An open-source audio workstation analyses local sample libraries by harmonic relationships, helping users find compatible sounds, arrange ideas, and export compositions.
Composer and software engineer Austin Rockman has released Reflector, a free, open-source interactive audio workstation designed for discovering samples. The software analyses a user’s own sample library locally and allows sounds to be searched based on harmonic relationships or similarity.
Reflector is designed to help users find samples that work well together harmonically. When a suitable sample requires a different pitch, the software can also suggest transpositions. This approach allows users to explore relationships between sounds rather than relying only on conventional sample-management methods.
The software includes a DAW-like timeline where users can place samples and create rough arrangements. Reflector can then make suggestions based on the sounds already present in a session. It also includes a Galaxy view that maps saved sessions in a 3D space, showing which arrangements share harmonic relationships, allowing users to explore connections between different arrangements. The resulting arrangement can be exported as a WAV file or stems for further work in other music-production software.
Reflector is currently aimed at tonal and textural material including pads, keys, strings, synths, guitars, vocals, field recordings with a tonal centre and sound design that carries harmony. It does not analyse rhythm, so it is not intended for beat matching.
Reflector runs locally, keeping user’s audio and usage data on their computers. Its system was trained entirely on synthetic audio rather than copyrighted recordings. The developer has also confirmed that Reflector will remain free, with the weights, model code, and training pipeline available as open source.
The software is currently available as a free signed application for macOS.
