iPhone App Directory

Another week goes by, here are the highlights from the last 7 days

I suppose it's actually the last six days, but never mind. Anyway, here's the highlights from the last week.

New apps:

New Android Apps:

Apps getting on the Audiobus:

Other app updates:

Stuff that's still on sale:

Events coming up:

Things to look forward to:

Things to do:
  • FL Studio Mobile Competiton
  • If you missed it during the week then take a look at my post about an idea for an app called patchbus. See what you think

Useful videos:

I hope that helps you catch up. Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll be back for more mobile music tomorrow.

Dub Siren DX - Ultimate DJ Mixer Synth with Reggae and DubStep Radio is now on the Audiobus

Here's what's new:
  • Audiobus compatible
  • Retina compatible
  • New audio engine
  • Better sound quality
  • One touch restore button
  • Bug fixes
  • Delay can be louder on iPad version
  • Reduced battery consumption

Music App Blog reviews iRig HD

So if you're thinking about getting one you might want to read this review.

Poster that makes music

Not really mobile but an interesting use of the technology. I did some stuff using Bare Conductive ink and it was great fun to use.

iPadimation book on iBooks



From the creator of the Flaming Stylus blog comes the complete guide to creating animation on the iPad. With pictures, video, and downloadable project content, this easy to follow guide will get you animating in minutes. Contains over 20 chapters of tips and tricks covering popular animation apps such as DoInk, PhotoPuppet HD, Animator Creator HD, and iDraw. This is a must have resource for anyone looking to create cartoons on the iPad.

The book is priced at $7.99

The modulartronicatron X-7000 Picnic Synth (via Matrixsynth)

 I had to post these pictures from Matrixsynth as I just loved the Picnic synth!




Via Matrixsynth.

Getting back to MegaCurtis ...


I've been doing a few bits and pieces using megacurtis again and remembering just what a great app it is for making interesting noises. I'll publish a few bits on SoundCloud soon to show you what I mean.

BitWiz crushing a beat by kymatica





The new version of BitWiz Audio Synth (http://kymatica.com/bitwiz) crushing a beat in real time using the new Audiobus effect slot functionality. Uploaded with AudioShare app - http://kymatica.com/audioshare

Bitwiz4 by kymatica





┒ ┣━┓┒┣━┒┒┒┎┍━┓ ┗━┛┖┗━┗┻┛┚┏━┛ ━━━━━━━━━━┗━━┙ Examples of music created by my app BitWiz Audio Synth. More info and demo video here: http://kymatica.com/bitwiz

Bitwiz~ All DAW(ed) up by M͞atthe̶w͢_As̸h̨m̛o̷r͠e





Bitwiz Loop (Kymatica Iphone app) http://kymatica.com/Software/BitWiz Audiostation Grainzzz DAW

MIDI Designer Pro 1.5.3 arrives

Version 1.5.3 introduces one key feature and more than a dozen fixes. The key feature is called Bounce Back, which wraps up several user-requested features in one. This feature shows the flexibility and simplicity of using super-/subcontrols.

Key Feature: Bounce Back
Bounce Back is also called "2nd Press Action for Button Group." A button group is a group of controls where turning one on turns the others off. Bounce Back let's you choose what happens when you press the button that is already on. There are six options including "do nothing," "resend" and "bounce to previous." Allows for on-the-fly sequences to be created.

More Features
  • Black LED color
  • Choose highlight colors for page (or leave as automatic)
  • New MIDI Message Type: Song Pointer Position.

Bug Fixes
  • Fixed Button groups for bidirectional MIDI communication
  • Fixed dynamic controls with crossfader overlap for bidirectional MIDI communication
  • Fixed: Initial values were not being saved/updated correctly for the default preset used on load
  • Fixed: Initial layout for new users was confusing (mirroring bug). Fixed all implications. MD will now consider layouts with no controls and < 4 pages to be blank. 
  • Fixed: Obscure defect on converting inverted (display & MIDI) values to named ticks 
  • Fixed: Several properties not being cloned with make similar 
  • Fixed: Multiple problems with design mode (crossfade overlap, hide label, and control name label) 
  • Fixed: All drag circles were exceeding bounding box (e.g., supercontrols drag button) 
  • Fixed: Could not add more than 50 subcontrols to a control (or any of its children) 
  • Fixed: LED slider rounding incorrectly. 
  • Fixed: Page tabs not layering correctly 
  • Fixed: panels end up in front sometimes

In A Good Way by Angel José





Ok, here is my contribution to the iOS Music Community's challenge. This is my first soloing in Jazz and really my first interaction with Jazz, and it shows...Definitely need to break some books out and practice some more, but you know, I'm actually happy cause I know of a deficiency that I have to develop and get better at. Setup was as follows: Flute by SampleTank and Vibraphone by bs-16i, both thru Garageband via Audiobus.

Infernal clock tower [Disquiet0077-netlabelsplice] by Mike J Dayton





I really like the source songs for this weeks junto I heard some very cool tracks so far. I began by carving out some choice samples there was plenty to work with, The rhythm was made up of yellofier loops assembled in nanostudio most everything else was done with samplr and various effects. I finally built a working audulus patch, a filter using the 16 step sequencer. More on this 77th Disquiet Junto project, in which the music from three different netlabels was combined to create one track, at: http://disquiet.com/2013/06/20/disquiet0077-netlabelsplice/ This track is composed from material extracted from three pre-existing tracks: Adrià Bofarull and Joan Saura’s Cráter, Sean Archibald’s Sean but not Heard, and Unicode’s Transmission. More on Adrià Bofarull and Joan Saura’s album at http://www.tecnonucleo.org/index.php?page=release&release=38. More on Sean Archibald’s album at http://www.split-notes.com/011/. More on Unicode’s Transmission at http://archive.org/details/TON006. More details on the Disquiet Junto at: http://soundcloud.com/groups/disquiet-junto/

Nave Synth - ChrisG Preset Bank Demo by ChrisE1G





A handful of my presets for the Waldorf Nave synth on iOS iPad (and soon-ish available as a Mac/PC plugin I believe). Unprocessed, recorded straight from Nave. The bank is free to download, and is constantly a work in progress. Download at: http://forum.audiob.us/discussion/1369/preset-sharing-waldorf-nave Uploaded with AudioShare app - http://kymatica.com/audioshare

organ donor by Mike J Dayton





my first try with the new organ app Galileo, I never thought they was so much variety to organs. The drums and bass were from mint io, I used loopy to record the loops and then transfered everything to nanostudio. A touch of samplr manipulating a triangle and some stria rounds out this one.

GuitarToolkit - Last day at the sale price

It's the last day to get GuitarToolkit at the sale price of $4.99. Thought you should know.

Echo Pad still on sale

Echo Pad is still down in price from $3.99 to $1.99.

Echo Pad - Touch Effects Processor - Holderness Media Inc

I just love nils


It's a great app, love how it works.


Arpeggionome for iPhone is still free

Arpeggionome for iPhone is still free for now, so grab it while you can.

Arpeggionome for iPhone - Alexandernaut

SequenceApp still on sale for $0.99

SequenceApp is still just $0.99 and well worth it in my opinion.

SequenceApp - Dimitri Diakopoulos

What's you fav app and what do you want from it?

So, which app is keeping you busy right now and what would you really like to see it get updated with? What's the feature you really want to see? Comment it in and here.

What will developers do with blinking and smiling detection?

I'm hearing reports about the latest beta of iOS7 giving developers the ability to track smiles and blinking. But what will music app developers do with these abilities?

Maybe we could have smile detection for rating good patches and blink detection for when your bored of a track. What do you think?

iOS Songwriting App Hum


I'm not sure about this app, it's on kickstarter and my last experience of kickstarter an app wasn't brilliant. Anyway, you may want to take a look.

Musical Android reviews Mikrosonic's RD4

If you're using Android and were wondering about Mikrosonic's new app RD4 then you need to read this from Musical Android.

TweakyBeat developer says MIDI will come plus ...

He's got another app on the way too. How good is that! Here's his comment:

Hey Rodrigo here (TweakyBeat creator)

I think that that is the next natural update for TweakyBeat. Right now I'm finishing a new music app for iPhone, should be out in less than 2 months, after that I think I'll work on this TweakyBeat update. ( Can't do many things at once :( )

Thanks for the attention!

Groovesizer Alpha - first taster



The Groovesizer is an arduino-based DIY 32-step sequencer / synth - the project is based around a custom PCB that in it current form features 4 rows of 8 tactile switches and leds - the final version will add a fifth row of buttons and leds dedicated to control functions. It features an embedded hackduino, an 8-bit DAC option, an LM386 amp output, MIDI in/out/sync and is configurable to work with some of the most popular existing arduino audio projects. Firmware can be updated from the arduino IDE, either via an AVR ISP programmer, or by flashing the chip on an arduino board and swapping it out. Furthest along in its development is the Alpha firmware which features a 3 oscillator monosynth. Other firmware will include the Bravo which borrows code from the Bleeplabs Bleepdrum https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11606 , the Charlie, based around the Illutron 4-voice wavetable synth http://www.instructables.com/id/Turn-... , and the Delta, based on the original Groovesizer with the auduino synth engine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zsxWf...
The complete kit with PCB and all components will be sold for around US$100 - follow the progress on this project at http://groovesizer.com

Noatikl 2 - Generative Music Lab (composer, improviser, MIDI controller, live modular synth & melody generator system) arrives !


Another long awaited app arrives, Noatikl 2 - Generative Music Lab from Intermorphic arrives! Here's the detail:

Soundscapes. Yours to design. You don't have to be a musician to create new musical ideas or enjoy making music. Noatikl 2 lets you create deep, fascinating, custom generative music (AKA 'inmo' music) and gives you all the power, features and breadth of control you need. With Noatikl 2 a journey of musical discovery awaits you.

Learning how to design and blend generative music is also inherently satisfying in its own right. And, once experienced, you may find it a rich new area ready for your creative exploration.

To fashion the best still requires patience, experimentation and the honing of skills. But, you will be in good company as you can tweet and share your pieces.

Download it now, play the demos and try it yourself!

PS: Try also Noatikl for Desktop which also supports scripting and listening voices.

What others have said:
Computer Music Mag described Noatikl 2 as “One of the best interactive composition tools on the market” and said “Noatikl is the coup de grace in the fight against creative block”. They also went on to say it’s a "Really great tool for general compositional experimentation" and "Capable of truly inspiring progressions".

Noatikl 2 users have said things like “Outstanding App and a must for anybody interested in generative music”, "Really great tool for general compositional experimentation" and "Really deep features".

OK, what is it?
Noatikl is unique. It is the evolution of the Koan Generative Music system used in the 90s by Brian Eno et al. It uses generative / aleatoric / stochastic / algorithmic music techniques we have developed over the last 20 years. It also includes an advanced and integrated MIDI, Sound & FX multi-synth for sound generation and can generate and send MIDI notes and controller information to e.g. control settings of favourite external synths, FX units and samplers.

A few examples of what can it be used for:
  • Breaking composer's block
  • Creating royalty free music / soundscapes: ambient, drone, IDM, EDM etc *
  • Generating new MIDI musical ideas (driving external synths via Core MIDI and Virtual MIDI)
  • Creating musical backgrounds to use in other apps via AudioBus
  • Experimenting with generative music systems and modular sound and FX design
  • Tweeting/sharing/emailing your own custom, self-contained generative masterpieces
  • Creating pieces to mix together in Mixtikl (Generative Music Mixer), Noatikl’s brother
  • Generatively changing external synth, FX & sampler settings (via Core MIDI & Virtual MIDI)
  • … and simply having fun creating your own music!
* Refer to relevant EULAs / restrictions for any Tiklpak or 3rd party content used

What are the main generative parameters and what do they do?
  • Voice types: Ambient, Rhythmic, Repeat, Follows, Fixed Pattern - used to generate MIDI notes
  • Rules: Scale, Harmony, Rhythm, Next Note, Listening – used to constrain and filter the notes composed
  • Chords: Many parameters for controlling chording and arpeggiation
  • Controllers & Micro controllers: Many parameters for controlling MIDI
  • Note to MIDI CC Mapping: Used to emit MIDI controller data instead of MIDI events
And, it's free ....

Intermorphic Ltd.

Thesys from Sugar Bytes arrives


Sugar Bytes bring another pretty awesome looking app to your iPad. Thesys sequencer arrives. Here's the detail of the app:

Thesys is an extremely powerful and intuitive MIDI step sequencer app, giving you control over just about all aspects of your favorite MIDI devices. Use Thesys to create varied and organic bass lines, screaming leads, pulsating chords, and organic pad sounds in the studio or on stage. For live musicians, Thesys provides an extremely versatile palette of performance options which can be triggered right from your MIDI keyboard: you can transpose, manipulate, twist up, mutate, and mangle your patterns without even getting near your iPad. No other MIDI sequencer plugin offers you the ease and power of Thesys. It is 100% MIDI compliant and therefore provides the ultimate MIDI sequencing solution.

iPad Edition Features:
  • Midifile Export
  • Integrated Synth
  • Audiobus Support (Sender)
  • Full Midi Support (Virtual, Network, Extern)
  • Midi Clock Sync (Master & Slave)
  • Action Section (Gatetime, Looper, Slowdown...)
  • Pattern Sequencer
  • Jack iOS Support
  • Zoom

We have Audiobus, we have MIDIbus (-ish), so how about ...

Patchbus!

What about an app that could hold, move / transfer and share patches from any synth app? A bit like AudioShare but for patches? That would be so useful! It would be amazing! Here's a rough outline of what I'd like it to do:
  • Save patches from any synth app
  • Back up patches / banks to dropbox or another cloud service
  • Share / publish patches to social media sites
And if I'm really honest I'd like to see:
  • The ability to move a patch from one synth app to another
So, is it even vaguely possible? Would you use it?

Anyone up for even thinking about it?

Remember bleep!Synth?


It isn't on the app store any more, which is a shame, but maybe one day it will be back.

Reminder: Orphion petition, please add your name

In case you missed it from last week, Orphion has been given notice by Apple that it will be removed from the app store due to use of a private gesture API in iOS. Lots of people think that's unfair as it gives a huge amount of expressive control to the app. If you agree, sign the online petition.

The petition is here, go sign up.

Hello SynthPond


Is it too much to ask for an update ...

In case you missed it: Interview with Sam Tarakajian who developed Mira for Cycling 74

In case you missed this from last week here's the interview I was lucky enough to publish with Sam Tarakajian who developed Mira for Cycling 74.

OP-1 SoundCloud group



I didn't know that there was one, so I thought I'd share it.

Gestrument still on sale

Gestrument MIDSUMMER SALE continues with the app's price down from $5.99 (from $9.99) from the 21st of June to the 6th of July.

Gestrument - Jesper Nordin

What I'd like to see in Tweakybeat

I'd like to see a rock solid MIDI implementation in there so I could use it alongside MoDrum and other sequencers.

Any chances?


MikroWave - music sequencer for Android now w/ renewed audio engine



Demo of MikroWave 1.5.0 running on a Asus Nexus 7 tablet (though it will run fine on mobile phones as well). As of this version, the audio engine has been overhauled to run in a native layer for high performance audio with low latency (the delay between an action and hearing the result).

Devices running Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) should benefit greatly with an extra increase in performance, while the application runs from Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) upwards.

Evolvr on SoundBrush 2

An interesting piece from Evolvr on SoundBrush.

Read Discchord, you won't regret it

Whether you're a mobile musicians or developer (or both), you should check out Discchord for news and opinion, and if you're a developer take a look at the test services on offer too.

MIDI Designer 1.5.3 in the pipe

Here's what's coming to one of the best control design apps that there is:

Key Feature: Bounce Back

Bounce Back is also called “2nd Press Action for Button Group.” A button group is a group of controls where turning one on turns the others off. Bounce Back let’s you choose what happens when you press the button that is already on. There are six options including “do nothing,” “resend” and “bounce to previous.” Allows for on-the-fly sequences to be created.

More Features
  • Black LED color
  • Choose highlight colors for page (or leave as automatic)
  • New MIDI Message Type: Song Pointer Position.

Aura Flux for iPhone (video)



Remembering this app, which I really liked.

Today's route on the audiobus


A sort of experiment with different apps in Audiobus.

Last day for Tweakybeat sale

Tweakybeat is still on sale, but not for long. Grab it for $0.99.

Sign up for Conductr and you could win a free licence

Not sure if they mean licence or promo code, but whatever, the Conductr site is live and you can sign up for their newsletter here.

Reminder: Orphion Petition

In case you missed it from last week, Orphion has been given notice by Apple that it will be removed from the app store due to use of a private gesture API in iOS. Lots of people think that's unfair as it gives a huge amount of expressive control to the app. If you agree, sign the online petition.

The petition is here, go sign up.

Elephant & Castle Mini Maker Faire 6th and 7th of July

Great to see another Mini Maker Faire, and one so close to me as well. I'm planning on being there on both days if possible, so if you can make it just let me know.

Details here.

Another Anaphobia Destro update

Seems like it's coming along nicely and I'm hopeful that the MIDI will be great too.

Read the post at the developer's blog.

CDM thoughts on Mira

CDM has thoughts on Cycling 74's new Mira app for iPad.

iPad Music blog on Micrologue Synth coming to Cubasis

There's been a lot of talk about Steinberg releasing a new feature in Cubasis, the Micrologue synth. Could it be a game changer? I think it might just be.

iPad Musician has more and compares it to the Retrologue Synth, so it'll be interesting to see how their predictions come out. But it won't be long to wait as the Steinberg forums have said that 1.5 is coming soon!

If you're into mobile music you should be reading iOS Musician

There are some great sites for mobile musicians now, and iOS Musicians is one of the best. If you don't know it then you really should take a look.

Alchemy Synth Mobile Studio update

Alchemy Synth Mobile Studio has a small update. Here's what's new:
  • Metronome - turn it on or off
  • Simpler, easier-to-use main menu
  • Improved MIDI controller connectivity
  • Various other improvements

Alchemy Synth Mobile Studio - Camel Audio

A new app that seems perfect for field recording


This app seems to be the perfect thing for field recording although you have to pay an IAP for extending the buffer to 5 minutes. Here's the app's description:

Turn your iPhone into a time machine!
HEARD is a ground-breaking app that lets you capture sounds from up to 5 minutes in the past.

How many times have you been in a meeting, playing with the kids or just hanging out with friends and family…and wished you could have recorded what just happened? Unless you’re a mind reader, there’s never been a way to see into the future and anticipate all those save-worthy sound bites. Until now.

With HEARD installed on your iPhone, you have a powerful time-shifting app that lets you customize how far back you want to go so you can grab that otherwise missed audio. The HEARD app runs silently (and seamlessly) in the background and ‒ with a simple tap ‒ the instructions / driving directions / jokes / stories / first words / laughter you would have previously missed are now saved and stored on your iPhone.

You probably never go anywhere without your iPhone, right? Now, with a quick download, HEARD lets you travel back in time from a few seconds (for free) to as much as five minutes (with the one-time, in-app upgrade).

With HEARD, the length of the audio clip(s) you save are completely up to you. The interface is easy to navigate and you only keep what you “tap-and-tell” the app to go back and capture as soon as you’ve heard it. Every saved sound bite is stored in your personal library…and then the fun really begins! You can:
  • Replay previously-recorded audio clips
  • Associate each clip with an appropriate photo from the camera roll
  • Share via e-mail (using Quicktime)
  • Post to Facebook (where permission and privacy settings are up to you)
It’s time to stop wishing you could have recorded it – and save it even after you’ve HEARD it.

New for Android, RD4 - Groovebox arrives and is a big step forward


Turn your phone or tablet into a musical instrument! RD4 - Groovebox is a music making app with virtual analog synthesizers, drum machines and effects.
Compose and arrange your music in real-time. Choose instruments individually for the 4 channels. Record live or set notes with the dedicated sequencer or piano roll of each instrument.
This multi-touch enabled app makes it simple to invent unique loops and musical phrases. Manipulate the sound of the synthesizers by tweaking the oscillators, resonant filters and audio envelopes. Add audio effects like reverb, distortion, phaser, filter and delay to your sounds.
Appropriate both for experienced musicians and beginners.

Loops you've created and exported with RD4 can also be automatically integrated into mikrosonic's audio mixer app SPC - Music Sketchpad.

Feature Overview

Mixer:
  • 4 channel rack mixer
  • Instrument selection for each channel
  • Volume control with level meter per channel
  • Direct audio effect channel assignment
  • Tempo control with tap tempo
  • Channel mute and solo
Sequencer:
  • 2 banks with up two 8 bars per instrument
  • Adjustable play modes from 1 to 8 bars and random modes
  • Song Mode with a length of up to 99 bars
  • Choose between two virtual analog synthesizers and the drum machine for each channel:
Analog
  • Modeled after legendary monophonic synths of the '70s
  • For fat sounding bass and powerful lead sounds
  • 3 oscillators with 6 different waveforms
  • Each oscillator can be tuned precisely and has a warmth control for the typical analog sound
  • Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release envelope generator
  • Pitch wheel
  • Low-pass filter (24dB/oct, 4-pole) with knobs for cutoff, resonance and an Attack/Decay/Sustain envelope generator
  • Recording of played notes in real-time (depending on devices capabilities)
  • Piano roll for editing recorded notes comfortably
  • Or compose by drawing notes directly with the piano roll in 1/16 or 1/32 resolution
  • Piano roll editing features: Transpose Pattern, Shift Sequence and Quantize Pattern
Bassline
  • Reminiscent of the legendary 303 synthesizer
  • Create bubbling basslines and screaming lead sounds
  • High-quality low-pass filter with resonance, cut-off, and envelope controls
  • Oscillator with 4 types of waveforms
  • Real-time step sequencer with accent and slide
Beats
  • Program beats with 10 classic drum kits: 808, 909, 606, CR-78, Linn, KR55, RX11, RZ1, DMX, DPM48
  • Booming kick drums, snappy snares and throbbing percussions
  • 8 channels per drum kit
  • Punch control for volume and envelope adjustments
  • Accent programmable for each drum channel
  • Free assignable effects for each drum sound
  • Channel mute, Closed Hi Hat can mute the Open Hi Hat
  • Real-time pattern based step sequencer
Audio effects:
  • 5 effects: Reverb, distortion, filter, phaser and delay
  • Real-time controllable
  • X/Y control field for each effect
  • 4 effect sends
  • Chaining of 2 effects
Technical features:
  • Customized layouts for phones, 7 and 10-inch tablets
  • Special additional rack view in portrait mode for 10-inch tablets
  • Multi-touch control
  • Live session recording
  • Audio loop export feature
  • SoundCloud Sharing Kit integration
  • Session save capability
  • Cut/copy/paste pattern
  • OpenSL support for low latency*
  • App2SD
System Requirements:
  • Android 4.0 or higher
  • Screen resolution 800×480 (WVGA) or higher
  • 1 GHz CPU or faster supporting ARMv7
* Please note that for recording in real-time with the Analog synthesizer you will need a low latency Android device with Android 4.2 like the Google Nexus 4 or 10 or the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Read more about audio latency on our FAQ





In case you missed it, an interview with Sam Tarakajian (maker of Mira)

In case you missed this from last week here's the interview I was lucky enough to publish with Sam Tarakajian who developed Mira for Cycling 74.

Reminder: Orphion petition

In case you missed it from last week, Orphion has been given notice by Apple that it will be removed from the app store due to use of a private gesture API in iOS. Lots of people think that's unfair as it gives a huge amount of expressive control to the app. If you agree, sign the online petition.

The petition is here, go sign up.

LoopMash on the bus

And finally, LoopMash (the original one) is also on the bus.

LoopMash - Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH