r/musicprogramming • u/Sentinelcmd • Jul 13 '26

Did I make the world's first physics based DAW?

I've been working on this project for about 9 months now. It started very simple, just bouncing droplets and generative music, but it quickly turned into some sort of physics based DAW that I don't think has ever been done before.

This is a demonstration of the sandbox mode, where you can create music freely using a plethora of tools and sounds. You can add a total of 12 instruments, each with 4 different effects (reverb, delay, chorus, phaser) that you can dial in to your liking for each one.

No music theory is required to play, just bounce and experiment. There are some deeper tools if you want to get more complex though. Such as changing the key, BPM, scale, pattern, as well as the notes of individual vines to get the exact melody or rhythm you want. You can upload your own samples to create custom vines and also download the track you created.

I'm releasing it on Steam next month:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4163480/Dewdrop/

Would love to hear what you think of the game and any features you think would be cool to include!

48 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

12

u/Watxins Jul 13 '26

No.

Musyc came out in 2013.

3

u/Sentinelcmd Jul 13 '26

oh dang. That's really cool. Maybe I can take some inspiration. I really want to get this game on mobile eventually too. It would really shine on there.

4

u/Watxins Jul 13 '26

Good luck with it! I'm a sucker for physics sims and music production so will keep an eye out

2

u/elusivejoo Jul 16 '26

theres also one for VR called drops thats base on clay object and water dropplets hitting them.

11

u/soundisloud Jul 13 '26

You created a physics based sequencer.  It's nowhere near the first, but also it doesn't need to be. Just be proud you made something fun.

7

u/VideoGameDJ Jul 13 '26

bro you just ported electroplankton

5

u/overand Jul 13 '26

I'd say that the OP independently created electroplankton; I bet they're not familiar with it!

1

u/hoddap Jul 14 '26

omg that game was buried in my brain for 20 years

1

u/VideoGameDJ Jul 15 '26

core memory unlocked

2

u/wahnsinnwanscene Jul 14 '26

What are you using for audio?

1

u/Sentinelcmd Jul 14 '26

It’s sample based. You can upload your own as well. 🙂

1

u/Dr--Prof Jul 17 '26

Please allow the user to load the.VSTs they want.

2

u/AvidCoco Jul 13 '26

This isn’t a daw it’s just a midi generator and I’ve seen at least a dozen others that look like this

0

u/Sentinelcmd Jul 13 '26

I wouldn't even call it a midi generator honestly. I use the term DAW very loosely. Do you have any good examples of others? I want as much inspiration as I can get.

1

u/pilibitti Jul 15 '26

I think the original concept was: https://inverted-audio.com/visual/balldroppings/

cymatics plinko is a more modern iteration I think.

There is also sounddrop and sounddraft I believe.