analog mixing console, designed to create a wide range of amazing, otherworldly electronic sounds by feeding the mixer's output back to its input.
By using this technique in the creative process, the sound designer can explore many different and special ways to create sound. Unsettling soundscapes perfect for sci-fi, dystopian and horror projects, like strange noises, disrupted signals, broken communication, buzzing drones, faulty machinery, futuristic tech sounds, and glitchy elements are some results of the No-Input Mixing technique.
The downside of this technique, which can scare off beginners, is extreme unpredictability and instability, when the movement of any knob on the mixer can dramatically change the sound in the most unexpected way. But at the same time, this discover an endless space of experimentation and inspiration when creating new and unique sounds or live performance. In addition, a large set of ready-to-use drone and noise presets with a parameter randomizer provide a great point for quickly getting started with this application.
NoInputMixer consists of a seven-channel mixer and an effects rack with eight slots. Each effect slot can be configured as an insert effect for a mixer channel or used with two send/return buses. Effects has an option for hi-res or lo-fi sound processing. Each mixer channel has its own algorithmic generator of different types of noise, which can be added to the feedback signal or used separately. The input selector switches between multiple points in the signal path to make different types of feedback loops or can be switched to an external input for any channel to use it as an effect processor.
Also this application provides several additional options not found in usual mixers, such as preamp tube type and mode selection, op-amp type selection, adjustment of overload protection circuit, and other features that greatly expand the possibilities for experimenting with sound. The user interface can be presented in the form of a classic mixer, or in the form of complete control of a single channel.
Block diagram of the internal structure
This diagram shows all application modules and their connection. With this diagram, you can better understand the purpose of each control and how they can affect the signal.
The diagram shows one channel. All channels are identical. Signal flow in the channel passes from left to right, to the internal mixer buses (blue vertical lines). The feedback path is shown as red lines at the top.Using the group feedback path, you can build complex structures where several channels interact together in one feedback loop. The main element that defines the type of feedback loop is the input selector.
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Quick reference
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NoInputMixer 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). NoInputMixer works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, and supports Audiobus. On MacOS, NoInputMixer can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs 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. NoInputMixer has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application site.
GlitchScaper (iOS/Mac/AudioUnit) is a rhythm machine with six sound generators, each controlled by a two-layer cycle sequencer, designed to easily create glitchy patterns and scapes. >>> More about this app
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