Sonicware’s Ambient Ø v1.5: Microtonal Expansion and Workflow Upgrades

One of the headline features in v1.5 is the ability to set temperament individually for each pattern, pushing the Ambient Ø into territory usually reserved for software or high-end modular systems. The temperament menu is accessed via a simple function-pattern shortcut, offering a range of tuning systems: equal temperament, pure major, pure minor, Pythagorean variants, Solfeggio, Chakra, and Planetary tunings. The video demonstrates how each temperament can be assigned and how their sonic differences manifest, especially when overlapping patterns—an approach that’s both educational and musically revealing.

Further deepening the microtonal toolkit, each layer within a pattern can have its own concert pitch, set via the layer button and value knob. The update also introduces two master tuning modes: tuning by cents or by hertz, with the latter now the default. This dual approach allows for both traditional and experimental workflows, and the ability to fine-tune in decimal increments (when using hertz) opens up nuanced sound design possibilities. The video is clear that while the manual is the best resource for temperament theory, the workflow itself is straightforward and encourages hands-on exploration.

Relaxation Playback Mode is a new performance tool aimed squarely at ambient and cinematic creators. By enabling users to chain multiple patterns in a custom order, with smooth fades between them, Sonicware has built a feature that supports long-form, evolving compositions without manual intervention. Entering the mode is as simple as a double-tap on the pattern button, and two key parameters—number of repeats per pattern and fade-out time—are easily dialed in.

The workflow is designed for flexibility: patterns are selected in sequence, and transitions are visually tracked on the sequencer. The fade-out time, adjustable from five to thirty seconds, ensures that transitions can be as subtle or dramatic as needed for the musical context. This mode is a clear nod to the needs of ambient performers who require both structure and fluidity in their live or studio sessions, and it’s implemented in a way that feels native to the Ambient Ø’s architecture.

The v1.5 update significantly expands the modulation architecture of the Ambient Ø. Three new LFO waveforms—long sine, long triangle, and long synchronized random—are introduced, each designed for ultra-slow, evolving modulations that are particularly suited to ambient textures. The video demonstrates how these shapes can be quickly accessed and how their slower cycles contribute to more organic movement in sound.

A standout addition is the new LFO assignment: oscillator level. Unlike the traditional level assignment, which modulates the overall layer volume, oscillator level allows for per-note modulation, creating shimmering, unsynchronized amplitude effects across polyphonic textures. The presenter illustrates how this can be used to mimic complex envelope behaviors, such as introducing decay and sustain stages, effectively expanding the sound design palette without requiring additional envelope generators. This architectural tweak is subtle but powerful, and it’s presented with clear, practical examples.

Perhaps the most transformative addition in v1.5 is the ability to process external audio in real time via the noise layer’s new line-in mode. By selecting line-in at the end of the noise sample list, users can route external signals through the full suite of effects and modulation options available to the noise layer. The video walks through live manipulation of reverb, shimmer, filter, resonance, level, and panning, as well as LFO modulation of these parameters, demonstrating how external sources can be seamlessly integrated into ambient compositions.

There are some limitations—pitch and tune parameters are locked out, and the keyboard is deactivated for the noise layer in this mode—but the creative potential is substantial. The presenter shows how subtle LFO-driven tremolo or filter sweeps can radically transform incoming audio, opening up new workflows for live processing, resampling, or hybrid setups. For users seeking to blur the line between internal synthesis and external soundscapes, this feature marks a significant step forward for the Ambient Ø.