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Signal studio

See the sound take shape.

53 / Canvas 2D · Web Audio

Sampleton Sound Workshop

Tune the relationship between two tones.

Phase and glow

Remake it

Build 'Signal studio' for an invented Sampleton Sound Workshop. Draw a warm green parametric trace in an original signal instrument. The curve visualises the ratio between horizontal and vertical frequencies; it is not a recording of the audio output. Offer Butterfly 3:2, Orbit 1:1, Ribbon 2:3, Knot 5:4 and Lace 7:5 presets, plus Horizontal frequency and Vertical frequency controls. Put Phase, Phase drift and Phosphor glow in a disclosure. Optional synthesised tones should use the chosen frequency ratio. Sound starts off and uses the site's audio helpers, with measured output, bounded voices and cleanup on leaving the plate. Add Play, Pause, Reset and Keep the trace as PNG. Fit the entire instrument without cropping in popup and full page views, retain text of at least 12px, let narrow controls scroll and start still for reduced motion.
  1. Construct the trace with sine functions for the two axes and a phase offset. Sample the curve consistently and draw its glow inside the instrument's screen.
  2. Store frequency ratio, phase, drift and glow independently. Applying a harmonic preset must update the same native controls used for manual tuning.
  3. Only after the visitor enables sound, open audio through the site helper and schedule bounded tones matching the ratio. Measure the final analyser output rather than treating the sound flag as proof.
  4. Contain the complete instrument on resize and keep its held curve useful under reduced motion. Let the visitor save a PNG at the chosen relationship.
  5. Stop voices on Pause, close the context when sound is disabled or the plate unmounts, and verify a popup navigation leaves no sound running.
Notes: when it suits, when it does not, how it fails
When it suits
Audio experimentation and visual explanations of periodic signals.
When it does not
A calibrated laboratory instrument.
How it fails
Audio state without sound; analyser output is measured.

Original procedural artwork for Sampleton Sound Workshop, an invented business. Drawn live with visitor-controlled state and no external media.