Cymatica

Cymatica is an iOS application that simulates Chladni plate patterns, allowing users to visualize sound as dynamic sand art. By leveraging real-time audio input, the app transforms music, ambient soundscapes, or microphone input into intricate geometric patterns that reflect the structure of sound waves. The tool is designed for those interested in the intersection of music, physics, and visual art, offering a way to observe cymatics—the study of visible sound—directly on an iPhone.

The app features a Metal GPU-powered simulation capable of animating up to 100,000 sand particles at 60 to 120 frames per second. Users can interact with the simulation through various modes: playing songs from their Apple Music library, generating procedural ambient soundscapes with nine instruments such as singing bowl, drone, rain, shakuhachi, cello, and flute, or using the microphone to visualize their own voice or environmental sounds. Real-time audio synthesis is available with a frequency dial and effects including noise, reverb, decay, and detune. The app also incorporates Shazam technology to detect what song is playing and adapts the visualization accordingly.

Cymatica offers recording functionality, enabling users to capture video clips of the evolving sand patterns along with the associated audio. These clips can then be shared, preserving both the visual and auditory elements of the experience. Additional features include synchronized haptic feedback for tactile interaction and a selection of seven color themes—salt, dynamic, thermal, fire, ocean, neon, and sand—with glow effects and motion trails available in advanced mode.

The application is free to download on iOS devices. Access to all features can be unlocked through a Cymatica Pro subscription, offered on a monthly or yearly basis, or by making a one-time payment for lifetime access.