Tuesday, March 22, 2016

FieldScaper 1.4 has been released!

FieldScaper 1.4 with new advanced looper mode for convenient use this application in real-time sound mangling has been released!

The "Looper" mode changes the user interface for more convenient use of application in real-time and processing external sources. In this mode you can fast switch the presets and samples for each of oscillators. For oscillator there are five assignable buttons for presets and samples. First oscillator can be fast selected for processing of any external sound sources (include IAA and AB) in one of four modes.

What's new in this update:

  • New user interface of the Looper mode specially designed for real-time controls.
  • Four different modes of processing audio from external sources (include IAA and AB).
  • Assignable buttons for quick select presets in the Looper mode.
  • Assignable buttons for quick select samples for oscillators.
  • New square waveform added for LFOs.
  • Option for random modulation of all waveforms in LFO.
  • The main effect value can be inverted for different parameters.
  • New controls for High and Low cutoff filters on the input.
  • Stop recording time when input signal below threshold.
  • Several new sound mangling presets.
  • Updated description of the application.
  • Description in single PDF available on application site.
  • Fixed bug in editing MP3 files.
  • Several minor bugs have been fixed.

Demo of use the new mode "Looper"


[ More details about this demo ]

[ Complete description of FieldScaper in one PDF file ]








Glitched ambient (FieldScaper app in Looper mode)

This demo shows one way to use the mode "Looper" - "Overdub" in FieldScaper app for real-time processing and transform sound of the input source.


How to make something like this

In the mode "Overdub" recorder will start record into loop when the input signal becomes above threshold and stop when below. But playback of the loop don't stop and already recorded signal not erased. So you can continuously update the loop by overdubbing only part of its content. It can be very creatively when you use presets that changing the pitch, direction and addressing (see Oscillator - Address section) when playback.

To get the result something like this demo you need switch to the mode "Looper" (button "Looper" on the main screen) and select processing mode "Overdub". Then assign one of preset buttons to factory default preset "Dark and foreboding places" and set this preset active. Set the fader "Effect" to about the half right.

In the panel of input settings (button "Input" or "Audio input control") set the parameter "Stop recording threshold" to about -15 db. To avoid the large silence gap in the loop set the parameter "Stop recording time" to about 0.100 sec. This will reduce the tail with low volume level between the input signal drops below threshold and record will stopped.

Also it's recommended to increase parameter "Input amplify" up to about +10 db so that the level of input signal was at least from -15 db and more even with a small limiting. Many presets give the best result when the input signal level is high enough.

When the input source is synth or other musical instrument or app set the input channel filter at least from "40 Hz" to "12 kHz" ("16 kHz"). When record from microphone the best use "60 Hz" filter to avoid unnecessary peaks that can affect to the signal threshold detector and gate.

After complete all settings tap the button "Start" (in the mode "Looper") to start processing the input source.

Move the fader "Effect" to get other sound. You can change any other parameters of this preset to achieve another effect and then create your own preset. Start from "Filter - Frequency / Resonance" and its LFO and also try to change "Oscillator - Clock / Clock offset".

[ Complete description of FieldScaper 1.5 in one PDF file ]






Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Upcoming FieldScaper 1.4 will have looper mode

New version FieldScaper 1.4 will have new advanced looper mode for convenient use this application in real-time sound mangling.

FieldScaper - an advanced field recorder combined with a sound warp engine and a collection of ready to use dynamic presets for iPad and iPhone. Discover new ways to create and construct unusual and exciting sounds from any environmental audio recordings or samples recorded from other apps through Inter-App audio or Audiobus.


The "Looper" mode changes the user interface to more convenient use of application in real-time and processing external sources. Use the button "Looper" on the main screen to switch on this mode. For return to the main screen use the button "Scaper".

In this mode you can fast switch the presets and samples for each of oscillators. For oscillator there are five assignable buttons for presets and samples. First oscillator can be fast selected for processing of any external sound sources (include IAA and AB) in one of four modes.

Please note: In the "Looper" mode application does not create any files when processing external sources.

The four buttons are selecting the processing mode for external source.

"Effect" - In this mode the input signal will record to the loop and oscillator is playing back this loop at the same time. The speed and direction of playback can differ from recording depending on current preset.

"Overdub" - In this mode the record to the loop will be enabled when the input signal exceed specified threshold. When input signal falls below another threshold the record will be off but already recorded signal will continue playing back. The recording can be started and stopped at any time in the loop.

Tip: To shorten the time of stopping record when input signal falls below threshold you can set a lower value of "Stop recording time" on the "Audio input control" panel.

"Loop A" - This mode intended for auto start the record at the beginning of the loop when input signal exceed specified threshold. Next the oscillator will playing back this loop.

"Loop M" - Mode for manual start recording to the loop. The led on the "Start" button will flashing when waiting for record start. Tap the "Start" button to switch on the mode of waiting input signal. When input signal appears the record will start and stop at the end of loop.

When you select the "Loop M" mode you can use input monitor when the "Looper" waiting for start (The led marker on the button "Start" is flashing). Set the "Input monitor - on" mode to get source signal on the output at waiting for start. After start the input monitor will mute.

"Input" - This button opens the "Audio input control" panel. In this panel you can set the thresholds of input signal for start and stop recording.

Above the control buttons is placed the area in which the loop record is displayed. Two moving markers point the record and playback position in the loop. Bright bars indicate when the minimum of signal is present (above -35 db). Red bars mark the optimal level of signal for processing in the scaper (above -10 db).

The five buttons below the control buttons can be assigned for selecting presets and samples.

"Assign preset" - Assign preset for one of five buttons above.

"Assign file" - Assign file for one of five buttons above.

You can assign MIDI controls for the preset and file select buttons and for looper "Start" button. All of these controls are at the end of list which accessible on the panel "Settings" - "Assign".








Friday, March 11, 2016

electronic MUSICIAN - April 2016 - Synth Apps Virtual Instruments for iOS Musicians

This month we check out Synth Apps, virtual instruments for iOS musicians.

The Electronic Musician Guide to iOS Soft Synths – In recent years, using iOS-based synthesizers onstage and in the studio has become a practical reality. One reason is that the latest iPads and iPhones contain more powerful processors than even some recent laptop computers. Apps are growing considerably more sophisticated and more closely resemble their computer-based equivalents, often by leveraging all that processing power. Thanks to economies of scale and the difficulty of pirating iOS apps, they’re also less expensive (and often more versatile) than synthesizer hardware.

Electronic Musician – April 2016