RjDj, a new iPhone application that was released earlier this week, is one of the coolest things I’ve seen released on the still fledgling platform. Download it now, if only to try it for a few minutes. You can download the full version for $2.99 here, or you can try out the free version (which only has one ’scene’).
The application is difficult to describe and on paper it sounds sort of silly (see the video below for a convincing demonstration). Using the iPhone’s built in microphone, the application listens for ambient noise which it then modifies and infuses into an automatically generated dynamic soundtrack. Each of the application’s six different “scenes” has a different feel to it, with options like a trance-like beat that might fit in at a club and a track that is based entirely on percussion. Each track also treats the incoming audio differently – some tracks loop the input, while others distort it.
For some tracks the end result is incredibly trippy, to the point that I don’t think I’d be able to run the app for more than a few minutes at a time. Others, like “Gridwalker” are more serene, and would be a relaxing accompaniment for a morning commute. And some of the tracks lend themselves to creativity – the application allows users to record their dynamic soundtracks, so you can save any cool effects you come up with.
There are some high quality and useful applications available on Apple’s App Store, but most innovation has been restricted to making use of the phone’s built-in accelerometer (and that loses its ‘wow’ factor after a while). RjDj is venturing into exciting new territory, where music is no longer a purely passive form of media – I won’t be surprised if we see an onslaught of similar (and hopefully improved) applications in the near future.
This is a fun little app; took some figuring out though. I tried the free version which has an echo like effect on the sounds your headphone mic picks up. It’s kind of trippy! Would love to be able to share the tracks I create. ***
Wow this is really cool.
How I explained it to a friend:
It’s basically an environmental track that listens to the noise around you at the same time its playing and changes based on your audible environment
EasyRelax is another cool app I just wrote on that’s free. Ambient music tracks.
wow cool app.
“A digital drug” – perfect. haha. I like the thinking, and where this is going. Can’t wait to try it out. Seriously tho – great job guys. I love the innovation in apps the iphone is inspiring.
rjdj is a great app, a nice use of the hardware. But it’s a big stretch to say that the iPhone spurred this innovation. The project actually started with a Sharp Zaurus. RJDJ is an iPhone front end to Pd (Pure Data), they have created some great patches for RJDJ, and made them it really easy to download and run.
If you want to try this stuff without the iPhone, download Pd to your computer (GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, or Windows) or your Linux-enabled mobile device. Then you can make your own custom sound environments too.
http://puredata.info
Way cool! Now i want one of those iPhone things you guy’s have been talking about.
Another cool app!
Pretty cool !!! I remember seeing a project like this at the MIT media Lab a couple of years back. Is this the same team ?
Wow, this redefines user contributed creativity. It’s awesome.
Ladies and gents, I give you the future.
I was literally running around TechCrunch headquarters telling people to talk to me because it sounded cool. I can’t wait to see how the developers can expand on this.
weeirrddd.
Anyone remember on Sesame Street how they would have car horns, shoesteps, pots banging, and voices sync into a rhythm?
Why is this only now coming out? I guess it’s about scalability on the iPhone. Either way, is there a PC version, Jason? Because this or something like it would be great at parties. It’s like karaoke, but anyone can join in regardless of vocal talent. Or, like a music visualizer but actually a music audiolizer.
That said…. I should probably register that domain, audiolizer.com. But I’m not going to. But let it be known that I said it!
Freain’ MashLogic. When I roll over “Sesame” in my above link, it informs me that I’m refering to:
sesame n 1: East Indian annual erect herb; source of sesame seed or benniseed and sesame oil [syn: {sesame}, {benne}, {benni}, {benny}, {Sesamum indicum}]
I love that this is APP is coming from an area that appreciates techno / minimal / electronica, etc. which is a pretty often misunderstood genre here in the US.
Any relation to the producer RJD2?
Nice, the Beastie Boys have a new toy
Slick.
Dare you to take the Echolon scene into a haunted house this October.
more reviews here http://app-stor...800319%26mt%3D8
RSS feed for new iphone apps (updated daily) is here http://app-stor....com/newrss.xml
I like it. But, it seems like it should be exportable. I can see using this in a slideshow of a family vacation to add reality of the environment (just one example).
If this was combined with Brian Eno’s Bloom app, that would rock.
After seeing the demo vid I was so psyched to give it a whirl. Unfortunately the app isn’t functioning on a large portion of users’ iPhones, including mine – just take a look at RJDJ’s blog. I managed to try it out on a friend’s phone and it was amazing! So much potential for good music on this platform. Maybe it was worth them releasing the app prematurely after all
OMG this is absolutely the trippiest thing since well.. LSD
Taking this into a room with slowly building music is nearly unbearably insane.
Seriously… my right hand just melted… and my wife calling my name made me crap my pants.
Bravo!
it’s refreshing to discover something inspiring and innovative on tc. great coverage, hoping for more.
It’s quite awesome app but just after 3 hours, my iphone screen turned to black. This app really tuckered my iphone.
i would want an iPhone just for stuff like this!!!
I guess that is the point!
Walking around using things like this and Tonchidot makes me feel like we’re blurring the line between humans and computers more quickly than people realize…
I like very much the writings and pictures and explanations in your adress so I look forward to see your next writings.
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