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  1. News

iPhone/iPad iOS music making app round-up: Week 1

By Ben Rogerson
published 29 July 2010

New apps, rounded-up

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

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
MOTU DP Control App, Free
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”.

Buy now from the App Store

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Allen & Heath iLive Tweak, Free
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.

Buy now from the App Store

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
NextSound Band Simulator, £9.49
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.

Buy now from the App Store

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
VirSyn iVoxel, TBC
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’.

Find out more

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Blip Interactive NanoStudio, £8.99
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.

Buy now from the App Store

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
MuseAmo ImproVox, £4.99
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.

Buy now from the App Store

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Hidenori Matsuoka Chord Note, £1.79
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.

Buy now from the App Store

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Oliver Grimm KotoTunings, £1.79
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.

Buy now from the App Store

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
TuneAround SongMaker, £1.19
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?

Buy now from the App Store

Liked this? Now read: The best iPhone music making apps and The best iPad music making apps

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Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Ben Rogerson
Ben Rogerson
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I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. 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, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it. 

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