Pro Music Apps

Sprak is a noise/drone synth designed to make phat and gritty ehhrm, noise and drones. While we love the existing noise and drone apps available on the app store, none of them combined the two in that special way we had a craving for. So what did we crave?

* Phase realign
* Stereo
* Gritty sound
* Something you could take pleasure from exploring.
* Being able to get new and interesting sounds
* Distortion, two cup fulls!
* Being able to feedback the sound back into itself, ahh yeah, nice!
* Easy on the eye.
* Borrow aesthetics from DIY pedals and Circuit bent “stuff”.

That’s about it, we like to connect a headphone and sit in a comfy chair and just play with the knobs and zone out.

Grab Sprak now –

Crystal is a full featured semi-modular synthesizer, ideally suited to creating lush evolving soundscapes. Long a popular synthesizer on the desktop, it is now available for the iPad and iPhone.

Browse through the included sounds and use the 1 octave keypad to trigger notes to produce evolving, rhythmic, or melodic sounds. Create your own sounds with a single button press using the breed feature. When using an iPad, you can delve into a tweakers dream by using the extensive editing features to sculpt sounds to your heart’s content.

Crystal features both subtractive synthesis and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. It offers abundant modulation control with over 90 parameters which may be modulated, multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors, extensive tempo sync of envelopes/lforates/delay times, built-in effects for chorus/flanging/comb filtering/echoes, and a band splitter for effects processing by frequency band. Not only that, Crystal has wave sequencing and granular synthesis. The musical applications for Crystal are literally boundless.

There are two different versions of Crystal to choose from, Crystal and Crystal XT, so you can select the one that is best for you. Crystal is the basic version. With this version you can browse sounds, play notes, and create new sounds, taking advantage of its powerful semimodular synthesis engine.

Crystal XT (available soon for a premium price) adds MIDI keyboard input via the iPad’s camera adapter and sharing of patches with the desktop version.

Crystal runs on both the iPad and the iPhone/iPod Touch. Because of the limited screen space on the iPhone however, the editing pages are not available when running on that device. But on the iPhone you can still browse sounds, play notes from the keypad, and create new sounds with the Breed feature.

Grab Crystal Synth now –

Steph O’Hara has crafted the highly original and fun to play synthmate for iPad. The unique coloured bars make it less about playing it like a traditional keyboard and more about freely experimenting with sounds and noises. The bars are intentially long as the Y axis can be assigned a control over the various settings. There are around a dozen presets that demonstrate the ‘synth’s’ capabilities, but after only an hour of playing with this, I’d already stored twice as many of my own great sounding presets in addition to those. I’m looking forward to spending a few more hours to see what this app is capable of.  Read on for the main features -

synthmate : a musical synthesizer with a simple and elegant interface, programable controls including scales, wave type, lfo and yaxis control with a low-latency audio engine.

Features :

• real-time control, low latency
• multi-touch interface, change anything while playing
• 5 note polyphony
• 1 oscilator unit per touch : control pitch, volume
• 1 lfo unit per touch : control speed, amount
• 1 delay unit : control time, feedback
• Y axis assignable control
• edit scales, range, portamento and micro-tune
• load/save all settings

Drop by the home of synthmate – http://www.synthmate.com

Grab synthmate now –

This one is technically a ‘game’, but you could also use it for some interesting musical ‘accidents’ while just playing around.

A Unique Action Puzzle Game
Halcyon is named for the mythological bird of ancient Greece, said to charm the winds and seas into a calm during the Winter Solstice.

Gameplay is one part spacial action puzzler and one part interactive stringed instrument combined in an experience designed specifically for the iPad.
Colored currents travel inexorably toward each other. Strum the strings to match the currents, creating both phonic and visual harmony.

Take on the role of the Halcyon, conducting nature, untangling currents, and bringing calm to the wind, sea, land, and stars.

A Generative Musical Instrument
Halcyon features a complete generative soundtrack that becomes an instrument when you play the game. Since its designed to accompany you while you play, you’ll create tranquil sonic landscapes as you travel along.

Tons of Gameplay
: 36 Levels through Four Environments

: Two Endless Modes that dynamically adjust difficulty based on how you are doing

: A Twelve Song Generative Soundtrack

: OpenFeint + Game Center

For more details and video demo – http://www.halcyongame.com/

audio palette has been out since last year, but a free version has just launched.

Audio palette is an innovative instrument that allows you to remix looped tracks in a new way. In audio palette each sound is represented on the screen as a circle. The closer your touch is to the center of the circle, the louder the sound. Your performance is automatically recorded and looped back with perfect timing accuracy allowing you to create a new loop built from your touch stroke. Using the buttons along the bottom of the screen, you can switch instantly between the touch recordings, and create yet another layer of performance. The software also allows you to edit the positions and sizes of the circles on screen, so you can customize your layouts.

To see videos of audio palette in action, please go to www.audiopalette.net

This free version of audio palette allows access to two palettes as well as the ability to edit the palettes.

The full version of audio palette allows you to upload your own samples, and also includes custom samples provided by legendary rock music producer and ambient music pioneer Brian Eno, as well as palettes from Andrey Gladkov of TriHorn productions, and the inimitable Octafuzz.

You can buy the full version of audio palette here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audio-palette/id340767581?mt=8

I guess it was only ever a matter of time before Propellerhead shifted ReBirth to its rightful home on iPad. I mean, anyone who bought the iPhone version will agree that it was kinda frustrating to operate on such a small screen. So has all been forgiven now its been updated to take full advantage of the added display real estate? Well, the fact we all have to buy it again, AND pay even more kinda sucks, but I guess there is no other way really… Read on for the full features -

ReBirth is back! Propellerhead Software’s legendary Techno Micro Composer has been resurrected and customized for the iPad. ReBirth faithfully emulates dance music’s three backbone devices: The Roland TB-303 Bass synth and the Roland TR-808 and 909 drum machines. Combine these with FX units, fully featured pattern sequencers and a gorgeous-looking interface and you’re ready to make killer tracks on your iPad. Share your music with friends on Facebook, Twitter and more using the built in sharing features.

Features
2 x TB-303 Bassline Synthesizer with pattern sequencer
The original Acid House and Techno bass synth. Unrivaled power, unmistakable sound.

TR-808 Drum machine
Roland’s sub-heavy 1980 beat computer. Instant hip-hop.

TR-909 Drum machine
The go-to beatbox for everything House and Techno. Press play and you’re dancing.

Tempo-synced digital delay
Bouncy and hypnotic, always in time with your music.

Compressor with threshold and ratio
A bare-bones compression unit for added beefiness.

Distortion unit with amount and shape
Raw and rugged distortion for that extra edge. Works wonders with any 303 bassline.

PCF effect
Pattern controlled Low-pass / Band-pass filter – a tweaker’s delight.

Mixer
Device specific mixer sections with pan, delay sends and FX switches

Mod support
Includes 7 original user mods with alternative sound sets and graphics

Sharing features
Share function with easy publication of songs to Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.

Here’s a link to the official website – http://rebirthapp.com

Grab ReBirth for iPad now –

No sooner had we broken the news on Korg’s upcoming new iPad synth, and the app has suddenly launched in all its glory! Thankfully the wait wasn’t long at all. Korg’s site is still not offering any details, although they are obviously going to sort that out shortly. Read on for all the details of this stunning new remake of a classic Korg  analogue synth -

KORG iMS-20 is an analog synth studio; a complete recreation of the Korg MS-20 analog synth, an analog sequencer, a drum machine, a mixer, and even Korg’s Kaoss Pad technology. Plus, you can share your songs online via the SoundCloud network!

The regular price is US$ 32.99; a special introductory price of US$ 15.99 is being offered until January 31, 2011.

iMS-20 is a complete music production app for iPad. It consists of a complete recreation of the legendary Korg MS-20 analog synth with the patching capability, plus a 16-step analog sequencer based on the Korg SQ-10, a six-part drum machine which can create drum parts by simply tapping the buttons, and a seven-channel mixer with 14 types of effects.

iMS-20 is a complete music production app for iPad, consisting of a complete recreation of the legendary Korg MS-20 analog synth with patching capability, a 16-step analog sequencer based on Korg’s SQ-10, a six-part drum machine with dedicated pads, and a seven-channel mixer with 14 types of effects.

In addition, iMS-20 offers dual Kaoss Pads allowing you to generate music by simply stroking the pad and moving your fingers over it. Experiment to come up with wild musical phrase! And with access to the SoundCloud audio platform*, you can publish your songs, or collaborate on ideas with people anywhere in the world from within the app!

*You will need to register for a SoundCloud account in order to publish data on SoundCloud. A variety of choices are available, ranging from a free account that allows up to two hours of data to be uploaded to a paid account that allows unlimited time. For details, refer to the SoundCloud website: http://soundcloud.com (English only)

∗When using SoundCloud, you must observe SoundCloud Ltd.’s terms of use, such as the prohibition on uploading songs whose copyright is the property of a third party.

[Specifications]
Components:
- MS-20 monophonic synthesizer: 1 unit
- Analog sequencer: 1 unit
- 6-part drum machine: 1 unit
- Mixer: 1 unit
- Song/Pattern composer: 1 unit

MS-20 monophonic synthesizer:
- Analog modeling synthesizer (MS-20 modeled by “CMT” Component Modeling Technology)
- 2VCO / 2VCF / 1VCA / 2EG / Patch Panel
- Additional functions: Modulation Key/Tempo Sync
- Insert effect (selectable from 14 effect types as below)

Analog sequencer:
- 16-step analog sequencer
- Control notes, volume, pan, parameters, and voltages via knobs
- Configurable steps (1-16) and sequence mode (6 types)
- Trigger out per channel or step position

6-part drum machine:
- 6-part/16-step drum machine
- Create sounds by sampling a single note from a built-in MS-20
- Controllable notes, volume and pan by knobs
- Configurable steps (1-16) and sequence mode (6 types) per a part

Mixer:
- 7-channel mixer
- Double needle meter indicates VU level
- Master effect (selectable from 14 effect types as below)

Song/Pattern composer:
- Compose a song or select a pattern, built-in mixer
- 16 patterns and 256 bars per a song
- Tempo setting (20-300 BPM) and Swing function

Effect type:
- 14 types: Short Delay, BPM Sync Delay, Reverb 1, Reverb 2, Chorus/Flanger, Equalizer, Compressor, Tube Simulator (Valve Force), Low-Pass Filter, High-Pass Filter, Band-Pass Filter, Talking Modulator, Decimator, Grain Shifter

Controllers:
- Keyboard: Recording function, Variable width (22, 26, or 29 keys)
- Kaoss Pad: 2 units, Recording function
Performance pad: Key/Scale (31 types) settings
Parameter control pad: X-Y axis parameter settings

Other:
- Audio export function (Bouncing a song or pattern, and Real-time recording a performance: 16-bit/44.1 kHz stereo WAV format)
- Publish and share songs online with the SoundCloud audio platform
- Various template patterns by music genre are included
- Various template sounds by sound category are included

A quick overview of the app

Grab Korg iMS-20 now –

Having wet our appetites with the highly enjoyable iELECTRIBE earlier this year, Korg are bringing a classic mono synth back from 1978 and dropping it onto iPad with a ton of music creation tools as well….. hail the MS-20 is back!..Well coming soon anyway…..

KORG iMS-20: Transforms your iPad into a complete analog synth studio!

Product Highlights:

* A complete recreation of the legendary Korg MS-20 analog synth

* Built-in 16-step analog sequencer to control the sound

* Music production studio with the MS-20 mono synth, a six-part drum machine, and a mixer

* Kaoss Pad function allows intuitive performance and control

* Publish and share your iMS-20 songs online with the SoundCloud music distribution site

* By combining a recreation of the Korg MS-20 analog synthesizer, an analog step-style sequencer, six-part drum machine, Kaoss-style performance, and a mixer to control it all, the iMS-20 will transform your iPad into one way-cool sound studio for the modern musician – and the analog enthusiast as well!

GyroSynth is a gesture driven music synthesizer for the iPhone 4, which takes full adventage of the gyroscope. You can play and modulate the sound by moving your hand through the air – just like the legendary Theremin instrument.

GyroSynth makes use of the gyroscope to measure true roll, pitch, and yaw and translates them to sound parameters like pitch, volume, modulation or filter cutoff. Thanks to phenomenal accuracy (2000 degrees), you can play melodies perfectly in tune.

FEATURES

- 4 types of oscillator: vocal (formant synthesizer), sine wave and square (PWM modulation), R2D2 – experimental FM modulation
- Several control modes
- Delay effect
- Included musical scales allow you to effortlessly play in several styles
- Built-in recorder and player with overdub function

Check more details, plus some of the other great music apps by Beep Street - http://www.beepstreet.com/gyrosynth

Grab GyroSynth now –

Wiresq is a turing complete sequencer for generating musical phrases. It uses wireworld, a cellular automata that allows for the construction of digital logic circuits to generate audio triggers. You can construct logic gates, memory circuits, calculators and more. You may be familiar with similar applications that use the game of life, but in this CA is much easier to construct stable repeating patterns and logic gates.

It also includes a simple synthesizer with an agressive filter. Enough to sketch out your ideas, but not too much to get bogged down in.

Grab more details here – http://heavyephemera.com/wiresq/index.html

Grab wiresq now –