Sound/Waves vs OmniRTA

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.

OmniRTA is an advanced real-time acoustic analyzer engineered for audio professionals, sound design students, musicians, and acousticians. Combining high-performance DSP with a clear, pedagogical interface, OmniRTA bridges the gap between signal theory and practical sound analysis. A Unique Educational & Comparative Platform: Unlike traditional RTAs limited to a single processing method, OmniRTA integrates multiple frequency analysis engines, allowing you to compare signal behaviors side by side and understand how different algorithms handle transient vs. steady-state audio: Standard Direct FFT: High-speed frequency decomposition optimized for real-time responsiveness, wideband signals, and general monitoring. Constant-Q / Fractional Octave Filterbank: Acoustically relevant octave and fractional-octave banding (1/1, 1/3, 1/6, 1/12, 1/24 octave) that matches human auditory perception across the audible spectrum. Proprietary Low-Frequency Transient Engine (Exclusive): Traditional FFT algorithms suffer from a strict time-frequency uncertainty trade-off, either sacrificing time accuracy or frequency resolution in the low end. OmniRTA introduces an innovative analysis engine specifically designed for low-frequency transient and percussive content. Accurately track fast double-kick drums, heavy techno sub-bass patterns, and low-end impact dynamics with surgical frequency definition and zero temporal smearing. Key Features: • Real-time multi-algorithm spectrum visualization. • Standard acoustic weightings: A, C, and Z (Flat). • Response ballistics: Fast, Slow, Peak Hold, and Infinite Peak. • Native high-performance DSP core written in Rust for minimal latency and optimal battery efficiency. • Seamless cross-platform experience across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Free vs Pro Version: OmniRTA offers essential spectrum analysis features for everyday work and learning. Upgrade to OmniRTA Pro via a one-time in-app purchase to unlock advanced fractional octave bands, deep algorithm customization, and extended logging tools.