Developer Taylor Holliday has released Audulus 2.0, available now for both Mac and iPad.
Audulus is a user-friendly modular synthesis app. The update introduces a Math Expression Node, A Timing Mode, enhanced optimization, and a new Audulus Store.
Here is a video preview of the changes in Audulus 2.0:
Here’s what’s new in Audulus for Mac:
- Math Expression node (Math -> Expr). – Enter textual math expressions, like “2*x + y +z”. Available as an upgrade, this node has a variety of uses, including: unit conversion, control-signal mapping, wave-shaping or building custom oscillators. It can also be used when doing math with individual nodes is too cumbersome.
- Timing mode (enabled via the View menu). This shows timings for all the nodes so you can optimize your patch. This is available as an upgrade.
- The Oscillator node now has an amplitude input. If the amplitude is zero, the oscillator takes up much less CPU. Synth patches will see a big performance improvement from driving the Osc amplitude with the ADSR.
- Significant improvement in loading times.
- Audio engine optimizations. The audio engine now takes various shortcuts Β when values aren’t changing.
- Bug fixes.
Here’s what’s new in Audulus for iPad:
- The Audulus Store. To open the store, tap the Store button in the Patch Browser (left side).
- Math Expression node (Math -> Expr). Enter textual math expressions, like “2*x + y +z”. Available as an upgrade, this node has a variety of uses, including: unit conversion, control-signal mapping, wave-shaping or building custom oscillators. It can also be used when doing math with individual nodes is too cumbersome.
- Timing mode (the little stopwatch button below the lock mode button). This shows timings for all the nodes so you can optimize your patch. This is available as an upgrade.
- The Oscillator node now has an amplitude input. If the amplitude is zero, the oscillator takes up much less CPU. Synth patches will see a big performance improvement from driving the Osc amplitude with the ADSR.
- Significant improvement in loading times. Indicate progress while loading.
- No waiting to close a patch. Patches are saved in the background.
- Audio engine optimizations. The audio engine now takes various shortcuts when values aren’t changing.
- Improved responsiveness of the on-screen keyboard.
- Bug fixes.
Pricing:
Hi Synthhead, here’s my video for Audulus 2.0: https://vimeo.com/64264072. I think I need a direct line of communication to you π
cheers
– Taylor
Great to see how often this gets updated, the developer is on the ball.
No idea what I would do with the math node, though. Anybody have suggestions?
Calculate some shit, what else? π
– Mixers (a*b+c*d+…)
– Ring mod (a*b)
– Converting MIDI note # to frequency
– Use sine functions to create fm synthesis
To name a few.
Hey Jenna,
Thanks for your interest in Audulus! There’s a thread over on the Audulus forum with some examples of what you can do. Its called “Ye Old Math Nerd Shoppe” (I would link you directly but then my reply would be delayed).
You can use patches with the math node in them without buying the node π
cheers
– Taylor (Audulus Developer)
I threw a bunch of patches up on the forum thread based on the Exp node and they are simple to make.
You can google digital audio formulas and copy paste them right into Audulus, it’s pretty simple and you can create almost anything!
Iv’e been waiting for this
Thanks Taylor!!!! This app was a beast to begin with but now it’s a leviathan.
Anyone have this and SunVox Modular and could share their thoughts on the two as compared to each other?
Sunvox is more approachable and fun (to me) but is not running at 16/44 on iOS, so it’s a bit weak for sub bass. The desktop version is 16/44 though, and projects are easily ported over for a final render.
Audulus is very deep with math expressions, but unless you know what you’re doing, it’s not fun out of the box.
Sunvox is a tracker style sequencer, Audulus is a modular synth, it’s Jasuto (….) done right.
Am I close?
I think Audulus is more approachable than Sunvox, but I’m not into trackers.
Same for me and I started with trackers (a long time ago).
Is it now possible to play back samples in Audulus?
Not very honest to start a changelog with a feature that is only available via IAP and comes at the hefty price of one third (!) of the app itself. Avoiding the term “purchase”, it is even called “upgrade”.
(There is nothing wrong itself with trying to sell a very expensive IAP, I just personally don’t like the way it’s done here.)
He says it’s ‘available as an upgrade’ right off the bat, so he’s not pulling a fast one on anybody!
It would be great for all upgrades to be free forever, but then developers would have no incentive to make cool new stuff. I’m going to try out some patches before I decide on the math node.
Hey, I’ve updated the changelog to say explicitly IAPs to avoid any confusion (may take iTunes a little time to update). Thanks for pointing that out! The last thing I want is a customer that feels tricked.
cheers
– Taylor
Call me impressed!
Thanks for reacting this way, I take back my criticism!
So I just bought Audulus, and I have a question.
Say I want to modulate the cutoff frequency of a filter using both an envelope and an LFO at the same time… How is this done? I tried summing the LFO (oscillator node) and envelope (ADSR) outputs using a mixer node, and patching the mixer out to the cutoff. It’s not working properly.
Also, why can’t I adjust the cutoff frequency of a filter manually when it’s being modulated?
Hey Gil, it sounds like you’re doing it right, but; the cutoff input needs actual Hertz values. Since the output of the Env is between 0 and 1 you need to multiply that output by a high number to get values as high as 6000 to open the filter. Then if you multiply those values with the Osc output, which defaults at -.5 to .5 you will get useful results. Use the Value node to check your results.
Check out the Audulus forum, there are tons of examples of this in action!
Thanks! I’ll try that. I’m used to the Nord Modular system where you get maximum modulation if you just patch things directly.
Hey Gil, I’ve been thinking of adding a mode for frequency inputs so a node, like the Filter node, could take normalized (0 to 1) values instead of Hz. I think that and a nice LFO node will make it a bit more intuitive π
cheers
– Taylor
This is a really excellent app for someone like me, trying to get into modular synthesis. I can play about with patches and components and am learning loads.
The only problem I have is with maths; I’ve never done anything to offend it but it just hates me!
Kawan saya rekemen blog nie … katanya artikel walaupun agak simple..
tapi penuh dengan info.. tahniah..