New Yorker iPad App has a cover made on an iPad (by David Hockney)

Well, if there was any doubt about the iPad being a content creation platform then it hasn't occurred to David Hockney as he made the cover for the New Yorker iPad app on an iPad. More at JustiPhoneArt.

iPads at the Apple Store

Next big update to Mixtikl due in under a month

According to this tweet from Intermorphic:

We've been quiet on the news front of late, simply cos we've been busy working on the next big #Mixtikl update. Likely out <1 month now :)

Tinysizer

More at Matrixsynth.

Isn't it lovely?

NLog MIDI Synth Promo Code Give Away

Today I have 5 promo codes for the excellent new NLog MIDI Synth to give away, and all you have to do is answer this question.

"Which MIDI interface is NLog MIDI Synth compatible with?"

Send your answer via email to palmsounds.comp@me.com by 6pm GMT tomorrow 29th September.

Please note that promo codes only work in the US version of the iTunes app store. If you do not have a US iTunes account you will not be able to redeem the code.

iWriteMusic: Score app with no sound

Here's an interesting app for notation. One that let's you write a score, but doesn't play it. That's right. No sound!


Here's the app's description:

This app is especially dedicated to musicians, composers, arrangers, teachers, students and everyone who creates sheet music very often, searching and waiting for such long time to have handy, easy to use notation app with great features.

Totally new user interface, “easy to understand” input method, you can finish writing much quicker than other music notation softwares. This app automatically creates pdf file so you can email it to your colleagues to share it or to yourself to printout. You’ll be surprised by what your iPhone can do with this iWriteMusic!

KEY FEATURES:

• Very Easy Input Method.
• Create Fabulous Looking Sheet Music in PDF to Email and Print.
• Great Page View: You can also adjust the size. Up to 15 tracks per page.
• Chord Only Track possible.
• Hide Track Setting: You can create parts very easily.
• Zoom in / Zoom out on both editor view and page view.
• Copy & Paste (except for Chords).
• Up to 10 undos with Shake to Undo (enable/disable).
• Easy Transpose.
• Articulations, Dynamics, Repeat Signs.

LIMITATIONS on Free Version:

• Email function disabled.
• Water mark on page view.

LIMITATIONS on Current Version:

• No Sound.
• Note Range (E3 to F6 on Treble Clef, G1 to A4 on Bass Clef)
• No Octave adjustments (8va, 8vb, 15ma, 15mb)
• No Harmony Writing on each track.
• No Slurs.
• No Key Change within a song.
• No Time Change within a song.
• No Data Transfer to other devices except for pdf file through email.
• Up to 40 Bars on 4/4 (may vary depending on your time signature setting and applications running in background)
• Work well on iPhone 3GS (or equivalent iTouch/iPad) or Higher. Can work on iPhone 3G, but responses may become slower and unstable around 8 bars). Please test on free version first.

KNOWN ISSUES:

• Text data (such as title, bar numbers) might be displayed with different font on computers when you open pdf files received through emails.
• Text data may not show up on Google Document. 

The app is priced at $3.99.

Argos Project shutting down

In many ways this doesn't come as a big shock as apps like TouchOSC already do a lot of what Argos set out to do. Even so, it is always a shame to see a promising project shut down.

AppleTV does run iOS

So there's been lots of news around the AppleTV running iOS, but this post from TUAW has some more detail and starts to suggest that other Mac products could make the transition to iOS too?

Pictures from the Open Hardware Summit

Are available here.

How did you get started in mobile music?

This is a bit of a 'introduce yourself' request. Basically I'm looking for your story on how you got into mobile music making. The how, the why, the whole what you're doing with it kind of thing.

Love to hear your story.

Skrewell Layout for TouchOSC iPad

Of interest to Reaktor and TouchOSC users. Details here.



iPads at the Apple Store

Top 10 anyone?

We haven't had a top 10 apps from anyone for a little while. If you want you top 10 iPhone, iPad or Android apps on the blog then just email in.

3DS to launch in Japan by Feb

Mashable reports this morning that Nintendo's new 3DS will launch in Japan in Feb 2011. I wonder when the UK and US launches will come?

Radar Beats HD arrives

I posted a video on this new app yesterday and today it is in the store. I'll be taking a look at this and the iPhone version in the next few days and give you some feedback.

Here's the app's description:

Radar Beats HD
Following on from Radar Beats Pro comes Radar Beats HD.
Optimised for iPad.
Use 2 hands and play in realtime with even more effects.
Over 150 Samples!
Over 20 Effects!

With stunning graphics, and an intuitive interface,
making new beats in radar beats is a breeze, and great fun!
The unique design of the Radar Beats system makes making evolving, textural rhythms simple.

The app is priced at $14.99.



iPads at the Apple Store

Franz Schubert's "Wohin" -- arranged for the Magic Piano iPad app and Voice

An interesting video from Smule! Via Matrixsynth.



iPads at the Apple Store

Dub Siren and Dub Siren Pro on sale

Both of these apps are on sale today, with Dub Siren down to $0.99 and Dub Siren Pro down to $1.99

Dub Siren at the app store:


Dub Siren Pro at the app store:

studio.HD arrived

Well it wasn't too long to wait! studio.HD from SoundTrends (make of the excellent Looptastic and Looptastic HD) has arrived. Here's what to expect.

OVERVIEW

studio.HD is the multitrack music creation app for songwriters, producers and musicians. It offers eight multilayered audio tracks (24 total tracks of playback!) with recording, editing, loops and effects. All under the command of an elegant iPad touch interface. Get your ideas down fast and start working with them anywhere.

From a rapper recording a rhyme on top of a beat; to a songwriter trying to catch the spark of a song before it goes using voice and guitar; to a dance producer wanting to try out remix ideas at the airport - regardless of genre, studio.HD lights your creative spark. It’s also great for musicians who want to work out solo ideas. It’s also a great tool for creating soundtracks and party mixes for iMovie or iTunes.

FEATURES:

Find and audition loops arranged into Loop Sets, that logically group instrument parts that work well together. Audition audio at the current Project tempo and with the current arrangement.

Example Loop Sets are included plus download access to all the Loop Sets in Looptastic HD and new Rock, Pop, Metal, Country and Funk loops.

Import your own loops from Mac/PC.

NOTE: A future update will be available SOON to enable access to both the free Loop Set downloads mentioned above plus other purchasable content via the Sound Trends in-app Loop Store.

8 tracks + layer = 24 track playback
studio.HD accommodates multiple layers per track to give you at least 24 tracks! Screen space and workflow are optimized to reduce the endless scrolling found in other apps.

Record your best … then make it better!
Just hit the button, listen to the count-off, and get ready to jam. Use Loop Record to lay down a few takes and choose your best or edit together a hybrid.

Arrange and rearrange your song with your bare hands!
Grab your audio parts and Edit, Delete, Copy, Paste and Loop them to make your composition the way you want it.

Zoom around your composition and fly into your edits.
Effortlessly zoom in and out of your arrangement. studio.HD even “Auto-Zooms” to put your whole composition in view with a quick double-touch.

Edit faster.
Edit Regions can be overlapping and layered on each track. Layered Regions explode and show an overlay screen that lets you choose a layer to edit. All operations intelligently snap to Bar/Beat based on Zoom level. A Loop Indicator/Control lets you move the looped region PLUS select all Regions on all tracks in the Loop start to Cut/Copy/Paste whole sections of your songs.

Multitouch, “2-finger” dragging quickly copies a part, similar to the Option-Drag copy technique on the Mac.

Truncate an audio file’s beginning and end points to “top and tail” a recording.

Grab a handle to Loop (repeat) a part to play longer.

Drag Regions between tracks and anywhere within the Arrangement.

Mix it.
Every track has its own volume control and effects capability. Just drag and drop an effect from the FX list to assign that effect to a track. You get Bitcrusher, Flanger, Hi and Low Pass Filters and Delay effects used in Looptastic. Set effect parameters with an XY controller to (like resonance and frequency for the filters).

Export
Save a Mixdown to an AIFF 16/44 that you can sync on your Mac/PC and then import into iTunes to wow your friends.

Share files with your computer using the new iTunes App File Sharing capabilities.

NOTE: Currently files are shared between studio.HD and Looptastic by import/export of stereo mixdowns to your Mac/PC.

The app is priced at $7.99.

Sound Made Simple iPA for iPhone

You might be interested in learning about audio and sound equipment, and in general courses won't be cheap, and neither is this app (in app store terms that is), but it is probably cheaper than taking even an online course.

If anyone does try it out, please let me know what you think.

Sound Made Simple iPA is a training application that takes an 'academic' approach to teach the basic fundamentals of audio, acoustics and sound system equipment. Adapted from the highly acclaimed SMS iCD, iPA (portable application) enables iPhone and iPod touch users to enjoy the same learning approach while on the go!

Sound Made Simple iPA uses eye-catching animation paired with easy-to-understand narration that teaches the basic fundamentals of audio and acoustics using a unique, academic approach.

Topics covered include:

• Sound & Hearing (Explains the physics of sound & how the brain and ears work)
• Signal Path & Gain Structure (Describes how signal travels through an audio system)
• Mixing Consoles (Explains control knobs, busses, faders, inputs & outputs)
• Equalization (Explains filters, equalizers and how to EQ a system)
• Acoustics (Unveils the mystery of echoes, reflections and noise control)
• Microphones (Explains how microphones work, differ and placement technique)
• Signal Processors (Defines the different types of processors and their functions)
• Power Amplifiers (Clarifies amplifier settings, features and configurations)
• Loudspeakers (Explains the core components, coverage and types of loudspeakers in an audio system)
• Cables, Connectors & Impedance (Defines the various types of cables, connectors and interfaces found in an audio system)

There are over 350 comprehensive, academic-based modules (movies) in a well designed application ideal for OTG (on-the-go) learners.

SMS iPA download options include:

• LITE (Free) a short loaded version of the Professional version
• CHAPTERS each of the 10 chapters as an independent application
• PROFESSIONAL all 10 chapters (350+ movies) in one large application

It is recommended the PROFESSIONAL version be downloaded via iTunes and then sync’d with the iPhone or iPod touch device, due to its 433mb file size. Chapter apps are independent and are identical to the lessons found in the PROFESSIONAL app.

The app is priced at $24.99

CDM taking Android Music in Sweden

Wish I could have got to this event in Sweden but it wasn't to be so I'm looking forward to hearing a lot about it in the coming days.

Rumours of next iPad

More rumours on the specs of the next iPad. MacRumors says that it could be thinner with a camera and mini USB.

Well USB would be great and would surely mean no need for the camera connection kit required for 1st gen iPads. Hopefully it'll make connecting audio interfaces even easier.

iPads at the Apple Store