Pro Music Apps

The team at Amidio are no strangers to crafting some pretty unique music making apps, so I’m looking forward to their next upcoming product, Cycloop, which they have started teasing on their website. Here’s an excerpt -

Amidio has been among the very first music app makers since the beginning of AppStore, and for nearly 5 years we have been dreaming of making the ultimate music creation app. Something which would bring the pure excitement of the creation process, easy enough to allow creating tracks without digging across hundreds of menus, but still delivering a whole lot of possibilities and ways to express emotions and feelings.

We are not going to make a clone of existing DAW apps. Instead, we choose a special way, something you’ve never seen before. Cycloop is going to inherit certain decisions from the famous DOS trackers (Scream, Impulse, Fast trackers), along with some Songineer and MINT.io motives.

Expect an app that can possibly fulfill any mobile musician’s needs. Multitracking, plugin-based insert & send FX, built-in IDM and randomizer tricks, scale manipulations and flexible sample/synth architecture. All that packed (but not crowded) in just several clean-designed screens (no neon this time!) of pure touchscreen music-making goodness, and working in conjuction with our existing (and future) apps.

Cycloop will run only on the iPad. We will reveal more details as we proceed with the development. As of today, the design is finished (which took an incredible amount of planning and prototyping), fully documented and the code is at 10% completion mark. We are musicians ourselves and strongly keen to release an first-class, mind-blowing app. If everything goes well, it could happen in late Summer. Stay tuned!

Keep an eye on their blog for updates -http://amidio.com/newsblog/

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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Spark Digital is the world’s first studio condenser microphone to offer both USB and iPad connectivity. Expanding on the professional and sound of Blue’s Spark XLR studio microphone, Spark Digital features the same studio-grade condenser capsule and hand-tuned components for high-fidelity recording and consistence performance in any situation– vocals, drums, piano, speech, location recording and more.

Spark Digital also includes the Focus Control, providing two different sonic options in one mic at the push of a button. Complete with an adjustable desk stand and built-in shockmount, Spark Digital also includes y-cables for each platform with a headphone jack for zero-latency real-time monitoring. With a full range of recording capabilities, Spark Digital turns your iPad into a true mobile studio.

• Blue’s legendary studio condenser capsule and electronic components
• Plug ‘n play for iPad, Mac and PC – no drivers needed
• Works with GarageBand™ and other recording applications
• Focus Control switch offers two sonic signatures in one mic
• Headphone jack for zero-latency real-time monitoring
• Onboard control for volume, gain and instant mute
• LED meter provides visual feedback
• Includes Blue’s Cloud Production Bundle for audio back-up and sharing online

Get the full details - http://bluemic.com/spark_digital/

Look, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this is one of the best April Fools jokes I’ve seen today. Is it real or is it a fake? I REALLY hope it’s REAL!

1st April 2013, Sydney Australia – Australian-based microphone designer RØDE has announced the i16, a surround sound microphone for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch that combines sixteen discrete microphone capsules to capture the user’s surrounding audio environment in broadcast quality.

 

RØDE’s iXY stereo microphone for iOS devices was released in January, and has already gained critical praise from both musical and mainstream media, including a recent Red Dot product award.

The company is quickly emerging as the leader in microphones for Apple’s portable devices, and the i16 aims to consolidate this reputation.

 

RØDE’s founder and president, Peter Freedman, explains: “When developing the iXY we were focused on providing the ultimate in stereo audio capture for iOS devices. But during the project it became that there was a large proportion of the market who wanted to record in complete surround. We’ve taken that seriously and produced the i16.”

 

The new microphone uses RØDE’s own field recording app, RØDE Rec, to record the sixteen tracks simultaneously at quality up to 24-bit/96kHz. At the heart of the i16 is an incredible sixteen individual gold-sputtered cardioid condenser capsules, which allows the user a high amount of freedom to record in either surround, stereo, mono, or anywhere in between.

 

“Once the user records the surrounding environment, software processing inside RØDE Rec will allow them to cancel background noise through phase manipulation of the other channels, working much in the same way as noise-cancelling headphones.” explained Mr Freedman. “In this way the i16 is even more effective at recording dialogue than a traditional shotgun microphone.”

 

Once the user records the surrounding environment they can then use that track to phase cancel any background noise, very much like noise-cancelling headphones. This results in highly intelligible dialogue and crystal-clear audio.

 

The i16 is available with both Apple Lightning (iPhone 5, iPad mini) and 30-pin connections. Both are shipping now, with a MSRP of US$399.

More info - http://www.rodemic.com/

Inspired from hardware looping pedals, TF Looper aims to make looping fun and easy! Great for impromptu jams without the need to “plan” anything in advance. Works standalone or with input devices such as Apogee Jam for better sound.

✓ Low-latency sound engine makes looping a breeze
✓ Straight-forward workflow and interface akin to dedicated hardware loopers
✓ Undo functionality
✓ Trigger recording on input for easier recording of instruments
✓ Automatic quantisation of loops for fuss-free recording
✓ Unlimited overdubbing for expressive looping
✓ Fade previous overdubs option to create a continuous looping soundscape
✓ Octave-down and octave-up on individual channels
✓ Stop tracks anytime, play them again and they will synchronise to other tracks in perfect time
✓ Included limiter and noise reduction
✓ Stop-all channels / Start-all channels function – great for breaking it down!

TF Looper
Developer: Pier Lim

Rated: 4+

Price: $4.99 Download Here

JACK is more than just one app. It is a system that connects the music and audio world on your iOS device. JACK allows audio channels and MIDI ports of your audio & music apps to be connected with each other. It does not force a predefined schema in which way apps shall be connected with each other. You can freely connect them in any way you want, intuitively like drawing on a paper. Besides audio & MIDI interconnection, JACK provides other very useful mechanisms to let your audio apps work together like never before. For example record/playback synchronization between DAWs and sequencer apps. Arbitrary data sharing among apps and much more. Even though JACK is quite new on iOS, it already came a long way. Providing you the most professional and powerful environment for your audio apps, highly optimized with explicit multi core support, low latency and maturity which it gained over many years of usage and development on other operating systems already. JACK is an open standard, which can freely be supported by anybody.

Current Features:
- Audio connections between apps and external devices¹.
- MIDI connections between apps and external devices¹.
- Record/Playback synchronization between apps.
- Multi Core CPU support for high performance (parallelized internal audio graph).
- Low Latency Performance (configurable, i.e. 2ms buffer sizes).
- Arbitrary, custom data sharing among apps (allows easy extensions of the system).
- Arbitrary amount of audio & MIDI ports per app, changeable at runtime.
- Intuitive user interface that allows you to easily manage all audio and MIDI connections, environment settings, monitor current overall CPU usage and more …

For more info head here - http://www.crudebyte.com/jack-ios

JACK Audio Connection Kit
Developer: Christian Schoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte

Rated: 4+

Price: Free Download Here

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The Pocket Pad Studio powerful tool for Producers, singers, rappers, performers, creators, musicians, and anyone like yourself wanting to express themselves professionally.

Get in the driver’s seat, because now you can be the “Producer” of your own project! Using an ipod or iphone, you can make beats, musical ensembles, and even drop multitrack vocals.

Getting to the studio has never been easier, just put your musical ideas together with the Pocket Pad Studio and you’re ready for the world stage!

Master Your Product

Features:
• Premium master quality sounds used in multi-platinum, Grammy awarded hit songs provides that sounds professionals expect to hear in high-end studio hardware equipment.
• Pre-programmed functions cuts out a lot of work making it simple and fun to produce a professional sounding production.
• Import & export midi & wave via Dropbox & CPU
• Full 72 keys capabilities on keyboard synthesizer
• Link & upload recorded material to a professional studio
• Link devices to share in the creation of a beat
• Write pad- composer can create music on a standard staff music sheet using only a finger tap
• Print & email capabilities
• Upload to social world with just a touch of a button
• MAGIC button: auto-quantized all recorded material to produce perfect timed playback production with the touch of a Button.
• Sound PAKS frequently releases keeps you updated with the latest sounds created by your favorite Super-Producers.
• EASY import of New Sounds PAKS
• Hip Stylish Clean Look, not cluttered with a lot of buttons and knobs never used
• Has all the most important qualities that your known branded keyboards, Mpc, guitars and microphones have.

Pocket Pad Studio for iPad
Developer: Tychicus Jones

Rated: 4+

Price: $1.99 Download Here

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Samples lets you record up to 100 sounds of 30 seconds or less using your iPad’s microphone, and then play them back whenever you want!

The sounds will not interrupt any music you might be playing on your iPad, which makes Samples great for Podcasting and radio shows.

It’s very fast, and as simple as can be.

If Samples misbehaves, or if you have a suggestion to make it work better for you, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You’ll find a Send Feedback button on the back of the app.

Samples
Developer: Giorgio Calderolla

Rated: 4+

Price: Free Download Here

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RØDE Microphones has announced the release of the smartLav, a new lapel microphone that connects directly to the headset jack of Apple iOS devices. Compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, smartLav delivers premium quality audio capture in a compact and accessible form factor.

 

The smartLav is a professional-grade wearable microphone designed for use in a wide range of fi lm, television and broadcast scenarios, or wherever professional quality audio is required in a discreet, portable format without the complication and expense of additional wireless equipment, particularly where multiple talent is involved. With the smartLav the user simply mounts the microphone on the talent, connects it to the iOS device’s headset jack and records via the RØDE Rec or RØDE Rec LE apps.

 

By employing a high quality omni-directional condenser capsule the smartLav captures sound in a forgiving 360 degrees, allowing for versatility when mounting and ensuring a high degree of user-friendly operation.

 

“The smartLav is an exciting solution that makes professional quality audio available to anyone with access to an Apple iOS device,” explained Damien Wilson, RØDE’s Marketing and Sales Director. “For filmmakers or wedding videographers that have struggled to simultaneously record multiple talent this product truly is an incredibly simple and cost effective solution.”

 

A foam pop shield is included to minimise wind noise and vocal plosives (hard ‘b’, ‘t’ and ‘p’ sounds), as well as a durable mounting clip with in-built cable management. The smartLav has been designed to pair perfectly with the RØDE Rec app for Apple iOS devices, and is also compatible with any iOS audio app that accepts input from the headset connection. RØDE Rec turns the user’s iOS device into a fully-featured field recorder, with a wide range of equalisation pre-sets to suit various recording situations, in addition to professional editing functions and the ability

to publish to SoundCloud and Dropbox directly from the app.

 

“Both the smartLav and the recently announced RØDE iXY stereo microphone showcase the possibilities of the RØDE Rec app as more than an isolated piece of software,” Mr Wilson explained, “but also as a platform and hub for a range of professional grade audio devices. This platform leverages the portability and popularity of Apple’s iOS devices to make content creation easier than ever.”

 

The smartLav is shipping to authorised RØDE retailers worldwide this month, at a suggested retail price of US$60. For more information please visit www.smartlav.com.

Following the recent announcement of Rode’s upcoming professional stereo microphone for the latest iOS devices, comes Samson Tech’s own impressive looking, high quality stereo microphone!

Finally, your iPhone videos will sound as great as they look. With Zoom’s iQ5 Professional Stereo Microphone, you can turn your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a high-quality stereo recorder. Featuring an adjustable mic element with both vertical and horizontal positioning, the iQ5 lets you capture amazing sound wherever you go.

Features -

• Mid-Side stereo microphone for iOS devices
• Compatible with iOS 6.0 or later
• Rotating mic element for vertical (audio) and horizontal (video) positioning
• 3-position Mid-Side stereo field switch (90°, 120°, RAW)
• 16-bit/44.1kHz recording resolution
• Analog mic gain wheel
• 3-position gain control switch (Auto, Limit, Off)
• LED power indicator
• Connects to devices via Apple’s Lightning connector
• Mini USB connector for powering/charging iOS device
• Free Handy Recorder App available for download via the App Store
• Available in black and white

For more details - http://www.samsontech.com/zoom/products/mobile-recording/iq5/