Bram Bos from Ruismaker is back with another essential iOS effect app. Blessed with the moniker of Kosmonaut, it essentially serves as a multi-tap delay with benefits, while also supporting the AU plugin format. Mobile musicians looking to blast their projects off into deep space need to consider adding it to their app arsenal.
Kosmonaut Features
- Four-Tap Delay able to be run in Series
- Tape Looper with Variable Decay
- Lowpass/Highpass Filter with LFO
- Automated Pan
- Haas Effect Generator
- Intuitive User Interface
- AU Plugin Format
- Minimal Support for IAA and Audiobus 3
- Available at the iTunes App Store for $3.99
Ruismaker’s reign as the preeminent iOS effects shop continues unabated. Kosmonaut provides great sound, unique functionality, and a good time; all wrapped in an attractive user interface laden with Soviet kitsch. Let’s dive into the details to see if it belongs in your library.
The Interface Wizardry of Bram Bos
If you read our previous reviews of Ruismaker’s products, you know about Bram Bos’s interface design skills. Kosmonaut might be Bram’s best iOS app UI work to date. All controls are clearly laid-out, with the cool design not getting in the way of function.
Kosmonaut sports a quite fetching interface. Screenshot by author.
The input level knob and a tape looper with a “Sound on Sound” decay control reside on the left side of the interface. The meat of Kosmonaut – its multi-tap delay – lies in the middle. The parameters for each separate tap are pretty standard for this delay type.
Kosmonaut’s filter lies underneath the delay. Separate controls for highpass and lowpass along with a LFO round out the filter parameters. It works great within the context of the overall effect.
The Space Enhancer controls truly take Kosmonaut to the outer galaxies. They include an autopanner, a reverb known as the “Ambience Generator,” and the Haas Processor. The latter effect lets you manage how the listener perceives the delay using the precedence effect. It’s some pretty esoteric – and useful – functionality for a $3.99 iOS app!
Preset management is handled on the right side of the interface. Check out the copious amount of included presets to get an idea of the power and range of Kosmonaut. Oh, I almost forget Bram gives you a “Random” button that also generates some useful parameters.
Playing with Kosmonaut in the Studio
Since it is – thankfully – an AU plugin, I fired up Beatmaker 3 to put Kosmonaut through its paces. Of course, it syncs to the host’s tempo. I used the new Moog Model D Minimoog iOS app as a sound source. Ruismaker’s own Rozeta Arpeggiator controlled the Moog.
Naturally, I gravitated towards the multi-tap delay controls, working up something to compliment the arpeggiated Minimoog signal. Kosmonaut definitely added an additional sense of motion to any musical part. Be sure to crank up the feedback for a suitable push over the cliff.
Pairing a tape looper with a multi-tap delay brings the potential for interesting polyrhythmic effects. Thankfully, the looper gives lets you control the overall rhythm using the specific number of beats. Play around with the Sound on Sound knob for an additional mindfreak.
The filters work as expected and are helpful for dialing in the perfect effect setting for your scenario. Don’t tap the Random button by mistake when tweaking the LFO! By the way, Kosmonaut does support standalone operation using IAA or Audiobus, but using it as an AU plugin in a controller app provides access to its complete functionality.
Kosmonaut’s Space Enhancers definitely give this effect app its name. While the autopanner and the reverb are useful, I played around with the Haas effect, intrigued by its influence on the overall sound. Of course, a trip to Google to learn about the precedence effect helped provide a measure of context.
In short, Kosmonaut is a must-have when it comes to iOS effects apps. Great sound, an intuitive interface, and AU support are a given, considering it is a Bram Bos “joint.” Here is another “highly recommended” release from Ruismaker.
