I'm totally late to the iPad game, but I finally gave in and bought the new iPad. What music apps have I been missing? I'm particularly interested in things in the following categories:
1. A piano instrument
2. Some cool synths
3. Drum machine/synth
4. Remote control apps for DAWs?
5. Music Notation Managers (I'm guessing it will need to import PDF's)
6. Educational software (piano and/or theory focussed)
7. Sequencers
8. Any particularly good audio docks (with MIDI and audio outs)
Any recommendations in the above categories would be welcome, but if I'm missing anything else you can think of, by all means, share.
Late to the iPad Game: What Good iPad Music Apps Have I Been Missing?
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Funkybot's Evil Twin Funkybot's Evil Twin https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=116627
- KVRAF
- 12482 posts since 16 Aug, 2006
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Funkybot's Evil Twin Funkybot's Evil Twin https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=116627
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 12482 posts since 16 Aug, 2006
Thanks for the heads up! Forgot about the Korg stuff entirely. And just to add to the thread myself, here's what I've got so far:
I found a good Guitar Tab program called Songsterr+. The tabs are generally very accurate and well laid out. A lot of stuff.
I also got the Musicnotes app which is great because I bought sheet music from them in the past and it was all right there in my account once I sync'd with the iPad app. Very pleasant surprise there. I'll be buying more notation from them in the future.
I also have Notion for scoring/composition. I use the PC version and like it a lot, so I bought the iPad version before I ever even had an iPad while it was on sale.
I found a good Guitar Tab program called Songsterr+. The tabs are generally very accurate and well laid out. A lot of stuff.
I also got the Musicnotes app which is great because I bought sheet music from them in the past and it was all right there in my account once I sync'd with the iPad app. Very pleasant surprise there. I'll be buying more notation from them in the future.
I also have Notion for scoring/composition. I use the PC version and like it a lot, so I bought the iPad version before I ever even had an iPad while it was on sale.
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- KVRian
- 833 posts since 29 Jul, 2006
If you're interested in controlling music software on your computer from the iPad you'd be silly not to get TouchOSC - only five bucks and does MIDI too. TB MIDI Stuff is also extremely cool but MIDI only. Konkreet Performer is mindblowing if you don't mind OSC only. There's also Lemur, a tad pricey but essential if that sort of thing interests you.
Among audio apps, I prefer Beatmaker 2 to NanoStudio. Too bad you didn't get in on Animoog when it was $0.99. Mixtikl is a pretty cool generative music studio. Samplewiz is one of the most fun and innovative sampling keyboards on any platform. Like trackers? Get Sunvox.
There is an awful lot of crud in the music software section... read reviews and check the idesignsound and iosmusician blogs.
Among audio apps, I prefer Beatmaker 2 to NanoStudio. Too bad you didn't get in on Animoog when it was $0.99. Mixtikl is a pretty cool generative music studio. Samplewiz is one of the most fun and innovative sampling keyboards on any platform. Like trackers? Get Sunvox.
There is an awful lot of crud in the music software section... read reviews and check the idesignsound and iosmusician blogs.
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- KVRAF
- 20794 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
iMaschine
It's my main composition tool these days.
It's my main composition tool these days.
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- KVRian
- 1061 posts since 3 Oct, 2011
bleep!BOX is possibly the best analog style drumsynth, just had a pricedrop of about 50% so grab it now if that's your sort of thing. There's a bleep!BOX player with a reduced set of editable parameters and no saving for figuring out of this is for you, and a reasonably priced VST and AU plugin edition so you can transfer everything into for instance your DAW of choice for further processing and what not.
NLogSynth sounds pretty good but may seem a tad expensive for some at it's current asking price. One of the few that would work hassle free with a a sequencer app for me.
Remember there's frightfully little when it comes to standards for apps interacting with each other and to a certain degree MIDI in general on IOS at this point so read around about peoples experiences with sequencing the apps you're interested in, or otherwise making them work together in the manner you'd like. Even those that work sometimes only work for some people and it usually seems a mystery why, but things may improve.
NLogSynth sounds pretty good but may seem a tad expensive for some at it's current asking price. One of the few that would work hassle free with a a sequencer app for me.
Remember there's frightfully little when it comes to standards for apps interacting with each other and to a certain degree MIDI in general on IOS at this point so read around about peoples experiences with sequencing the apps you're interested in, or otherwise making them work together in the manner you'd like. Even those that work sometimes only work for some people and it usually seems a mystery why, but things may improve.
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- KVRAF
- 2432 posts since 15 Jul, 2004 from Italy
Can you stand shameless self-promotion? (category 2)
HandSynth is really great and responsive if you like a smooth performance synth which can really be played in realtime without a small 3d useless keyboard
HandSynth is really great and responsive if you like a smooth performance synth which can really be played in realtime without a small 3d useless keyboard
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- KVRAF
- 5948 posts since 19 Jun, 2008 from Melbourne, Australia
Did someone say shameless self-promotion?quintosardo wrote:Can you stand shameless self-promotion? (category 2)
*cough*
Alchemy Mobile
*cough*
At least check out the free version
Peace,
Andy.
... space is the place ...
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- KVRist
- 169 posts since 12 Jun, 2007
1. Pianist Pro by Moocow, best one I've used
2. Spoilt for choice! - NLog, Sunrizer, Arctic Keys, Addictive Synth, Animoog, Alchemy, Grainbender, Korg iMS-20
3. MoDrum (syncs with other apps perfectly!), DM1, Stochastic, Korg ielectribe
4. Don't use my pc that much these days, but TouchOSC and Lemur
5. Don't use notation much, maybe Notion?
6. Don't really use these much, my advice would be to just develop your ears, by listening to the tracks you like. HST, if you really want this type of app 50-in-1 Piano is supposed to be good
7. Traditional instruments - Music Studio. Electronic - Nanostudio. Also, recommend Mutitrack DAW for audio and Studio HD for its fx automation and workflow
8. Don't use them, maybe someone else can help
Also, do check out idesignsound.com. All the best
2. Spoilt for choice! - NLog, Sunrizer, Arctic Keys, Addictive Synth, Animoog, Alchemy, Grainbender, Korg iMS-20
3. MoDrum (syncs with other apps perfectly!), DM1, Stochastic, Korg ielectribe
4. Don't use my pc that much these days, but TouchOSC and Lemur
5. Don't use notation much, maybe Notion?
6. Don't really use these much, my advice would be to just develop your ears, by listening to the tracks you like. HST, if you really want this type of app 50-in-1 Piano is supposed to be good
7. Traditional instruments - Music Studio. Electronic - Nanostudio. Also, recommend Mutitrack DAW for audio and Studio HD for its fx automation and workflow
8. Don't use them, maybe someone else can help
Also, do check out idesignsound.com. All the best
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- KVRAF
- 37433 posts since 14 Sep, 2002 from In teh net
This, Animoog, Konkreet Performer and Lemur are pretty much the only iPad apps I use for musicZenPunkHippy wrote:Did someone say shameless self-promotion?quintosardo wrote:Can you stand shameless self-promotion? (category 2)
*cough*
Alchemy Mobile
*cough*
At least check out the free version
Peace,
Andy.
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- KVRian
- 1068 posts since 25 Jul, 2007 from Calgary
GarageBand is a must. The new strings are very cool.
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- KVRist
- 33 posts since 16 Jun, 2011
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- Banned
- 3946 posts since 25 Jan, 2009
Hi
I will first and foremost suggest apps with pasteboard transfer so you can export audio from one into another. Here are a few of my favs
1. A piano instrument: 50in1 Piano
2. Some cool synths: Nlog Pro, Animoog, Sunrizer, Alchemy, Addictive
3. Drum machine/synth(and grooveboxes?): DM1, bleepBox, iSyn Poly, Xenon, iElectribe, iMS-20, NanoStudio, Beatmaker 2.
.......
5. Music Notation Managers (I'm guessing it will need to import PDF's): Symphonix Evolution
.......
7. Sequencers: Genome midi
........
If you want to be on par with the development then stick to apps that have pasteboard transfer, core midi and/or Virtual midi, so you can use the apps in conjunction.
Cheers
I will first and foremost suggest apps with pasteboard transfer so you can export audio from one into another. Here are a few of my favs
1. A piano instrument: 50in1 Piano
2. Some cool synths: Nlog Pro, Animoog, Sunrizer, Alchemy, Addictive
3. Drum machine/synth(and grooveboxes?): DM1, bleepBox, iSyn Poly, Xenon, iElectribe, iMS-20, NanoStudio, Beatmaker 2.
.......
5. Music Notation Managers (I'm guessing it will need to import PDF's): Symphonix Evolution
.......
7. Sequencers: Genome midi
........
If you want to be on par with the development then stick to apps that have pasteboard transfer, core midi and/or Virtual midi, so you can use the apps in conjunction.
Cheers
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Funkybot's Evil Twin Funkybot's Evil Twin https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=116627
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 12482 posts since 16 Aug, 2006
Some more great things I've found:
AC-7 Core - Great Mackie/HUI-style DAW controller. Took like 2 minutes to setup for use with Sonar and works exactly like a Mackie Control unit would. Excellent. Best 8 bucks I've spent on the iPad so far.
Gigbook - I've been learning piano, so carrying around a bunch of sheet music in a binder has been less than ideal. Gigbook does a great job of easily managing and displaying sheet music PDF's. If you use sheet music, this is a good app to have.
AC-7 Core - Great Mackie/HUI-style DAW controller. Took like 2 minutes to setup for use with Sonar and works exactly like a Mackie Control unit would. Excellent. Best 8 bucks I've spent on the iPad so far.
Gigbook - I've been learning piano, so carrying around a bunch of sheet music in a binder has been less than ideal. Gigbook does a great job of easily managing and displaying sheet music PDF's. If you use sheet music, this is a good app to have.