iPhone/iPad iOS music making app round-up: Week 1
New apps, rounded-up
When it comes to music software, there's currently no more vibrant or fast-moving platform than Apple's iOS. New tune-making, DAW-controlling and other producer-friendly apps are appearing on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad every week, and they're getting better all the time.
About time, then, that MusicRadar ramped up its iOS coverage. As well as bringing you reviews of the most relevant apps, from now on we'll be wrapping up the new releases and software announcements in regular round-ups, of which this is the first.
Also, make sure you check out these regularly updated features:
The best iPhone music making apps
The best iPad music making apps
If you've got a new iOS app, make sure you let us know about it by emailing musicradar.pressreleases@futurenet.com with all the details.
NEXT: a controller app for Digital Performer
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, and third-generation iPod Touch
MOTU DP Control App, Free
As its name suggests, this is a dedicated controller app for MOTU’s Digital Performer DAW. It works over WiFi and gives access to “the most important transport and mixer functions for tracking, mixing, and live performance”.
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad (requires iOS 3.0 or later)
Allen & Heath iLive Tweak, Free
iLive Tweak has been developed to provide real-time mobile control of Allen & Heath’s iLive digital mixing range. It enables users to remotely browse and select channels on their iLive MixRack and adjust levels and mutes, PEQ, GEQ and delays.
Compatibility: iPad (requires iOS 3.2 or later)
NextSound Band Simulator, £9.49
Get the sound of a typical three-piece rock band on your Apple tablet. There are guitar, bass and drum generators and a sequencer that enables you to create songs by recording with them.
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad
VirSyn iVoxel, TBC
This forthcoming app is both a voice-optimised synth and a vocoder. This means that you can use it as a real-time vocoder or as a ‘singing machine’ that uses recordings of your own voice or over 200 pre-recorded ‘voxels’.
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad (requires iOS 3.2 or later)
Blip Interactive NanoStudio, £8.99
Combining sampling, sequencing, synthesis and mastering, this is one of the most complete music-making solutions that the iOS has to offer. If you want to try it out, you can download Mac and PC versions for free.
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad (requires iOS 3.2 or later)
MuseAmo ImproVox, £4.99
Real-time pitch correction and 4-part harmonisation comes to iOS. Harmonies can be created and effects added using the two touchpads, and when it comes to correcting pitch, you can define the key and scale.
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad (requires iOS 3.0 or later)
Hidenori Matsuoka Chord Note, £1.79
Described as a songwriter’s assistant, Chord Note finds suitable chords to match your melodies. That’s about it really, although we should point out that the new version (1.2) is said to come with a more reliable audio engine.
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad (requires iOS 3.1.3 or later)
Oliver Grimm KotoTunings, £1.79
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the Japanese Koto, this will help you out. It shows you 25 traditional tunings for the instrument and enables you to pick and play the strings.
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad (requires iOS 3.0 or later)
TuneAround SongMaker, £1.19
iOS is home to some decidedly quirky music apps, and this is another one. Record some lyrics while playing a melody on the keyboard and SongMaker will create a tune in a genre of your choosing. Shall we all pack up and go home now?
Liked this? Now read: The best iPhone music making apps and The best iPad music making apps
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I’m the Group Content Manager for MusicRadar, specialising in all things tech. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 20 of which I’ve also spent writing about music technology.
