The best new iOS apps and hardware of 2017

iOS devices are getting more powerful every year, and so are the music making apps that run on them. We might not quite be at the stage when an iPad (or possibly even an iPhone) could become your primary production platform, but we’re not too far away from it.

The products listed below have all played their part in making 2017 another great year for iOS musicians, but which one has had the greatest impact? Have a good think and then cast your vote.

The MusicRadar Best in music tech awards 2017 are brought to you in association with Softube - Tools for the Audio Professional

Sugar Bytes Unique

We said: “Sugar Bytes’ Unique synth has been kicking around on desktop platforms for around a decade, and now it’s made the jump to iOS. Promising “mighty analogue sounds from the golden age of synthesizers,” this is an analogue-style instrument with an extra trick or two up its sleeve.”

Find out more about Sugar Bytes Unique

Korg plugKey

We said: “Despite its diminutive size, you get a pair of 1/4 inch jacks, a separate minijack headphone output, master Volume knob, MIDI input and a micro USB input on the side, providing through-charge to your device. Pair the plugKey with a regular MIDI keyboard and you’ve got a super compact programming setup, or hook it up to an unused iOS device to create a nifty sound module.”

Find out more on the Korg plugKey

IK Multimedia iRig Pro I/O

We said: “IK Multimedia have been heavily invested in mobile music making for a good few years now, offering up all sorts of portable interfaces, controllers and accessories. The iRig Pro I/O might be their best though.”

Find out more on the IK Multimedia iRig Pro I/O

Focusrite iTrack One Pre

We said: “Sometimes simplicity is a real winner, and that’s definitely the case with Focusrite’s iOS-ready preamp. This sleek-looking cube is entirely focussed on input duties – there’s no output or MIDI I/O; just a single combination XLR/jack input with gain control.”

Find out more about the Focusrite iTrack One Pre

Korg iWavestation

We said: “Programming iWavestation out of its comfort zone is considerably easier than it is with the real thing, though, and with up to 32 simultaneous wave sequences the sounds it makes can get utterly mental.”

Read Korg iWavestation review

Steinberg Cubasis 2

We said: “Whether you're a Cubase user or not, if you own an iPad, Cubasis is worth every penny of its - in App Store terms - 'premium' pricetag. No longer just a capable on-the-go drawing board, it's now a powerful DAW in every meaningful sense.”

Read Steinberg Cubasis 2 review

ROLI Noise

What they say: “Noise is a free app that makes music mobile, so you can sketch musical ideas anywhere you take your connected device. Using simple, easy-to-learn gestures, you can create beats, melodies, and songs with a huge library of sounds.”

Find out more about ROLI Noise

iMusicAlbum SynthScaper

We said: “SynthScaper is a powerful soundscape- generator that blends melodic and inharmonic sounds via multi-layered sample-based oscillators. Its interface can be a little confusing, since there’s a lot going on, but when it comes to the creation of ambient sounds, this is one of the most powerful tools we’ve tried on any platform.”

Find out more on the iMusicAlbum Synthscaper 

Korg iMono/Poly

We said: “As with Korg’s other analogue emulating apps, there’s a believable depth to the sound engine in the iMono/Poly. We’re mostly just hoping the app is the precursor to a full hardware reissue though…”

Find out more on the Korg iMono/Poly

Winner: Apple Garageband 2.3

We said: “Where GarageBand for iOS goes next is anyone’s guess but, right now, we think that Apple is striking a pretty good balance between keeping it simple and offering more to those who demand it. The compatibility with the desktop version of GarageBand and Logic Pro is a big bonus, and the Beat Sequencer could well become your first port of call when you’re starting a track.”

Read Apple Garageband 2.3 ‘first look’ review