Opal LimitedAir Customer Service
- CompanyOpal Limited
- CategoryMusic
- Published2009-09-15
- Current Version2.0
- Price$1.99
- Content Rating4+
- CompatibilityMin. IOS 9.0
Air is a generative audio-visual work created by musician / software designer Peter Chilvers and Irish vocalist Sandra O’Neill. Based on concepts developed by Brian Eno, with whom Chilvers created Bloom, Air assembles vocal and piano samples into a beautiful, still and ever changing composition, which is always familiar, but never the same.
Air features four ‘Conduct’ modes, which let the user control the composition by tapping different areas on the display, and three ‘Listen’ modes, which provide a choice of arrangement. For those fortunate enough to have access to multiple iPhones and speakers, an option has been provided to spread the composition over several players.
Recommended for headphones and external speakers.
"Air is like 'Music for Airports' made endless - which is how I always wanted it to be" - Brian Eno
Air App Comments & Reviews
Air Positive Reviews
Wow, an update after five years!Okay, it's nothing earth-shattering, but still - thank you so much for thinking of us supporters from so long ago. Sure, it would be nice to have Audiobus support, or different moods, or ? Perhaps some other day. In the meantime, a little update is much appreciated..Version: 2.0
Great sounds, could use more controlI am a huge fan of "Ambience" and this doesn't dissapoint, but I feel like there should be a bit more user control. The sounds are fantastic, exactly what you would want and expect. They are "airy" but very present to the listener. You can either let the app take control of the sound making (which seems to turn out some pretty cool stuff), or you can manually control the sound creation process. Essentially, you can start a sample and it will run it's course. Naturally layering these samples if where all the fun comes in, but I couldn't help feeling like there could be more done in the UI. The iphone's multitouch capability begs to be used and a simple "tap here, tap there" app leaves a lot to be desired. I'm sure that a lot of time and work was put into crafting this app but I think that gesture would make an awesome contribution to the UI. I would like to be able to swipe to fade in and out effects or to dry up the reverb or even to fade in and out the sounds. An option to have the piano looping (similarly to "Ambience") would be great and it would be very cool if on the "Listen" mode you could adjust the frequency of changes, so that the piano could play more often or less often. Lastly, it would be great to see a min-max idea to randomization of the frequncy of when sounds are triggered. I think this is a cool app with potential and would like to see it supported with future updates..Version: 0
Depends what you want out of it.Loved Bloom (5 stars) and loved Trope even more(5+ stars). Air somewhat disappointed me, although only by comparison with the first two Opal releases. In and of itself, the music is very soothing and the graphics are nice. What I found disappointing was that I was expecting this to be more of an "instrument" like Bloom and Trope. Air offers less control and variety of notes than it's predecessors. For instance, you have little to no control over the pitch of the samples. And the piano parts consist of two consecutive notes thus creating limitations of when you can trigger a sample in a graceful rhythm. To be fair, to get the most out of this app, don't judge it against Bloom or Trope; it is a somewhat different animal. If you are looking for a tranquil listening experience that allows some manipulation, this release would make a nice addition to your collection. The sounds are great, but after my experience with Bloom and Trope, I found this experience to be slightly frustrating..Version: 0
An ocean of calm in a world of chaosI bought this as a way to "test the waters" for Bloom and Trope, the other Opal Limited music applications, since it is the cheapest of the three. I'm a long-time fan of Eno's style of ambient music and Air provides a nice, albeit basic, mix of textures and patterns - with a sleep function - that let's you block out the distractions of the world and find some inner calm and peace. It's a great accompaniment to chores large and small - in "listen" mode - and also a good way to relax at the end of the day - in "conduct" mode. My experience with Air will almost certainly lead to the purchase of Bloom and Trope (although I may wait until I get an iPad and go for Bloom HD). Definitely worth $1.99 if you like "Music for Airports". If you find ambient music annoying / pointless, stay away and save your money tho'....Version: 0
Not the same as Bloom but quite attractive in its own wayThose looking for another Bloom, as some reviewers clearly are, might not be satisfied but the app does do what it promises to. The choral sounds a excellent and the piano samples are clear and sweet. While Air is less interactive in some ways, I find that it's slightly better than Bloom for letting it run its own compositions. And it some ways, it's superior: The multiple device support is actually more advanced than Bloom. Either way, you'll get your money's worth if you keep an open mind and see what they've accomplished here..Version: 0
Not as good as Bloom or TropeI don't dislike this app, and I think at $2 it is a nice cheap music generator. That said, even at $2, I would not reccommend it to anyone, except maybe an avid Eno fan. Bloom and Trope offer a similar, and in most ways better, expirience. The main thing I do like about this app, however, is the addition of voice. While this app has a lot of potential, it needs some major improvements to be as good as Bloom and Trope. The first thing I noticed was the uninspired "playing" screen. It looks very crude & pixilated and the lack of change over the course of it playing is boring. There are a few interface options that need to be added as well. #1- Need to add the ability to control the volume of the piano and the voice seperately. #2- I agree with other reviewers that there should be an option to put the screen to "sleep" in listen mode. #3- There needs to better control over the speed of notes in listen mode. What would be nice is seperate controls for the piano and voice so you could have them each play at the speed you want..Version: 0
More beautiful music... but...This is a very welcome addition to my app collection. I use it on my iPhone and I'm even considering buying an iPod Touch so I can use the feature of having more than one going at a time to get a more immersive experience. The only thing I find annoying is that you can't turn off the screen while the music is playing. I wanted to use Air to set a mood and drift off to sleep, but the bright display staying on constantly pretty much ruined the vibe. Other than that, it's another great app from Opal Limited..Version: 0
A respect for the audienceI'm now using the app and—to me—the mixed reviews, and mixed interpretations of the capabilities of the app tell me that perhaps there perhaps people were looking for more direction or "indication" as to how to proceed with this app. It's not a flaw by any means; it's great to discover what the app is capable of doing in one's own time and leisure. This is a welcome app to my collection simply because it is a great example of balance : a respect for the right audience that appreciates the process of discovery. But who am I to say, I'm just an interface designer :-).Version: 0
Another great addition to the Brian Eno series!Very much like Bloom - simple, elegant and beautiful. makes perfect peaceful background music. unfortunately the screen cannot be shut off while listening, which makes this app is a real battery killer- my ipod usually doesnt last much more than an hour while running this app. the sleep timer is a nice addition, though i wish the sound would fade out more graudally when closing the app..Version: 0
The music is sublime, the lack of multitasking is irritatingI got Bloom first, told a friend, she bought it, and then she got Air and then told me to buy it and we're both really happy with the output of both apps. I just really wish the app would actually be able to play in the background and I'm surprised the developers haven't updated the app yet to take advantage of this. As it stands now, I have to have it running in my Touch while I'm reading on my iPad and that just seems weirdly old-fashioned in this fast-developing area. I would love to be able to have this going behind my favorite clock app on my iPad so it lulls me to sleep but the alarm gets me up the next morning. Hopefully next update? And a dedicated iPad version? Five full stars when that happens..Version: 0
Modulation...It'd be awesome to have the ability to change the key of each mood..Version: 1.2
Awesome, relaxingI love this app a perfect alternative to Bloom. When I want to shut off from the noise in the coffee shop or airplane I put on my headphones an play either one of them. The music is there but doesn't distract. It eases my brain. Would love to see the "Airplay" feature included so I can play it via the Apple TV on my home stereo..Version: 1.2
Good, but Bloom is more interesting...Love the sounds and the 'Airiness' it has. However it's not as interactive as Bloom visually or in control. One definite oversight is how the app stops playing audio as soon as the iPhone is locked. Bloom continues to play where this app just halts the audio with a quick stop (no fade). Still not bad for a 1.0 app..Version: 0
Now perfectProbably my favorite of the Opal trilogy. I just really enjoy the sounds it makes. And now that it does play while the device is sleeping, 5 stars and keep up the good work devs!.Version: 0
Most Excellent!One of the best purchases I ever made. Click on settings to see the sleep timer, and turn it on for night time listening..Version: 0
AwesomeSimply put, it is awesome. I put it into Listen mode when going to bed and never hear more than about 5 - 6 minutes of music. Very relaxing..Version: 0
Calming voicesI enjoy Bloom, and am equally pleased with Air. Both are welcome voices of calm, with handy sleep timers. As a happy user, I'll leave it there, others can dissect the interfaces in detail..Version: 0
Loved itIt's quite limited compared to Music For Airports. But it is endless and randomic, so it's perfect for relaxing, meditation, insomnia (my case) and things like that..Version: 1.3
Not enough variationUnfortunately I had high hopes for this app. I doesnt have enough variation. I was surprised by how soon I would hear a similar musical phrasing. It is actually kind of repetitive..Version: 1.2
ThanksIf you love bloom and trope, you might like this. My request is that new apps like this use zen mandala's for their shapes, hang drum samples and a bed of udu drum rhythms. This would be a great combination for music therapy purposes, treatment for PTSD and anxiety..Version: 0
HmmGreat sounds, and reminiscent of "Airports". but in ios8 the note speed setting is invisible. Mine is now stuck playing one note and then going to silence. This badly needs a refresh.Version: 1.3
What a music app should be.Just like Brian described it: an endless Music For Airports. Music meets Art meets Technology = Bliss..Version: 0
Dig it!If you're into ambient music, you'll dig this app..Version: 0
Superb v 1.0Great start—looking forward to future developments..Version: 0
Absolutely Brilliant!A single concept executed to perfection..Version: 0
Listen on your stereo...It's a generative Music for Airports and it's a dream....Version: 1.3
Eno's Girgle to BurgleRing-ting-ticker, this is my app to-do. Jolly done, you..Version: 1.3
JturnebayLove it. Great to study by.Version: 0
Thoughts on AirIt really does evoke Music for Airports (and that's a good thing). The samples are wonderful; my only complaint is that occasionally some of the triangles stop responding, and the app needs to be restarted. Otherwise, Air is a wonderful addition to the App Store's generative music catalogue..Version: 0
Good app, but could be betterFor starters, I’m not so sure if it’s appropriate for me to give a three-star review to this App, since it does all it’s promised, and for people who are fans of ambient music - myself included - it’s more than satisfactory for the price. But for musicians and producers, there are some lacking elements, and indicting for that may not be fair given that the Eno apps aren’t explicitly made for their purposes. Air was the cheapest of those, and because I couldn’t find any technical specs, I gambled and gave it a shot for the price in hopes that I would be able to tell whether I could use the others, and unfortunately, it falls short for producers for a couple of reasons. The first is lack of IAA or AuV3 support. With one or both of these elements, there would be no doubt of a five-star rating because it would mean that the live sounds could be patched through the universe of iOS effects available in real-time, ensuring the ultimate sonic experience. But the second issue is that - as far as I can tell - there is no way of capturing the sound other than patching it live to a recording device, which is awkward and needless given the state of recording apps today. Mind you, I stress: the Eno apps are not expressly for those purposes, but I don’t think it would be much of a stretch to add those features. For those music-makers who do seek ambience-creating apps with IAA support, try Moodscaper, Guitarscaper, Pianoscaper, and Cosm (they don’t work with Audiobus as of this writing; you will need AUM, but you will still be able to patch through FX and record)..Version: 2.0
Beautiful"Air" takes the graceful, smooth vocals and pianos of Music for Airports and turns it into a never-ending soundscape that retains the mastery of Brian Eno's original Ambient series. A masterpiece of generative music..Version: 2.0
An amazing evolution from BloomBloom was a wonderful app, but what I didn't like was that there was only one type of audio and some of the tones were at an uncomfortably flat or sharp pitch. This app, on the other hand, uses a more controlled set of tones using both piano and vocals. I think, in terms of the potentials for this kind of app, this is a nice evolutionary step toward having entire randomly generated music. Right now it's starting to blur the line between random sounds and ambient music. The next step, as I see it, is to add more instruments, go from single notes to chords (within keys, using something like Bloom's "moods"), and bring back the moods from Bloom (limiting the chords and voices to fit certain keys). One thing I don't like is that I find this app sometimes goes quiet, especially without the background "hum" that was present in Bloom. Other than that, it's a great app. I really look forward to finding out (and likely buying) what these guys (and girls) come out with next..Version: 0
BeautifulI'm a fan of all of Eno's apps. This experiment produces very beautiful results..Version: 1.3
Wonderful!Brian's description of an endless version of Music for Airports fits the app perfectly. There are two main options: Listen, or conduct. The algorithm powering the listen mode is excellent, providing a lovely soundscape in true ambient spirit. The Conduct mode lets you tap on the triangles as you see on the screenshot. Doing so allows you to trigger samples of either the singer's voice or the piano (in either high or low pitches). The multiple player option allows the Listen mode to adjust the density of it's algorithmic triggers, allowing for each device to set off only simple combinations that will work well across multiple outputs. My only gripe: knowing a bit more about what happens behind the scenes and the samples we can trigger! Perhaps Mr. Chilvers will educate us on his website..Version: 0
Potentially AwesomeI have this app running during the day thru my stereo at home. Every guest I have over is drawn to the sounds Air makes. My only gripe is that the voices sound too electronic in the way that they begin. If they were to fade in more, would it sound more natural? And like another reviewer pointed out, there are some annoying gaps from time to time. Tho setting the delay seems to help. For v1.0, this app rocks. I can only imagine that the developers will improve it much like they did with their other apps. ...speaking of improvements. I love listening to this when I'm going to bed. It'd be great if I could turn the screen off and still hear everything..Version: 0
Fun butFun instrument but only piano works on my iPhone :(.Version: 0
It's good.I like it. Worth the cash..Version: 0
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