`Trace Sonic` is an iOS, iPadOS and macOS experimental additive synthetizer which produces audio based on screen pixel data from images and/or from user's drawings on time-frequency grid canvas. It has several fixed oscillators and wavetables, harmonic brushes, supports AUv3 and incoming MIDI notes and has handful of factory presets and patterns which can be also imported as images by user.
Canvas
Paint / Erase
Use one of predefined brushes to paint over time and frequency bands; harmonic brushes are included and you can paint either freely or snap to currently available pitches. There is Undo/Redo and Eraser with current brush and you can be paiting while eveything is running.
Patterns
There are several 'patterns' - canvas paitings - included; some of them are precise harmonic spectral renders suitable for lasting notes, some are more rhythmic and others can be used for audio effects or just pure weirdness or random starting points.
User images
Or import your own images which will then drive the audio..; you can either replace or combine with existing paint when adding a pattern/image. (opened images are converted to grayscale before usage, note that normal photographs are very signal saturated, so they might not sound as you'd expect, but they work.)
Synthetizer
Additive monosynth
Driven by several audio rate classic oscillators and wavetables which sample the painted canvas with adjustable scan direction and speed based on user specified time or host's BPM multiplier.
AUv3 + MIDI
Works as standalone app or as an Audio Unit in other hosts; incoming MIDI notes change the base, and base note can be optionally held if no incoming MIDI while the host is running, so the patch can act as a sustained sound for drone like output.
Presets
Handful of builtin patches across multiple thematic groups (Shepard tone included).
Available
as standalone application and AUv3 pluginon Mac
on iPhone
on iPad
$9.99
(* single purchase valid for all supported platforms)
For questions or issues, please reach out on Discord (username r618), X, Bluesky, or Threads.