Welcome to Chroma
A color-based synth for mobile
Using your camera, or upload an image or animation, Chroma takes the color-data and converts it into sound using a variety of algorythms (in the Map tab) used by researchers looking into color theory and synesthesia.
Shape the sound using a variety of filters, fx, and bpm synced modulation.
Connect it to MIDI in order to control your synths, it synchs and sends note and cc data. Hooking it up to my S1 has been stupidly fun.
Play Notes
This is the main performance view. To start:
Start Camera to initialize the camera.
Start Audio to initialize the synth.
Poly / Mono switches between single voice or multiple voices.
Upload File allows you to upload an image or animation (gif,gifv,webp) as the visual source. The synth reads color from the target crosses on the screen and turns those colors into sound.
Image URL / Load add the url for an image or animation.
Sample size changes how large an area each cross reads.
Smoothing controls how quickly the sound reacts to color changes. In minimized Play mode, tap the screen to move the nearest target cross.
Rec loop controls record and replay changes in the color-to-sound data, not audio, so loops stay flexible and continue driving the synth live.
Save / Load Patch download and load your patch.
Mapping/MIDI Notes
The Map tab controls how visual color data becomes musical control data.
Conversion changes the color-to-parameter mapping style
Playback changes how strictly the synth follows the mapped pitch and voice behavior.
Scale constrains pitch movement to a musical note set.
Routing chooses a preset relationship between visual features and synth behavior, such as hue controlling pitch, brightness controlling amplitude, or multiple sample points forming chord voices.
The MIDI section can connect the visual data stream to external gear or software.
Enable MIDI, choose an input or output, then choose whether to send notes, send cc
Clock lets you sync to an external MIDI clock.
CC Mapprovides CC mapping for specific external synths. So far, I've just mapped my Roland S1. More to come.
Synth Notes
The Synth tab shapes the core sound engine.
Volume controls the master output level, and BPM sets the internal clock for loops, envelopes, LFOs, and other tempo-synced modulation.
Osc 1 and Osc 2 choose the main oscillator waveforms.
Osc 2 Tune offsets the second oscillator up or down by semitones, letting you create thicker unison sounds, intervals, or octave layers.
Filter Model chooses the filter character.
Filter Mode sets the filter type
Cutoff sets the base brightness, and Resonance emphasizes frequencies around the cutoff point.
Modulation Notes
The Mod tab lets you create BPM-synced movement that can be assigned to synth and effect parameters.
Add Env creates a looping ADSR envelope.
target most of the controls of the synth.
tempo division sets your beat division based on the BPM
Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release controls the shape.
Amount sets how strongly the envelope affects the target.
Add LFO creates a looping oscillator-style modulator.
waveform selects between sine, square, triangle, saw and reverse saw.
pulse width adjusts the elapsed time between the leading and trailing edges of the waveform. Square-wave LFOs are useful for rhythmic gates, while smoother shapes create sweeps and drifting motion.
Envelopes and LFOs can control pitch, amplitude, filter, cutoff, resonance, volume gate, delay, reverb, and individual oscillator pitch.
FX Notes
Drive adds saturation before the filter for more aggressive or acid-like tones.
Delay adds an echo signal driven by the synth’s mapped color data and modulation.
Mod FX selects chorus or flanger.
Rate sets the modulation speed.
Mod Depth controls how wide the sweep is
Feedback increases the resonant intensity.
Mix blends the effect into the dry signal.
The reverb section uses impulse responses.
Reverb Preset chooses the reverb space.
Reverb Send controls how much signal is sent into the reverb.
Pre-Delay delays the reverb onset.
Tone darkens or brightens the reverb.
Gain controls the reverb return level.
Mapping/MIDI Notes