The newest software to add to your arsenal of musical creativity: iOS.
The iPhone and iPad are well known for being extremely user friendly, but when it comes to using them as instruments, they can be extremely daunting and complex. Luckily, FactMag has complied a handful of apps that make producing music on these devices easy and fun.
It’s certainly not high tech or flashy software, but it was never supposed to be. Garageband keeps things simple and is a great tool for learning the basics of production.
“For those wanting to make use of those apps that have been collecting on your iPhone, there’s nothing better.”
The interface of Beatwave is a 16X18 grid of squares, each of which activate musical notes. While the software might not seem too deep on the surface, it has the potential to be a very useful tool once it is mastered.
3. Casio Chordana Composer ($4.99)
This app is perfect for the person with zero production experience. All you have to do is sing or hum a melody into the microphone, and the app will turn it into a full track. While controversial to say the least, this app is certainly a lot of fun if and requires very little work to make a decent sounding final product.
“The idea of an app that takes all the skill out of creating a track might seem beyond the pale to some, but if you’ve got no issues with letting an algorithm take all the fun out of things then Casio’s Chordana Composer is for you.”
Keezy is essentially an 8-track MPC sampler. It’s extremely user friendly and comes with 15 pre-recorded soundboards already installed. However, the most exciting feature of this app is the ability to record you own soundboards using the mic on your iPhone or iPad.
When Korg first released the original Kaossilator, it was one of the first touch screen synths on the market. However, it quickly became irrelevant with the creation of the iPad, which could create a lot more sounds for the same price. Being the innovators that they are, Korg just modified the Kaossilator by changing it from a full blown machine into an app. While the preset synths are far from sophisticated, this app still provides hours of button mashing musical fun.
“Some of the presets are pretty cheesy, but there’s something pretty satisfying about being able to play a brostep bassline with all the wobble you could possibly desire.”
Like all of Moog’s devices, the secret of its success lies in the ladder filter. This app is a bit tricky for beginners, but if you’ve ever wanted to put your own recorded sounds through an LFO filter using an on board oscillator, this is the app you’ve been looking for.
Click on through to Fact Magazine to find out the final four in this comprehensive list.
The world of music is progressing faster than ever, and with apps like these, its never been cheaper or easier to create original content. To truly master the art of production, sign up for one of our March and April courses!
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