Korg just don't seem to let up at all these days. Now they've announced the KORG Gadget for iPad Remix Contest, which runs from the 28th until the 31st.
iPhone App Directory
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And my app of the week is ...
I still think that the Ara modular phone could be a great thing for mobile music
This is an interesting piece of what Google is planning with the Ara project and some elements of it are really quite radical, or at least I think so.
When I first posted about this, when it was just Phonebloks (I think that was the name anyway) I didn't get a terribly good response. However, I think that a modular device could work really well for mobile music. The only proviso (and it's a big one) is that there are the right kind of modules available to put in the device, and/or third parties have the ability to produce modules for the Ara project.
So I'll be keeping an eye on this and letting you know about it from time to time.
MultitrackStudio for iPad update
MultitrackStudio for iPad gets an update. Here's what's new:
- MultitrackStudio Instruments: synths have Cutoff knob, some instruments have button to disable built-in guitar amp simulators etc., so you can add you own instead.
- Transport counter: swipe left to fully rewind, swipe right to return to most recent start position.
- Editors: Position thumbs now snap to grid if Snap is enabled.
- Editors: Swipe down over begin or end of selected part to zoom in. Old zoom level is restored on lifting finger.
- Editors: Improved zooming behaviour.
- Editors: Visual feedback on touching edge or center selected part.
Fiddlewax Blue (video)
Mobile Music Sequencer adds dropbox support
DIY Synth workshop at Rough Trade London
Having been on one of these sessions a while ago I can thoroughly recomend them. You can find out about their events here.
Thinking about going to LEME
It's a pretty impressive event with some great speaker and sessions. I'm considering going along myself too. So I thought I'd share the details.
A reminder about Reactable Mobile as it's 50% off at the moment
Symphonix Evolution gets another update
Version 2.1.1 of Symphonix Evolution aims to further improve stability:
New and improved features are:
Bugs fixed:
New and improved features are:
- Symphonix Evolution now supports 64-bit architectures for improved performance on newer devices
- Added a new option to delete tempo changes in a selected region
- Added a new option to hide other tracks on the virtual synth keyboard when recording
- When loading a MIDI file the space between columns is now adjusted for lyrics
Bugs fixed:
- Tempo changes were not saved properly on the first track resulting in incorrect playback in some cases
- Fixed crash when viewing custom devices in Device Manager
- Fixed display alignment issue in Lyric Editor view on iOS 7
- Fixed incorrect chord diagrams
- Fixed rhythm beat display after load
- Rhythm Maker now stops playback before loading another pattern
- Fixed memory leaks in lyric view that eventually caused the app to crash
- Fixed crash during playback
- Fixed crash if autosync and step record turned on
- When saving to a midi file, the initial volume and pan settings were not saved
Prototyping 'bit' coming from littleBits?
It looks like it. I think this will be a good move forward. I'm intrigued to know how it will work and integrate.
What's your app of the week?
What's the app that's been most useful or the most inspiring this week? Or maybe just the app that's been your work horse for the last few days. Tell me which one it is and why.
Comment of the week ... "Do NOT watch this! It is the first puff of analog crack that in 5 years will leave you near penniless"
I loved this comment. As I read it I thought it was a complaint or something, but after I'd read the whole thing it made me smile!
"Do NOT watch this! It is the first puff of analog crack that in 5 years will leave you near penniless, possibly homeless, and definitely single. You have been warned. "
Made on this post on Modular Synth basics.
"Do NOT watch this! It is the first puff of analog crack that in 5 years will leave you near penniless, possibly homeless, and definitely single. You have been warned. "
Made on this post on Modular Synth basics.
KORG iKaossilator gets a minor update
Korg's Gadget is still on sale
Reminder: The Mutable Trusted Builder list
I've posted about this before, but it's worth restating as it's a very handy resource if you'd like to get into DIY synths but are put off by the fact that you don't have all the skills for actually building the stuff. So I wanted to make people aware of the Trusted Builders list on the Mutable Instruments forum. The trusted builders are people who are skilled at making Shruthis or other mutable instruments kits. So if you're interested in getting a kit made but either might struggle to make it yourself or just don't have the time, you should check out this list, and my personal favourite on the list is Paul (who happens to be an old friend, but is also an excellent builder).
KORG Gadget version 1.0.2 arrives with Audiobus and much more
KORG Gadget version 1.0.2 (code name : Milpitas)
For Professionals
Enhancement of Sequencer
Enhancement of “Hybrid Design“
Enhancement of “GadgetCloud“
Other small tweaks have been made to improve usability and stability.
For Professionals
- Audiobus support (iPad Air/iPad mini Retina recomended)
- Increased maximum bar length of clip from 8 bar to 16 bar
- Automation parameter edit support without real-time recording
- Arrange tracks
- Track number support
- Improved auto-naming function when creating a new song
- Improved drawing capability
Enhancement of Sequencer
- Auto scroll sequencer when dragging notes toward the edges of screen
- Easier to change note length at the right edge of screen
- You can now move and edit multiple notes together while maintaining their relative pitch
- Reduce to one action to access parameters such as bar length
Enhancement of “Hybrid Design“
- Refined “Hybrid Design“ with UI/UX experts
- Optimized design with Function along with streamlined iOS 7 design
- Improved animation when loading a song
- Increased Japanese
Enhancement of “GadgetCloud“
- GadgetCloud website version open (www.korg.com/gadgetcloud)
- Display update date of top chart
- Activity tab support to show your activity. Notifications now inform you when your track is liked / you are followed, etc.
- You can now add tags when uploading to SoundCloud
Other small tweaks have been made to improve usability and stability.
QOTD: What sound would you love to re-create?
Not everyone wants to recreate a particular sound but it can be a good way to start to craft something or it can be a good way to learn how to use an app or instrument. So what's the sound that you're looking to recreate at the moment, or that's eluded you so far?
Back in 2008: An Interview with miniMusic
Strange to look back at this interview with Chad from miniMusic in 2008. Things have changed a lot, but it still makes for interesting reading from today's perspective. You can read the original post here.
SECTOR Dub 2
Musyc Pro update
Ototo has just 3 days left to go on Kickstarter
It's good to see that this Kickstarter campaign has already funded, but there's still a few days left to get in and fund it. Which reminds me that I really should get on and do just that.
Build a Deep House track using an IPAD ,IMaschine,Thor,IMini,Cassini,Animoog etc.. A Bit Of Me 3
I do love stuff like this. It does show you what can be achieved using apps and a mobile device.
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
"Cosmic Encounters" - An Extended Journey Through Sliver
An extended journey through many of the factory presets included in the upcoming "Sliver" app for iPad.
Sound design by Alex Matheu, Sinapsya, Sunsine Audio, and OmnilimbO.
Sliver is a tool for soundscape and sonic texture creation.
matheusound.net/sliver/
Modular Synth Basics #01: What's a modular synth?
Whilst this really isn't mobile related at all, I thought it would be useful to a lot of people who are interested in the concepts behind modulars and using app based modulars.
Conserve the sound
I really love the idea of this idea and this site. What a great idea. It's made me think of sounds that I think need to be conserved. Please take a look, it's a really interesting project.
Addictive microSynth is still 75% off
QOTD: Where do you make music most of the time?
We all have our favourite places, so what's your favourite place for making music most of the time, and why is it?
Caustic 3 running on a Nook
A friend of mine has just bought a Nook and really likes it. He's got the free version of Caustic and wanted me to show him how to get started. So I did, although it didn't take long as Caustic is such an awesome app.
It was a bit of a shock though coming from iOS to the Nook as the latency is truly shocking, but it runs and sequencing and playback are all fine on it.
Interesting to see this app running on hardware that I've never used before. I thought I'd share the experience.
Analog SoundLab in a Box Testdrive: Lazy Sequence 1
Video description:
Testdrive of an Analog SoundLab in a Box, featuring a custom-finished art box outfitted with two mounting board panels, two littleBits/Korg Synth Kits plus extra wire, inverter, dual OR, slide dimmer modules, and a littleBits-adapted adafruit Trinket ATtiny85 MCU sequencer. The Analog SoundLab assembly video sequence is backed by an excerpt of Big Badda Boom - The LeeLoo Mix, also featured in track 7 (Alien Shores 2 - Drum Summons) of Analog Planetfall by Oculo Rapido. All sonics and hacking perpetrated by Doktor Bob.
My comments:
I find this kind of thing quite interesting. Seeing where people are going with the littleBits synth kit and other modules and adding in micro-controller stuff too. I also like that this has been put in a box to make it as portable as possible. Nice touch.
Audio Evolution update
USB Audio Player PRO 1.1.0 released! Mono wav/flac/ogg files didn't play correctly, solved.
— Audio Evolution (@AudioEvolution5) February 25, 2014
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.
Korg Gadget still on sale until 31st March
QOTD: What was the app that you were looking forward to most but failed to deliver?
Some apps look amazing when you first hear about them or even when you first fire them up but then fail to deliver on your expectations. Which app (or apps) did that for you, and more importantly, why?
rrarrow for iPad arrives
From the maker of Phawuo comes rrarrow ...
rrarrow is the experimental modular audio effect and noise machine for the iPad featuring extended feedback capabilities.
Key features:
- Simplicity. The interface is simplified for faster assembly and more flexible connectivity — you can assemble your effect very fast and control all the processing parameters with the audio signal!
- Feedback capabilities. You can add feedbacks to the audio chain to get some chaotic noise sounds .
- Twelve blocks for audio processing:
- Sine generator. Basic oscillator with sine waveform
- Signal multiplier
- Delay
- Frequency shifter
- Envelope follower
- “Lorenz attractor”
- Quantizer
- Sample-and-hold
- Reverb
- Special Lowpass filter
- Clipper
- Nonlinear shaper (for self-oscillating circuit)
- Audiobus support. Now you can stream live audio directly to other Audiobus-compatible apps! See http://audiob.us for more information. Works as input and filter.
- Background audio support: enabled when connected to Audiobus and user switchable otherwise.
iPad2 or newer is recommended for complex presets
The app is priced at $3.99.
BeepBoop arrives and is described as having ... "the capacity for great evil", and "Sounds from early Dr Who"
With a description like that how can I (you) resist?
A strange noise-making device.
A collection of blocks of signal processing that document the last few months of my meanderings, wired together to make excessive oddness.
Kinda like an iOS monotron, but with the capacity for great evil.
Made from circuit models. Structurally, there's an antialiased oscillator, feeding a partially temperature-stabilised transistor-ladder VCF (which can be heated), feeding an interesting old pitch-shifter in full-feedback-fun mode.
Plus an LFO for some movement, and AudioBus compatibility.
Sounds vary from early Dr Who to world-ending cataclysms.
BeepBoop is priced at $1.99
RealBeat 2.1 landing tomorrow
RealBeat 2.1 will be released tomorrow. the most important new feature: audiobus
— jörg piringer (@jpiringer) February 25, 2014
In case you missed it from this morning, VirSyn brings microTERA
A new waveshapping synth for your iPad. You can find the original post from this morning right here.
In case you missed this, DrumPerfect has arrived this morning
Natural drumming on your iPad. You can read all the app detail on the original post here.
Dirty Electronics and KMH Live Electronics Ensemble
Wednesday the 19th of February, PACE Studio 1, Leicester. DMU's Dirty Electronics Ensemble is joined by KMH's Live Electronics Ensemble.
App Sound to make presets for Stroke Machine ...
in contact now with the iOS app "Stroke Machine", a great drum synth by Wolfram Franke. Hope to design some cool sounds and grooves soon...
— App Sound (@appsounds) February 23, 2014
That's going to be great isn't it?
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
CE Week Keynote: Ayah Bdeir, Founder and CEO of littleBits
Not strictly on topic, but I thought this was interesting.
DrumPerfect arrives
DrumPerfect is a drum sequencer for IOS 7 that aims at creating extremely naturally sounding drum tracks for electronic music production.
DrumPerfect features three extensive editors to easily create very human-like drum sequences:
- An extensive pattern editor in which each individual drum stroke has its own velocity, timing and probability. Each pattern has its own BPM, time signature and beat subdivision settings. Multiple strokes can be linked to a single probabilistic event.
- An extensive kit editor with up to 16 different drum kits with 16 instruments each. Every instrument consists of up to 16 different user-selectable audio samples.
- An extensive song editor in which a song is built of pattern/kit events.
- The "Two-handed" and "Humanize" features give a human feel to the rhythm by modelling the human drummer restrictions and variations.
- DrumPerfect offers extensive options for audio-transfer with other apps:
- Live-audio source for other apps via Audiobus and Inter-App-Audio.
- Audio rendering/upload to AudioShare, AudioCopy2, SoundCloud and Dropbox. Both mixed and separate track export.
- Import of audio samples via iTunes or AudioPaste2.
- Midiclock sync input with midi song pointer, midi start and midi stop.
The app is priced at $14.99.
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
microTERA arrives from VirSyn
Waveshaping Synthesis is a type of distortion synthesis that can create dynamic spectra in a controlled way. In waveshaping, it is possible to change the spectrum with the amplitude of the sound. A simple example of this method is the clipping caused by overdriving an audio amplifier.
These simple method creates an astonishing variety of sounds which are very unique and can't be reproduced by any other contemporary synth!
microTERA gives you also a method of getting randomly generated sound patches in a way you never experienced before: roll the dice! Every single try gives you a new unique sound patch, really every try, promised…
Waveshaping Synthesis
- Wavehaper with user programmable shape
- Spectral shape specification
- Three sine oscillators
- Feedback input for noise components
- 4 Low frequency oscillators
- 4 Envelopes with tempo sync
- 64 time/level segments per envelope
- Monophonic or polyphonic with 16 voices.
- Over 150 factory sounds
- Uses programmable sequences with up to 32 steps.
- Can trigger single notes and chords.
- Unique randomizer generates Arpeggios with 100% usability.
- 32 Arpeggios included, unlimited useer arpeggios possible.
- For each step you can program tie, accent, transposition and note order
Effects
- Chorus
- Phaser
- Distortion (Tape/Tube/...)
- Echo/Delay
- Reverb
Global
- Audiobus compatible (Input slot)
- Inter App Audio compatible.
- CoreMIDI / Virtual MIDI
- Audio recorder with Metronome.
- Upload to SoundCloud and File Export.
- Audio pasteboard.
The app is priced at $9.99.
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
QOTD: Do you run more than one OS?
I know that some people use both iOS and Android, and of course some people (you can guess who) also still run things like Windows Mobile and even Palm OS! So do you run more than one OS, and if you do, why and which?
SECTOR+AUFX:Dub String Ensemble Loop
A string ensemble loop was created in Gestrument, trimmed in AudioShare, imported into SECTOR where it was played and processed, going through AUFX:Dub.
More about SECTOR at kymatica.com/sector
Uploaded with AudioShare app - kymatica.com/audioshare
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
"The Hidden" - a demo for Sliver.
Demo track created using iOS music apps...
Sliver: Factory Preset "OmnilimbO - 010 - The Hive Core".
Orphion: Live Play of Melody.
AUFX Space: Reverb & Recording.
Audiobus: Routing.
Distraub gives us some more information about his new app Sliver
Sliver is another highly anticipated app from the developer of the excellent GlitchBreaks. Here he gives us more information on what to expect from Sliver. It looks amazing. You can find out more here.
All libraries should let you borrow an OP-1
I'm sure I've posted about the Ann Arbor District Library before, but it is probably one of the most awesome libraries I can think of. Ok, I'm a big fan of the British Library, I use it a lot, but I can't borrow an OP-1 from it! In fact, I don't know of any library I've been to personally where I could do that.
So the Ann Arbor District Library should be a model for all libraries in my view. How awesome would that be?
So the Ann Arbor District Library should be a model for all libraries in my view. How awesome would that be?
Gestrument brings New FEATURED PRESETS in preset menu
Yep, it's a bit of a Gestrument day today. If you didn't already know, Gestrument not only got a new look website, but also the app got an update today with "New FEATURED PRESETS in preset menu". Nice.
Find your iPhone on the Apple Store. Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
Find your iPhone on the Apple Store. Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
The new Gestrument site has loads of useful information
New site is great, well worth a visit. It has lots of useful stuff if you've got Gestrument, or if you're just thinking about it.
You can try Gestrument lite, or go straight for the full version.
Find your iPhone on the Apple Store. Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
You can try Gestrument lite, or go straight for the full version.
Find your iPhone on the Apple Store. Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
If you're going to be at Musikmesse next month and want to meet up ...
Then please let me know as I'll be there on the Thursday to the Saturday. So, if you'd like to meet up, please let me know. If you want to get in touch, you can find just about every way to do just that on the about page.
In case you missed the round up from last week, you can find it here
In case you missed it, here's the round up from the last week. I tried something different this time by grouping it into days rather than categories. Let me know if you liked it or not.
Mogees - Play the World (Kickstarter campaign)
A few people have mentioned this to me as something I should really take a look at, and it is intriguing. I'm currently trying to decide if it's something I should back myself, but it's certainly worth a look, and it seems to be well on the way to its funding goal as well.
Ototo: Make Music from Anything (kickstarter Campaign)
Another very promising campaign on kickstarter. It's also just over the line on its funding goal with plenty of time to go.
In some ways it makes me think of a littleBits but with more emphasis on connecting anything really.
Also, there's some interesting stuff with connecting iOS (see below), which looks really cool ...
TrakAx on Android fragmentation
Audio Mastering 2.1 brings multi-band / single-band compressor and more
Audio Mastering 2.1 has arrived, and here's what it's brought you:
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
- Switchable multi-band / single-band compressor.
- Very subtle sounding reverb special for mastering.
- Improved Dropbox operations.
- Additional color schemes.
- Bugs fixed.
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
Build your own synthesizer w littleBits Synth Kit
Sort of an overview of what's in the kit and what's doable too, but it's also a bit of an ad for littleBits too.
Here's the video description:
Build your own eletronic synthesizer or music instrument with littleBits Synth Kit, developed in partnership with Korg. Video captured at the 2014 NY Toy Fair on February 17, 2014.
GrooveMaker 2 is now universal
GrooveMaker 2 now runs on your iPad as IK have made it a universal app in version 1.1.
Find your iPhone on the Apple Store. Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
Find your iPhone on the Apple Store. Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
So, Apple has bought Testflight, how do we feel about that?
I suppose in many ways it just makes a load of sense for Apple to do that as it's probably the biggest of the test platforms out there. I'm interested to hear what developers think. Is it a good thing or a bad thing, or is it just a thing?
Martin Kummer Ministry of Sound Music 4.5 The Music In-app Economy
"The in-app economy mirroring the music industry?
For real growth to happen there needs to be long-term investment. Is the infrastructure in place for selling music to be a profitable standalone business? Are the appropriate commercial rewards established? Or is the in-app economy just a micro-cosmos mirror image of the overall recorded music industry? What are the implications?"
I didn't manage to get to this event, but I wish I had and the content seems really interesting, so I thought I'd share the presentations as they're on slideshare.
Presentations from the In App Economy event coming up
Over the next hour or so I'm going to publish the presentations from the last Music 4.5 event on Music apps and APIs as I thought it would be useful to at least a few, so hopefully you'll think so too.
Anything new for the wait list?
It's Monday, is there anything that needs adding into the wait list? Let me know if there is, or just take a look and see what's coming up.
Smite Matter reviews Electrify NXT
Smite Matter is back to writing reviews again and here's what he thinks of Electrify NXT.
QOTD: What desktop apps do you think should be turned into mobile apps?
There's plenty of desktop apps that have already made the jump to mobile, but let's face it that's just the tip of the iceberg. So which desktop apps would you like to see make the move over to mobile?
Here's the round up from this week, enjoy!
So as always (or at least reasonably regularly) here are the highlights from the last week. I'm trying something different this week. I thought it would be interesting to see the highlights on a day by day basis. Let me know if you think it works, and if you prefer the old style, or something inbetween.
Monday (17.2):
Tuesday (18.2):
Wednesday (19.2):
Thursday (20.2):
Friday (21.2):
Saturday (22.2):
So, another big week this week. Lots of huge announcements and more to come next week no doubt. See you tomorrow for more mobile music goodness.
Monday (17.2):
- An interesting video from AES with Andy Farnell talking about procedural audio
- A date for your diary, Arduino day is on the 29th of March and it's ten years of Arduino
Tuesday (18.2):
- Xynthesizer goes non-freemium and adds MIDI and more
- SECTOR from Kymatica arrives, 1 year in the making and pretty awesome by anyone's standards
- VividTracker arrives on iOS, an Amiga Protracker compatible music making app
- Cubasis maintenance release brings track freezing and more
- Toc and Roll is a DAW for kids
- Here's what Sliver is going to look like
- PixiTracker and the 1Bit version get updated
Wednesday (19.2):
- A handy video on African beats using mobile studio
- SeekBeats goes universal and adds MIDI Sync too
- Stria has a huge update
- We get a video teaser of Sliver.
- Future music interviews Mike from Artiphon on their Instrument 1
- And here's a load of VividTracker videos to get you into the app
Thursday (20.2):
- Here's what's going on with Wooji Juice, something new is on the way
- CV Toolkit looks very interesting
- Seekquencer is a fun looking sequencer for free (with IAP)
- If you're looking to make your own apps then this might be for you
- BIAS for iPhone has arrived, and there's loads of videos too (Intro, Tube Stage, Tone Stack, Power Amp Tube, Swap Transformer, Microphone)
- Stroke Machine gets a massive update too
- Z3TA+ from Cakewalk arrives
Friday (21.2):
- bip 1.4 arrives bringing sample creation in the app
- Patch Morpher update brings more synths, better control and more (video here)
Saturday (22.2):
- sBASSdrum is getting on the bus soon
- Video: Tabletop sound design and resampling
So, another big week this week. Lots of huge announcements and more to come next week no doubt. See you tomorrow for more mobile music goodness.
Today is the last day of the Korg sale ...
So there's just today to get stuff a bit cheaper ...
Korg Gadget: Current price $28.99 including 25% off
Korg iMS-20: Current price - $19.99 including 33% off
Korg iPolySix: Current price - $19.99 including 33% off
Korg iElectribe: Current price - $9.99 including 50% off
Korg iElectribe Gorillaz Edition: Current price - $9.99 including 50% off
Korg iKaossilator: Current price $9.99 including 50% off
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
Back in 2008: A first look at StyleTap on the iPod Touch
Of course in 2008 when this came up we didn't know what restrictions Apple would put on apps and that any kind of emulator would be almost impossible as StyleTap is, at least in terms of the regular app store anyway. You can read the original post here.
Effectrix fixes its problems in version 1.0.1
After some initial teething problems it looks like Effectrix has rectified user issues in this update. Here's what's new:
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.
- AudioCopy crash fixed
- Inter-App Audio improved
- enhanced Multitouch
- minor bugfixes
Find your iPad on the Apple Store.