10 Music making apps for the iPhone and iPad: GarageBand, Korg and Figure
It’s not so long ago that music recording was just for people who could afford to hire a professional studio and engineer. To have the self belief that those hundreds of pounds per day weren’t being wasted came from many hours of tuition, rehearsal and performance (or in some cases just a massive ego. Artists with egos – what?).
It was difficult for budding musicians to develop, nurture their talent and grow as composers and songwriters with the stakes so high, and so the advent of the trusty four track tape recorder and, later, digital recording interfaces and affordable computer software have levelled the playing field for those of us seeking to express ourselves through sound.
Skip on 10 years from the announcement that intuitive multi-track recording application Garageband was to be a permanent fixture of the Mac Operating System and the bedroom musician is turning to the pocket home studio to get some of the best sounds around.
The following 10 apps showcase some of the very best in iOS mobile recording, from world class synths, drum machines and multi-track software to intuitive apps that will encourage a burst of musical creativity from beginners and seasoned professionals alike.
Image via Laura Kidd
Korg iPolysix
Another seriously priced bit of kit from Korg, iPolysix aims to recreate an authentic 1980s analogue synth studio in your iPad, with two polyphonic synthesizers and a drum machine plus a mixer. It’s a lovely alternative to a lot of the highly digital sounding in-app instruments around at the moment and could lend your tracks just the right amount of vintage gravitas.
Music making is accessible to beginners and experienced musicians alike, either via the dual Kaoss Pad visual controllers or the Polyseq step sequencer, and there’s access to the Polyshare community to publish, share and remix songs with other users on Soundcloud.
Available from iTunes for £20.99
