Audiotool

Audiotool is a free, browser-based music production software and distribution platform developed in Germany. It allows users to remix and collaborate on tracks in real-time. Users can create and publish their music tracks onto the site using Creative Commons licenses or All Rights Reserved. Until 2010, Audiotool was part of Hobnox, a content distribution/publication website specialising in music, fashion and indie culture. In mid-2013, Audiotool had 500000 users, 200000 tracks and the total of 44 million plays on all tracks combined^[2]

Audiotool

Audiotool logo
Type of site	Digital audio workstation
Available in	English
Owner	Audiotool Inc.
Created by	André Michelle
URL	www.audiotool.com
Commercial	No
Registration	Required to publish, comment
Users	Approx. 2,000,000
Launched	February 24, 2008[1]
Current status	Online
Content license	CC or All Rights Reserved
Written in	Java, JavaScript, Scala
CEO Andreas Jacobi

To begin using Audiotool, visit www.audiotool.com. You can sign up for free and start creating music immediately. The platform also offers tutorials and a manual to help you get acquainted with its features, wich include:

• Create tracks/drafts/templates/remixes
• Publish tracks that artist can decide whether other users are able to download (mp3/ogg), remix or collaborate.
• Add tracks to albums (even if is someone else's track)

History

Audiotool was created to make music production accessible and free for everyone. André Michelle's early work included pioneering an audio hack in 2005 for audio stream generation ahead of browser support,^[3] and the emulation of the iconic Roland TR-909 in 2007.^[4] He also introduced the infinite desktop concept, enabling users to intuitively place and wire plugins with virtual cables. These efforts contributed to establishing the platform's core functionalities and guiding its development until his departure in 2023.

Demo Version

The 'Hobnox Audiotool Demo,' released on February 24, 2008, served as a proof of concept, demonstrating that digital signal processing (DSP) could be executed within a browser. This initial demonstration laid the groundwork for what Audiotool would become, showing the possibilities for online music production ahead of adding capabilities like saving and community features.^[5]

Audiotool 1.0 Firestarter

Two years later, after a flurry of updates, the application broke out of beta with a new polyphonic synthesizer and a partnership with LoopMasters to provide samples within the program. Tracks could be published to the new Audiotool community, or worked on privately and saved for extended periods. Options were created for other users to remix tracks, depending on the licenses the original artist specified.

Audiotool 1.1 Ping Pong

Later in the same year, after input from the community, the 1.1 update features included the ability to download tracks (MP3/Vorbis), an embed player, the ability to create drafts (even when remixing tracks), create templates, track cover images, and performance enhancements.

Following updates allowed dragging samples directly from the library to the desktop, and included a new two channel Crossfader, the revolutionary Rasselbock effect device, auto-connected devices, a sample-based drum machine, and an improved sample browser.

Audiotool 2.0

About one year from the launch of 1.0 Firestarter, Audiotool 2.0 was launched in collaboration with Burn-Studios and included a feature to import samples, recording from the timeline, a new 16-track mixer, and MIDI support. A following update in April 2012 included 5 new plugins, a phase modulation synthesizer, and ability to save device presets. Also, the July 2013 update allowed users to collaborate on tracks.

Audiotool Next 1.0

February 2015, a major update was officially announced that would convert the application from Flash to HTML5, offering live collaboration and other new features yet to be announced. Later that year, some features announced included audio/video chat and a detachable timeline. The beta has been released to certain users of the site if they request for the beta on the homepage. On October 1, 2018, Audiotool Next was publicly released.

Website features

Key Features

• Modular Studio Interface: Audiotool's interface mimics a physical studio setup, enabling you to connect virtual devices using virtual cables. This modular approach allows for flexible signal routing and creative experimentation.
• Extensive Sound Library: Access a vast collection of over 1 million royalty-free samples and more than 200,000 user-generated presets for various synthesizers and effects.
• Virtual Instruments & Effects: Utilize a range of synthesizers, drum machines, and effects, including recreations of classic devices like the TR-808 and TR-909, to craft your unique sound. alternativeto.net+1wired.com+1
• Real-Time Collaboration: Collaborate with other musicians globally in real-time, remix tracks, and participate in live sessions, fostering a community-driven creative environment.
• Cloud-Based Access: Your projects are stored in the cloud, allowing you to access and work on them from any device with an internet connection

Devices

The Hobnox Audiotool includes emulations of:

• The Roland TR-808^[6]
• The Roland TR-909^[7]
• The Roland TB-303^[8]
• The Tenori-on^[9]
• The Machiniste, a sample based drum machine^[10]
• The Heisenberg, a phase modulation synthesizer^[11][12]
• The Pulverisateur, a polyphonic synthesizer^[13]
• The Space, A spectral synthesizer
• The ToneMatrix, a pattern-oriented synthesizer

it also includes various effect pedals,^[14] which can simulate:

• Dynamic range compression
• Graphic equalizer
• Exciter(effect)
• Stereo Enhancer
• Bit depth reduction
• Digital delay
• Flange
• Parametric equalization
• Phasing
• Pitched digital delay
• Reverb
• Filters including (Lowpass, Highpass, Notch, Bandpass) and a separate Auto-Filter
• Stereo detunization (which produces a sort of chorus effect)
• Distortion

Samples

Audiotool has a robust library of samples available to users on the site.

With the release of Audiotool Next in 2018, sample upload privileges were reinstated to users, under the condition that they signed terms and conditions disallowing redistributions of royalty free samples or any sample that had copyright infringements.^[15]

Audiotool is partnered with Loopmasters^[16] and New Loops,^[17] companies which provide samples to the sample library.

Audiotool has a built-in sample editor known as Probe that allows users to modify and upload samples up to 30 seconds in length. Inside the studio editor, there is an option to bounce the timeline, which allows users to upload the music they have worked on in the editor to Probe, where it can be uploaded to the sample library.^[18]

Presets

On all devices, users have the option to save their current configuration of the device to a preset, which can be set to private or public.^[18]

There are over 200,000 device presets that have been created by users.^[18]

Additional Tools

• Probe: A built-in sample editor that supports importing and recording audio in various formats, offering effects like EQ, fading, and normalization for detailed audio editing.

Awards

• German IPTV Award - Winner, Category "Creative Design", 2008
• Grimme Online Award - Winner, Category "Special", 2008^[19][20]
• Flashforward Award - Winner, Category "Sound", 2008^[21][22]
• red dot award - "Best of the Best" Category "Communication Design", 2008^[23][24]
• LEADAWARDS - "Webcommunity of the Year", 2008
• Webby Awards "Daily Honoree" Category "Music" - 2008^[25]
• eco Internet Award - "Nominee" Category "Content Distribution Platform", 2008^[26]
• World Summit Award Germany - "Winner", "E-Entertainment and Games", 2009^[27]
• LEADAWARDS - Winner "Silver" Category "Internet TV of the Year", 2009^[28]