Pro Music Apps

The Australian developer, One Red Dog, and creator of the Molten drum machine, is throwing the last few licks of paint on their latest musical app, Arctic Keys. As the picture (right) suggests, this is a virtual analog synth built for iPad, so expect  plenty of tweaking of oscillators, filters, and effects, plus a sequencer to crank out tunes.

One of the first key differences between Arctic Keys and some virtual synth apps, is the use of alias free oscillators with analog modelling DSP. This means no samples are used, so no digital artefacts are present when you start playing at extreme ends of the pitch spectrum.

Another neat feature is the gated step sequencer that can modulate many of the parameters on the synth. You can set filter modulations, then either trigger a note pattern like an arpeggiator, or have it modulate as you play. Nice!

Arctic Keys will also have  full CoreMIDI support including virtual ports, MIDI Learn, phrase recording with Sonoma AudioCopy export, wav export, MIDI file export, sharing via e-mail and Wi-Fi as well as iTunes, different keyboard sizes and 3 keyboard modes including multi-touch pitch bend and aftertouch.

About the only thing left to know, is how it actually sounds. For that, head over to SoundCloud to hear some demos - http://soundcloud.com/one-red-dog-media

I’ll let you know the minute it launches anyway, or keep an eye on the developer’s site - http://www.onereddog.com.au/

Claiming to be the ‘smartest and most advanced composing app in the world’, ezComposer for iPhone, and ezComposer Pro for iPad launched this week in the App Store at pretty lofty prices (if you ask me). The idea behind it is you are presented with a bunch of preset styles and a stack of predefined chords which you can arrange into patterns to form songs. There is also a keyboard for creating melodies lines. Think band-in-a-box by PG Music and you’re starting to get the picture.  Check out the video for a demo on how it fits together. Here’s the official (and rather lengthy) guff on the Pro version -

The smartest composing app. for ipad in the world. Use it now.
This pro version supports ez Sequencer and this is incredibly easy because of the mouse like finger interface.

The user just arrange the chord progression and set the style for each instruments.
The ezComposer Pro sequences midi notes instead of you.
If the chords changed, ezComposer Pro immediately does midi sequencing automatically.
The melody can be easily recorded by keyboard and it supports UNDO to cancel current recording.
You can edit each note with ez Sequencer.

You can easily make moving music through the special composing system in the ezComposer Pro.
ezComposer Pro supports 144 chords set and about 400s styles set for major instruments.
What you need to make a song is just drag-and-drop the chord and style.
No more midi sequencing in the smartphone.

ezComposer Pro is the only professional composing app. in various situation like in the subway, in the bed, when you walk …

First, arrange the chords and styles for each instrument,
Second, record major melody using the velocity-aware keyboard.
That’s all. It’s amazing app.
You can also easily edit each notes with mouse-action-like smart midi sequencer, ez Sequencer.

Also it supports chord progression recommendation system based on 500s chords set for each key.
Ofcourse, you can export your project as a midi file to use in your favorite sequencer like cubase, sonar, logic.

Especially, ezComposer Pro will be useful for
1. Beginners for midi composing
- who have no idea about midi sequencing
- who want to sequence various chords without chord knowledge.
- who want to make various chord progression
- You can open your project through exporting midifile and you can see the midi notes!

2. People who are interest in composing, and professional composers
- who don’t want to be bothered by ordinary midi sequencing.
- who want to see various chord progression
- You can sketch anyplace with the combination of various chord sets and style set

*** Features ***
+ Drag-and-drop based chord and style editing
- 144 chords : major, minor, 7th, 6th, m7, m7, m7-5, aug, dim, dim7, Maj7, sus4 chords
- 132 drum styles : 4 beat, 8 beat, 16 beat and various feel-ins
- 132 piano styles : Well-sequenced midi playing sets like professional pianist’s play
- 72 guitar styles : various sets from stroke to arpeggio (A1-1 ~ B9-3)
- 60 base guitar styles : various bass guitar styles (C1-1 ~ D6-3)
- Double tapping support to insert chord and style.

+ Chord recommendation system
- Next chord recommendation system based on current chord progression.
- instant chord progression guide
- 500s various chord progression for each Key(12 Major Keys, 12 Minor Keys)

+ ez Sequencer
- If you’re familiar with mouse sequencing, the ezComposer Pro will be the best app for you.
- In the sequencer, your index finger will be the mouse pointer and if you locate the pointer, then click the screen with middle finger like mouse click. It’s really natural and easy way to use sequencer.
- In other words, you can use your fingers as a mouse.
- It supports two fingers scrolling and three fingers actions like note length editing and velocity editing.

+ Keyboard and Drumpad
- Velocity-aware Drumpad : for drumkit, you can use drumpad to record drum notes!
- Velocity-aware Keyboard : 2-layered Keyboard.

+ Instruments
- 49 various high quality instruments with 16bit 44.1khz
- Standard, Jazz, Rock, House,…. 7 various drum kits.

+ Editing
- User-friendly made user interface and interactive instant help system
- midi file exporting
- Copy & paste
- Volume and pan control for each track
- midi tempo control
- Block the auto sequencing ( double tapping the the style editor )

White Noise Audio Software, maker of the bleep!BOX iPhone/iPad app, has released it’s first video of the soon to be released, Genome MIDI Sequencer for the iPad.

Genome MIDI Sequencer (GMS) is a pattern based MIDI sequencer. With a focus on fun and portability, it’s a great solution for controlling all your MIDI gear from your iPad. You can sequence single patterns or an entire 16 track song.

Features:

-CoreMIDI, Line6 Mobilizer Mk I & II compatible
-Supports Network MIDI
-Sends and Receives MIDI Clock Sync, Start and Stop events
-Also sends Note On, Note Off, Pitch Bend, Aftertouch, Channel Pressure and CC’s
-Pattern Based, pattern changes occur on bar boundaries so song stays in sync
-On screen keyboard interface
-Up to 16 simultaneous tracks, unlimited number of patterns
-Song / live modes
-Record incoming CC’s and Notes
-Undo / redo for most actions

The song in the video was made using GMS and just two pieces of gear.

More info is at
http://www.whitenoiseaudio.com/apps/genome-midi-sequencer/

It’s been a few months since Intua’s Beatmaker 2 launched, and the latest update brings some big new features, including an improved workspace environment for iPad owners of the app. Intua has stated that iPad 3G owners should hold off for the next update patch which is due soon.

Here is a list of new features and changes for this update:

- New native iPad interface, specifically designed to take the best off the iPad’s screen size.
- Support for MIDI controllers through CoreMIDI, with MIDI learning and templates
- Instruments parameters automations (LFOs, envelopes, pads settings, etc.)
- New Master track with volume, pan, and 3 FX slots
- Audio input monitoring while recording
- New “Note Repeat” mode
- Pad Copy & Paste on the Drum Machine
- Improved memory management, reduced application memory footprint for loading more samples
- Info window for monitoring CPU and memory usage
- Supports A2DP bluetooth speakers & headphones (output only)
- Many improvements in every aspect of the application

Checkout the product page to learn more about BeatMaker 2.1!

Not sure who this new app is aimed at, but the UI looks like it could be a bit of fun for creating free form beats and melodies, if somewhat limited anyway.

iPhase is a generative music application made by Mikael Holmqvist.

Create amazing beats and melodies with the swipe of your fingers and watch it bounce back and forth on the iPhase grid. Choose from 6 different instruments, 5 different drum kits and 14 different musical scales.

Use loudspeakers or headphones for best possible sound quality!
—————————————————
Instructions:

-Swipe in any direction to create a tone. Tones are higher towards the top and right side of the grid. The tones will move on the grid in the swipe direction and continue bouncing between the edges of the grid and the start position of the tone. Every grid edge have its own instrument and you can change the setup whenever you want using the instrument buttons.

-The tones are arranged in musical scales which makes every swipe sound good. You can change the scales choosing from a total of 14 major and minor musical scales – the possibilities are endless!

-Use the play/pause button to pause your beat. Tones can still be created in pause mode and this can be used to make your beat more precise.

-Use the loop mode toggle button to switch loop mode on and off. This can be used to first create a cool beat in loop mode and then switch it off to start playing some melody to your beat.

-Shake your device to create a random beat. Good when you run out of ideas and want some inspiration from chance.

Grab iPhase now –

I thought I was seeing things when I noticed a second new powerful synth app from Beep Street only a few weeks after the release of their Horizon Synth for iPad, but for some reason they have simply renamed that app to – Sunrizer Synth. 

Since it launched updates have included -

- MIDI “stuck notes” problem fixed
- MIDI control and MIDI learn for all parameters
- Added metronome
- Multiple banks support and bank export/import
- In-app help

Hopefully you picked it up while it was 50% off, as the asking price is currently US$9.99

For a full rundown on this powerful virtual analog synthesizer, head over to http://beepstreet.com/horizon

Here’s an example of some of the presets -

Grab Sunrizer synth now –

Probably not the most intuitive title to describe this exciting new mutli functional music app from Retronyms, but hey, who am I to argue with the experts! The interface reminds me a lot of the Chrome app, Audiotool here - http://www.audiotool.com/app/chrome, only better. Interested iPad owner should pick it up soon as the launch special includes a good deal on bundled modules.

The heart of Tabletop is a modular environment where you can mix and match different devices available via in-app purchase. As a launch special, 9 devices are included with the purchase of the app, a value of more than $50 compared to similar standalone apps! Select from more than a dozen devices including samplers, mixers, effects, sequencers and more. Buy only the gear you need from an expanding catalog.

Tabletop is the first musical environment designed from the ground up exclusively for the iPad. Each device has its own uses, characteristics, personality—ranging from classics like drum pad samplers to touchscreen effects.

Virtual, Modular Gear
=============
Plug the output of a keyboard into a delay to add an echo, or wire it up to a mixer and adjust the pan. Chain up multiple effects to create new and evolving sounds. Tabletop is an audio playground where you can create beats, compose songs, mix live, make mashups with samples from your iPod library… the possibilities are wide open.

Powerful Features

• 15 unique Devices at launch
• 300 sounds (multisample instruments, loops, phrases)
• Record sequences, arrange into songs
• Adjustable quantization (pre- and post-record)
• Recordable parameter automation
• Overdub and replace record modes
• Trigger sequences and patterns live
• Multitouch instruments and devices
• Sampling (internal mic, line in)
• Adjustable tempo
• Import your own sound library, save presets
• Support for imported .mid phrases
• Insert and send/return (master) effects
• Undo history
• 44Khz, studio-quality audio
• Sync 2 iPads running Tabletop or other apps with WIST
• Import sounds from dozens of apps with AudioPaste
• … and much more!

More info - http://retronyms.com/

Grab TableTop now –

A stunning new synth has now arrived from the team at VirSyn, who have already created the iVoxel and iSyn Poly apps, amongst other impressive music and audio software packages. Addictive Synth for iPad is here!

It was never so easy to create beautiful sounds and driving loops. The unique dynamic wavetable synthesis allows you to explore an unprecedentedwide range of sonic territory. From acid loops, crystal clear percussions, realistichuman choirs to complex musical soundscapes nothing seems impossiblewith only a handful parameters to tweak.
Together with the intelligent randomizer for both sounds and arpeggios youwill loose any sense of time and space while exploring unknown sonic territories.Right from the beginning you’ll understand why it’s named Addictive.

Check the website for a full list of features - http://www.virsyn.net

 

The team at Pulse Code Inc. have been busy putting the finishing touches on their upcoming, and decidedly cool retro looking Rhythm Studio universal iOS app.

It really is worth dropping by their website for a closer look at the UI, as it’s likely to be one of this apps big selling points, specially for veteran electronic music makers.

Billy from PCI said “early on in the project we decided we wasnted it to look like hardware.  There are many reasons for this: hardware looks good, is familiar to people, and one control does one thing. Everything you needs is right there on the screen”. And when you check out the screenshots and videos of the app, I’m sure you’ll agree with him.

With a launch price of US0.99, Billy explains what you’ll get for the ‘price of entry’, and then how the in-app purchases are going to work. “Currently, the app provides a sample based synthesizer, a virtual analog synthesizer, a virtual analog drum machine, mixer, and effects.  Our goal in the first major update is to allow the user to choose which synths are in their song.  We also made the design modular, so we plan on adding more synths, drum machines, and effects every major update.  We also decided that additional synths would be free with updates and the owner wouldn’t be required to purchase the synths in-app. So once you buy the app, you will continue to get more synths for free! New features and which synths/drum machines we put in will largely be dependent on user feedback and positive reviews.”

So I take it from that, if you guys are prepared to continue supporting the app, and showing the love, then PCI will continue to create new tools and toys to add to the app. Sounds fair enough to me!

For a full run down on Rhythm Studio, check the official site, or download the user manual which has a ton of info on the various features of the app – http://www.pulsecodeinc.com/rhythm-studio/

midiPhon is a modular synthesizer for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

It allows you to build synthesizers using different modules. Modules can be added / removed and connected to each other in any order. This allows each module’s parameters to be controlled by the output of other modules, enabling you to create many varied sounds.

When your synthesizer has been built, you are able to use it as an instrument using the built-in touch screen keyboard, or from external devices:
all midi Compatible Devices (via. Line6 MidiMobilizer or network using the ipMidi Protocol)Akai’s SynthStation25 which is a keyboard for the iPhone / iPod.

For a full run down on the synth’s features click here - http://www.midiphon.com/

Grab midiPhon now –