Pro Music Apps

I came across this cool crowd funding project a while back, and meant to post something back then. It appears they’ve now reached their funding requirements, but you can obviously still get on board if you feel like supporting it.

What’s a JamStik? The JamStik is a portable digital guitar that connects to your iPad or iPhone! We use light to scan your fingers as you press REAL STRINGS to REAL FRETS and use REAL PICKING technique to play, then send that information over to your device in real time to take some of the frustration out of learning to play and put some fun back in!

Aside from being called “the coolest thing at CES 2013″ and heralded as one of PopSci.com‘s Top 10 Inventions of 2013, the JamStik also works with a whole world of iOS CoreMIDI apps that are already available in the iTunes App Store. Awesome apps like Apple’s GarageBand, Moog’s Animoog, Korg’s iPolysix & iMS-20, Arctic Synth, Sunrizer, the list goes on and on. If it does CoreMIDI, JamStik can control it!

Metal music making has been all but ignored in the  music app world, so it’s nice to see someone giving the genre some attention, even if you’re not exactly able to create metal music from scratch. Thanks for the tunes Epicland!

Easily create your own black metal songs with Black Metal Song Creator. Whether you’re a beginner with no musical knowledge or an experienced musician, this app is for you. Great for instantly creating songs, quickly generating new song ideas, making backing tracks, or connecting to a guitar amp to make drum tracks to play along to. Export your songs to your computer or recording device to start your own black metal band (Additional equipment required. Instructions inside app.).

Features:

• 40 guitar chords with 5 different note types (whole, quarter, etc.)
• 45 drum loops with 2 different drum kits
• 14 choir and string chords, with 2 different octaves
• 4 tempos: 100, 120, 140, and 160 BPM
• 120 bars per song, with 4/4 time signature
• Save up to 100 songs
• Export to external device (other equipment required)

Created and recorded by symphonic black metal band Epicland, maker of iPhone app “Epicland’s Black Metal Backing Tracks and Drum Loops”

Works best for iPhone 5 and iPad 3rd generation and up.

Black Metal Song Creator
Developer: Randall Herman

Rated: 4+

Price: $2.99 Download Here

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Does the app store need yet another guitar tuner? It would appear so! This actually looks pretty slick to be honest.

Plusadd Tuner is a chromatic instrument tuner and pitch pipe that allows you to quickly and accurately tune your instrument using the built-in mic in your iPhone or iPad.

Plusadd Tuner supports a custom temperaments, transposition, notations such as solfège, adjustable calibration and more. By spectrum power indicator, you can understand sound more intuitively. Plusadd Tuner packs more power than most pro tuners, yet it is simple enough for everyone to use.

Plusadd Tuner can tune acoustic or electric guitar, bass, bowed strings, woodwinds, brass, piano, tympani, and any other instrument that can sustain a tone.

Free version “Plusadd Tuner Lite” is offered.

** Features **
- Needle meter display
- Ultra responsive 50 cent range fine tuning display
- LED display easy-to-understand high and low sound
- Accuracy ±0.01 semitone (±1 cent)
- Power spectrum indicator
- Selectable Temperaments
- Selectable Notations (such as Solfège)
- Support for transposing instruments
- Pitch Pipe/Tone generator
- Automatic reference note calibration

Plusadd Tuner - Chromatic Tuner
Developer: Hiroyuki Koike

Rated: 4+

Price: $2.99 Download Here

Ok, so this doesn’t shine a patch on GarageBand to name just one, but for the asking price, it’s probably not a bad app to add to your collection..Especially if you cash strapped.

This is a simulation software of drum,guitar and paino,all in one ,you can learn some simple rhythm by the Teaching function.
Step by step and you will be able to play it in very little time.
Also,you can collocate rhythms for music that you like.
All the tones are sampled from the real environment. Connect with loudspeakers for creating shocking effect
Fantastic sound quality you will get when with the headset.Sound data is conveyed into the hardware sound card directly without any delay.
have built-in metronome

Built-in 2,000 chords at 5 Positions
Major functions of v1.0

* Touch response. Pluck the central place on the screen to make the loudest sound.
* Tone button. Press the strum to simulate the effect of mute string raking.
* Fingerboard Model is used to create melody
* 7 pieces of samples with the distributed functions, available for playing immediately.
* User-defined chords and chord families

MicroBand
Developer: YuSheng Zhang

Rated: 4+

Price: $0.99 Download Here

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Sonoma Wire Works, makers of the GuitarJack™ iOS audio I/O, have announced GuitarJack 2 USB, a multi-platform I/O interface for Mac, PC, and select mobile devices. GuitarJack 2 USB eliminates the need for multiple audio interfaces for each device and/or operating system.

Together with Sonoma’s LLA™ solution for Android, GuitarJack 2 USB completes a low latency audio reference platform for OEM manufacturers of Android devices.

“We believe that the future of audio hardware and software should be multi-platform, seamlessly combining mobile, laptop and desktop recording. GuitarJack 2 USB is just the beginning.” - Doug Wright, president of Sonoma Wire Works

GuitarJack 2 USB Hardware Features:

• 24-bit AD/DA converters
• 1/4 inch (6.5 mm) instrument input – nickel-plated, solid brass Switchcraft (10,000 MTBF) jack
• 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) stereo mic/line input
• 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) stereo headphone/line output with increased drive for headphones
• Micro USB connector
• Sleek and rugged aluminum shell

About GuitarJack 2 USB: http://www.sonomawireworks.com/guitarjackusb

Pricing and Availability:
U.S. residents may pre-order GuitarJack 2 USB for the introductory street price of $129 ($199 MSRP) from Sonoma Wire Works Store (http://sonomawireworks.com/store) and it will ship in approximately 6-8 weeks. GuitarJack 2 USB will then be available from select dealers worldwide.

Our friends at Positive Grid have been busy at work, and have just released v.2.3.0, to be exact, and apart from some Audiobus compatability, you now get a new optional 8-track recorder available as an in-app purchase  on top of the already impressive feature set. If you haven’t purchased the app, don’t forget there’s a free LE version available to try out as well.

JamUp turns your iPad/iPhone into a powerhouse Multi-Effects Processor, 8-Track Recorder, Loop Station, iTunes Jam Player, Tuner and Metronome for guitar and bass.

★ New 8-Track Recorder Launch Special – $4.99

★ JamUp is the No.1 amp-and-effect app with the highest user ratings.
★ Featured worldwide by Macworld, Guitar World, Guitar Player, Premier Guitar & Guitarist.
★ Works with Audiobus as input, effect and output unit.

JamUp Pro XT is designed with the JamUp Plug ($19.99, available on Amazon.com), and it works any USB and headset iOS guitar adaptors, StompBox and AirTurn pedal.

JamUp Pro XT offers the largest collection of amp and effects models on iOS platform, it features ”Metal Pack”, “Classic Pack”, ”Effect Pack”, ”Bass Pack” and ”Boutique Pack”. Each amp model is carefully measured and analyzed based on the actual unit, and it’s developed with Positive Grid’s MESH MultiStage modeling technology, it offers superior articulation and tube-like touch response, see our user reviews.

JamUp offers a complete 8-Track Recorder System via in-app purchase, you can quickly capture your ideas, record your band or produce complete multi-tracks songs directly in JamUp. You have the ability to import audio from your iTunes music library, copy or paste audio material to/from individual tracks, or other apps like Apple GarageBand. You can export your songs via email, iTunes or SoundCloud.

FEATURES:
- Realtime Amp and Multi-Effects processor
- Up to 7 simultaneous stomp + amp + cabinet + rack
- JamUp Pro XT includes 6 amp, 16 stomps & rack models
- In total 36 amp channels and 30 stompboxes and rack models available via in-app purchase
- Complete 8-Track Recorder System (via in-app purchase, not support 3GS)
- ToneSharing, download FREE artist & user created presets, or share your own
- Drag and drop signal path for easy tone creation
- Realistic 3D interface for intuitive controls
- Loop Station with undo feature, start mode selection, synchronized metronome, file sharing
- iTunes Jam player to access your iTunes library with time stretching (pitch/speed) engine
- 64 slot preset manager
- Built-in tuner/metronome
- MIDI learning and assignment
- Audio Copy/Paste
- Support Audiobus in 3 slots

COMPATIBLE ADAPTORS/CONTROLLERS:
- Designed with JamUp Plug (available on Amazon.com for $19.99)
- iRig, Ampkit
- Apogee JAM, Mobile In, iRiffPort, Alesis IO Dock and any iOS USB interface
- Griffin StompBox, StudioConnect
- AirTurn Wireless Footswtich

For more details - www.positivegrid.com

JamUp Pro XT - Amp Effects Processor
Developer: Positive Grid LLC

Rated: 4+

Price: $9.99 Download Here

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IK Multimedia – the leader in mobile music-creation apps and accessories for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad – is proud to announce iRig® BlueBoard, a groundbreaking new Bluetooth MIDI pedalboard for iPhone, iPad and Mac, which gives guitarists, bassists and keyboard players hands-free control of mobile and Mac music apps.

Winner of the iLounge “Best in Show” at the recent CES (Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas), iRig BlueBoard is a great addition to any mobile or studio rig for live performance and recording. Guitar players, vocalists and keyboard players can use it to extend control of their preferred music apps by switching presets, changing sounds or modifying effects parameters – all hands-free. They don’t have to put down their instrument, and can remain focused on their performance.

Any music app or software that is MIDI compatible (the standard communication protocol for musical instruments) – such as IK’sAmpliTube, VocaLive, SampleTank, iGrand - or any other Core-MIDI-compatible app like Apple GarageBand, can be operated wirelessly with iRig BlueBoard.

This ultra-portable unit uses Bluetooth 4.0 technology to transmit the actions of its four onboard, backlit footswitches and its two optional external pedals to the mobile device or Mac. Then using the included iRig BlueBoard app and software, the Bluetooth signals are converted into MIDI messages and routed internally to the music app that’s running on the device.It’s also possible to fully customize the MIDI messages that are sent out by the four switches and two optional expression pedals. It’s easy to setup iRig BlueBoard to control patch changes, effects parameters, reverb, delay on/off – or any parameter that can be controlled via MIDI. For a guitarist or vocalist using a mobile multiFX app like AmpliTube or VocaLive as a sound processor, iRig BlueBoard provides the foot-controlled functionality and convenience of a pedalboard, but with a form factor so compact and portable that it can easily slide into a backpack, a laptop bag or an instrument case.Because it’s wireless, iRig BlueBoard lets musicians setup onstage without being tethered to their mobile device. The unit’s range is 10 meters (over 32 feet), giving musicians a great deal of mobility to roam the stage that would be impossible with a wired unit. Because the footswitches are backlit, they’re easy to see in all lighting conditions, even on a dark stage. Additionally, the fact that iRig uses wireless Bluetooth leaves all the wired ports of the device free, so they can be used simultaneously by interfaces or controllers that feature the 30-pin or Lightning connector, like IK’s iRig HD, iRig MIDI or iRig KEYS, and adapters or microphones that use the device mini-jack such as iRig or iRig MIC.

Even with all its impressive functionality, iRig BlueBoard measures only 27cm wide x 9cm deep (10.6″ x 3.5″). It’s extremely lightweight, but with a sturdy, stageworthy chassis and four footswitches made of soft-touch rubber and designed for durability. Because of its ultra-low profile (it’s only 2cm / 0.8″ tall) the unit can easily fit on a desktop.

For total portability, iRig BlueBoard is battery powered. It takes 4 standard AAA batteries, and because it uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), it draws very little power, leading to extremely long battery life.

iRig BlueBoard is compatible with iPhone 5 and 4S, iPad 3rd and 4th generation, iPad Mini, and iPod touch 5th generation. For Mac, it’s compatible with any model that supports Bluetooth 4.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy, like any MacBook Air, Mac Mini, or MacBook Pro that was released after June 2012.

Pricing and Availability
iRig BlueBoard is priced at €79.99 MSRP (ex. VAT), and will be available in the second quarter of 2013 from the IK network of music and electronic retailers around the world.

For more information, go to www.irigblueboard.com

The Sonuus G2M – Universal Guitar-to-MIDI Converter app delivers high-performance, low-latency, MIDI conversion for guitar (and other musical instruments). Featuring the same pitch-to-MIDI technology used in Sonuus’ acclaimed hardware products, the G2M app gives you an easy, low-cost way to enter the world of MIDI guitar.

In 2009, Sonuus rocked the music world with the launch of the G2M: a low-cost hardware MIDI converter that redefined how guitarists access MIDI instruments. Previously, the only solution was to add special pickups to your guitar, or use a specially-built guitar for MIDI. The G2M made it possible, for the first time, to use any guitar with MIDI, hence it’s: “universal”.

This G2M app gives you access to the same technology of the Sonuus hardware G2M:

() Any electric guitar can be used as a solo MIDI guitar: i.e., it’s universal.
() No guitar modifications or special pickups required.
() Robust note detection — minimises wrong notes.
() Velocity detection of notes, so your playing dynamics are translated into MIDI messages.
() Fast, accurate pitch-bend determination, or alternative chromatic mode.
() Very low latency & very fast tracking.
() Built-in, precise tuner.

These features combine to do something that no other MIDI converters can do: accurately capture the musicality and phrasing of what you are playing. Whether you want to lay down a MIDI bass line, or a saxophone solo, the G2M ensures the musical nuances of what you play are retained.

In addition, the G2M app:

() Has very low CPU usage, so it can run in the background without affecting other music apps.
() Can send MIDI to other apps (synths), over Wi-Fi, or to MIDI interfaces connected to the dock connector.
() Displays a glorious user-interface showing you the real-time MIDI messages as they are sent.
() Supports bass and guitar with a note detection range spanning from E1 (low E on a 4-string bass) to Bb6 (higher than a 24 fret guitar can play).

To use the G2M, you can use the built-in microphone but you get much better results by using an adapter that lets you connect your guitar directly to your iPhone, iPod or iPod Touch. For example, the i-ROCK adapter lets you connect your guitar to the mic/headset input.

The G2M works with all iOS devices with OS4.2 and above: from the iPod Touch 2nd Gen to the latest iPhone.

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Note1: the G2M is monophonic, meaning it will only process single notes, not chords.

Note2: when a guitar is connected to the microphone input, the lowest guitar notes (below A2) may not be processed correctly because most devices have a high-pass filter on this input which rejects the low notes. To avoid this and access the full range of playable notes, you can use an audio input device that connects to the dock connector instead.

Sonuus G2M - Universal Guitar to MIDI Converter
Developer: Sonuus Limited

Rated: 4+

Price: $9.99 Download Here

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AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ for iPad

JIMI HENDRIX™ TONE ON YOUR iPAD.

Want to rock Hendrix’s Rig? Now you can with the new AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ app. Play through the legendary guitar icon’s pedals and amplifiers, all from the convenience of your iPad®.

AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ is a full-featured mobile guitar effects processor and recording studio app that lets you play, practice and record with Jimi Hendrix’s gear, anytime and everywhere. Use the iRig or iRig STOMP interface to connect your guitar to your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad®, and use iRig MIDI to control AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ with your floor controller.

AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ lets you build a flexible guitar signal chain complete with 4 stompbox effects and an amplifier head with cabinet, plus a single-track recorder (expandable to 8 tracks) for capturing your musical ideas quickly and easily.

AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ features models of all the legendary gear used by Hendrix, both in the studio and in his live performances. Now you can rock his legendary amplifiers like the JH GOLD based on the Marshall® JTM45™ and the JH DUAL based on the Fender® Dual Showman™.

You can also rock the guitar pedals that allowed Hendrix to make his sonic breakthroughs, as he experimented with the full expressive possibilities of electronic effects while creating his pioneering guitar tones.

You can import/purchase and play along with Hendrix’s extensive discography or any music from your music library. Also included is a large collection of Jimi Hendrix™ guitar tone preset settings, provided as starting points for your own tone tweaking, or for just playing along.

AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ also features a robust Song player section that allows you to play along with songs or backing tracks by importing them directly from your device’s iPod library, or from your computer. The song section also features links to Jimi Hendrix™ music available for purchase on the iTunes store, which can be downloaded and added to your library and the app for play-along.

The Song section also includes our popular SpeedTrainer learning/practice feature, which can slow down or speed up the tempo of audio material without affecting pitch. A digital chromatic tuner and metronome are also included.

AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ features:

- Real-time guitar mobile multiFX + recording app with Jimi Hendrix tone

- Jimi Hendrix™ gear models: 5 Stompboxes (Noise Filter, Fuzz Age, Octa-V, Uni-V, Wah 46)

- 2 Amplifiers (JH Gold, JH Dual) and 2 cabinets (2×15″J, 4×12″J)
- Complete Jimi Hendrix™ Discography Presets

- Jimi Hendrix™ song links directly within the app for play-along

- Single-track recorder expandable to 8-track studio with master effects (via in-app purchase)

- Import and play songs as backing tracks from your iPod library or computer

- Export via E-mail, SoundCloud, FTP or File Sharing

- Audio Copy/Paste

- Slow down/speed up the tempo of imported songs without affecting pitch

- NO VOICE feature removes the lead vocal or guitar solo from imported songs

- Powerful preset system to manage presets and favorites

- Tuner/metronome
- Digital audio in/out – MIDI controllable (available as in-app purchase and free for iRig
MIDI users)

- Low-latency for real time playing

More app information:
www.amplitube.com/hendrix

AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ for iPad
Developer: IK Multimedia US, LLC

Rated: 4+

Price: $14.99 Download Here

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Matthias from app-sound has been at it again, creating a fresh collection of sounds for owners of NanoStudio. This time it’s all about guitar sounds! Here’s the lowdown on his latest product.

NANO GUITAR PACK is a content bundle for NanoStudio (iOS/PC/Mac). Over 340 audio files can be loaded into TRG-16. A selection of the sample pool was used for making 64 new presets of Eden Synth. All the 17 projects (from 60 to 140 bpm), based on drum loops, guitar riffs and guitar effects, show how to start song producing with NANO GUITAR PACK.

The concept: Electric Guitar meets Electronic Music. The guitar takes were optimized for music production in the mainstream styles of electronic and pop/rock music. The designed guitar sounds will inspire any producer. There are unique but useful sounds. To give you more freedom every guitar loop is offered ready-to-use with effects and also in a clean version (without amping or effect processing). The guitar, a real Fender Stratocaster, was played by German artist Hansi Kremer, pre-amped with TL Audio Processor and originally recorded in 24-bit.
NANO GUITAR PACK is more than a simulation of a classic Fender guitar.
It offers many fresh sounds and ways to work with its sample content. First of all, you will take the projects and reassign the samples inside TRG-16 and make your own songs. If you don’t want to use the original riffs please select the 34 presets with sliced loops of the User Bank for Eden. Trigger, transpose and edit the loops to build your own guitar phrases.

CONTENT

> 270 guitar loops and 70 guitar one-shot samples: you can load them into TRG-16, totally 340 samples (WAV/16-bit) – (~400 MB).

> 17 projects: use them as song templates. Each project contains a drum loop,  guitar riffs and guitar fx samples (all assigned to pads of TRG-16). To realize a song arrangement the project includes further parts with the factory presets of Eden Synth.

> 64 presets for Eden Synth: you find tonal fx, sound fx, atmos, hits as well as sliced guitar loops (featuring the „note slicing“ of Eden Synth)

> 17 bonus drum loops (electronic beats) from 60 to 140 bpm (WAV/16-bit)

Check out demos of the new NANO Guitar PACK here - https://soundcloud.com/app-sound/sets/nanostudio-nano-guitar-pack

Check out this product, and the other sample libraries here - http://www.app-sound.com/NanoStudio.html