SoundPad lets you design sounds for the Krikit Audio Engine (or "Krikit Synth"), our new software synthesizer that can generate rich polyphonic, multitimbral sound on most handheld computers. "Polyphonic" means that the Krikit Synth can play several notes or pitches simultaneously (for chords or counterpoint). "Multitimbral" means that it can play those notes using different instrument sounds. Unlike an MP3 player or other music players, the Krikit Synth generates rich audio in real time without a pre-existing recording (no MP3 file!). This lets you create and play music while using very little memory on your handheld.

Each sound you design in SoundPad can use 1-4 oscillators, with an amplitude envelope for each oscillator to shape the sound over time. Oscillators (producing either sine waves or white noise) can pass sound directly to the speakers, or they can modulate other oscillators, creating added frequency content or overtones.

We are adding the Krikit engine to all of our music software. It is already built into miniMusic NotePad so you can edit the sounds used to play back your songs or create new sounds. We''ll be adding the Krikit Audio Engine to our other music software in the coming months so that SoundPad can add new and unique sound to all of our products.

Please download SoundPad demo and try it out (if possible, wear headphones for the best experience!). The demo limits you to saving one sound, but is otherwise full featured. Also try the NotePad 1.3 demo to hear the variety of sounds that can be created by the Krikit Synth.