An instrument that plays in the browser

Touch and play, on your own or with Runix.

HandPan plays in the browser with nothing to install. Its sound is not recorded samples: every strike is synthesised live with modal synthesis. It started as a single instrument; today it is a two-pan duet, a studio with its own rhythm and song engine, and a stage where Runix plays with you (or on its own).

9notes

7scales

7meters

2pans

3play modes

0installs

The instrument

No audio files: every note is born the moment you strike it, as hard as you strike it.

Touch and play

A 9-note handpan drawn with WebGL; play by touch, mouse, the A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K and space keys, or a MIDI keyboard. Strike strength and where you hit change the tone; holding mutes the note.

Seven scales

The classics D Kurd, D Celtic, D Hicaz and F Pygmy; the modern D Sabye (major, bright), C Aegean (Lydian, dreamy) and F Equinox (deep, dark). When the scale changes, the pan, notes, rhythm patterns and solos follow.

Two pans: a duet

Rhythm pan on the left, solo pan on the right. One carries the groove, the other the melody; both can be played by hand. The solo makes room so it never clashes with the rhythm.

Sound engine

Room reverb, per-channel EQ and stereo, automatic level in sets. An audio load meter and a diagnostic recorder tell whether a crackle comes from the CPU or from an effect.

Rhythm, songs and mix

From pattern to song, from song to stage: every layer is shaped on its own.

Rhythm machine

From straight 4/4 to Curcuna 10/8 and other odd meters, a 16th-note grid and a shell tap track. Sections grow from a single groove by adding and removing bass, melody, pulse and top layers.

Song form and solo

Build songs from intro, verse, chorus, bridge, solo and outro. Automatic songs in Calm, Flowing, Rhythmic and Dense characters; the solo improvises by section or plays what you write.

Mix and stereo stage

Each pan has its own level, direction, width, low / mid / high and room. Notes stay put, sway, orbit around you, glide or swap sides; a live stage shows where each note is heard.

Songs and export

Save and open songs, download WAV or MIDI. Every change can be undone; a restore point is kept before each Runix intervention.

With Runix

Runix sees the instrument's live state: scale, tempo, form, the playing set.

Who plays?

Me: only you play, Runix gives ideas. Together: Runix writes, you edit. Runix: the stage is Runix's, you listen.

Runix DJ Performance

Like an electronic music set: one tempo, one key, one groove; tracks differ by layers, character, mix and effects. Runix can steer the set live every 1–10 minutes, and the set can run endlessly.

Runix Battle

The two pans trade phrases like two players in a duel. Turns get shorter as it heats up, sometimes they play together, and the key changes at intervals. Conversation, Duel, Meditation, Torrent or a scenario Runix picks.

Transitions

When the rhythm, song or section changes while playing, it never jumps: the playing track is prepared with a build-up, breakdown, filter or echo, and the new one lands on the next phrase with a drop.

Open to all, complete with membership

The handpan above is open to everyone: play D Kurd by hand and let Runix play melodies. The other scales, the second pan, the rhythm and song engine, mix, Runix DJ Performance, Runix Battle and MIDI open with a free membership (email code).

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