Features & Capabilities

SrutiBox simulates an Indian harmonium, used as a base tone in Indian music and in spiritual practices of chanting and droning.

SrutiBox 1.4 now works under iOS8, iPhone 4,5,6, and 6+ sizes, has a slightly different look, and fixes a few bugs that you may have encountered.

SrutiBox is a synthesizer, creating drones with various timbres and precise intonations that blur the distinction between tones, timbres and chords. The drone can be fairly static or undergo slow modulation and harmonic change. It now plays in the background under iOS 4.0 like many other music apps!

Pop over to http://www.jhhl.net/iPhone/SrutiBox/ and listen to some examples!

"I wanted you to know that I have made my debut in Vienna a couple of weeks ago as an iPHONEist. I played two simultaneously - one with sruti box and the other with a variety of apps. I am enjoying sruti box immensely! Thank you!" — Dr. Pauline Oliveros

I also have another Droning app, Droneo, which has a similar interface, but more droning options!

SrutiBox uses 12 "reeds" which can be tuned to a great number of scales, randomly detuned, and chorused and modulated. The pitch interval and volume of each "reed" can be set individually, making for a wide variety of drones. The reeds can be set to various timbres suitable for drones, including vocal-like timbres and low frequency-friendly chirps.

A special iPhone feature of SrutiBox is that you can wave the phone in an imitation of pumping the bellows, adding a touch of realism to the simulation.

SrutiBox can also be used as a pitch source for instrument tuning purposes, or as an aid for learning the difference between Just and Equal Tempered intervals.

As with other iPhone/iPod touch audio applications, it'll sound better through headphones, although in a quiet room, it's quite effective! Make sure to use the volume controls on the side of the phone to set the volume level you like.

See the SrutiBox web pages for more information, hints, and possibly tales of YOUR performances and discoveries: http://www.jhhl.net/iPhone/SrutiBox

It's also the place to ask for support and advice, or email tutti-srutti at jhhl.net

also: visit my iPhone App Facebook group for starting discussions etc! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=150360054839

Thank You!

Check out my other apps: Droneo, Tondo, the iPhone Wind Chimes, Lake Piano and Enumero!

User Growth & Download Statistics

App
By:
Henry Lowengard
Rating:
3.00
(2)
Version:
1.4.0 Last updated: 2019-02-12
Version code:
837118644
Creation date:
2019-02-12
Compatible devices:
Size:
12.61MB
Price:
1.99
URLs:
Website
Full description:
See detailed description
Source:
Apple Apps Store
Data ingested on:
2026-06-06
Compare stats and ranking:

Contact the developer

Chrome-Stats does not own this Apple app. Please use these information below to contact the Apple app developer.
Developed by:
Henry Lowengard
Apple Apps Store
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/srutibox/id288419651
Website:
http://jhhl.net/iPhone/SrutiBox

User Reviews

SrutiBox earns praise for its rich, customizable drone sounds: a wide palette of timbres, layered tones, and a flexible tuning system (including harmonic-series notes and user-created tunings). It’s repeatedly described as a powerful, affordable tool for ambient, meditation, and live performances. However, several reviewers note it does not convincingly emulate a Sruti Box or harmonium, with complaints about sound authenticity and occasional quality. Other recurring downsides are small, fiddly sliders making real-time control awkward. A few call the price steep for what some perceive as a basic sine-wave generator. Overall, strong value for sound design, mixed on authenticity and usability.
Pros
  • Rich, configurable timbres and layering with additive synthesis (including crossfades)
  • Highly flexible tunings and intervals; create your own tunings
  • Great for ambient drones, meditation, live gigs; versatile sound design tool
  • Very good value for the features; affordable
  • Well-designed, user-friendly for exploring and shaping sounds
Cons
  • Not authentic sounding; multiple reviews say it does not resemble sruti box/harmonium
  • Sound quality/authenticity concerns; some reviews describe it as poor or not up to expectations
  • Small, fiddly controls; sliders hard to adjust two at once
  • Perceived overpriced or a rip-off relative to price/expectations
Recent reviews
This app is useless, doesn’t sound anything like harmonium or sruthi box, doesn’t have intermediate tones like G# and is complete waste of your money. Their website link for information is not working either
by ba*****, 2022-04-25

Doesn’t sound at all like a Shruti box. COMPLETE RIP-OFF!!
by Ja*****, 2020-11-03

I have been using this app for years. Love it. Dr. Pauline Oliveros?! That’s high praise.
by Em*****, 2020-10-31
View all user reviews ›

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