Mononoke

Mononoke

By Bram Bos

  • Category: Music
  • Release Date: 2020-01-17
  • Current Version: 1.2.2
  • Adult Rating: 4+
  • File Size: 6.00 MB
  • Developer: Bram Bos
  • Compatibility: Requires iOS 10.0 or later.
Score: 4.76531
4.76531
From 98 Ratings

Description

Mononoke is an unconventional synthesizer, designed to compose evolving soundscapes and musical textures. Feedback routing What sets Mononoke apart from other synths is that its voices (4 in each section) can be routed back into each other in multiple ways, creating all sorts of overtones and pulsating resonant frequencies. Sometimes harmonic, sometimes weirdly atonal. Sometimes clear and delicate as icicles, sometimes harsh as metallic blades, sometimes soft as fresh snow. This interaction between voices helps fuse all layers together into a coherent musical landscape. A tale of two engines The synthesizer engines (each of the two sections has its own independent engine) have relatively simple controls, which influence a complex system of many invisible, interconnected LFOs. But this is not your bread-and-butter general purpose synthesizer: think of Mononoke as one huge FM synthesizer where each voice is an independently playable operator. Together all operators contribute to a single soundscape. Expressive pads Complex soundscapes can be created live, using the 8 performance pads which let you modulate each voice independently in several dimensions. Your interactions with the pads will also be sent out as MPE/MIDI (when loaded as an AU plugin in a compatible host) so you can record and tweak your session. The onscreen pads can be latched individually so some voices can be used as drones, while others as can be added and removed as extra sonic layers. The pads are fully integrated in the Audio Unit plugin. Connectivity Mononoke is designed as an AUv3 plugin, with advanced Audio Unit features such as MPE input and output (!), a fully exposed array of AU parameters for automation and all the connectivity and scalability you can expect from modern plugins.  The standalone mode is basic (just meant for jamming and creating presets) and does not offer any connectivity, so if you want to use Mononoke in conjunction with other apps and effects you'll need to load it into a host, such as Garageband, Audiobus, AUM or Cubasis. Summary: - Audio Unit (AUv3) plugin - 8 voice polyphony, 2 independent engines with 4 voices each - Compatible with MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) and MIDI - MIDI Input and Output (only available when used as an Audio Unit plugin) - Limited standalone mode for jamming (full screen, no connectivity) - 8 independently tunable performance pads for expressive interaction - Universal, fully scalable to any screen size, supports fullscreen mode in AU hosts - Freely tunable voices, or quantized to semitones (with overall finetuning) - iOS10 (MIDI/MPE output from the plugin requires iOS11) or higher Also contains Mononoke Pads: an extra AUv3 MIDI controller plugin for playing MPE compatible synths using Mononoke's pads. Note: this is a separate plugin which will be installed in your MIDI Plugin collection. Mononoke Pads requires iOS 11.

Screenshots

Reviews

  • I’ve been chasing that sound

    4
    By space-age
    I finally took the Euro-Rack plunge after hearing a Radigue recording. The Arp 2500 modules are intriguing, but this stunning App takes great strides at the price of a sandwich. And plays with the new Logic Pro.
  • Bad Midi Controllability

    3
    By EthanGross
    note to dev: learn to take some criticism for your work. its a great app, just needs some attention in some areas. settle down bram wow This app makes notes hang when you press more than one on any midi controller. Also there is no aftertouch which makes playing it with a keyboard even more useless. ty.
  • Monster drone synth!

    5
    By widowsson379
    When I first bought this app, I didn’t know what to make of it. Then, I watched videos on the Lyra-8 and everything fell into place. This app masterfully recreates and improves on the original design. Not only does it have the crazy feedback modulations on the oscillators, it has added LFO waves, wavefolding, and MPE sensitive buttons with individual holds and velocity. This synth is worth every penny, and once you delve into modulating the voices and put the presets aside, you will find that this app is every bit as visceral and organismic as the Lyra-8. In my opinion, it is even more so.
  • Nothing but crashing

    1
    By deezbeatz
    Opened 3 times in 10 minutes......sound cuts off after a few minutes.....honestly can't even say anything about it cause it just won't run correctly.......I may be on an ipad4 but that's no reason for this app not to be working, as I have plenty other apps from this dev plus many other apps just as new as this app that run flawlessly......and I definitely do want a refund. EDIT I understand that but that does not change the fact that it crashes ...... and for that I would like a refund. It's not asking much.
  • Issues with mononoke

    2
    By pjeadmin134
    The app can’t appear in my iPad whether as inter app or auv3 pls pls fixes the problem because I just purchased it.
  • Not Your Average Synthsizer

    4
    By BozoToo
    Actually, Mononoke is not a synthesizer. It is an electronic musical instrument to be sure. But it is not a synthesizer in the normal sense of the word. Lots of good things to say about, but most of them have been said in other reviews. The bottom line is it is a great deal of fun to play around with. The range of music you can do with Mononoke is quite limited. But think of it as a specialty instrument, not a general purpose synthesizer. One of the best features is its playability. Control Voltage structures are limited. The instrument is clearly intended to be played manually, complete with MPE data capabilities. The included ability to use the tunable playing pads as a separate MIDI control surface to play other instruments within an AU host is a great big plus. Shortcomings: ¡¡Mononoke NEEDS a dedicated volume knob!! The lack of a discrete master volume knob is very limiting. You have only one really useful way to control the volume of Mononoke, which is to run it through an AU mixer or host DAW. But that can be awkward, especially in live performance. A simple volume knob seems to me to be a necessary, obvious and very simple item on the upgrade list.
  • Wonderful drone synth

    5
    By sneJ
    As I learn my way around Mononoke, it’s become one of my favorite instruments. Its drones are so expressive, going from pure tones to howling nightmares as the wavefolder and feedback kick in. The multiple LFOs keep the sound in motion. And the pads let you change chords or add some melody during a performance. I’ve found Mononoke to be a perfect accompaniment to ambient guitar. It sets the key and mode for me to solo over, and it can match the sweetness or harshness of the guitar’s tone. It’s really been putting my creativity in high gear! I should note that I own a Lyra-8, the Russian synth that clearly inspired Mononoke. The Lyra-8 is a crazed beast I’m almost afraid to turn on. Bram Bos has caught its spirit but tamed it a bit, made it into something mere mortals can explore and live to tell the tale.
  • A Subtle Beast

    5
    By Morgman73
    Only subtle until you understand that is not that at all. Once again, Bram kills the game with his vision and amazing creativity to create usable inst. Nothing new in way of this developers knack for making machines that not only are incredibly usable but stable and expressive. 10 Stars.
  • Tunings !

    5
    By DRKPHK
    Woah I over looked the tuning capabilities Excellent!
  • Oh please... UPDATE

    5
    By anickt
    The most recent update is so new it’s not even in the version history! I like dat! Every little tweak brings something new. Subtle is good in drone/ambient. I don’t understand what some people were expecting. If it’s a “one trick pony” what’s wrong with that? It’s a good one! The increased range on the pitch bend brings it into Theremin territory (another one trick pony?). With all of its other functions it’s a Theremin on steroids.

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