# Sound/Waves — Ambient music from ocean buoys > Generates ambient music and visuals from live NOAA ocean buoy data. (iPhone/iPad app by Nathan Michel.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundwaves/id6778446282 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Nathan Michel](https://appshunter.io/developer/6778446284) - Category: Music, Weather - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 4 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 18.6 · 1 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-09-03 - Data updated: 2026-09-11 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundwaves/id6778446282/reviews.md ## What is Sound/Waves? Sound/Waves creates ambient music from live ocean data pulled from NOAA buoys around North America. The music is synthesized in real time within the app based on data that is updated every 10 minutes; nothing is pre-recorded. I built Sound/Waves as a composer and surfer. I want the music to create an immediate sonic image — clear enough to give a surfer some idea of current ocean conditions — while also engaging the listener with subtle, constantly changing variations in harmony, timbre, dynamics, and melody. There are two models, Spectral and Chromatic. SPECTRAL The Spectral model transposes ocean wave frequencies into the range of human hearing. These are extremely low: a 15-second wave is just 0.067 Hertz (Hz). Multiply by 1000 and you get 67 Hz, about two octaves below Middle C on a piano. Using this method for the 46 discrete wave bands reported by NOAA buoys every hour allows you to "hear" which waves have the most energy at that particular point in the ocean, at that particular time. CHROMATIC The Chromatic model maps the same data surf reports use — wave height, wave period, wind speed, tide, and others — to musical parameters such as harmony, rhythm, and timbre. wave height → polyphony wave period → amplitude wave quality → harmony swell direction → tuning wind → timbre tide → reverb A large groundswell with ideal wind conditions, for example, will create stacked, widely spaced, consonant chords with a smooth timbre, breathing in and out with the slow wave period. Choppy, short period wind waves will have a quicker rhythm and sound harmonically dissonant, with a distorted texture. VISUALS Sound/Waves also has a visual component. The tiled photos are taken automatically every hour by the buoys themselves, looking out in six directions. If a buoy snaps its photo while on the crest of a wave, the normally flat horizon tilts to a jagged angle. Scan mode crossfades the images between locations, creating an abstract, painterly drift that shifts with the time of day. Sunrise and sunset are bright pastel. Occasionally a boat or ship appears like a ghost, then fades away. Night images can show the moon and other strange colors amidst the black. A migrating bird may get caught in the frame. The scan rate — how fast the images crossfade — can be set from fast to slow, or turned off altogether. These buoy images convey a sense of isolation and non-intention that I want the music to amplify. — Sound/Waves requires an internet connection to fetch current observations. Ocean and weather data courtesy of NOAA's National Data Buoy Center and NOAA Tides & Currents. Sound/Waves is not affiliated with or endorsed by NOAA. Data is provided as is and is not for navigation. ## Key features - Real-time ambient music synthesis - Live ocean data integration (NOAA buoys) - Spectral and Chromatic music models - Hourly buoy photo visuals - Customizable scan mode for visuals - Interactive soundscape creation ## Recent user reviews (2 of 2) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundwaves/id6778446282/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Great music!! *2026-09-06* The music from the buoys is very calming and peaceful. Great app to look at the forecast of waves too! ### 5/5 — Great App!! 😍 *2026-09-05* Really good app!!! Great music and wave info. Strongly recommend! ## Frequently asked questions about Sound/Waves ### What is Sound/Waves? Sound/Waves is a free application that creates unique ambient music and visuals by processing live data from NOAA ocean buoys. It offers two distinct musical models, Spectral and Chromatic, to interpret wave data into sound. ### How does Sound/Waves create music? The app synthesizes music in real-time using data updated every 10 minutes. The Spectral model transposes wave frequencies into audible ranges, while the Chromatic model maps surf report data like wave height and wind speed to musical parameters. ### Does Sound/Waves have ads? No, Sound/Waves does not contain advertisements. It is a completely ad-free experience for users. ### What devices support Sound/Waves? Sound/Waves is available for iPhone and iPad devices. It requires an internet connection to fetch current ocean observations. ### Is Sound/Waves suitable for children? Sound/Waves has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for younger users. The app's content is generally safe and educational. ### How often is Sound/Waves updated? The latest version of Sound/Waves is 1.2, which was last updated on September 8, 2026. Updates typically focus on refining the music synthesis and visual features. ### Can I use Sound/Waves offline? No, Sound/Waves requires an active internet connection to fetch the live ocean and weather data from NOAA buoys. The music and visuals are generated in real-time based on this data. ### What is the user sentiment for Sound/Waves? Based on the available data, Sound/Waves has a perfect 5.0-star rating from 4 reviews, indicating very positive user sentiment. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.2 — 2026-09-08 The app now displays as Sound/Waves. ### 1.1 — 2026-09-07 Sound/Waves now claims the system's Now Playing controls. If you plug into a car or home stereo, it no longer hands playback to another app -- the music keeps going. You also get play, pause and station stepping from the lock screen, Control Center, and your stereo's own buttons. The next and previous arrows move between buoys, the same as swiping up and down in the app. New app icon. Also: identifies itself to NOAA's tide service, as they request. ### 1.0 — 2026-09-03 No release notes. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-11.*