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Tag: SynthScaper

  • The TabMuse Top iOS Music Apps of 2017

    The TabMuse Top iOS Music Apps of 2017

    With the end of the year rapidly approaching, our thoughts turn towards some of our favorite iOS music apps of 2017. Maybe some are on sale for Black Friday? Purchasing a new iPad played a key role in reinvigorating my interest in a market that flagged in the wake of incompatibility issues due to updated iOS versions.

    SynthScaper Image-1
    SynthScaper’s Spatial Mixer in action. Screenshot by author.

    Also, I really got into synth-related hardware at the expense of all else over the last few years. Church of Hed’s 2016 release, Brandenburg Heights, with nary a soft synth (desktop or tablet) on the album, nicely illustrates that fact. On the other hand, my two projects currently in the oven welcomed a variety of iOS and desktop synths back into the fold.

    Without any further blathering, these iOS synths especially inspired my work in 2017.

    SynthScaper inspires Droning Ambience

    Musicians searching for a top notch drone synth app for iOS need look no further than SynthScaper. Igor Vasiliev also makes regular updates to the app, adding to its versatility and functionality. I love this app, and it makes an appearance on at least one of the tracks on the next Church of Hed album.

    Simply click on this link to read the full TabMuse review.

    Zeeon raises the Bar for iOS Synth Apps

    Zeeon continues to garner buzz as one of the top 2017 iOS synths. It leverages high-end mathematical models to accurately simulate the unique behavior of an analog synth. Capable of biting lead sounds as well as deep pads, Zeeon belongs in your iOS synth app collection.

    You know you want to read our full review of this top notch synth!

    Hit the No Coast with Ripplemaker

    The differences between West Coast and East Coast synthesis continue to cause discussions and arguments throughout the synthesizer community. Make Noise’s semi-modular 0-Coast nicely bridges both schools of thought. I use it extensively on my current musical projects.

    Ruismaker’s Bram Bos created a great iOS synth app inspired by the 0-Coast, known as Ripplemaker. All of Bram’s apps are known for their great sound and state of the art user interfaces. Like any good modular synthesizer – virtual or hardware – Ripplemaker definitely rewards experimentation.

    I hope to review his new Odessa suite in the future. In the meantime, check out our review of Ripplemaker.

    A Shout Out to the Moog Model 15

    When the Moog Model 15 iOS app hit the iTunes App Store last year, it made me sad, knowing this powerful synth wouldn’t run on my ancient iPad 2. My first purchase after buying a new iPad, I never ended up reviewing it, preferring to focus on fresh releases for TabMuse’s iOS content. Nonetheless, the app simply stuns, providing a near perfect simulation of Moog’s class modular synth. It deserves special mention on this “Best of 2017” list.

    Stay tuned for an upcoming TabMuse Best of 2017 list covering desktop plugins – synths and effects.


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  • Review: Explore Deep Sonic Vistas with SynthScaper for iOS

    Review: Explore Deep Sonic Vistas with SynthScaper for iOS

    If you are searching for an iPad music app suitable for creating rich and unique ambient drones look no further than SynthScaper. An innovative user interface combines with top notch sound quality to make the creation of these sonic atmospheres rewarding and fun. In addition to the spaced-out ambience, this app also offers somewhat traditional instrument simulations with an interesting twist or two.

    SynthScaper for the iPad Features

    • Three Oscillators with Three Layers Each
    • Six Voices in Each Oscillator Layer
    • Six Envelope Generators and LFOs
    • Discrete Arpeggiator for Each Oscillator
    • Each Layer has its Own HPF, LPF, Level, and Balance Controls
    • A Very Cool “Spatial” Mixer
    • Flexible Virtual Keyboard plus Support for Two MIDI Controllers
    • Sample Upload using Dropbox, Clipboard, or Web
    • Robust Preset and Sample Library
    • Support for IAA and Audiobus
    • Universal App for iPad and iPhone
    • Available at the iTunes App Store for $9.99

    A simple glance at SynthScaper’s feature set hints at its massive sound along with the architectural flexibility to foster new kinds of alien planetscapes. When also considering Ripplemaker, there’s no denying the iOS synth world now offers two top notch apps for designing ambient drones. Developed by Igor Vasiliev, known for SoundScaper and other iOS music apps, it is easy to recommend SynthScaper.

    Real-Time Drones for the Revolution

    SynthScaper’s user interface is largely dominated by the Spatial Mixer at the upper middle of the screen. Three circular “orbs” represent the three oscillators, with nifty radial sliders for controlling the overall level of each oscillator as well as the two effect sends. Drag the orbs around the mixer for to move each oscillator around the sound space, while the current waveform is displayed in real-time using a cool oscilloscope-like display. That latter feature can be disabled on resource challenged devices

    SynthScaper Image-1
    SynthScaper’s Spatial Mixer in action. Screenshot by author.

    This interface innovation facilitates the real-time manipulation of drones; one of the biggest selling-points of the app for me. You are also able to mute oscillators, hold notes, and add even new ones to a drone using the virtual keyboard or an external controller. A meter at the bottom screen displays the overall level of the patch.

    A Rich Synthesizer Architecture

    Each oscillator in SynthScaper includes three separate layers. Manage each oscillator using the menu (one for each) on the left side of the screen. You also control the filter, arpeggiator, and keyboard settings for each oscillator from this menu.

    The oscillator settings screen is incredibly detailed. You are able to load either factory or your own samples for each layer, greatly adding to the app’s extensibility. A whole host of other settings to manage sample playback – including the six envelopes and LFOs – are also accessible.

    SynthScaper Image-2
    SynthScaper features a rich synthesizer architecture. Screenshot by author.

    In addition to controlling SynthScaper’s robust filters, the synth’s two effects channels are also managed from the filter parameters page. While this architectural-slash-interface style seems confusing at first, the additional flexibility is welcome after getting used to it. In a similar manner, the LFO and envelope settings are also accessible from each page where they are used.

    Buttons to manage SynthScaper’s thorough keyboard mapping settings and an arpeggiator page are also available for each oscillator on the left menu. The menu on the right side provides access to the manual, settings and other utility functions – including file wrangling with Dropbox support. A small menu at the top of the screen handles patch (known as a “Scene”) management. Of course, there is a reverb – essential for quality droning activities.

    SynthScaper just might be the best drone app on the iOS platform – and it does so much more – check out the Vox Continental scene. Excellent sound quality and a great interface, highlighted by the Spatial Mixer, make manipulating drones in real time a blast. I am currently putting the app through its paces on a couple tracks on an upcoming Church of Hed release.

    The bottom line is quite simple: you need SynthScaper in your app library.


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