I think it’s only fair to say that FieldScaper is on the more experimental side of the iOS world. In my view that can only be a good thing though. It’s an unusual app in that its main focus is around field recording and making more experimental audio from field recordings.
If you’re not familiar with FieldScaper then it’s worth a quick read of the developer’s description of the app:
FieldScaper is advanced field recorder combined with a sound warp engine and a collection of ready to use dynamic presets for iPad and iPhone. Discover new ways to create and construct unusual and exciting sounds from any environmental audio recordings or samples recorded from other apps through Inter-App audio or Audiobus.
The main advantage is that you can record and modify samples along the way within the single app. You can record sounds and noises, delete unwanted parts and then use presets to give a whole new sounding or create spectacular soundscapes and textures to use them as loops in this app. And even use FieldScaper as effect in real time with other apps or external input.
Version 2.0 of FieldScaper has been a while in the making, but I think it’s worth waiting for based on the new features that have arrived. Here’s all that’s new in 2.0:
- Added new presets.
- Ableton Link start / stop sync.
- Step sequencer for each oscillator.
- Parametric equalizer for each oscillator.
- Signal amplification before filters and EQ.
- Automatic gain control of output for each oscillator.
- Synced Sequencer / LFOs with Ableton Link, IAA, MIDI.
- Pack scene and all its samples / presets to single file.
- Ableton Link SDK 3.0.2 updated.
- Audiobus SDK 3.0.5 updated.
- Built-in description updated.
- Several minor bugs were fixed.
I haven’t had a chance to try out the new features as yet, but I’m especially interested in the step sequencer functionality and what that can do to audio.
FieldScaper is a universal app and costs $9.99 on the app store