# Audiotool

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Browser-based music production software

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Audiotool Audiotool logo Type of site Digital audio workstation Available in English Owner Audiotool Inc. 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

**Audiotool** is a free, browser-based music production software and distribution platform developed in [Germany](/source/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](/source/Creative_Commons_license) or All Rights Reserved. Until 2010, Audiotool was part of *Hobnox*, a content distribution/publication website specialising in [music](/source/Music), [fashion](/source/Fashion) and [indie culture](/source/Indie_culture). In mid-2013, Audiotool had 500000 users, 200000 tracks and the total of 44 million plays on all tracks combined[2]

## 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](/source/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

### Devices

The Hobnox Audiotool includes emulations of:

- The [Roland TR-808](/source/Roland_TR-808)[6]

- The [Roland TR-909](/source/Roland_TR-909)[7]

- The [Roland TB-303](/source/Roland_TB-303)[8]

- The [Tenori-on](/source/Tenori-on)[9]

- The Machiniste, a sample based drum machine[10]

- The Heisenberg, a [phase modulation](/source/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](/source/Audio_bit_depth)

- [Digital delay](/source/Delay_(audio_effect))

- [Flange](/source/Flanging)

- Parametric equalization

- [Phasing](/source/Phasing_(music))

- Pitched digital delay

- Reverb

- Filters including (Lowpass, Highpass, Notch, [Bandpass](/source/Bandpass_filter)) and a separate Auto-Filter

- Stereo detunization (which produces a sort of [chorus effect](/source/Chorus_effect))

- [Distortion](/source/Distortion_(music))

### 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](/source/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]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-First_Post_1-0)** ["First Post"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080305012757/http://www.hobnox.com/index.1021.html?blg%5Bblogid%5D=12&blg%5Bid%5D=74&blg%5Bproc%5D=show). Archived from [the original](http://www.hobnox.com/index.1021.html?blg) on 2008-03-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-audiotool:con_2013_2-0)** ["audiotool:con 2013 Keynote"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUzVCw8BEXA). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/vUzVCw8BEXA) from the original on 2021-12-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["909 and Amiga Sounds in Flash; Teaser for New Flash Music Environment"](https://cdm.link/2008/02/909-and-amiga-sounds-in-flash-teaser-for-new-flash-music-environment/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["André Michelle Blog Post introducing TR-909 emulation"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071215002549/http://blog.andre-michelle.com/2007/umz-tzz-buzz-tzz-umz-tzz-buzz/). Archived from [the original](http://blog.andre-michelle.com/2007/umz-tzz-buzz-tzz-umz-tzz-buzz/) on 15 December 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Hobnox Audiotool Demo (Youtube Tutorial)"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjvniC-5HVE). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Beatbox_8_6-0)** ["Beatbox 8"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165120/http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:drums:beatbox8). Archived from [the original](http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:drums:beatbox8) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Beatbox_9_7-0)** ["Beatbox 9"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162733/http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:drums:beatbox9). Archived from [the original](http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:drums:beatbox9) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bassline_8-0)** ["Bassline"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162814/http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:synths:bassline). Archived from [the original](http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:synths:bassline) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Tonematrix_9-0)** ["Tonematrix"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160104020522/http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:synths:tonematrix). Archived from [the original](http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:synths:tonematrix) on 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2015-10-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Machiniste_10-0)** ["Machiniste"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162912/http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:drums:machiniste). Archived from [the original](http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:drums:machiniste) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Heisenberg_11-0)** ["Heisenberg"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162139/http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:synths:h). Archived from [the original](http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:synths:h) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Heisenberg Details"](http://werner.yellowcouch.org/log/heisenberg-fm-synth/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Pulverisateur_13-0)** ["Pulverisateur"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924224234/http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:synths:pulverisateur). Archived from [the original](http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:synths:pulverisateur) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["plugins:effects:effect_pedals \[Audiotool Wiki\]"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924163713/http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:effects:effect_pedals). *wiki.audiotool.com*. Archived from [the original](https://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=plugins:effects:effect_pedals) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Michelle, André (September 11, 2018). ["Audiotool Next launches October 1st!"](https://www.audiotool.com/board/news/audiotool_next_launches). *audiotool.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Audiotool ♥ Loopmasters"](https://www.audiotool.com/loopmasters). *audiotool.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Audiotool ♥ New Loops"](https://www.audiotool.com/newloops). *audiotool.com*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_18-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_18-2) ["Start Making Music in the Cloud"](https://www.audiotool.com/product). *audiotool.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Grimme-Institut. ["Grimme Online Award | 2008"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080613235557/http://www.grimme-institut.de/html/index.php?id=783#c4757). *www.grimme-institut.de*. Archived from [the original](http://www.grimme-institut.de/html/index.php?id=783#c4757) on 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Grimme-Institut. ["Grimme Online Award | Hobnox.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160817211212/http://www.grimme-institut.de/html/index.php?id=791). *www.grimme-institut.de*. Archived from [the original](http://www.grimme-institut.de/html/index.php?id=791) on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Hobnox Audiotool gewinnt den Flash Forward Award"](http://wrede.design.fh-aachen.de/archives/221.html). 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Flashforward Blog » Blog Archive » Flashforward Film Festival Winners"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080915030901/http://blog.flashforwardconference.com/2008/08/22/flashforward-film-festival-winners/). 2008-09-15. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2016-10-05.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Red Dot Design Award"](http://wrede.design.fh-aachen.de/archives/211.html). 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Hobnox on Twitter"](https://twitter.com/Hobnox/status/884237310). Retrieved 2016-10-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Hobnox Channels | The Webby Awards"](http://webbyawards.com/winners/2008/online-film-video/general-film/music/hobnox-channels/). *webbyawards.com*. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["eco Internet Awards 2008"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161005182124/https://www.eco.de/2008/veranstaltungen/eco-internet-awards-2008.html) (in German). Archived from [the original](https://www.eco.de/2008/veranstaltungen/eco-internet-awards-2008.html) on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** PRODUCTION, DIGITAL (2009-03-10). ["Hobnox.com gewinnt World Summit Award"](http://www.digitalproduction.com/2009/03/11/hobnoxcom-gewinnt-world-summit-award/). *DIGITAL PRODUCTION*. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["Hobnox - Awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100812075817/http://www.hobnox.com/awards.1477.en.html). 2010-08-12. Archived from the original on 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2016-10-04.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown))

## External links

- [Audiotool](http://audiotool.com/)

- [Audiotool Wiki](https://web.archive.org/web/20120711022204/http://wiki.audiotool.com/doku.php?id=start)

v t e Digital audio workstations Free and Open-Source Ardour BespokeSynth LMMS MusE Qtractor Rosegarden Proprietary Ableton Live ACID Pro Adobe Audition Anvil Studio BandLab Bitwig Studio Cakewalk by BandLab Cubase Digital Performer FL Studio FL Studio Mobile GarageBand Harrison Mixbus Logic Pro MAGIX Samplitude Making Waves Mixcraft MuLab MultitrackStudio n-Track Studio Pro Tools Reason Renoise SAWStudio Steinberg Nuendo Steinberg WaveLab Studio One Tracktion Z-Maestro Zynewave Podium

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Audiotool](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audiotool) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audiotool?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.