2011
08/09
Oramics Machine For iPhone

Oramics iPhone App

Oramics is a drawn sound technique designed in 1957 by musician Daphne Oram. The machine was further developed in 1962 after receiving a grant from the Gulbenkian Foundation. The technique involves drawing on 35mm film strips to control the sound produced.

Oram’s 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 on display at the Science Museum in London from 29 July 2011 to 1 December 2012.

Oramics-iPhone-Screenshot

Oramics was also the name used by Oram to refer to her studio and business interests generally.

Now you can get a pocket sized version of this unique synthesizer for your iPhone.

Oramics is a drawn sound technique developed by Daphne Oram in 1957. Oram’s 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.

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.

Liked it? Take a second to support admin on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!

Leave a Reply

  • iPad Loops is an iOS music production blog dedicated to exposing the best iPad apps musicians, producers, and Djs. This is not a database of every app. It is, however, one of useful recommendations from someone with many years in music production. I try to update it on a daily basis (ok sometimes every two days) and I do my best to post useful apps only. My name is Jason Donnelly (Dj Puzzle). You might know me from my royalty free loop packs and sound design. Some of the apps that contain my sounds are Synth One, EG Segments, Hammerhead, Retronyms AudioCopy, Audio Evolution Mobile, LP-5, iPRO.DJSAMPLER, Looptastic. My work is published by Roland, Antares, Magix, Soundtrack Loops, Sample Logic, Acoustica, Loopmasters and many more. Subscribe to our RSS feed below to get updated when new apps are posted.
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
  • SUBSCRIBE:

  • FOLLOW ON YouTube

    FOLLOW ON Reddit

    iPadLoops RSS Feed

    Instagram
  • Become a patron at Patreon!
  • Categories

  • Recent Posts

  • Tags

  • Archives