Oramics app for iPhone and iPad
Developer: Strangeloop Limited
First release : 07 Aug 2011
App size: 9.15 Mb
Thanks to all those who have supported the Oramics project by purchasing this app. Were really grateful for the fantastic response to our humble tribute to Daphne.
To celebrate the October 10th 2011 opening of the Science Museums Oramics to Electronica exhibition, which features an interactive touchscreen version of this app, were dropping the price!
We understand that 3G users have had problems with a background image not loading correctly - were looking into fixing this as soon as possible.
Oramics is a drawn sound technique developed by Daphne Oram in 1957. Orams composition machine consisted of a large rectangular metal frame, providing a table-like surface traversed by ten synchronised strips of clear, sprocketed 35mm film. The musician drew shapes on the film to create a mask, which modulated the light received by photocells. Although the output from the machine was monophonic, the sounds could be added to multitrack tapes to provide more texture.
The original machine is in storage at the Science Museum in London and is expected to go on display in 2011.
This iPhone app tries to bring to life the incredible sound of the Oramics Machine. Users can draw aspects of a sound in a drawn composition on top of film reels, including the envelope, pitch, reverb, vibrato, as well control the shape of the sound by drawing a waveshape on top of a glass plate.
Latest reviews of Oramics app for iPhone and iPad
Bought this app on a whim after reading an article online. Its a bit pricey, but Im hoping it gets some updates. Heres a good place to start: - It would be nice to have a reference cursor or line on the reels so you can tell which part of the loop is currently playing. In the centre would make sense. - Some help files. I know what terms like Envelope are, but a lot of people wont. - Show the other reels in the background so you can see where youre drawing and can reference it to the other reels. - Ability to "shift" the reels in relation to the others in case you didnt quite get it right the first try. - Maybe provide a library of samples people can start with. However I like the concept. I worked with a lot of the old synths and this is a neat idea.
シンセサイザーの歴史、BBC Radiophonic Workshopなどに興味がある人はもちろん、ちょっと変わったシンセやノイズメーカーを好きな人にもおすすめ。Radiophonic Workshopを立ち上げたDaphne Oram氏のシンセを再現したものだが、入力方式は中々の珍発想によるもの。カメラ用のフィルムに黒い線を描き、シンセがそれを楽譜代わりに読み込んで発音するのだ。アプリではiPhoneの画面上の「フィルム」に線を描いて、音の高低・強弱などを決める。音のクオリティがいいのと、予測不可能なところが楽しい。使いこなせばトラック用の素材作りにも役立ちそう。
Interesting app; Ive enjoyed getting to know it this morning--first impression is that the real-time alterability is a plus. It may be counter to the original instrument this is modeled on, but it would be interesting in an update to be able to run the strips at different tempos to create more subtle generative variations. Just a thought. Thanks for bringing this historical technique to iOS.
I was really excited to play with this, but unfortunately the app doesnt generate a single sound on my phone. It would also be great if it shipped with a few sample tunes for the novice.
Unfortunately no sound was generated. Seems this app is broken. Maybe there will be an update soon so that I dont feel as if I wasted money.