Taika Systems has introduced Photophore – a unique instrument that brings ‘flock synthesis’ to the iPad’.

Photophore uses ‘flocks’ of up to 100 sound generators to create rich, organic synthesizer sounds. By controlling the behavior of the flocks, you can make Photophore sound like a choir of synthesizers or, at more extreme settings, a swarm of angry insects.

Here’s a preview of Photophore in action:

Flock Synthesis

Unlike other digital synthesizers, Photophore creates warmth and character in a new way. Instead of modeling analog circuits, it models animal behavior.

Photophore’s sound engine is made up of flocks of oscillators that move through a virtual three-dimensional environment. Their motion is controlled by a behavioral algorithm and physics simulation that keeps the oscillators in tune with each other, but allows for a certain amount of natural drifting and detuning.

You can interact with the oscillator flocks by controlling their behavior – how much they try to flock together, how much they avoid each other, their speed, and how much turbulence is in their environment. Oscillators will ‘flee’ from your touch, so you can create extreme pitch modulation and more chaotic effects by swiping across the screen.

Features:

Unique flock synthesis engine

Up to 100 oscillators per patch

Monophonic or polyphonic operation (up to 6 voices)

6 oscillator waveforms (saw, square, pulse and more)

Low pass/High pass filter with resonance

Dedicated amplitude and filter envelopes

Stereo echo effect

Arpeggiator

Connectivity:

Use any iPad-compatible MIDI keyboard to play notes and perform pitch bends

AudioBus and Inter-App Audio support for streaming audio to other apps

Control Photophore from other apps via CoreMIDI

Tech Requirements:

iOS7 or later required

Photophore is available now in the App Store for US $4.99.

If you’ve tried Photophore, let us know what you think of it and the idea of flock synthesis!