Case study: Iris 2

Iris 2 is an audio file editing program developed by Isotope that allows the user to manipulate and edit audio files whilst staking and affecting them creating new single audio files. This program offers a ton of great features for audio creation and manipulation. The layout of the program is extremely easy to use with a simple and aesthetically pleasing layout, but most importantly its features are made easy to operate and identify. The main window has four different slots for users to place a sound file into, after placing these files into the editor the user can decide to effect or manipulate all four at once or one at a time using the menu in the top right. one of my favourite features of the program is its in-depth spectrum editor, this window shows after inputting a file into one of the four slots and allows the user to use a bunch of tools to individually select or cut any part of the file allowing for really precise audio manipulation.

After inputting and altering the sounds you place into the four slots the user can then play them back using the midi keyboard located at the bottom of the screen as the program doubles up as an easy to use sampler. The program also comes with a simple small effects unit offering reverb, delay, distortion and a couple of other basic effects to mix into your final sounds as well as basic LFO and envelope filters. This program will be instrumental in a lot of the creations of my sounds for my sound pack letting me create interesting sounds full of layer and depth. As an example, I’m going to be creating a quick energy weapon sound based on this weapon from the game Borderlands on my next post showcasing the possibilities that Iris 2 allows.