TaoMix 2: Sleep Sounds & Focus

I really love the TaoMix apps. The original TaoMix was one of the very few apps I actually made an in-app purchase on so I could have all the sounds and then I did the same for TaoMix 2. However, I think they should consider implementing support for 3D stereo sound. It would take the app to another level if the audio was binaural when wearing headphones or streaming to a surround sound when you hear sounds come in from the left or right and move around. Maybe inside the app you could enter a mode where individual sounds can float around and then designate the left side of the screen as the left channel, right side as right channel, etc and the sound will shift from left ear to right ear as the sound approaches the right side of the screen. Or for 5.1 surround system support, you could also add bottom and top corner sound points to the screen to account for the front left/right/center and rear left/right found in most people’s surround sound systems. I searched the AppStore for something like this and I didn’t see anything for what I wanted, so I think this app could be the first to really embrace 3D audio for relaxing ambience sounds.

The developer of this app is genius! I thought it would be just like the other "make your own" sound apps- where you pick your sounds and then get bored quickly because there is no change in the sounds. Not with this app! You can pick your own sounds, or the app helps you out with pre picked sound mixes.. the variations are endless! After you've picked your mix, a little ball travels around the screen making the sound it is on a little louder, bouncing in different directions- at a speed you can adjust.. making for a constantly changing sound track!! Amazing and a pleasure to listen to! I'm going to go listen to my sitting by the fire, reading a book in a rocking chair, cat purring, with light rain on the windows mix. If you are looking for music to relax with, do paperwork with, meditate with, exercise with, study with, cook with, drive with, shower with, go to sleep with, do housework with, eat with.. this app is for you!

There are endless soundscape options and customization. You can make complex audio with changing speed, volume of each sound, interactions (such as putting the river near the forest for example) even though it is very easy and intuitive. It takes about 5 minutes to learn how to use all of the features. There is a timer for when you want it to stop after you fall asleep. But this app can be used for much more than sleep; I use it throughout the day for relaxation, motivation, background music when guests are over... This is my favorite app. I use it every single day and cannot fall asleep without it anymore! I normally don't pay for apps but I did with this one and bought every available additional sound they offer. But without paying you get lots of sounds so buying more isn't necessary. I have tried other apps but nothing holds a candle to TaoMix2.

I'm impressed at how customizable this app is. I haven't tried competing apps, so I can't honestly compare them to this one. That being said, I'm so pleased with the variety of features here that I don't feel a compelling need to experiment with any others. There are a good variety of sound packs. Some might regard it as a drawback that most of these will need to be paid for to use, but for me at least, this is a case where an in-app purchase is worthwhile, especially if you just buy them all at once (as of when I'm writing this, that's about $6, as opposed to $2 for individual ones). You can build and customize your own soundscapes, and it's fun to do. Sometimes I've used ones that essentially just follow the suggested combinations that are grouped together as sound packs (I've created a Japanese Garden soundscape that incorporates most of the sounds in the corresponding pack, and I've really liked it). On the other hand, you can easily mix and match sounds from different sound packs with good results. You can adjust the relative prominence of different sounds, and even the colors of the icons representing the sounds, among other customization options. All in all, a worthwhile download. I recommend buying all the sound options, but I think you can try out a free version first if you're not sure.

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I love this app. It’s one of the best atmospheric apps on the App Store. This subscription pricing is insane and the subscription model for an app like this really doesn’t make sense. Maybe if it were a few bucks a month I might be interested as the developers should be able to make money; but I thought buying packs was fair already. The pricing of $8 a week, $20 a month or $40 a year? Well since you only get the content while you are subscribed, I guess $40 a year is what they really want you to do; which tells me they don’t have confidence the subscription plan will work. You offer a nice discount for paying a year in advance but $200???? Something is up and with pricing like that I refuse to trust them further. I may continue to use the app but I’ll keep my eye open for another. I wouldn’t suggest subscribing at this pricing level period. It’s a well made app, but not all apps need to be subscription. There will never be enough new nature sounds to justify.