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iOS apps
2/21/2012
Native Instruments
iMaschine
$4.99
Why: Bang for the buck
Description: Based on the
company’s popular beatproduction
platform, iMaschine
presents 16 pads for CD-quality
sample playback, and a keyboard
for melodies, chords, and bass lines.
The app has 4-track recording
capabilities, effects, and a noterepeat
function—all the features
you need to create pro-level
projects. You can even export your
work as a project to Maschine or
as an audio file to SoundCloud.
Includes 100MB of sample content.
native-instruments.com
Yamaha
TNR-i
$19.99
Why: Unusual and
inspiring to play
Description: Tenori-
On for the iPhone! The
mobile version of Toshio
Iwai’s unique, grid-based
sound sculpture offers 16 sound layers, each of which can work in one of
six performance modes (score, bounce, random, push, draw, solo). You
can save 16 song patterns and network the app wirelessly with four other
players. Compare the price of the virtual version to the original, and you’ll
see this is a bargain.
usa.yamaha.com
Line 6
Mobile POD
Free (guitar interface required)
Why: Great sounds, fun
Description: It should come as no surprise that the folks who
pioneered amp and effects modeling would offer a great-sounding
version for mobile devices. Mobile POD, which requires the Line 6
Mobile In interface, gives you 32 amps, 16 cabinets, and 16 effects that
you can configure at your leisure. It even comes with 10,000 presets
to keep you busy (and a chromatic tuner to keep you honest).
line6.com
IK Multimedia
SampleTank Free
Free
Why: Useful and, well, free!
Description: You can’t beat the price of this 4-part multi-timbral sample
player. While the basic version comes with eight instruments, the app offers
a keyboard, virtual drum pads, a 4-track MIDI recorder, studio effects, and
1,000 patterns. You can add just the libraries you want—drums, guitars,
basses, keyboards, strings, and winds—with individually-priced add-ons
($4.99 to $9.99), or purchase them as a bundle.
ikmultimedia.com
Agile Partners
GuitarToolkit 2.0
$9.99
Why: Essential!
Description: An all-in-one app for any fretted-instrument player (guitar, bass, ukulele,
mandolin, banjo) that offers a chromatic tuner, a metronome, and an easily readable
layout of chords, scales, and arpeggios—even for lefties! It has options for open tunings
and capo placement. Add GuitarToolkit+ ($4.99) for interactive chord sheets, more
metronome features, and amps and effects. It’s useful for every level of player—from
beginner to advanced.
agilepartners.com
Korg
iKaossilator 2.0
$9.99
Why: Fun, expressive, great sounding
Description: What could be cooler than playing a
virtual Kaossilator with a full-color display from
your iPhone? This synth app gives you traditional
two-dimentional Kaoss control over 150 sounds,
which you can automatically map to scales and
keys. The realtime features include five layers of
loop recording, breaks and fill creation, and the
ability to export your track as an audio file or
upload it to SoundCloud.
korg.com
Algoriddim
djay
$0.99
Why: Cool, fun, inexpensive
Description: djay lets you spin the songs in your iTunes library using a pair
of virtual turntables and mixer. It offers scratching, pitch-bend, looping,
tempo matching, EQ, and effects (highpass/lowpass filter, bit crush, echo,
gate, and more). Record your mixes, then take advantage of the app’s integrated
SoundCloud and AirPlay support. It’ll even create mixes for you automatically when
you need your hands free for (ahem!) more important things.
algoriddim.com
Ninebuzz Software
Beats+
$0.99
Why: Simple to use
Description: This no-nonsense drum-loop app comes
with more than 50 beats, in a variety of styles that are
ready for demo work and jamming. Each pattern is
available at 14 different tempos (from 60–190 BPM), and
the basic app includes a dozen beats based on hit songs.
Additional beat collections are also available. You can save
favorites, as well as randomize your selections. Beats+
even supports AirPlay.
ninebuzz.com
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