Developer Strangeloop Limited has released Oramics – a software synth designed to recreate the Oramics Machine of electronic music pioneer Daphne Oram.
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.
The original machine is at the Science Museum in London.
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.
Oramics is $4.99 in the App Store. If you give this a try, leave a comment with your thoughts on it.
I'm running it on an older 3G iPhone, but, despite the limitations of both software and controller, it's interesting. Still figuring out how to actually incorporate it as an instrument… The interface is a tad glitchy on an older phone, but the audio seems fine.
You know why its glitchy? ITS NOT A REAL INSTRUMENT.
@Zom
A musical instrument is any tool that will allow a musician to compose music. So A "real musician" doesn't need a "real instrument" to make music.
Do yourself a favor, stop being so mundane and learn to experiment.
+10
Was the original Oramics Machine a 'real instrument'?
One of the points of experimental electronic music is to push the boundaries of what we think of as 'instruments' and 'music'.
Hi i’m nyle from norfolk in the UK , massive of daphne oram an her oramics machine, i was just watching the footage on a documentary and it showcased a ”APP’ called Oramics designed for the iphone / ipad, i just tried to find the .IPA File ‘the app’ and i cannot get a copy to install on my old 2011 ipad. i belive the ‘Oramics App’ has been removed from the apple store. I have a older Ipad that could run it if i had the Oramics .IPA file of the app, i noticed it was developed by Strangeloop Limited. i just wondering if you could Send Me a backup Copy of the ‘Oramics’ App for IOS , i know it’s not supported by modern ios but i will load it onto my older Apple Ipad / Iphone . Been looking for a archived copy everywhere with no luck 🙁 . I Hope this message finds your team 🙂 i would love to try the Oramics app and even write a article about it while showcasing a video as part of a documentary i am currently writing in admiration of Daphne oram. If you can help me out by sending a copy of the old ‘Oramics IOS App Software my way that would be super awesome!’ 🙂 My email is below, but i’ll put it here just incase [email protected] (Bandit is the name of my dog 🙂 Please get back to me 🙂
Hi i’m nyle from norfolk in the UK , massive of daphne oram an her oramics machine, i was just watching the footage on a documentary and it showcased a ”APP’ called Oramics designed for the iphone / ipad, i just tried to find the .IPA File ‘the app’ and i cannot get a copy to install on my old 2011 ipad. i belive the ‘Oramics App’ has been removed from the apple store. I have a older Ipad that could run it if i had the Oramics .IPA file of the app, i noticed it was developed by Strangeloop Limited. i just wondering if you could Send Me a backup Copy of the ‘Oramics’ App for IOS , i know it’s not supported by modern ios but i will load it onto my older Apple Ipad / Iphone . Been looking for a archived copy everywhere with no luck 🙁 . I Hope this message finds your team 🙂 i would love to try the Oramics app and even write a article about it while showcasing a video as part of a documentary i am currently writing in admiration of Daphne oram. If you can help me out by sending a copy of the old ‘Oramics IOS App Software my way that would be super awesome!’ 🙂 My email is below, but i’ll put it here just incase [email protected] (Bandit is the name of my dog 🙂 Please get back to me 🙂 .