This is the "wow" factor of the update. Traditional cymatics uses solids (sand). The new software tonoscope uses a physics engine to simulate ferrofluids and non-Newtonian fluids on the membrane. Instead of jumping dots, you see viscous, oily tendrils of "light" stretching and tearing as the sound sustains. For video artists, this removes the "recycled 90s Winamp look" and replaces it with organic, biological motion.
For more information or to access the tool, you can visit the Software Tonoscope Download page or explore technical documentation at Vagmi Tonoscope .
A tonoscope is an instrument used to visualize sound frequencies. Historically, these were physical devices utilizing vibrating plates and sand (Cymatics). Today, the "updated" software tonoscope represents a significant leap in digital signal processing (DSP), transforming audio inputs into real-time visual data.