Chapter 9, Continued
More Automation and FX Sequencing with Sugar Bytes
Sugar Bytes
We’ve already covered two apps by Sugar Bytes, Turnado and Egoist, but it’s definitely worth discussing their other iOS apps since all of them offer serious amounts of automation, modulation, and randomization functionality.
Instruments
Aparillo
Aparillo is a brilliant textural synth with tons of modulation features. The app is primarily designed to be used as a monophonic synth so that all 16 voices can be put to work on deep, ultra-complex sounds. This along with the multitude of modulation options and the Orbit sound-morpher makes it perfect for ever-evolving drones and soundscapes.
Cyclop
Cyclop is a monophonic bass synthesizer with dual synths and filter units. The main controls can be automated by recording your actions or by drawing a modulation curve. There are 16 different modulation targets that can be controlled by the knobs. This app also includes an Effectrix-style effects sequencer.
Three of the six synthesizer types in Cyclop are of special interest to experimental musicians. The Transformer is a wavetable synth that allows you to import your own samples and tweak them using granular and formant shifting controls. The Spectromat uses 32 internal oscillators, represented by spectral bands. The Phase Stressor is a phase distortion oscillator that does some crazy stuff, including self- modulation.
DrumComputer
DrumComputer is a drum synth and sequencer featuring intelligent randomizers and flexible modulation features. Key functionality for our concerns in this chapter include a modulation matrix on each sound page with various sources and targets throughout the app, dual modulation generators for each sound engine (which can be envelopes, LFOs, or random), and the modulation sequencers on the sequencer page for probability, rolls, step delay and also pitch- decay- and mod sequencers.
Factory - Modular Synthesizer
Factory is a complex modular synth with a powerful 8x10 modulation matrix with 36 available targets. Factory has 5 modulators and 4 different sequencers (with a similar interface to sequencers in their other apps), as well as a morph slider which can allow you to move smoothly from one set of preset parameter values to another. Of course, the morph slider can be automated using a DAW or external app for the ultimate modulation experience.
Unique
Unique is an analogue synth emulator known for its powerful formant filters. It offers a complex LFO, sequencer, and recordable XY pad as modulation sources.
Effects
Effectrix
The next app, Effectrix, is the full version of the effects sequencer included in stripped-down forms in both Egoist and Cyclop. Effectrix has 14 different effects that can be drawn onto a 32-step sequencer. Each effect has two available modulation tracks, which can be assigned to automate the effects parameters of your choice. Each preset can have up to twelve variations, which can be triggered via the in-app keyboard or by sending MIDI notes from another app or controller.
There are handy dice buttons for randomizing the effects sequencer and the modulation tracks. Effectrix can be used to mangle an imported audio sample or external audio via AUv3, IAA, or Audiobus.
Looperator
Looperator combines Effectrix-style sequenced effects with a loop slicer. Each effect can be modulated per step by one of 20 built-in envelope shapes, 4 custom user-defined steps, an automation-ready parameter dial, an envelope follower, or a randomizer. This is another app that I find myself using pretty much all the time, primarily for getting little ghost glitches from my guitar signal.
WOW2
WOW2 is combination filter and distortion effect with tons of modulation options. There are 21 available filter types and 7 different overdrive / distortion types that can be applied pre or post filter. For modulation, there’s a step sequencer, LFO, and Cyclop-style wobble generator. This app can create some great glitch and noise sounds, and the filter vowel mode will have you hearing voices in no time.
Sequencer
Thesys
The final app I’ll mention by Sugar Bytes is Thesys, a MIDI step sequencer. It can be used to create some unique bass and lead lines when driving synth apps, but more importantly for this chapter’s purposes, it can be used to send MIDI clock to Effectrix along with MIDI notes to change patterns. An added bonus is the ability to sequence MIDI cc messages (like the MIDI tools mentioned earlier), which can allow you to automate other apps that might not have their own automation functionality.
Other Apps
A few of the apps covered in earlier chapters are worth mentioning again for their automation features. GlitchBreaks and Sliver by Alex Matheu both offer tons of automation functionality. Almost all of the controls in Soundscaper by igor Vasiliev can be automated. Mentioned in Chapter 7, Borderlands Granular and Samplr both provide the ability to record your movements in order to automate the controls.