Tool Much Fun 19
No rest for the wicked, or the good, when it comes to blogging about creative software and websites. There is no end in sight for new things to check out. Please find below the latest batch of goodies to investigate further. I have not tested these, there are no full reviews, only bite-size notes so you can see if you’re interested in how these can make your creative endeavors better.
This edition offers:
Mac, Music, Samples, Kontakt, Podcasts, Fonts, iOS, Graphics, Video, Development, AI, Social Media, Training, and Media Consumption.
Lets get started with Mac stuff this edition. No special reason, just mixing things up and there are a few to tell you about.
Mac
SAP macOS-enterprise-privileges
For Mac users in enterprise environments, this application gives users control over the administration of their machine by elevating their level of access to administrator privileges on macOS. Users can set a timeframe in the application's settings to perform specific tasks, such as installing or removing an application.
Quit apps like you never have before! This utility not only lets you quit apps en masse — exempting the ones you’d like to keep working in, it also supports quitting unused apps after a set time period.
Add a small emoji to any icon you have in the Dock. Apps to customize the appearance were more common many years ago so it’s nice to see one come back.
At some point Apple decided that malicious parties were getting too good at tricking people into allowing Screen Recording access for apps that shouldn’t have it — annoying millions of people who have explicitly granted permission to apps that need it — so they changed the rules such that all apps had to re-request permission monthly. I’m not sure if they’ve changed that, but if you still have this issue, Amnesia was made to alleviate it. If you want to do it yourself, try the steps in this article by Jeff Johnson.
A menu bar based app that lets you see the status of your AirPods plus it can show battery information for your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mouse, Keyboard, and more.
Maybe iQuit was already taken
Like it or not, the team at Redmond had different ideas and goals for the Windows user interface and some of them are good. This utility is another one of those like uBar which aims to take one of the good ideas and implement it for macOS, in this case the titular TaskBar. Even if you are not a regular Windows user, give it a try to see if it helps you switch between windows of your various apps.
Ten four little buddy!
Is the lack of a native Mac version of the Journal app getting you down? What if you also want to write entries on Windows or Android? Sync between all your devices using OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud or WebDAV. This feature-rich and attractive journaling app is available on all the commercial platforms. Sorry, Linux fans.
Now this is what we wanted AI for. I’m adding this into the Mac section rather than the AI one because it’s a Mac utility, it just uses AI algorithms to do the dirty work. Rather than using traditional algorithm file sorters like Spotless or Hazel, this one sorts folder full of miscellaneous files into neat folders based on your prompt.
A powerful screenshot utility, which can float a screenshot above all your other windows to be used as reference. Supports annotating, exporting, cropping, sharing and of course drag-&-dropping.
They all float down here
Music
Bloom and gloom
Harmonic Enhancer & Loudness Expander, so at heart a saturator/clipper combo that can make a track louder and fuller sounding without having to turn the gain up.
This is “a lo-fi, 12-bit, retro-inspired synthesizer with a fun interface and impressive pack of sounds”
Although it’s by Eiosis, all attempts to get to that URL took me straight to Slate Digital's Complete Access page, which only offered me a tiny picture of the interface and no detailed features page. This is a deluxe deesser with automatic sibilance detection and graphical feedback in the form of a realtime spectral analysis image. Quite pricey if you don’t subscribe to Slate.
Power tools for your Ess-hunting needs
Another limiter! Leapwing makes some good stuff IMHO, so do believe the hype. However with great power comes great cost. This one offers a “unique hybrid algorithm” and variable control over soft limiting and hard clipping. It’s quite pricey, so I’d wait for a sale if you want a better limiter.
Limit one or all
From a company new to me, this one is basically a dynamic phaser and distortion combo. But because it has multiple stages and modulation, you can get a ton more effects than from a mere phaser, including wah-wah-like envelope filtery sounds. They also make Stambecco, Scirocco and Mogano, a free overdrive.
ICYMI
This vendor makes a large range of plugins that emulate vintage hardware compressors and EQs. They are made in collaboration with Acustica Audio.
Heritage Audio
Symph EQ — Stereo asymptotic equalizer.
Successor — Diode bridge compressor.
Lang PEQ-2 — Program equalizer known as the “Transistor Pultec”.
HA1200 TapeSat — Analog tape emulation modeled after a one-of-a-kind vintage reel-to-reel recorder.
BritStrip — Console channel strip combining a rich, inductor-based 73-style equalizer with the famous diode bridge compressor from Heritage Audio’s popular Successor.
I'd technically heard of this company because I discovered Oi Grandad. However they make a whole bunch of stuff, some free, some paid. The synth Quetzalcoatl sounds amazing… listen to some of the demo videos.
A digital distortion plugin which lets you crank up two different mp3 encoding algorithms to go from early 2000s style compression up to mangled sounds. At least 8 knobs give you multiple options. Currently free.
Multiband compressor with 3 bands. They also make VoxGuru, a modular multi effects plugin marketed at improving vocals but there’s no reason you couldn’t use it on other instruments.
Control those MBs
A 4-band EQ designed for vocals.
Popular with the Scientology crowd… due to the title, get it?
Samples
Nick Mavromatis Productions PHASES Presets and Samples Pack
Over 100 serum patches, over 100 electronic/cinematic drums and percussion one shot samples, effects like risers, impacts, explosions, bass drops, stabs, exhausts, vocal samples and reversed sounds.
Over 1GB of 704 meticulously recorded sounds including rattles, toy mechanisms, cartoony squeaks, bouncing balls and vintage toys. All in 96KHz/24bit.
Kontakt Instruments
Not sure if they need you to sign in to find this, as it doesn’t appear on their otherwise spiffy website. A teaser for the full library String Shades.
Loops De La Creme Tambourine Sisters
836MB of tambourine samples plus various grooves to add that well-known sparkle to your songs.
Ava Music Group Prism Drums Bundle
Also available as samples only, this bundle is called “the ultimate drum collection” by the vendor. The bundle consists of Modern Pop, Cinematic Dark, Retro Pop, Taped, Lofi and Urban Legends comprising 60 drum kits, 300 MIDI drum patterns and includes onboard effects.
Authentic Soundware Space Age Vibraphone
This vendor is establishing itself as the premiere creator of midcentury instruments. This will let you add the classic vibraphone sound to your songs.
Podcasts
A free and open-source podcast publishing app. I assume that means you have to find cloud sharing service that will handle the actual audio files.
Podcast content not included
For that 3D look
Sometimes you need an extruded font without having to go into an illustration program and do it yourself. Several variations are offered.
Fonts from the future
A decorative display face that looks like it is made of neon or other tubing.
Clean and punchy
A smart sans-serif workhorse, good for headings. Also available in Rounded, Display and Slab.
For that handpainted sign look
If you need fonts with pizazz, not only comic book but gaming, posters, album, podcast or book covers, take a look at their range. Includes cartoon, comic, gothic, horror, movies/TV/video games, sci-fi and young readers.
A range of mostly high-impact headline fonts with a few decorative as well.
Although the title says 90s, this seems more 70s inspired to me. Lots of swashes offered.
Add some character from one of the decades
At least one is superior to one you own now.
Files for the power user
iOS has had a Files app for a few years now, but some people need more than what Apple offers (kinda what this blog is about in some part). If you are one of those people, check out FileBrowser for iPhones and iPads. It can connect to cloud storage services such as iCloud, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive.
For the live musicians. This app allows setting up midi routing on a per-song basis. Supports layering and splitting, plus you can read a score for your song.
For the popular test of does-it-sound-good-on-a-phone
A receiver app so you can send a song-in-progress to your iPhone directly from your DAW, rather than having to bounce it and AirDrop it over, then play it for each change. Warning- this end is free, but the plugin is presently US$39.
I guess some people are accidentally deleting playlists in Apple Music, or they make changes they later regret. This one allows an auto-backup of your Apple Music library so you can make changes boldly.
A habit tracker — and yes I know there seems to be no shortage of these — with a pleasant interface. Includes reminders and widgets.
List all your roves
A combination of mood tracker and basic journal with a clean, friendly interface. Free to try an IAP for the Pro version.
Not just for removing hinges
iOS Graphics
Create 3D scans of physical objects for free. All processing is done on your device. Export as USDZ files.
Search your photos by their overall dominant color by dragging a slider to find the matches.
It’s a kind of magic
Explore your personal color space
An app specifically for making “magic circles”. Not sure what use they have in actual magic, but they might be just what you need for a game or heavy metal band design. Export in SVG or PNG format.
Transfer playlists from other streaming services into Apple Music. This requires an Apple Music subscription to work.
Paperlike Procreate Brush Sets Library
Eight packs for Procreate with multiple brushes in each one.
Like paper, but better
Playlisty for me
Graphics
Some free textures and other assets, or the Sriracha font that was made using the actual sauce.
Put those palettes to the test
Create a custom palette with this free site. See changes with 3 placeholder/demo app interfaces. When choosing a color it invokes the Mac's built in color picker which is nice. Copy as CSS code or as an SVG file.
Tom Gordon Distorted Type Effects Mega Bundle
A set of 35 300dpi effects for use in Photoshop to add some extreme grunginess to your type.
You want grunge? Tom has it
155 vividly coloured mostly grunge texture images in JPEG format at 4500 × 3500 resolution.
You can never have too many texture packs
Want your presentation to look slick and modern? Try these templates for Keynote, Powerpoint, Figma, Google Slides or Canva. Four clip art packs are also offered.
Create a 3D version of your logo. Rotate it to the angle you like and choose from several reflective materials. Free to try, US$25/month to get unlimited video exporting features.
“In the future, everything is chrome!” — Spongebob Squarepants
Video
Tools that use Abelton Live for video DJs or other live video artists.
This one lets you control lighting via the DMX and Art-Net protocols.
Suite Studios Storage and Connect
Mount their cloud storage solution as a share on your desktop. For pro teams as it starts at US$75 per TB per month. Includes fast read & write speeds, access permissions, time machine, single sign-on integration and realtime in-app chat support.
I was tempted to add this one into the Work category because it doesn’t really care what files you use, but the storage size seems aimed at video workers.
Blow your viewer’s minds with Blewtoof
Adobe Premiere and Davinci Resolve Plugins to achieve modern, grungy, lofi effects aimed at music video makers.
Adds a reddish glow to the brightest parts of your video to get a retro, light-leaked, 35mm film effect.
Also check out their other products CineMatch, Hazy and Nitrate for matching the color space between two cameras, adding a dreamlike bloom/diffusion filter effect and film stock emulation respectively.
Search and collaboration platform for video workers. Tags and sorts your footage into bins. Assets can live in Frame.io, Dropbox or Google Drive and it works in Premiere, Resolve, Final Cut Pro or Avid. Credits based system that has a free tier where you get up to 3 hours of logging or transcription.
Any hour can be golden hour
Development
“Ghostty is a fast, feature-rich, and cross-platform terminal emulator”. In case you want something different to iTerm.
An app for helping to build mobile apps. The example on the landing page implies you can describe the app you want to build in text, and that looks like a prompt to me. So I assume it has some kind of AI backend, but they don’t say anything more on the website.
“Aider lets you pair program with LLMs, to edit code in your local git repository. Start a new project or work with an existing code base. Aider works best with Claude 3.5 Sonnet, DeepSeek V3, o1 & GPT-4o and can connect to almost any LLM.” Works inside your favorite editor or IDE and with python, javascript, typescript, php, html, css, and more.
Get into the Flow State of developing with this system that manages your todo list but also automates other things you do like setting do-not-disturb on Slack and activating your videoconferencing software when a meeting is scheduled to occur.
Not to be confused with
This is an AI-based work system designed to help you organize your entire creative life. Much more than a todo list or text generator— this guides your methodology for completing your projects and helps you plan promoting them. Something with this scope doesn’t lend itself to a quick review, so watch some of the videos to learn more.
Construct modern web applications in pure Python. Good for making fast web apps that are dynamic such as dashboards or interactive reports where some UI will affect data referenced from a separate database.
AI
Image generator portal from Canada. Which backend you’re using isn’t specified, presumably so they can change it whenever they want to. Redesign images, add backgrounds, image fill, text replacement, product mockups, upscaling, image prompt reverse engineering… all the features you’ve come to expect.
Need to be on a video call but not looking your best? Pickle creates a video avatar of you in 24 hours which you can use to join meetings which is lipsynced to your live audio. Change your virtual clothes and background. $24/month.
Text-to-speech model. Includes variable emotions and outputs at 44kHz. Try it out at https://playground.zyphra.com/audio
Video creator. It has links to the stock photo libraries of iStock, storybooks and Shutterstock to get you started. Optional voiceovers. Free to try then $28/month to get 50mins/month. Apps for iOS and Android available.
This is one that could be in the development section, as it appears to be a framework for creating other products with LLMs.integrates with a huge list of other platforms such as Tableau and Salesforce, plus the usual suspects of AI backends.
Here are some DeepSeek instances that are not hosted in China:
Ollama (local), Lmstudio (local), GroqImc (hosted)
Similar to DuckDuckGo’s duck.ai, this is an AI-powered search engine with a pleasant interface. It tags each part of its answers with the source and shows them in a list on the side. Upgrading to Pro for US$20/month allows - multi-query search mode (not sure hat that means), upload and analyze images, PDFs, and CSVs, run and analyze code (language not specified but assumed things like python), over 500 uses/day of Claude 3.7 Sonnet and GPT-4o and opt-out of certain datasets.
“Build” (still don’t like that word) apps using Python, Javascript, TypeScript, Node.js, Nix (Beta), HTML, CSS, JS, C++ and GoLang.
Possibly vapourware, this is a combination of hardware (earplugs) and AI software that acts as a number of virtual assistants. Have a look at the demo videos to see what they are aiming for. Just like Apple’s old Knowledge Navigator.
Oh my. More hardware. I didn't intend for this to be a hardware based blog but this is another example of how they might develop together in the next couple of years. This is two products, one to clip onto your phone and the other for wearing on a lanyard so you are ready to take voice notes at any time without having to whip out your phone. Good if you often get distracted by notifications and other apps.
For the scientists and researchers. Specifically designed to help you analyze and extract new information from your library of pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, md, txt, png, jpg, jpeg, tiff, bmp (how old are these images?) heic and for videos and audio your mp4, mp3 and YouTube URLs. Now there’s no excuse for not finishing that paper.
These folks say they’re an Operating System but I believe that to be a misuse of the term. In this very slick looking make-my-fans-spin-up website you’ll see that it’s an AI platform tailored to branding and brand strategy.
Social Media
A social media site designed in the style of the original MySpace.
training
Training
Yeah I know most of my readers are not the AutoCAD types. But maybe you know someone who is. This place has pro-priced courses on AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, Inventor Professional, BIM Collaborate Pro, Advance Steel, Fusion 360, Bluebeam, and more. I hadn’t heard of most of these, but now you’ve heard of all of them.
Media Consumption
A podcast and music publishing platform.
Transfer your precious playlists between Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, SoundCloud, YouTube Music and others.
Want to go back to a certain category? Use the table of contents but from down here at the bottom!
Mac, Music, Samples, Kontakt, Podcasts, Fonts, iOS, Graphics, Video, Development, AI, Social Media, Training, and Media Consumption.