Arpeggionome for iPhone

iPhone version of ArpeggionomePro arrived to the AppStore. 

SAN FRANCISCO — May 14, 2013 — Arpeggionome for iPhone transforms your iPhone into a new and expressive musical instrument.  Design intricate patterns of musical notes, then trigger those patterns at different pitches and speeds with an x-y matrix.  Tilt the iPhone for accelerometer-controlled pitchbend and volume, and with the 'MIDI Upgrade' in-app purchase, control other iOS MIDI apps, external MIDI gear, and computer software like never before.

Until May 31st it's just 0.99$

Putting it all together

In the last several weeks there were few things happened that really made music production process on the iPad much more complete.

First GarageBand came with Audiobus support and on the same week Audiobus achieved 100 apps that support technology. Which means that Audiobus now is the standard technology in iOS approved by Apple.

Then Auria was updated with time stretch and sidechain functions (there's no side chain compression yet - but ProC will support Auria sidechain in the next release).

After SampleTank (with great sounds library) and FL Studio (not a great as a DAW but very good sound library) were updated with Audiobus. So now it can be controlled with virtual midi and recorded in other apps via Audiobus. IK Multimedia (developer of SampleTank) also updated their effects app - AmpliTube. 

Few days ago NanoStudio announced to implement AudioBus.

And finally iMini - iPad reincarnation of MiniMoog was updated with Audiobus and Virtual Midi support. 

With so many great apps like SampleTank and iMini and DAWs like Cubasis, Auria and BeatMaker 2 the music production environment on iPad is becoming more and more advanced each week.

iMini (MiniMoog for iPad) and Tabletop

Today we've got unexpected news from Arturia - their first app for iPad: iMini.

And that's also a big day for Tabletop. Few months ago they integrated with iMPC (you can use it as internal device inside Tabletop) and with iMPC they received one of the best drum samplers. And today they launched integration with Minimoog - one of the best synths of all time reincarnation for iPad.

Let's start with Minimoog (iMini) first.

iMini is recreation of legendary Minimoog synth. iMini is based on same technology as desktop version - Mini V.

iMini comes with fantastic sound and over 500 presets made by the top sound designers. One of the great features is that you can transfer presets between MiniV and iMini.

iMini doesn't support Audiobus, Virtual Midi or Audiocopy (there's no internal recoder there), there's no sequencer there but it is Tabletop-ready. Which means that you can use Tabletop sequencer, recorder and other devices with iMini. 

iMini also comes with nice effects: delay and chorus. And inside Tabletop it can be used as effect (there is audio input that can be connected with other devices) to process other sounds through fantastic moog-style filter, delay and chorus effects. 

To use touch screen advantages, iMini has two XY pads that can be assigned to control most of the parameters of the synthesizer.

MidiBridge - bus for midi

After Audiobus appeared in AppStore we received the possibility to route audio between music apps. And while you're running several music apps at the same time you may want to control it with midi - it can be just the midi keyboard, midi arpeggiator, sequencer or controller or such devices like iConnect midi with tons of midi ports. So we need midi routing, and there's an app for that.

Here's MIDI Bridge. It identifies MIDI ins and outs and let you link your routes. Want to connect non-compliant with core midi Akai Synthstation to core midi app? Just link it.  

Midi Bridge also allows to make some deep settings and complex midi setups: route particular channel to the app, transpose notes, replace channels, filter events, etc. 

See few screenshots here to have better understanding on the settings available:

Lemur 4

Lemur has been updated to version 4 with killer in-app editing feature. Now you don't need computer to create or change Lemur templates. 

Here's the video with demo of new features. The background sound was generated on the iPad by connecting Lemur 4 to Magellan synth via virtual midi.

iMPC - turn your iPad into Akai MPC

There is new fantastic app - iMPC in the app store.

Turn your iPad into an MPC. With more than 1,200 samples, 50 editable programs, 80 editable sequences, and iconic MPC workflow, iMPC is the first app to bring all the functionality of a classic Akai Pro MPC to your iPad. iMPC includes everything you need to create a beat quickly and easily, including built-in effects, plus the ability to create new sequences and record and overdub beats. Time correction from 1/8 note to 1/32T with variable swing, and Note Repeat from 1/8 note to 1/32T with latch control are also built in. The app’s built-in sampler can record samples three different ways: using the mic on the iPad, using the line input on the iPad, or using the multi-touch turntable interface in iMPC to record samples directly from iTunes or other music libraries. 

• More than 1,200 samples, 50 editable programs, and 80 editable sequences
• Exclusive iMPC sound set and classic Akai Professional sound library
• Sample from iPad mic, line-in, or music library using multi-touch turntable interface
• Export tracks to MPC Software for use with MPC Renaissance and MPC Studio
• In-app SoundCloud community, powered by CloudSeeder
• Share on SoundCloud, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or export to your computer
• 16 Levels mode: 16 levels of attack, velocity, length, and tuning
• Note Variation slider: adjust attack, velocity, length, and tuning as you play
• Trim and categorize samples, undo takes and erase samples
• Create new sequences, record and overdub beats
• Live Sequence queuing for real-time performance and playback
• Simple drag and drop program creation
• Built-in effects: delay, bit crusher, master compressor/limiter
• Time correct: 1/8 note – 1/32T with variable swing
• Note Repeat: 1/8 note – 1/32T timing, with latch
• Supports WIST, wireless Sync Start protocol from Korg
• AudioCopy beats and sequences to compatible apps
• AudioPaste samples from compatible apps
• Tabletop Ready iMPC is free for for iMPC owners
• Route to and use with your favorite Tabletop Effects and devices
• Line-in allows you to resample Tabletop devices

• Use with Tabletop's Timeline Editor

DrumJam updated to support Audiobus

Another great app updated to support Audiobus. With DrumJam you can easily create percussion loops.

Appstore link

KORG apps on sale

KORG dropped price for their apps.

50% off until the end of year.

• iPolysix 14.99 $
• iMS-20 14.99 $
• iElectribe 9.99
• iElectribe Gorillaz 9.99 $
• iKaossilator 9.99 $

iPolysix - new polyphonic synth studio for the iPad
 

iMS-20 recreation of the legendary Korg MS-20 analog synth

iElectribe - virtual analog beatbox for iPad

iElectribe Gorillaz Edition - virtual analog beatbox filled with the samples from Gorillaz album "The fall"

iKaossilator - Virtual Kaossilator for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

New app from KORG

KORG came out with the new fantastic app: iPolysix. It is iPad version of their classic synth. We will post full review later now you can see the screenshots or just grab it in AppStore for the half price - for 14.99$.

I just made a simple song there - enjoy :)

Best music apps for iPad in 2011

2011 was the year of music apps for iPad. In 2010 it was still the toy for musicians and this year it became tool for professionals as well as the musical instrument for the rest. With iPad (GarageBand, iKaossilator, iElectribe) you can easily compose music even if you know nothing about music theory. You can receive great sound (with AniMoog or MorphWiz) even if you don't know what subtractive synthesis is. And if you professional you can compose music on the road while you on a plain. Or control your professional applications on your mac with innovative Lemur (which costed 2000 $ before it came to the iPad).

Here are the best music iPad apps of 2011:

Music app of the year: 1. GarageBand for iPad 2. iKaossilator 3. KORG iMS-20

Best touch instruments apps: 1. GarageBand 2. SoundPrism Pro 3. MorphWiz

Best synthesizer: 1. iMS-20 2. Animoog 3. Sunrizer

Best music studio: 1. GarageBand 2. NanoStudio 3. FL studio

Best pro app: 1. Lemur 2. iMS-20 3. Filtatron

Best electo-music app: 1. iKaossilator 2. iElectribe 3. Loopstatic HD

Best guitar app: 1. AmpliTube 2. StompBox 3. Shredder