The ability to sync your Traktor track collection with your main Traktor computer via Dropbox is one of my favorite features in Traktor Pro 2.6.1, sharing track info including cue points, beatgrids and BPM/key information. This opens up the possibility of doing a lot of the prep work for a performance (beatgridding tracks, setting cue points, etc.) on the iPad’s inviting touchscreen and then syncing your work with your main computer before the gig. Head over here to read my full overview of Traktor DJ. – Endo

Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro

The definition of DJing has changed dramatically in the last decade. Laptops, controllers, and software have emerged alongside more traditional turntables and CDJs, smashing the barrier to entry. In today’s digital age, anyone can become a DJ. To reflect this renaissance, Dubspot has created the Digital DJing with Traktor program. In both our physical and online schools, students will learn how to DJ entirely with Traktor’s cutting-edge technology. An emphasis will be placed on the concepts of DJing rather than simply learning how to use the software.

What’s Included

• Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Level 1: Introduction to DJing
• Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Level 2: Phrase Mixing
• Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Level 3: Beyond The Beatmatch

“I love the class, and the content! Shiftee and Endo are very funny, and very clear, so the material is easy and fun to follow! I wish my college teachers were more like these two!” – Leandro Martinez, Chicago IL

More start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

If you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

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I’m impressed with how Native Instruments have adapted Traktor’s design to take advantage of the touchscreen interface of the iPad, and they’ve also added in some new features that even go beyond what Traktor Pro can do on Mac OS/Windows.  The best example of this is how the whole interface has been designed around the two parallel waveform displays, allowing you to control playback by directly touching the waveforms on the screen! This is a more useful approach than the typical “spinning platter”-style interface offered by many other iOS DJ apps, and controlling the tracks directly on the screen gives a much different feeling than DJing on a laptop and controlling your tracks with keyboard commands or a MIDI controller. Head over here to read my full overview of Traktor DJ. – Endo

Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro

The definition of DJing has changed dramatically in the last decade. Laptops, controllers, and software have emerged alongside more traditional turntables and CDJs, smashing the barrier to entry. In today’s digital age, anyone can become a DJ. To reflect this renaissance, Dubspot has created the Digital DJing with Traktor program. In both our physical and online schools, students will learn how to DJ entirely with Traktor’s cutting-edge technology. An emphasis will be placed on the concepts of DJing rather than simply learning how to use the software.

What’s Included

• Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Level 1: Introduction to DJing
• Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Level 2: Phrase Mixing
• Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Level 3: Beyond The Beatmatch

“I love the class, and the content! Shiftee and Endo are very funny, and very clear, so the material is easy and fun to follow! I wish my college teachers  were more like these two!” – Leandro Martinez, Chicago IL

More start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

If you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

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While you may not have heard of Zerodebug (it’s a new company name), you will probably know the team as the talented programmers who put together the very popular touchAble iPad controller for Ableton Live a few years back. The team has obviously put their experiences to work with d(- -)b which offers a different sort of application for DJing on the iPad with a polished interface, deep control over sounds, and a customizable deck layouts that allow you to mix however you’d like. The end result is an application that stands out from the crowd and will appeal to those who feel confined by some of the limitations of  other iOS DJ apps.

Modular DJ App

Zerodebug is definitely doing something different with d(–)b, which is being billed as the “first Modular DJ App for the iPad.” The core of the app is similar to what you’re used to as a DJ – access to your music library to be mixed and chopped for performance or recording using a touch screen interface. Where d(–)b differs is by offering loads of variables that users can tweak to suit their style of playing. This includes an interface that can be played vertically or horizontally and from two to six virtual decks that can all be synced, EQed and looped on one screen. You can also spread out your control space into multiple screens if you’d like, and you can customize layouts for performance that can be saved and recalled for later use.

Intelligent Interface

While the level of customization in this app runs deep, the developers have done a nice job providing different templates (depending on how many decks you want to use) that will help you to get you started mixing quickly. The different layouts all take advantage of the iPad’s touch screen and offer things like instant access to 3-band EQ for each deck on the screen. The app is a breeze to play with and offers a high level of control through well-placed buttons and thoughtful movement controls such as pinching and swiping your sounds. Other details like waveforms that change color when you apply EQ and monochrome buttons that don’t get in the way also add to the professional side of the d(- -)b experience. Altogether the app has a very snappy response that feels good to manipulate.

iTunes Integration, Automatic Waveform Analysis

Like most other DJ apps, d(- -)b integrates with your iTunes library on your iPad, importing all tracks and playlists into the app’s music browser. Dragging a track into one of the decks will start an analysis of the song’s tempo and grid, which you can also fine-tune after the fact if needed. In our experience about half of the songs we analyzed worked immediately with the grid and tempo that was detected. The other half needed a nudge or were analyzed at half speed, both of which had fast and easy solutions. Tempo sync also worked perfectly about half the time we tried, and it had a harder time with complex rhythms. Four to the floor beats definitely worked best in our tests.

d(–)b Brings New Variables to the iPad DJ Market

The iPad DJ market is one of the most popular corners of iOS development in recent years, with hardware and software manufacturers racing to find the perfect way to DJ with this device that is already so perfect for organizing media. While many developers have tried their hand at the iOS DJ market in recent years, it was Algoriddim’s Djay and then more recently Native Instruments’ Traktor DJ for iPad that have brought a professional level of control to the platform. And while both of these applications have been successful in their own right, they may not be the final word on DJing with your iPad if application developer Zerodebug has anything to say about it. “We waited a long time for a professional DJ application for the iPad ..and ended up doing it ourselves. We are very happy to finally share this with the public.,” states Christian Blomert, head of development for Zerodebug and d(- -)b DJ app for the iPad.

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iOS Audio Interfaces

Apogee One

One of the biggest announcements from Apogee at this year’s NAMM conference was the addition of iOS support for all of their consumer and prosumer audio interfaces. The new Apogee One for iPad & Mac offers high resolution DAC, a highly praised built-in microphone, DC or battery-powered operation for remote recording with the iPad, and USB connectivity that works with all Apple products. This small USB interface delivers stereo sound that is on par with Apogee’s higher-end units and uses the same software architecture. The One offers one quarter-inch (mono) line input, one XLR (mono) mic input, and a multi-function knob on top to control volume and recording levels. The new One is scheduled for release this month with a street price of  $349.

Focusrite iTrack Solo

Focusrite introduced its first iOS device last year with the iTrack Solo — a two-channel audio interface created for the iPad. This handy interface offers one XLR and one 1/4-inch instrument input, unbalanced RCA stereo outputs, and a 1/4-inch headphone output. In addition to the iOS device port, the iTrack Solo also features a USB port so it can play nicely with computers. The inclusion of a direct monitor switch rounds out this device, and makes it a solid audio interface for professional recording on the go. The iTrack Solo is currently available for approximately $159.

Tascam iU2

Tascam’s iU2 is another affordable two-channel interface that can be connected to either a computer or an iOS device. It offers XLR and line inputs, low noise A/D converters, direct monitoring, and RCA line outputs. While it seems like a more of the same at first, the iU2 shines with some nice extras such as MIDI input/output, S/PDIF digital output, and a separate instrument level input. It comes packaged with a USB cable, an iOS dock connection cable, and XLR-to-¼-inch conversion cables. The iU2 is currently available for $149.

iRig HD

Scheduled for release this month is the iRig HD from IK multimedia. This device is an update of the AmpliTube iRig, an immensely popular device that helped launch the iOS audio craze for guitarists. Like it’s predecessor, the iRig HD offers a single 1/4″ instrument input in a pocket sized package, but upgrades the audio quality and offers 24 bit D/A conversion. For connectivity, iRig HD can use Apple’s Lightning connector, a 30 pin connector, or USB. If you’re only looking to record instruments or line level sources, the iRig is hard to beat at $99.

iOS MIDI Keyboards

iRig Keys

IK Multimedia also offers the iRig Keys, an iPad / iPhone compatible MIDI keyboard.  It has 37 keys, pitch and mod wheels, octave switches, and weighs next to nothing, making it a good choice for musicians on the go.  Unlike many other portable MIDI devices, the iRig Keys has an iOS port and includes a 30-pin adapter cable, so there’s no need for Apple’s Camera Connection Kit. iRig Keys is class compliant and has a USB port, so it will work with your computer as well.

Korg microKEY 25 and microKEY 37

Although it’s not officially an iOS device (meaning it doesn’t come with a USB to 30 pin or Lightning adapter), the Korg microKEY is a solid USB MIDI controller that will work with your iPad or iPhone through Apple’s USB Camera Connection Kit. The microKEY comes in two sizes: the 25 key version sells for about $69 and the 37 key version (shown) is about $99. While the microKEY 25 is slim on functionality with only keys and a joystick, the Microkey 37 takes it up a notch with pitch and mod wheels, and two additional USB ports. These additional ports allow the device to act as a USB hub when connected to a computer. The microKEY controllers are available in standard black and white, and in limited edition all black, or black/red.

M-Audio Keystation Mini 32

M-Audio’s Keystation is similar in size and weight to Korg’s Microkey, but offers “three assignable controls” instead of pitch and mod wheels. The low-profile design and short length (note the 32 keys instead of 37) make it idea for travel and creation on the go. The device does not come with 30-pin or lightning adapters, but it is compatible with iOS devices by way of Apple’s Camera Connection Kit. The M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 sells for approximately $79.

iOS MIDI Interfaces

iConnectMIDI

The iConnect MIDI was one of our favorite pieces of technology to hit the market last year and one of the most useful devices we’ve come across for extensive MIDI control with your iOS devices. It’s is a small, powered MIDI hub that sports two sets of your normal MIDI in/out connections in addition to three USB ports in a compact interface. The iConnect MIDI can act as a MIDI hub for your iPad or iPhone (this is the primary function of the device) and creates a seamless connection from the iPad to your computer, or from your iOS device to other pieces of MIDI gear. It also supports multiple MIDI controllers and very low latency, making it an idea hub for multiple types of MIDI connections.  iConnectivity explains, ”iConnectMIDI is an enhanced MIDI interface that enables communication between 5 pin MIDI, USB MIDI, Mac, PC and iOS devices–all at the same time.” While the original iConnectMIDI is officially out of production (read on for information on iConnectMIDI 2+) you can still find the device in some stores (Amazon has a few at the time of publish).

iConnectMIDI 2+ / 4+

After the success of iConnectMIDI last year, iConnectivity has announced two new devices that will replace the the popular MIDI hub sometime this year: the iConnectMIDI 2+ and the iConnectMIDI 4+. The 2+ version will sell for about 100 dollars less than the original iConnectMIDI and will offer a new feature: audio through, which will send audio signal through your USB cable along with MIDI information. The 4+ will cost around $249 and will offer four sets of MIDI in/out ports as well as audio thru, and three USB connections. Both devices are scheduled to be released later this year.

Line6 MIDI Mobilizer II

The Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer II is a compact MIDI interface that plugs directly into your iPad / iPhone’s 30 pin connection port to allow MIDI in and out signals to be routed to your device. Two included MIDI cables allow you to connect any MIDI compatible device. MIDI Mobilizer has been on the market for some time now and Line 6 has been updating the product for compatibility with the latest OS versions. You can find the Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer at music stores and online for around $49.

iRig MIDI

IK Multimedia’s iRig MIDI is similar in size and functionality to the Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer–a thirty-pin connection and micro-to-MIDI cables to route signal. But iRig MIDI offers a couple features that give it the edge over Line 6’s device including a MIDI thru port and a mini USB jack so that you can charge your iPad while using the accessory. The iRig MIDI is available for approximately $69 at music specialty shops.

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For more on Traktor DJ, check out DJ Endo’s Traktor for iPad overview in which he offer a deeper look at some of the key new features.

The new Native Instruments iPad app has now been released as Traktor DJ. It’s compatible with iPad 2 and above (it requires iOS 6), and it brings the full functionality of Traktor Pro to the iPad, minus a few things like external MIDI controller support or the ability to mix on four decks simultaneously (Traktor DJ for iPad only gives you two). NI have now followed up that initial photo of Hawtin with this promo video showing his first day using Traktor DJ for iPad… (more)

Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Program

The definition of DJing has changed dramatically in the last decade. Laptops, controllers, and software have emerged alongside more traditional turntables and CDJ’s, smashing the barrier to entry. In today’s digital age, anyone can become a DJ. To reflect this renaissance, Dubspot has created the Digital DJing with Traktor program. In both our physical and online schools, students will learn how to DJ entirely with Traktor’s cutting-edge technology. An emphasis will be placed on the concepts of DJing rather than simply learning how to use the software.

Register today! Online classes start the week of April 7, 2013

What’s Included

• Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Level 1: Introduction to DJing
• Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Level 2: Phrase Mixing
• Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Level 3: Beyond The Beatmatch

Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Program

The week of April 7, 2013  ONLINE
The week of June 2, 2013 ONLINE
The week of August 4, 2013 ONLINE

“I love the class, and the content! Shiftee and Endo are very funny, and very clear, so the material is easy and fun to follow! I wish my college teachers were more like these two!” – Leandro Martinez, Chicago IL

More start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

If you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

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In this example we’re going to use Logic’s Environment to set up an arpeggiator with large buttons that toggle between different resolutions or arpeggiator rates. We’ll learn how to map MIDI control change data to the arpeggiator in the Environment and how to create large visual controls to send that data. We’ll take a look at using the button object in the Environment to send MIDI control change data, a technique which could be applied to many different workflows. The goal of the video, beyond the specific application, is to get you thinking creatively about ways to manipulate MIDI data in Logic’s Environment to create unique musical tools and customize your own setup. – Matt Shadetek

For further exploration of Logic check out Dubspot’s six-level Logic Pro Producer program, designed by Matt Shadetek:

Master Logic with our complete program of courses culminating in a four-track EP ready for release. In addition to achieving a complete overview of the composition process in Logic you’ll also earn the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Logic Pro. After completing this program, you will leave with a new EP, a remix entered in an active remix contest, and a scored commercial to widen your scope.

What’s Included

• Logic Pro Level 1: Shake Hands with Logic
• Logic Pro Level 2: Completing Your First Track
• Logic Pro Level 3: Mixing Essentials
• Logic Pro Level 4: Sound Design & Instrumentation
• Logic Pro Level 5: Advanced Composition & Production
• Logic Pro Level 6: Taking Your EP Global

Music Production with Logic Pro classes just started; sign-up today!

The week of April 29th in NYC – Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri – 10:15-am-1:00pm
The week of April 21st DUBSPOT ONLINE

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The Couch Life

With home studios and entertainment centers quickly fusing into one larger technological organism in many homes, this dream of achieving all of life’s goals from the comfort of the couch is coming closer to being a reality. We can already watch much of the video content from the web through our own televisions thanks to Apple TV, the Roku box and our (soon-to-be out of date) videogame consoles, bringing much of the entertainment value that the web has to offer directly into our living rooms. Microsoft has even addressed the “second screen” demographic with an iPad app called SmartGlass which allows for the navigation of their Xbox 360 systems as well as extra game and video content on the tablet. But what about those of us who have connected our computers directly to the TV as a monitor and want to control aspects of our system beyond just watching videos, like producing music for example…?

iOS Remote Control

There are a number of apps for iOS devices that convert the device to serve as a remote control for the computer. While there are varying features in the different apps available for this purpose, I chose one called Mobile Mouse for its rich feature set and affordable price at $2.99. Like other iOS apps designed for communication with the PC over a wireless connection, Mobile Mouse requires a server application to be installed on your host computer, handling all of the information exchange to the device. Once the server application is installed, you can start the iOS app and the software will connect to your computer.

With the app open, the iOS device automatically becomes a full screen trackpad for your computer, with useful features like dedicated itunes and web browser controls as well as a fully functioning keyboard with function keys, control/option/command keys and even assignable hot buttons. The app also creates a hideable duplicate of your application dock (if you are on Mac) with launchable icons so you have quick access without precise mouse clicking or searching through folders. Browsing to SoundCloud to listen to a friend’s tracks or watching your Dubspot Online videos never seemed so relaxing.

iPad Music Production

From the beginning of its inception, the iPad has acted as a sketchpad and performance tool for music through apps like iMaschine and Tabletop which have made it easy to make beats and sketch ideas on your tablet on airplanes, in limos or most luxurious of all, on your couch. With iMaschine, for instance, Maschine users can sketch out beats on the road, record melodies or even lyrics and then save and transfer that mobile project to the full Maschine program, making the iPhone (or iPad, as the app actually looks good in double size) a valuable practice and recording tool. Other apps like Animoog or Traktor DJ act as fully operational instruments, but their portability and the wireless, hands-on inspiration they provide is what makes them unique. Practicing on the couch is just as good as practicing anywhere else. Unfortunately, to hear these great sounds in full studio glory, you would need a cable long enough to reach from your studio mixer to your couch, testing the limits of laziness.

Edits from the Couch

Unfortunately, some parts of the music-making process translate better to the couch than others. Flipping through presets, pre-listening to samples and tweaking synth parameters can all be done from the distant leisure of the sofa and may offer a more social approach to making beats and writing hooks, but the fine-tuning of MIDI sequences or automation curves still requires the precision of a mouse; some parts of the editing process are still difficult to translate to a touchscreen interface. This is the biggest challenge in working from the couch, and this is the point when I would recommend fighting through the laziness to actually put in some work. There are always exceptions to the rule, but working up close and personal with the computer seems like it is still an indispensable necessity at a certain point.

TouchAble for Ableton Control

Once the nitty gritty editing work is done, the mixing stage is likely the next step and here there are many tools that promise to liberate the artist from the shackles of the production desk. While there are a number of applications that assign mix parameters of Ableton Live and other DAWs to touchscreen controls on the iPad in various ways, TouchAble is still our favorite, with all of the features necessary for mixing as well as control of effects and instruments. Allowing for the display of up to 16 channels in Ableton, TouchAble also has full transport controls and a streamlined control surface template for easy integration in your setup.

Room Correction Software

Another useful tool that will allow you to move around your studio with impunity is the ARC room correction software from IK Multimedia. For ARC to work properly, a microphone measures the frequency response at certain locations around the room where the producer will sit when mixing. Once the measurement process is complete, ARC compensates for the imperfections of the room so you can hear what you’re doing more clearly.

One of the cooler functions of ARC is that you can take measurements for different listening areas in the same room, save them and switch between them. You can have one correction profile set up for accurate sound at the main engineer’s position sitting in front of the computer, and another profile set up for couch listening. By switching back and forth between profiles in ARC, you can have the software give you an accurate picture of the sound in either listening position. We recently did a post about ARC and other room correction technologies if you want to learn more about this topic.

Couch Production into the Future

So why don’t all artists produce from the couch? Well for one thing, most DJ/producers who are gigging a lot and touring do not have much time to sit down. However, the iPad and mobile devices have become vital to these artists’ ability to organize their transient lifestyles. DJs can beatgrid tracks on the run with Traktor DJ or record their voice and make beats with iMaschine or iMPC in bed. One might wonder why DJs don’t perform on stage laying on a couch with their iPad rather than inside elaborate and ridiculous sets… Some artists have seized on this idea already, like Aphex Twin who in trendsetting fashion reportedly performed sitting in front of a couch or the industrious people behind FestivalCouch who developed a motorized DJ couch, among other ingenious couch modifications.

Where do you like to sketch out ideas or relax while critiquing your own work?  Let us know in the comments below…

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Olympia Noise Co. Chordion 1.2 (now with MIDI)

If you follow our blog you probably know that we have an affinity for apps and instruments that help non-musicians create complex melodies and chords in simple ways. With the release of Chordion version 1.2 last week, Olympia Noise Co. has gained our affection with an easy-to-use as well as MIDI-compatible application that allows you to “effortlessly glide through chords and melodies without the need for music theory.” While Chordion has been around for almost a year now, the addition of MIDI support makes this app much more useful in the studio. The app also features a number of synth presets, effects, four drum machines, an arpeggiator (with customizable patterns), and loads of scales and chords to choose from, including custom scales that you can create and save.

When we experimented with the software, it was a breeze to get Chordion playing VST instruments across a local network in Ableton Live with very low latency. A number of layout options allow you to easily switch between key, scale, and notes, with a piano roll that stays on the right side in all layouts to allow constant play. While Polychord has been my go-to app for scales and chords, I found Chordion lots of fun to play with and plan to give it some serious studio time in the near future. At $3.99 it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for some composition tools in the App Store.

Arturia iMini

Arturia are really on a roll lately. The French company (who first drew attention for their beautiful re-creations of early Moog synths) built their own analog synth last year, and now the company has released their first iOS synthesizer: iMini. The app is a re-creation of Moog’s classic Minimoog instrument, and shares the programming of the company’s award-winning Mini V software. And while Moog has been toying with new sound and interface concepts, this is the app that many synth enthusiasts have been waiting for: a proper Minimoog emulation on the iPad. The iMini has three oscillators with a classic 24dB-per-octave Moog filter, a plethora of touchscreen knobs for parameters, effects (such as chorus and delay), and polyphonic play. iMini supports MIDI as well as the onscreen keyboard, and it offers two x-y pads (like those seen on Korg’s iMS-20). The most exciting news about this app is that at $9.99, it’s the most affordable Minimoog we’ve seen yet.

Elephantcandy LiveFX DJ Effects Kit

Now here’s something that is just downright cool. LiveFX is an iOS effects processor that takes input from the built-in microphone, external hardware, or Audiobus and applies up to four real-time effects with touchscreen control. (It’s very much like a Korg Kaoss Quad.) You can access your music library through the program’s iTunes browser, or you can route any other iPad application that supports Audiobus to the effects. Four banks allow you to chain up to four effects together. Those combinations can be saved for later use, and the app comes loaded with presets to get you started. The app is free to download and try, but the full version costs $8.99 through an in-app purchase.

Sunrizer 2.5

Beepstreet Studios have recently released an update to their immensely popular Sunrizer synth, and we’d like to take the opportunity to let you know that it’s still one of the best synth apps available for the iPad. The super saw emulation gives the synth a Roland JP-8000 feel, but with a multitude of oscillator and filter options that make the synth very versatile. The Sunrizer 2.5 update brings new effects, dual-band effects processing, stereo filters, a phrase sequencer, adjustable polyphony and support for Audiobus v.1.0.1. At $9.99 it’s one of the best deals around for this level of sound quality and performance.

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Italy’s IK Multimedia have impressed us in recent years with their seemingly endless string of new products for iOS musicians. It seems like there are new products, gear and accessories for iPhone and iPad users on their website every time we look. and recently they have even announced Android support for some of their products. One device they released last year has become part of our everyday carry so we thought we’d take a closer look at it: the iRig Mix.

iRig Mix: DJ/Performance Mixer In A Tiny Package

The iRig Mix is basically just what it looks like, a tiny analog DJ mixer with all the controls and features you need to rock a party. Just like a ‘real’ DJ mixer, it has two 1/8-inch stereo line inputs for connecting iPhones/iPads or other audio sources and one 1/4-inch mono instrument input for plugging in a guitar/instrument or a mic, an RCA stereo master output to the PA and a stereo 1/4-inch headphone out. Each input channel has a gain trim, two-band EQ, and a full-length volume fader and there is a crossfader. It can also be powered off USB, so you can run it off your laptop or a convenient USB power adapter like your iPhone uses already.

So in the most obvious case you might use the iRig Mix as a simple DJ mixer, plugging an iPad or iPhone into each channel and mixing back and forth by yourself or taking turns with friends. DJing on the iPad can be fun but let’s face it–the lack of physical control of your tracks doesn’t always make for the best DJing experience. The iRig Mix helps a lot in this respect as it offers full-sized physical faders and a crossfader for mixing.

Even if you only have one iOS device, you can use one of the supplied cables to split your output into two mono signals and DJ that way in a pinch. So while it might not be the impressive pro setup you want to use to spin at your next big DJ gig, for a party at home or by the pool it can’t be beat, and it is admittedly pretty awesome to have a DJ mixer that you can literally throw in your bag and take anywhere.

IK has also put together a nice DJ software package with their DJ Rig (a free lite version of which can be downloaded from the App Store), offering a decent selection of effects and EQ options as well as a clean graphic layout and access to iTunes for music organization. DJ Rig even allows for tempo matching (“X-Sync”) with an external sound source and the ability to split the audio output so you can use one iOS device to send audio signal to both channels of the mixer.

However it should be noted that you’re not limited to using DJ Rig: the iRig Mix will work great with any DJ or music software (including for example Native Instruments’ new Traktor DJ iPad app), it is at heart just a tiny two-channel DJ mixer.

Even though it is convenient, there are also disadvantages of such a small mixer, especially for DJing. Working with the knobs and faders can be a bit fiddly and sometimes you worry that you will accidentally hit the wrong EQ knob. I wouldn’t try any advanced quick crossfader cuts on here either, you might knock the whole mixer off the table and into the pool if you get too excited. However there are other creative uses for this tiny workhorse that recommend it for the laptop musician.

Live Performance Mixer

For example, one thing that came to mind the first time we saw the iRig Mix was using it as a performance mixer for live PAs. Many laptop musicians are used to playing live with just a computer + MIDI controller + audio interface setup, but in many situations you may still want a real analog mixer with volume fader + EQ at the end of the chain, just to adjust the master volume if necessary while playing and to give a buffer between your audio interface and the main PA. In this case you aren’t going to be working with the mixer that much during the performance or using it as a controller, it’s just serving the purpose of a line mixer.

In addition, the iRig Mix has another clever feature that makes it useful for live performers: it allows you to use your iPhone or iPad as an effects processor on an incoming signal.

iPad/iPhone as Effects Processor

One of the cooler audio features on the iRig Mix is the use of a “dual-mode” input-output jack for channel 1, passing the signal from the 1/4″ instrument/mic input through the gain fader and then OUT from the input jack. This allows an interesting application by using a special (supplied) 1/8-inch cable with the three-ring 1/8-inch jack that has become standard on most smartphones recently:

The primary use for this three-ring cable/connection is to enable audio input for a microphone on earbuds or a headset, so you can talk and listen at the same time while talking on the phone. But this connection can also be used as an input channel for recording or effects processing, a feature utilized by apps such as Moog’s Filtatron and IK’s AmpliTube.

This allows you to use the left channel of the iRig Mix as an effects processor bus by plugging your input source into the 1/4-inch input at the base of the mixer, and then plugging your iPhone / iPad into the top of the left channel with the special cable. Then just run some effects software on your iOS device and you’re off. In this image we’re using the iRig Mix both as a mixer and effects processor: we’re playing tracks from DJ Rig on the iPad at right (connected to the right channel) while at the same time running Moog’s Filtatron as an effects processor on the incoming signal from the Bliptronic 5000 synth connected to the left channel.

Of course you could also do the same thing with a mic or guitar connected to the iRig Mix instead of the Bliptronic, giving you an incredibly compact and versatile effects for performance or recording. Using an app like Echo Pad or GrainProc can give you some really interesting possibilities as far as realtime touchscreen control of effects.

These are only a few of the possible uses for the iRig Mix and we’re sure you can think of more. Let us know how it’s worked for you, we love hearing from readers about their live setups with iPhone/iPad and now that high quality music apps like NI’s Traktor DJ or Moog’s Animoog are coming on the market, performing on an iOS system is becoming more and more of a realistic alternative to using a laptop + controller. It seems to us that widespread iOS support for external MIDI controllers is one of the last barriers stopping performers from using iPads more at gigs, it will be interesting to see how things develop in this area in the coming year…

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NI dropped a hint after NAMM, posting a photo of Richie Hawtin using a “new Native Instruments iPad app” but not revealing what it was. However, given that it was posted on the Traktor Facebook page, most observers assumed that Traktor on the iPad was on its way.

That new Native Instruments iPad app has now been released and is called simply Traktor DJ. It’s compatible with iPad 2 and above (it requires iOS 6), and it brings the full functionality of Traktor Pro to the iPad, minus a  few things like external MIDI controller support or the ability to mix on four decks simultaneously (Traktor DJ for iPad only gives you two). NI have now followed up that initial photo of Hawtin with this promo video showing his first day using Traktor DJ for iPad…

I’ve been testing this app myself for quite some time now, and I’ve been having a lot of fun with it. I’m impressed with how NI have adapted Traktor’s design to take advantage of the touchscreen interface of the iPad, and they’ve also added in some new features that even go beyond what Traktor Pro can do on Mac OS/Windows.  The best example of this is how the whole interface has been designed around the two parallel waveform displays, allowing you to control playback by directly touching the waveforms on the screen! This is a more useful approach than the typical “spinning platter”-style interface offered by many other iOS DJ apps, and controlling the tracks directly on the screen gives a much different feeling than DJing on a laptop and controlling your tracks with keyboard commands or a MIDI controller.

You can also use touchscreen gestures on the iPad to control looping and effects (see the popup four-band EQ next to each waveform in the image above), sync and mix your tracks, or browse through your track library, as well as to trigger slices of tracks via the new “Freeze Mode” feature (more on that below).

NI has also addressed one of the most persistent issues facing would-be iPad DJs: the tablet’s single stereo headphone output. In order to DJ properly with two stereo tracks you need an multichannel audio interface, and NI have given Traktor DJ CoreAudio support, giving it the ability to connect with audio interfaces including (for example) the Traktor Audio series (6 or 10). This allows you to cue the next track in your headphones or (in a forthcoming update) assign a separate audio output for each deck in Traktor if you want to use an external DJ mixer. (You will also need the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit for this, to give your iPad a USB port to connect your interface.)

Here are some of my favorite features:

• Harmonic mixing is now built into Traktor!  This is a first for any version of Traktor, and something I’ve been wanting for a long time now. NI have now given Traktor its own key detection algorithm: when Traktor analyzes a song, it analyzes both the tempo BPM and the key and stores that info, allowing you to take that into consideration when you’re choosing the next track to mix. This also gives you the option to sort your playlist by key, so that songs that mix harmonically will be ordered together in Traktor DJ’s browser. Check this blog post of mine for more on what harmonic mixing is and how to use it.
• There is full integration with the iTunes Library on your iPad. Traktor DJ will analyze all the tracks and make them available in your browser.
• My favorite feature in Traktor DJ is that it now recommends tracks for you to play! It’s kind of like iTunes Genius for Traktor, but it seems to work much better, for me at least. When you’re playing a track, all you have to do is click on the album artwork box and Traktor will open the browser and give you a list of tracks that it thinks will mix well with what you’re currently playing based on the key, tempo and even timbre. I’ve found so many amazing combinations of tracks using this feature, it’s great for coming up with ideas even if you never use it live. This is also a great tool for DJs with a big music collection since it will help you re-discover tracks that you might have forgotten about:

• Traktor DJ has a really cool feature called “Freeze Mode” that basically lets you slice up your tracks and tap on the slices on the screen to play them like drums! You can use this to trigger little vocal fragments, or you can get Aphex Twin-crazy and mangle your tracks by drumming your fingers all over the screen. Just click on the Freeze Mode button on one fo the decks and you can then click on individual beats and retrigger the beats live. You can set the quantize value for the slicing as well. I typically use ¼-beat (16th-note) quantization so I can go crazy with short sharp slices.
• Another fun set of features in Traktor DJ are the hands-on looping capabilities. You can set and edit your loops using two-finger gestures on the touchscreen, making looping much more intuitive. These features work so well that they will definitely be interesting for producers working in the studio looking to record creative looping effects.Setting a loop in Traktor DJ is as easy as placing your two fingers at the same time on the start point and end point of the beats you want to loop. Once you’ve set a loop you can move it by placing your two fingers on the loop and moving your fingers together to the left and right. If you place your fingers on the looped section and move them closer to each other, the loop will get smaller. This allows you to edit the start point, end point of the loop or both at the same time. If you want to get out of the loop you can click on the loop with both fingers and drag your fingers downwards to deactivate the loop. Also when you’re looping, you can click on the Freeze Mode button to slice the loop, then press and hold the slices to repeat the them.
• The effects in Traktor DJ are also a lot of fun. The effects section of Traktor DJ gives you an X Y axis that you can manipulate by placing your fingers on the touchpad, again giving you intuitive hands-on control of the sound. Tempo-synced effects are perfectly in time with the music, and you can also use two-finger gestures to quickly jump between effect parameters.

• Another innovative feature is the ability to sync your Traktor collection with your main Traktor computer via Dropbox, sharing track info including cue points, beatgrids and BPM/key information. This opens up the possibility of doing a lot of the prep work for a performance (beatgridding tracks, setting cue points, etc.) on the iPad’s inviting touchscreen and then syncing your work with your main computer before the gig.

There are a lot of other advantages to consider, too. Besides the intuitive control you get from using touchscreens to control waveform playback, the stability of the iOS platform is also a big plus here: I’ve never had the program crash in all the hours I’ve used it so far. The size of the iPad is smaller than using 2 Traktor X1 controllers or a Maschine controller (my standard setups) and can do pretty much everything you can do with a controller + computer + mixer set up, or could also be considered a replacement for two CDJs + mixer.

Is this an app that professional DJs will use? I don’t see why not. It is a bit mind-boggling to think about how many new DJs this app could create: the learning curve seems to be getting easier and easier, and Traktor DJ can not only sync tracks but even recommend what music to play! That is a subject for a whole other article, but one thing is for sure, Traktor DJ is certain to stir things up in the DJ world! - DJ Endo

Traktor DJ is available via the App Store today for $19.99.

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Audulus Modular Synthesizer

Click here to view the embedded video.

Developer Taylor Holliday’s Audulus is a modular synth application for iPad that allows you to build instruments and effects and route them to one another through virtual cables on the iPad’s multitouch screen. The application is built around the original Audulus for OS X and offers numerous modules including an oscillator with four types of analog waveforms, an ADSR envelope, a noise generator, filters, pitch shifters, a delay, a reverb and a four-channel mixer. Audulus is currently available in the App Store for US $14.99.

EGDR808 HD Drum Machine

Jonesing for a Roland TR-808 drum machine? Developer Elliott Garage has created something to keep you entertained while you save up for one with the EGDR808 HD app. The 16-step Roland-style drum machine application has just been updated to version 2.0, offering a new song mode, a swing/shuffle control, tap tempo, a new user interface, Korg Wist sync, and iPhone 5 optimization. EGDR808 HD is available in the App Store for $2.99.

StepSequencer ST-S01

Recent iOS updates have greatly enhanced MIDI capabilities on the iPad, and developers such as Matthias Schorer are taking advantages of this new potential to create dedicated sequencers like StepSequencer ST-S01. The ST-S01 takes its design and functionality cues from old school hardware sequencers but offers analog-style sequencing for far less than you’d pay for the real thing. StepSequencer ST-S01 features 16-step or 8-step modes on two different MIDI channels and compatibility with MIDI clock, start and stop commands. MIDI connecxtions can be made to the sequencewr through an interface or over Wi-Fi. The ST-S01 has been announced with a price of $3.99 but has not yet appeared in the App Store.

Arpeggionome Pro

Developer Alexandernaut’s Arpeggionome Pro is an arpeggiator app with varied and powerful methods of generating notes, scales and patterns for your tracks. The developer explains that it can be used to “design and perform intricate patterns of musical notes at incredible speeds and with precise control.” Alexandernaut also offers a lite version of the software (called simply Arpeggionome), but this latest pro version brings a redesigned interface, parameter-change quantization, and a robust MIDI implementation. According to the developers, “the most powerful upgrade to the original is the Arpeggionome Pro’s rock-solid MIDI implementation. With the Arpeggionome Pro, you can control other iOS MIDI applications, external MIDI devices, and computer software.” Arpegginome Pro is currently available for $19.99 at the App Store.

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Steinberg Cubasis

Kicking off our iOS news this week is a surprising announcement from digital audio veterans Steinberg, who have released one of the most comprehensive sequencers that we’ve seen for Apple’s iOS platform with Cubasis. Billed as a “portable music production system,” Cubasis is a streamlined version of the company’s popular Cubase software that offers sequencing, recording, editing, and mixing in a multi-touch interface, resulting in the most DAW-like experience that we’ve seen on the iPad. But where Steinberg have really succeeded is with full integration between iOS and computer-based production. You can start a Cubasis project on your iPad and then import the full project into Cubase on your computer (using the company’s Cubasis project importer extension) to take advantage of its more comprehensive editing and mixdown capabilities. While some companies have explored this concept (Native Instruments’ iMaschine, for example), Steinberg is the first to offer this professional level of integration between iOS and computer-based versions of their software. This level of integration isn’t cheap, however. At $49, Cubasis may have you investigating options before buying on a whim. But it may be one of the most powerful music production apps available for the iOS at this time.

Moog Animoog 2.0

One of the iPad’s most popular music apps gets a major overhaul this month as Moog introduces Animoog 2.0. This update brings features such as Audiobus connectivity support, audio copy/paste, note hold and scale lock, load/save MIDI maps, and the most exciting new feature (to us at least): accelerometer integration which “gives Animoog owners the ability to tilt their iPad in any direction as an interactive 3D modulation source.” This 2.0 update is free for existing users and available to new users at a holiday sale price of $14.99 (regularly $29.99). In addition to the updates to the base Animoog app, Moog has also released a handy four-track recorder app that works well with Animoog, allowing you to record, edit, loop, import sounds from iTunes and export directly to SoundCloud without leaving Animoog. It’s available as a free download for current users and will be available for $4.99 in the Animoog store after December 31.

Liine Lemur Update

Veteran iOS music app developers Liine have also released a major update this week with their licensed and updated version of the visual MIDI control platform Lemur. The program became quite popular last year, bringing the power of the freely programmable Lemur interface to the iOS platform for a small fraction of the price of the actual Lemur hardware controller. Liine have followed up with an update that they say is “easier to use than ever, more customizable and with more out-of-the-box functionality. Any software or hardware that receives MIDI or OSC can be controlled by Lemur.” In addition, the new version of Lemur offers an in-app editor that allows you to design custom control templates without needing to use a computer. Best of all, this update is free for current Lemur users.

Samplr

Another app that has been getting a lot of attention lately is Samplr, a $4.99 sampling application from Barcelona-based designer Marcos Alonso. Samplr takes music creation in a slightly new direction by allowing you to touch waves with your fingers to manipulate sounds. The app comes loaded with sounds that you can manipulate and as expected, you can also sample your own sounds. After a sound is loaded you have seven devices to manipulate the waveform that including a slicer, looper, e-bow, tape, scratch, keyboard, and loop player. The app clearly takes its design cue from Teenage Engineering’s OP1 synthesizer interface, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing as the layout is clean and effective. We’ve been having fun with this app and can recommend it as an inspiration starter for your music sessions.

Sonic Touch 19: Audiobus + iMPC

As a last note to this roundup, we’d also like to call your attention to a great podcast on iOS music app developments that we enjoy quite a bit. The Sonic Touch video podcast was created by the editor of the Sonic State website and features loads of information on creating music with iPads and iPhones. In this most recent video, Gaz Williams and Nick Batt talk about the new iMPC application and the latest developments with Audiobus. Recommended for iOS music producers.

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In the summer of 2010, computer programmer, musician and DJ David Anderson was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS. It is a debilitating disease characterized by rapidly progressing weakness, muscle atrophy and difficulty with basic motor skills like speaking, swallowing and breathing. As a lifelong champion of interface design and computers, Anderson started to develop an idea of how to use modern technology to overcome some of the limitations that ALS had put on his ability to create and play music, and together with software engineer/project manager Harley Sitner he began to put together a team of hardware/software experts who could make his idea reality.

1 Blink = Yes is the result, a crowdsourced project that aims to get Anderson back to creating music by enabling him to control Ableton Live with his eye movements. The project has earned $31,000 on Kickstarter, and the team is aiming for $40,000 to complete the project by the end of the year in an effort to get David on stage for a New Year’s Eve gig in Minneapolis, MN.

The idea for this project came when Anderson realized that recent advances in mobile computing provide new options for interface design and control. “The world of software usability has upleveled so dramatically with the advent of iOS, Android and Windows 8 that many of the accessibility issues are addressed natively by these modern operating systems,” Anderson explains in the above video. “The hardware platforms are much easier to work with and are significantly lighter but have plenty of horsepower. Add to this the low cost and it is obvious that the accessibility world has fallen behind. I was DJing with an iPad before I lost the ability to use my arms. My iPad had all but replaced my laptop.”

To create a new DJ interface for Anderson, Dubspot instructor and well-known Ableton guru Jon Margulies has been working with Ableton and Max for Live. “David was my first programming teacher,” explains Margulies. “He’s also the person who taught me how to teach people software. Due to his mentoring me, I was able to move into some very high-level work in the database field, including teaching seminars like the one I met him at. So he’s very much part of the lineage that leads to me becoming an Ableton teacher.”

Of course once the team is successful developing the technology that will allow David to control the computer with eye movements, it will be useful for much more than DJing. Project manager Sitner adds that “the project has several phases, the first of which is enabling the very complex use case of DJing with his eyes. From there we hope to generalize out the technology to simpler things such as Twitter/Facebook/Gmail etc. integrations. It’s a bit odd to go from the complex to the simpler, but we like it that way.”

1 Blink = Yes is still pushing to raise $40,000 by the end of the year in order to get David Anderson back on stage to DJ. If you’re interested in donating to the cause, please check out the www.1blinkequalsyes.org website to learn more about ALS, David Anderson, and how this unique project aims to give music back to people who have been separated from this art form.

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KVR Audio’s Developer Challenge allows developers to present their plug-in creations to the audio production public with a voting system that allows users to rate their favorites. This year’s challenge features 55 submissions that you can download for free.

KVR Audio is one of the most robust resources on the web for news and information about open standard audio plug-ins, including the VST, AU, RTAS  and AAX formats. In addition the site has become a community for developers who are creating and testing new plug-ins, as seen with their annual KVR Developer Challenge which allows anyone to submit original software creations that will be rated by the KVR community. This year’s Developer Challenge is currently underway, with 55 submissions entered (49 for Windows, 7 for Mac and 6 that run on other OSes or platforms), all of which are available as a free download on the KVR website. Once you test the different submissions, we urge you to vote for your favorites (voting ends on December 5). I had fun the last few days downloading and trying some of the free plug-ins for Mac, these were a few of my favorites…You can check out this online games too..

Particle Of God

Particle Of God is an effect that runs as an ensemble in Native Instruments’ Reaktor, so it will run on Mac or Windows as long as you have Reaktor already. It allows you to create a delay where the delay time is accelerating, so the single delays are getting faster and faster (or slower and slower) each time the delay is repeated, creating some unique and fascinating delay effects. To make the output more musical and usable, both the delay time and delay acceleration are synchronized to the project tempo at a ratio that you can choose, and many parameters can be changed in real-time by hand or by the built in step sequencers:

Orchestral Strings One

Recorded in Berlin’s famous Berliner Hall and utilizing Sound Magic’s hybrid modeling technology for greater realism, the Orchestral Strings One string ensemble instrument from Sound Magic (makers of Piano One) will provide you with some impressively realistic string sounds for your productions and you can’t beat the price. According to the developer, their “NEO Hybrid Modeling Engine” combines aspects of sampling and physical modeling in order to create authentic string sounds that are also very flexible and playable. The unique interface also gives you absolute control over every aspect of each string, with nearly 20 controls to manipulate sound parameters including legato, velocity, dynamic response and timbre:

Inspiration

Inspiration is an interesting standalone app from developer Musical Entropy that aims to stimulate the creativity of music composers. Influenced by Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies card deck, Inspiration gives its users random advice that can help you get new ideas, develop or finish a song quickly, or just break out of a musical rut. An editor is also include that allows users to create their own advice sets using quotations, ideas or inspirations that you want to keep in mind and return to sometimes, and even share these sets with other users. You can also tag advice items to classify them. This could enable you to create a specific set for keyboard practice ideas, for example, and whenever you have time to do a little practicing you can return to it and remind yourself of something you were working on before. The developers do however warn that Inspiration cannot take ALL the creative work out of producing and composing, and they specifically warn that Inspiration cannot write music or play an instrument for you, compensate for a lack of musical knowledge, replace trained musicians and their expert advice, or bring beers to rehearsals.

Commodore 64 Synthesizer Sessions DELUXE

There are also a number of interesting soft synths available and even one set of samples of sounds from the Commodore 64 home computer from the 1980s, Commodore 64 Synthesizer Sessions DELUXE, set up as a sampled instrument in Native Instruments’ Kontakt. Recapture the classic sounds of vintage 8-bit Commodore games like Lode Runner, Mega Apocalypse and Spy Hunter for use in your productions.

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Changeling Sequencer

One of the most exciting music composition applications that we’ve come across recently is Changeling Sequencer ($4.99) from developer TvanD. This app is billed as a “Flexible Diatonic Chord Sequencer” that supports 16 MIDI channels, iOS MIDI, and imported sounds. Where Changeling differs from most other sequencer applications is in its unique interface that allows you to input a series of monophonic notes and then turn those notes into different sorts of chords, depending on the scale and root note that you apply. In practice it’s a bit similar to Henrik Schwarz’s Max for Live effect “Schwarzonator,” except that Changeling can be used with multiple instruments at once in a self-contained application that runs on your iPad. Changeling is receiving lots of support from users including German techno producer Maxime Dangles, who created a Max for Live patch that allows you to control and record Changeling parameter changes from Ableton Live. With stable connectivity, consistent updates, and a dedicated user base, Changeling Sequencer looks like a great way to create complex chord progressions easily from your iPad.

Werkbench

Werkbench ($4.99) is a clever loop-creation and performance application developed by Bolasol and released earlier this year with the description “steampunk beat box.” While the initial launch had slipped beneath our radar, it’s recently come to be one of our favorite inspiration tools on the iPad. With an interface that combines deceptively fun graphics, a sampler, two 16-step sequencers, effects, and a DJ-style mixer, Werkbench quickly generates loops from any source material you can find. While the app isn’t MIDI-capable (yet?), the results of the self-contained audio loops are inspiring and they can be exported and shared in a variety of ways.

Synergy Studio

4PocketsAudio (creators of other iOS music apps including the Meteor multitrack recorder and the StompBox guitar effects rack) have recently announced a new sequencer application for the iPad called Synergy Studio that will be released on December 3, 2012. Synergy Studio bundles a grid-based sequencer allowing up to 64 notes per pattern and four instrument types (drums, synthesizer, sample and pad synth) together with a mixer and effects, creating an all-in-one loop creation tool. In addition to its onboard sounds, the application supports Bluetooth connectivity for project sharing and also supports iOS MIDI to connect to sequencing hardware or other apps on your iPad.

Sonic Logic

Sonic Logic is a new modular MIDI controller for the iPad that is slated for release in late November. While we don’t know very much about this app yet, we’re impressed to see a number of videos online that show the application controlling Logic, Reason, and Ableton Live with ease. In addition, the company’s Twitter feed promises Traktor support in the near future. Check the Sonic Logic Facebook page for more information and updates on this forthcoming MIDI controller app for the iPad.

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In this episode of Dubspot’s Wireless interview series, influential composer and electronic music pioneer Morton Subotnick invites Dubspot instructor Raz Mesinai a.k.a Badawi to his studio for an interview. Their discussion ranges from the innovations and rapid acceleration of music technology over the last sixty years to developing an iOS app that presents a new way for kids to create music.

Morton Subotnick is best known for his now classic 1967 composition Silver Apples of The Moon, which was one of the first electronic works commissioned by a record company. NYC label Nonesuch Records (familiar to many world music fans for their Nonesuch Explorer series of recordings from around the world) licensed the piece at a time when electronic music was not recognized as a serious art form. Today, Morton Subotnick continues to compose, tour, and work on interactive electronics and multimedia projects. He recently developed the new instrument Pitch Painter for the iPad. Catch Morton Subotnick at Moogfest 2012  performing “From Silver Apples to a Sky of Cloudless Sulfur” kicking off October 26, 2012 – today!

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Impaktor Drum Synthesizer

Impaktor from iOS developer BeepStreet is without a doubt the most exciting music app we’ve seen this month. It’s a percussion synthesizer that turns any physical surface into a playable instrument. To understand what this really means, watch the above video to see how a table and an iPhone can be used to create incredibly dynamic sounds. BeepStreet explains, “The real acoustical impulses from the built-in microphone are used as an excitation source for advanced sound modules that simulate the behavior of membranes, cymbals, metallophones or strings. This makes Impaktor a highly responsive and expressive instrument. With semi-modular architecture and several types of synthesis, Impaktor can produce a wide range of tones, from acoustic sounds like tabla, djembe, marimba, cymbals or metal bars to electronic or industrial sounds.” We have to applaud BeepStreet for expanding the sonic capabilities of your iOS device, and we recommend trying it out for $4.99 on the app store.

Propellerhead Figure 1.2

With the 1.2 update of their fantastic audio application Figure, Propellerhead have added some great new features. While the application’s main appeal is still its simplicity, features such as audio copy/paste and support for Korg’s Wireless Sync-Start Technology (WIST), Figure is becoming more of a professional music creation tool. In addition to the back-end updates, the company has also added a grid to the performance section of the instruments and a new  atonal/chromatic scale mode for complex melodies. For 99 cents it’s still one of the best values for fast inspiration via its simple and effective interface. For a deeper look into Figure’s new capabilities, check out Mark Settle’s article at DJWorx (also the source of the above photo).

BeatSpiral

While the music accompanying the video for BeatSpiral (above) may be less than inspiring, the interface and idea behind this new performance sampler app are very interesting. As developer Xylio explains, “BeatSpiral is designed to let you chop samples, make beats and perform with them live. You can choose from an included library or import your own.” You can work with prerecorded loops included with the app, or import your own sounds via iTunes (MP3, WAV, AIFF and M4A file formats are supported). Then you use physical gestures by way of the iPhone/iPad’s multi-touch abilities to rearrange sample slices, mute pads, edit samples, and crossfade. The app has an autosave function that maintains your latest work as well as an undo function for those less inspiring moments. Beatspiral is currently available for $1.99 at the Apple App Store.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Glitch 1

Developer Eiji Nishidai’s new Glitch1 application is a real-time effects processor that uses six different effects modules to chop, stutter, filter, and gate an audio signal from your iOS device’s microphone or a prerecorded audio file. There are six basic effects to start with: bit crusher, delay, beat repeat, gate, tape stop, and auto pan. There are also three global effects that can be layered on top of the first effect: a limiter, a delay, and a stereo enhancer. The latest update also includes support for Sonoma Wire Works’ Audio Copy/Audio Paste. While we haven’t been able to try the app for ourselves, the audio effects in the above video sound impressive.

Readers: Have you used these, or any other iPad / iPhone music production apps that you’re fond of? Tell us what you think!

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iPhone 5 – New Dock Connector

Apple’s new iPhone 5 comes packed with features designed to make our inner-geek buzz with excitement.  It’s got a larger screen, a new A6 processor, an 8MP camera, sleek new design, and even updated headphones. So far it looks to be a winner. Apps load quickly, the new screen looks gorgeous, and new headphones are a nice upgrade to sound quality from the previous standard earbuds. But there’s one other change to the iPhone’s design that may want to consider before making the upgrade: Apple’s new Lightning connector.

Apple’s Lightning connector is a new, proprietary, adapter that replaces the previous 30-pin connector that has been used on almost every iOS device that Apple has designed over the past decade. You might have missed this feature when reading about the iPhone 5 because the information is cleverly inserted into a list of other features that make it sound like a nice upgrade when you read, “the intelligent, reversible Lightning connector is 80 percent smaller than the 30-pin connector.” And this new connector does have some advantages over the old one. It’s smaller, faster, reversible (no more fiddling to find the right side), all digital, more durable, and easier to connect. But this also means that every iPhone dock that you own (and is currently on the market) has suddenly become obsolete.

Apple Lightning to 30-Pin adapter

There is, of course, a short-term solution to this dilemma. Apple offers a Lightning to 30-Pin adapter in a couple of varieties ($29) that should allow you to use your 30 pin devices with your iPhone 5. So for your iConnectMIDI, USB Connection Kit, or portable keyboard, this should be no problem. On the other hand that’s another $30 and one more peripheral to carry around. The Apple adapter is currently the only way to use your 30-pin peripherals with the iPhone 5, but Engadget reports that Bose, BLW and B&O are all currently working new sound docks that will use the new Lightning port. It’s also worth noting that this new Lightning connection port has also appeared on the latest iPod touch, which leads us to believe it will also be the standard for the iPad Mini (due in October) as well. For more detailed information on Apple’s Lightning connector, gadget blog TechCrunch has put together a nice list of pros and cons on the subject.

iOS 6 – New Audio Functionality

The launch of a new iPhone traditionally comes a new operating system, in this case Apple’s iOS 6. The good news for music producers is that Apple has included a few powerful updates to the OS that will expand the potential for music production on the operating system and expand the functionality of many future applications. Note: This update is specific to the newer iPhones, iPads, and iPods. iOS 6 will not work with the first-generation iPad, any iPhone version previous to 3G, or iPod Touch previous to generation four.

Audio and Video Sampling During Playback

With the addition of audio and video sampling during playback, there is now potential for many new ways to creatively develop audio applications for iOS. Audio capture applications like Soundflower, Audio Hijack and WireTap could be making their way to the iPhone very soon. There is also potential for screen recording applications to capture video of your iOS device in use.

Inter-application Audio

Inter-app audio has been in the works for some time now via Audiobus, a framework that allows routing between certain applications, but Apple seems to have embraced this technology with iOS 6. Audiobus has recently been approved by Apple and is currently being tested with applications including SoundPrism Pro, Loopy, NLog Synth Pro, Funkbox, and BeatMaker2. While it’s still in development, you can read more about Audiobus and the recent photo leak (above) in Synthtopia’s interview with Audiobus developer Sebastian Dittmann and beta user Tim Webb.

If recent history is any indication, iOS 6 and the new Lightning connector will dominate the future of application and peripheral development for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Have you updated to iOS 6 or purchased the new iPhone? What are your impressions? How do you feel about your old iPhone docks and peripherals becoming obsolete with the introduction of the Lightning connector? Tell us your thoughts!

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Alesis iO Mix

The Alesis iO Mix is a clever combination of audio interface, 4-channel analog mixer, and iPad dock that together create a robust option for audio recording, playback and creation. While we haven’t actually used the iO Mix yet, the device looks to be an intelligent update to Alesis’ iO Dock, taking the best parts of that design and adding some front-panel controls such as trim, channel gain, pan, and low / high EQ controls, as well as some upgrades such as four combo XLR-1/4 inch input channels, phantom power, balanced stereo 1/4-inch outputs and a 1/4-inch headphone output. One of the best features of the iO Mix is the lack of cables that you normally have to plug into your iPad: the iPad itself slides inside the device, which encloses and protects it, and the combination becomes an all-in-one mixer and recording device with a familiar interface. The Alesis iO Mix has a retail price of $299 and is expected to be released in the coming months. If you don’t need four channels, the Alesis iO Dock is currently available with two channel recording for $199.

Focusrite iTrack Solo

Focusrite, a British company known for affordable high-performance audio interfaces for computers, has introduced its first iOS device with the iTrack Solo — a two-channel audio interface created for the iPad. For audio connections, the iTrack Solo offers one XLR and one 1/4-inch input, unbalanced RCA stereo outputs, and a 1/4-inch headphone output all running at 24-bit / 96kHz. For microphones you’ll find phantom power available as well as the same mic preamps that are used in Focusrite’s flagship devices. For digital connectivity there is a USB 2.0 port as well as an iOS device port on the back that allows the iTrack Solo to play nicely with computers as well as iPads. With the addition of a direct monitor switch, this device looks like a solid audio interface for professional recording on the go. The iTrack Solo should cost approximately $160 when it hits stores next month.

Tascam iU2

Tascam’s iU2 is an affordable two-channel audio interface designed for the iPad that offers XLR and line inputs, low noise A/D converters, direct monitoring, and 1/4-inch audio outputs. It works with a Mac or PC as well as iOS devices. And while it seems like a bit of the same on the surface, the iU2 shines with some nice extras such as MIDI input/output (which works with iOS devices as well as your computer), S/PDIF digital output, and the ability to switch between your computer or iPad as the host device. It also comes packaged with a USB cable, an iOS dock connection cable, and XLR-to-¼-inch conversion cables. The iU2 is currently available for $149.

Apogee One

While the Apogee One is not an officially supported iOS device, according to this link from the Apogee Knowledgebase it does in fact work with the iPad if you connect it to Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit and a powered USB hub. Because of this we find the One to be an essential pick for iPad audio interfaces. While you may have to fiddle with some extra connections and cords, you’ll get some of the best sound quality possible from your iOS device in return for the trouble. This small USB interface delivers stereo sound that is on par with Apogee’s higher-end units and uses the same DAC/ADC software architecture. The One offers one quarter-inch (mono) line input, one XLR (mono) mic input, and a multi-function knob on top to control volume and recording levels. If that’s not enough bang for your buck, the One also offers a built-in condenser microphone that incorporates Apogee’s Tuned Aperture Microphone technology, “fine-tuned by professional recording engineers.” From personal experience we can assure you that the microphone, preamps, and output on this device all sound amazing. The Apogee One is currently available for $249.

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Clavia Nord Beat

Boutique synth manufacturer Clavia (creators of the legendary Nord Lead) have recently jumped into the iOS app game with Nord Beat — a beautifully designed free step sequencer application for the iPad. Nord Beat is a 4-track, 16-step sequencer that has been designed to accompany Clavia’s new Nord Drum virtual analog drum machine. And while the app will neatly accompany the $499 Nord Drum, the good news for iOS users is that the app works well with other CoreMIDI apps as well as your favorite studio DAW, making the Nord Drum one of the coolest free music apps we have seen this summer. Clavia explains, “Nord Beat is a free little app for iPad that lets you create beats in a classic step sequencer grid with the Nord Drum, Nord Lead or other MIDI gear. Nord Beat features 4 tracks, 8 patterns, 3 velocity levels and a flexible cueing system. There’s also a Pad Mode featuring 4 responsive drum pads with velocity support. Nord Beat is free and works with any iPad running iOS 4.3 or newer. A CoreMIDI compatible MIDI interface is required.” Get the full details on the Nord Beat product page.

Pioneer Rekordbox

In an unexpected move, Pioneer have recently released their DJ music organization software, Rekordbox, for iOS devices. This music management tool is built for Pioneer’s pro DJ products and allows you to transfer music via WiFi, set cue points, create playlists, and prepare for your DJ performance by transferring music to your iPad or iPhone for management. You can also play music files in the iPhone version of Rekordbox with Pioneer DJ products that support WiFi (for instance the new XDJ-AERO).  The app supports playlist creation, editing comments, track ratings, memory cues, hot cues, and beat grids. Looks like a handy tool for the digital DJ on the go.

Genelec SpeakerAngle

Here comes a pro music app that is so simple you’ll wonder, “why didn’t someone make this previously?” Leave it to Genelec, producers of high-end studio monitor speakers, to develop this 99-cent application that helps you find the perfect speaker placement for any surround sound, home stereo or monitor speaker setups. The application shows a graphic display with exact angle measurements that move as you shift your speakers, allowing you to get the perfect sweet spot for your studio. Genelec calls SpeakerAngle “the first digital tool which allows anyone to correctly set and match the angling (or ‘toe-in’) of both stereo and 7.1 surround sound speakers, helping to ensure optimum audio fidelity.”

Chordion

We are always on the lookout for applications that help teach music theory, and Chordion fits the bill as an easy-to-use chord and melody generator for the iPad. While the app currently lacks MIDI support (we’re hoping for an update in the near future), it’s a beautifully designed program that allows for playing chord progressions with the left hand and single notes with the right hand. Chordion is somewhat reminiscent of Polychord, but differs in the way that you play chords (with bigger pads for your fingers). The app allows customization of key, chord, scale, and mode and customized layouts to create your own system of performance. You can also load and save these settings for fast setup.

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