TOPLAPapp

Name: TOPLAPapp
Rating: 4.8 (4 reviews)
Author: Joshua Parmenter

Music

Only for iPhone

Free · Designed for iPhone

4 Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Music
Developer

Joshua Parmenter
Language

EN
English
Size

495.6
KB

iPhone

TOPLAPapp is a sonic puzzle based around a virtual machine for sound synthesis. This machine accepts a few valid instructions represented by the letters T, O, P, L, A, and p, and you control it by placing each command letter within a grid, along with setting some associated parameter sliders. The machine rushes through the instruction set to create output sounds, which are usually of a somewhat noisy character, hopefully interestingly so. The historical antecedents include instruction synthesis as pioneered at the Institute of Sonology in the 1970s, and the live coding movement, of modifying a running program as it acts. This app is intended for those interested in more experimental sonic art: don't download unless you are open to stranger computer music sounds ((http://www.toplap.org).

Ratings & Reviews

4.8

out of 5

4 Ratings

Love at first glitch!
08/28/2021

antfactor
This is an improvisers dream/nightmare… And I love it because of that. As someone who has been producing and performing on various synthesizers since the mid-80s… This is one of those “machines“ that defies many norms simultaneously as it capitalizes on new ones. I hope this app and it’s associated website continue to be updated and stay relevant because I think it’s a gift in more ways than not, as well as a musical challenge. All instruments are challenging in different ways, but this one in ways that (for me) are far more appreciated than understood. I like the challenge, and I like the surprise. Many thanks to the developer!
Love at first glitch!
08/28/2021

antfactor

This is an improvisers dream/nightmare… And I love it because of that. As someone who has been producing and performing on various synthesizers since the mid-80s… This is one of those “machines“ that defies many norms simultaneously as it capitalizes on new ones. I hope this app and it’s associated website continue to be updated and stay relevant because I think it’s a gift in more ways than not, as well as a musical challenge. All instruments are challenging in different ways, but this one in ways that (for me) are far more appreciated than understood. I like the challenge, and I like the surprise. Many thanks to the developer!
Please update!!
12/16/2020

Best Reviewer Ever
I just recently discovered this app and love it. I would love a little more explanation on what each letter and box represent to be able to predict the sounds a little better for performing. Maybe even an effects section to further mangle the sound. I know chances are slim that this or RISCy will get updated but you would be doing a great service to the noise genre by giving this a refresh.
Please update!!
12/16/2020

Best Reviewer Ever

I just recently discovered this app and love it. I would love a little more explanation on what each letter and box represent to be able to predict the sounds a little better for performing. Maybe even an effects section to further mangle the sound. I know chances are slim that this or RISCy will get updated but you would be doing a great service to the noise genre by giving this a refresh.
Highly engaging!
06/13/2010

dkamionk
Probably not for everyone, but definitely great for me. Great for exploring alternative sound aesthetics and being blind to the actual parameters you are controlling is a great exercise in letting your ears do the work unfettered by cerebral filters. Thanks to this app, I now know about the fascinating world of livecoding. Thanks for this great new toy/tool.
Highly engaging!
06/13/2010

dkamionk

Probably not for everyone, but definitely great for me. Great for exploring alternative sound aesthetics and being blind to the actual parameters you are controlling is a great exercise in letting your ears do the work unfettered by cerebral filters. Thanks to this app, I now know about the fascinating world of livecoding. Thanks for this great new toy/tool.
The bleeding edge!
08/09/2014

Craig8128
It makes me so happy to see this get an update! This is one of the first music apps I ever downloaded, and while the results are often somewhat harsh, this app is a real 'eye-opener' for some of the truly original and unusual things one can do with music and sound in iOS.
The bleeding edge!
08/09/2014

Craig8128

It makes me so happy to see this get an update! This is one of the first music apps I ever downloaded, and while the results are often somewhat harsh, this app is a real 'eye-opener' for some of the truly original and unusual things one can do with music and sound in iOS.