Recommended iPad apps

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#1

I’ve had the iPad mini + Line6 Sonic Port + OP-1 combo for a while now, things have been working out great so far but the only music app I have on the iPad is the Cubasis DAW.


I know I can get more out of the iPad but I have no idea what apps are good. considering there are so many to choose from,
could you please recommend some music making apps (Synths, effects, anything) or perhaps what community I should join to learn more?

Thank you
#2

My favs:

  • SamplR: amazing app for looping/sampling has MIDI sync, great for live performance…and more;
  • iVCS3: the faithful emulation of the VCS3/ EMS Synthi vintage synth…not your typical v-synth, probably that’s why I love it so much (also have Arturia’s holy trinity of iMini, iProphet and ISEM on board but iVCS is way more fun for me…)
  • Impaktor: virtual drum synth with 6 channels, you record the beats via the built-in or external mic, the app quantizes the beats, sounds amazing, I use it to make beat loops;
  • Werkbench: this is a 2x16 step sequencer, you record the sounds (by every single step…or multiple steps at a time, if that’s what you want…) via the built-in or ext mic - can produce unusual sequences;
  • Loopy HD: if it’s looping on iPad, Loopy is the way to go;
  • Xynthesizr: 32-step poly step sequencer,has MIDI sync and other goodies;
  • Sector: sample slicer/morpher - great app for experimenting, tweaking, etc.;
  • AUFX: they come from the same dev as Sector (Kymatica), they are solid and sound great;
  • Audioshare: also by Kymatica, a must have if you work with soundfiles on your iPad.
  • Audiobus: another must have ( if you don’t have it already…);
  • Turnado: great multi fx by Sugar Byte, a little pricey though… ;
  • Funkbox: cute little drum machine, based on rhythm boxes of yesteryear;
  • DM1: could be the best standalone iPad drum machine if the dev, Fingerlab was able to deal with the several bugs which have been known since iOS8.
#3

I’ll add Pro Midi to the list. So far it reminds me of a simplified Abelton live.

#4

Could we add any iPhone midi/sound apps to this list too? I’m toying with the idea of a CCK

#5

Korg GADGET. Amazing!

#6

Is there any way to program the OP-1’s sequencer via MIDI? By this I mean, the OP-1 has no way to save your current sequence for later recal, and I was trying to find a workaround. I was able to play my sequence into a MIDI recording app on my iPhone. Then I was able to play the MIDI file back into into my OP-1, and it triggered all the drums exactly the way it was supposed to, however if I hold down SHIFT as if I was going to program the sequencer using the OP-1’s keyboard, it does nothing. The drums still trigger but it doesn’t interpret that as keypresses to sequence. Is the OP-1 just not capable of this?

#7

Anyone? :slight_smile:

#8

With the OP-1 I only use Samplr.

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#9


Is there any way to program the OP-1’s sequencer via MIDI? By this I mean, the OP-1 has no way to save your current sequence for later recal, and I was trying to find a workaround. I was able to play my sequence into a MIDI recording app on my iPhone. Then I was able to play the MIDI file back into into my OP-1, and it triggered all the drums exactly the way it was supposed to, however if I hold down SHIFT as if I was going to program the sequencer using the OP-1’s keyboard, it does nothing. The drums still trigger but it doesn’t interpret that as keypresses to sequence. Is the OP-1 just not capable of this?

The OP-1 sequencers can only be programmed by the built-in keyboard. External midi will always play the current sequence, even if holding shift to input notes.

#10

P.S the new M1 Korg app is absolute beast.

#11

Glad to see the love for Samplr (rightly so…) Main reason i bought a pad.


One that i’ve been messing with recently is Thumbjam. Has a really nice selection of sounds, an insane amount of scales from every part of the globe and let’s you use the ipad like a lapsteel. Also, does midi like a jedi and samples nicely too.

otherwise big shout outs to Nanoloop, IVCS3 and borderlands granular.

@jooga1972 loving Werkbench, Thanks for the tip!


#12

synthmaster is good

#13

bs-16 also cecause i load all my emu soundfonts

#14

Forgot to include Yellofier Electrified, which is the brainchild of Boris Blank, the musical mastermind of the once famed and still much respected (by me, definitely) electro-indie-avantgarde-pop (or you name it) band Yello. In a way it has the same approach as Sector, in that it is based on sample-slicing and morphing, but its sequencer options allow for a seemingly more traditional workflow. The Sector-touch is not a coincidence as Kymatica, Sector’s developer had contributed to the design of Yellofier. All in all, some pretty interesting loops and even songs may be created with this app. I love the randomizer option because with that you can arrive at something you never had in mind but can soon grow to like a lot.

#15

^whenever im in a rut making music i load up Yellowfier. Its able to change my perspective and think outside the box. I really appreciate that app. comically i dont really use it much to make music. just to trick my brain into thinking new ways. lol.

#16

Nave and Mitosynth are both great.

#17

This definitely falls more on the toy side than the tool side, but I love Figure from Propellerheads. It’s just a sketchpad to throw together a quick beat with a bassline and melody, but it’s free and so much fun to play with.



#18

@el_wombato indeed, Figure is sort of toyish at first glance but nonetheless I regularly use it to make short pieces, primarily commercial jingles, which then I edit and master in Propellerhead Reason. :slight_smile: i wouldn’t want to write full songs with it though, because it’s really what you said, a sketchpad. But what a brilliant one! :slight_smile:

#19

SoundScaper is pretty cool, and on sale right now! Grabbed it yesterday.


Edit: Has ElasticDrums been mentioned yet? It’s great!
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#20

seekbeats. ugly but v/ sick