Phantom Syren

Product description

Phantom Syren is a low-latency, real-time vocal processing console for Windows. It lets streamers, podcasters, and vocalists monitor their voice live through a customizable chain of studio effects, with intuitive controls, responsive meters, and flexible device/back-end options. The app focuses on stable performance, smooth parameter editing, and practical presets that get you sounding great immediately.

Who it’s for

• - Streamers and creators who need polished vocals in real time
  - Podcasters and broadcasters looking for consistent, radio-ready tone
  - Vocalists who want live monitoring with a compact, reliable effects chain

What's New in 2025.1.0

• -Engine and performance enhancements
• -Rebuilt Autotune effect from ground up to fix persistent popping bug
• - Eliminate per-buffer allocations via buffer pooling and Span-based processing
• - Lock-free queues for parameter updates; apply at buffer boundaries
• - Optional WASAPI Exclusive mode and buffer negotiation
• - Chain management
• - Drag-and-drop effect reorder
• - Atomic graph swap at buffer boundaries for glitch-free updates
• - VST2 hosting for adding your favorite plugins
• - Collapsible effect cards, virtualization for large chains
• -Simultaneous Pre/Post Effects Chain recording to .wav file and playback
• Adopted a year based versioning system formatted as such: Year.Major.Minor

Key features (current)

• - Real-time engine
  - WASAPI shared mode with configurable output latency
  - Optional ASIO backend (InitRecordAndPlayback) for minimal latency
  - IEEE float 32 and PCM16 capture support, processing in float
  - Adjustable SampleRate, BufferSize, Channels, and output latency (WASAPI)
  - Quality presets (Low Latency, Balanced, High Quality) for quick setup
  - Device and backend selection
  - Toggle between ASIO and WASAPI
  - ASIO driver picker when ASIO is enabled
  - WASAPI input/output device selection when ASIO is disabled
  - Flexible effects chain
  - Master Input and Master Output gain blocks
  - Built-in processors with dedicated parameter editors and bypass
  - High-pass filter
  - Noise reduction / gate
  - Pitch correction (key/scale, amount, speed, tolerance, humanize, vibrato, formants)
  - Equalizer (3-band)
  - Compressor (threshold, ratio, attack, release, makeup)
  - Distortion/saturation (drive, tone, mix, hard-clip)
  - Chorus/doubler
  - Tremolo
  - Delay (ping-pong)
  - Reverb (room, damping, width, predelay)
  - Low-pass filter
  - Limiter (ceiling, release)
  - Reorder with Move Up/Down controls
  - Presets and persistence
  - Built-in chain presets (e.g., Podcast, Rock, Pop Tight, EDM Lead, ASMR, LoFi)
  - Save and load custom chain presets to JSON including parameters and master gains
  - Live metering and visualization
  - Left and right RMS meters with CPU processing time per buffer
  - Input and output waveform previews updated ~30 FPS
  - Responsive UI
  - WPF + MVVM with a compact, wrap-friendly top bar
  - Themed appearance and accessible standard controls

Technical specifications

• - Platform: Windows (WPF, .NET VB)
  - Audio stack: NAudio (WASAPI shared, ASIO)
  - Sample rates: 44.1, 48, 96 kHz (selection depends on backend/device)
  - Buffer sizes: 64 to 1024 frames (selection depends on backend/device)
  - Channels: mono or stereo
  - Preset format: JSON (type, name, bypass, parameters, master gains)

What makes it useful

• - Minimal setup: pick devices, a quality level, and a preset to get broadcast-ready sound fast
  - Live-safe editing: parameters exposed with intuitive ranges to reduce zipper noise risk in practice
  - Practical defaults: curated set of effects and presets tailored for spoken voice and lead vocals
  - Transparent metering: see levels, CPU time, and waveform snapshots at a glance

Roadmap and next steps

• - Global bypass and per-effect solo (for auditioning)
  - Metering and diagnostics
  - Peak meters alongside RMS, per-effect gain reduction where applicable
  - Backend and latency summary in status area
  - Presets and sessions
  - Versioned preset JSON with migrations
  - Session save/load (full app state)
  - Per-effect preset browser
  - DSP improvements
  - Parameter smoothing utilities across effects
  - Optional oversampling for distortion-style effects
  - Reverb quality modes
  - I/O reliability
  - Device hotplug resilience with seamless re-init
  - ASIO channel mapping and format diagnostics
  - UX and accessibility
  - Enhanced keyboard navigation and screen reader naming
  - Extensibility (research)
  - Internal .NET effect plugin API

System requirements

• - Windows 10/11
  - Audio interface or onboard audio compatible with WASAPI; ASIO driver optional for lowest latency
  - .NET Desktop Runtime (version aligned with project target)

Getting started

• - Launch the app and choose ASIO or WASAPI
  - Select your input (microphone) and output (headphones)
  - Pick a Quality preset, then a built-in chain preset
  - Click Start to monitor your processed voice in real time
  - Fine-tune effect parameters, save your own preset when ready