AudioSculpt

AudioSculpt takes a visual approach to modifying a sound file.

Description

After an analysis phase, the user modifies directly the result of the analysis using only the mouse in order to apply the desired changes to the sound. The main types of sound modification are: filtering, cross synthesis and dilation or compression of time and copy-paste of time-frequency zones.

Consult the online documentation (in french):

AudioSculpt, manuel de l'utilisateur

AudioSculpt, sound examples

Fields of Application

Universal

• The Swiss army knife for the analysis and visualization of sounds
• Exportation of analysis data
• High-quality transformations using an improved vocoder technique
• A wide range of processing available
• Unique filters
• Processing sequencers

Educational

• Graphical presentation of sound: sonogram (FFT, LPC, spectral envelope), spectrum, and formants
• Interactive analysis of the sound structure (harmonic tools, diapason)
• Scrub (slowed interactive listening without transposition)
• Tools for listening to a specific part of a time-frequency zone

Composition

• High-quality processing
• All parameters remain accessible for better quality control
• Spectral composition
• Pre-listening with optimal quality
• Communication with OpenMusic and Max

Film & Video

• Dilation-compression for sound-image correlation

Post-Production

• Detailed filtering (isolating, stressing, extract, delete)
• Transformation of timbre, of a voice for example
• Noise reduction (keys)
• Non-destructive sound cleaning

Scientific Research and Development

• Display and edition of SDIF files
• The most up-to-date IRCAM algorithms
• Detailed inspection of sound
• Kernels accessible via command line

Musicology

• Spectral analysis, markers
• Macroscopic, dilation and scrub
• Annotation
• Non-destructive denoising

Sound Design

• Sound processing flexibility
• High-quality sound processing
• Processing sequencer
• Exclusive filters
• Copy/paste time and/or frequency zones

Home User

• Sonogram, exportation of the sonogram
• Augmented listening
• Creation of a sound from an image
• Dynamic transposition, voice transformation

Main Features

Display. Zoom from an overall view down to sample level, synchronized sonogram (time/frequency), spectral envelope, processing sequencer.

Analysis. FFT, LPC, True Envelope, fundamental frequency, partial following, different methods of automatic segmentation, formants, and tools for listening to selected sections of the spectra with harmonic display.

Sound Processing. A processing sequencer with individual tracks makes it possible to listen to them in real-time prior to creating the final result:

• Filtering: directly on the sonogram using a pencil or eraser or by specifying with the mouse the points forming a polygon. Manual source separation and denoising are possible.
• Compression/expansion: allows modification of the length of a sound without changing its pitch or timbre while maintaining the quality of the transitions.
• Transposition: using a specific editor the user can transpose a sound without changing its length and without loosing sound quality ; separate transpositions for sound and spectral envelope for timbral modifications.
• Denoising: spectral subtraction with interpolation of sound estimations.
• Cross Synthesis: application of spectral data from one sound to another in order to create a hybrid sound or a transition from one sound to another.
• Partial Synthesis: creation of a new sound from partials found via an analysis.

Additional Information

AudioSculpt is based on a vocoder analysis/synthesis engine called SuperVP (for Super Phase Vocoder) that bundles together the algorithms necessary for AudioSculpt. The user can load text files (generated by other programs) containing commands addressed directly to SuperVP.

Connectivity

Audio Formats

• Up to 32-bit/192 kHz: AIFF, AIFC, Wav and SDII
• SDIF files for saving and exchanging analysis results
• MIDI files (only for transcription or annotation)

Protocols

• none

Version

AudioSculpt 2.9.4v2

Compatibility

Mac OSX 10.4 (Tiger) or higher. Universal Binary, Mac PPC (G4 or higher), Mac Intel Compatible.

Design and Development

AudioSculpt & SuperVP: developed by the Analysis/Synthesis team at IRCAM.

Legal Information

Audiosculpt is a registered trademark of IRCAM. All other trademarks belong to their owners.