Moon Echo, a plug-in from AudioThing in collaboration with Hainbach, is a free delay effect based on a communication technique in which the moon acts as a reflector for radio waves. Again, this sounds very special. The result is crackling and lively echoes, modulated by the movement of the earth and moon. The moon’s surface acts as an imperfect mirror, creating artefacts that are incomparable to any other echo technique. The software effect is both a musical lofi fx and a playful tool that brings you a little closer to ‘space’. And it’s freeware!
Experiment with creative modulation: Hainbach’s Moon Echo delay plug-in
In the seventh collaboration between plug-in manufacturer AudioThing and Berlin-based musician and artist Hainbach, you can listen to the stars. Now you can do the same with Moon Echo. And in your DAW. You can download the effect as freeware and install it on your computer to experiment with the stars.
Whether you want to simulate space radio communications for a video game or film, discover experimental music techniques like those of Pauline Oliveros, or learn or teach about space exploration and telecommunications, Moon Echo can do it all. It sounds bad in a good way, with lots of interesting modulations in the background, and rewards close listening. On the first try, the transmit setting remains active and the plug-in is in duplex mode, meaning that two dishes are active – one for transmitting and the other for receiving signals.
The delay plug-in that uses the moon as a reflector
Moon Echo behaves like any other musical delay, similar to Wires or Outer Space. It is particularly cool to be able to adjust the Doppler effect as you play with delay time and feedback. This allows you to create endlessly modulating soundscapes. If you find too much moon dust in the virtual atmosphere of your DAW, the Dust Envelope menu at the top right will help.
In simplex mode, you experience the radio transmission mode that Hainbach himself experienced with the Dwingeloo radio telescope. There is only one dish, which either transmits or receives. When transmission is on, you send signals to the moon, otherwise you hear the echo. The sound of the transceiver is modelled so that even when the transmission is switched off, your sound is affected.
For the exact distance to the moon, you can press ‘Ping Moon’ and the plug-in will try to get this data from NASA. Wow, this is another very specialised tool, but it will be just as much fun to explore. And as freeware, it’s definitely an absolute no-brainer!
AudioThing Moon Echo – prices and specifications
AudioThing Moon Echo is now available for free download from the manufacturer’s website. All you need to do is create an account to download the plug-in. The plug-in runs on macOS 10.13 or later (including Apple Silicon Support), Linux Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or later and Windows 7 or later as VST, AAX, CLAP, AU and VST3 in 64 bit. You can also download a PDF manual from the website. Several presets are included.
Moon Echo is even available for free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, both as an AUv3 plugin and as a standalone app (IAA).
More information about AudioThing and Moon Echo
