FunkBox Drum Machine app - iPad and iPhone

I get asked why I have so few music apps on this site?

Well, that's because: 

• I want to try the apps out first before I wax lyrical about them
• I'm only listing apps that I think are really good, the site is not just about listing apps, you can see lists of apps on iTunes
• Many music apps overlap in functionality - I tend to go for those that are exceptional for the classroom, or have connectivity (ie use WIST technology) 

 This app is a great app for Classic drum machine sounds, but at the moment it doesn't use WIST technology, so here's hoping, as its spec is impressive - the audio and midi export pointing towards collaborative work and connectivity with other apps ..... from their own website: 

http://syntheticbits.com/funkbox.html

• The look and feel of a vintage beatbox
• Samples from classic drum machines
• Thirty six preset drum patterns
• Straightforward x0x style editing
• Mix, mute and tap individual parts
• Tempo, swing, emphasis, random controls
• Audio and MIDI export plus audio copy
• Fun, cool looking, and easy to use!

There's a lot there for great music making with a fun interface.

GarageBand

Apple's own music app. On the mac GarageBand was innovative - bringing an incredibly intuitive music package to the iLife suite and for musicians and non-musicians alike it made music creation incredibly accessible. On iPad (and now on iPhone!) GarageBand is an absolute joy - and yes, there are limitations, but I think they are for very good reasons, so for a change lets start there! GarageBand on iPad does not have MIDI editing, or scoring - if you want these its pretty easy to export the GB flle through iTunes and onto the Mac (more on this shortly).

GB on iPad gives you:

1. An 8 track digital audio multitrack (with effects). This would be enough on its own in my book. 

2. Smart instruments - these make music creation simple and a joy, and sooooooo musical. SMART Drums allows you to get into a kind of loop based music creation environment, but moving the individual drum parts while recording allows you to create imaginative and varied parts within the repetitive part created. SMART keys, Guitar and bass have so much variety within the patterns and instruments anyone can come up with great sounding tracks extremely quickly and easily 

3. Guitar - amps and effects (its quite freaky doing this on iPhone / iPod touch) - great quality amps (and instantly recognisable amps and pedals at that

4. Keyboards - excellent pianos, electric pianos, organs , synths etc 

5. Audio recorder - great for podcasts, with effects for changing your voice 

6. A basic sampler

There are some loops, sound effects etc included but you really can create your own so easily. 

With the latest update GB now has airplay via Apple TV, new export options - but the main ease of export to iTunes and email of either a mixed down file or the GB fie for working on further on the Mac computers is important for those wanting to use the iPad as a scratchpad for ideas , athough I have seen so many completely finished compositions on iPad with audio parts - vocals, guitars, basses etc 

This was intended as a brief overview and there is a lot more in GB that I have not touched on, key changes, tempo tap, chord editing (new feature), 3/4 and 4/4 (new feature) .... GB on iPad is a new product but as things stand I believe this could revolutionise music making in the classroom.... 

Oh yes... and the reason for the lack of MIDI editing and score editing.... I think they're not needed. That's not what GB on iPad is about, no need to get bogged down in these things, GB on iPad has quantise if needed, other than that, if you need correction etc - re play it - correctly! :-) 

Korg WIST technology

Further to the posting on the home page, there is a complete list of apps using this technology at this time below. WIST technology allows you to easily sync two devices running different music software applications. I'm not sure if you can sync more than this at one time - yet! But I'll be trying this out a little later.  I've found that apps I had previously purchased - ReBirth, iElectribe etc now have a 'WIST on' icon somewhere -  generally in settings. In my test cases so far,  I have an iKaossilator on iPhone as the slave and either an iElectribe or ReBirth on the iPad. When you select WIST on you get a sync screen (shown). You need to have both devices in this mode, ie looking for another WIST device: the name of suitable devices comes up in list view, you select the device you want to sync with and that's it. So far its worked every time, and this can be done over bluetooth so you can work without networks. Ill try bluetooth in later tests. Hit play on the master WIST device (this is the one set into WIST mode first) and the other devices starts also, and perfectly in sync, and following the tempo of the master. It really is that easy.  

The potential for some great music collaborations is vast - working separately and in groups ..... great stuff! 

 

Korg iKaossilator

I delivered a lot of training and demos for Korg when mmm was first formed. Korg was, and still is, synonymous with exciting innovatory products - eg the Kaoss Pad, Kronos and .... the Kaossilator. How exciting then to find they have just released an iPhone version. Its on the store at 50% at £6.99. Not cheap but its emulating a £100 piece of kit. 

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/korg-ikaossilator/id452559831?mt=8

iKaossilator for iPhone highlights: 

 - Play sounds by just touching or tapping screen

 - Visual effects

 - 150 diverse built-in sounds 

 - Scale/Key settings 

 - Easily create tracks with the loop sequencer for up to 5 parts

 - Control loops in real time

 - WIST capability for wireless sync with other apps 

The sounds are high quality and the interface is easy to get into quickly, but has a lot of depth for those wanting to really explore the creative possibilities. I talk more about the WIST sync start system in the main blog and listing apps that have this capability.