7 New GrooveMaker Packs for the iPad Now Available

Club, Techno, Trance, Electro, Rock, Reggae and Reggaeton

In celebration of GrooveMaker for the iPhone app one-year anniversary, IK Multimedia is proud to release seven more new GrooveMaker packs for the iPad. Debuted in April 2010, GrooveMaker for the iPad now comprises a total of 12 style–based versions including Free, Hip Hop, House, Progressive-Tech House, D’n'B, Club, Techno, Trance, Electro, Rock, Reggae and Reggaeton covering all genres of dance music. This also means that all the packs for the iPhone are now optimised for the iPad.

GrooveMaker for the new iPad offers the same smart features and streamlined workflow as theiPhone/iPod version for making music with loops, but also takes advantage of the new larger multi-touch surface to provide enhanced operation with an integrated, advanced controller.

Pricing, Versions and Availability

7 new GrooveMaker packs for the iPad:

• Club
• Techno
• Trance
• Electro
• Rock Ace
• Reggae
• Reggaeton

GrooveMaker Club contains over 189 loops and is only $6.99/€5.49 from the iTunes App Store.

GrooveMaker Techno, Trance, Electro, Rock Ace, Reggae and Reggaeton contain over 250 loops each and are only $9.99/€7.99 from the iTunes App Store.

Popularity: 1% [?]

22 iPad Music Creation Apps

The iPad is a beautiful device for all kinds of music-making and synthesiser goodness. Here’s our selection of iPad-ready music creation and learning apps that we think you’ll like:

Click on the title to go to the iTunes Store for more information.

ThumbJam – $6.99

Over 30 high-quality multi-sampled real instruments and hundreds of musical scales allow you to play a range of styles.

It’s endorsed by Jordan Rudess, and comes with two of his signature sounds.

TouchOSC – $4.99

For sending Open Sound Control (OSC) messages to other devices via Wi-Fi. Includes touch controls for faders, rotary controls, toggle buttons, XY pads, multi-faders, multi-toggles, LEDs and labels, with full multi-touch of up to five controls at once.

miniSynth PRO – $9.99

Grab hold of analog synthesis on your iPad with this completely revamped version of the original iPhone synth.

Fully-featured, professional grade virtual analog synth incorporating an improved version of the zero-latency “push-pull” Yonac keyboard algorithm.

A huge range of specs include dual subtractive / FM virtual-analogue polyphonic / monophonic synthesis, fully configurable FM filter or modulation based tone shaping, 16-bit quality stereo output, dual syncable oscillators, six optimised custom waveforms per oscillator, adjustable dual keyboards, BPM-based arpeggiator module, and so much more.

Korg iElectribe – $19.99

A faithful virtual recreation of Korg’s ELECTRIBE-R sound engine, featuring analog synth modelling, PCM samples, virtual valve force tube modelling, patterns and effects.

Pianist Pro – $9.99

The original iPhone piano now arrives in a pro version for the iPad, featuring full recording and overdub, standard MIDI output, MIDI to OSC, multiple instruments, pitch bend, modulation and swell pedal, arpeggiator and a drum machine.

Pocket Organ C3B3 – $2.99

Optimised for the larger iPad screen, play a simulation of the Hammond Organ using a virtual tonewheel system controlled by nine drawbars as per the real thing. Features include scrollable keyboard, transposition, rotary speaker effect, harmonic percussion effect, reverb, overdrive, vibrato, chorus, and glissando via the accelerometer.

SunVox – $4.99

Another iPad app endorsed by Jordan Rudess, SunVox is a small and fast multi-platform pattern-based (tracker) sequencer with modular synths. This means you can use it across different operating systems.

Features include a modular interface, optimised synth algorithms, Wi-Fi import and export, including WAV samples, various generators and a sampler, DC blocking filter, effects including delay, distortion and echo, a three-band equaliser, low-, high-, band-pass and notch filters, flanger, LFO, loop, reverb, a vocal filter and vibrato.

bleep!BOX – $9.99

A combination drum machine and synthesiser box with sounds generated in real time (not from samples).

Features include real-time processing, audio copying, classic x0x drum emulation, analog style 2-Osc synths, 10 parts, 50+ parameters, ringmod, FM, PhaseMod, Sync, Distortion, global delay FX, eight waveforms, tempo, swing, pattern length, saving of patches and patterns, step sequencing and recording, automation, song mode, and recording songs and patterns to WAV files.

Ellatron HD – $5.99

Experience a virtual Mellotron synth on your iPad, featuring 27 voices, 16 banks of programmable chord buttons, ‘fat keys’ for better playability, save and restore of voice settings, and ready to take on the road. Jordan Rudess say’s “it’s pretty cool”.

Looptastic HD – $14.99

Create remixes and electronic compositions simply by dragging and dropping loops, using the built-in DJ mixer and adding effects with the touch pad.

Features include over 900 samples plus the ability to record your own, a dozen real time effects with X-Y touch pad, including Bit Crusher, Multimode Fingering, flanger, delay and glitchy repeater, time stretching, triple-zone mixer, scratch strip for triggering samples part-way through, importing of a range of audio sample file types, export in 16-bit AIFF, and sharing via SoundCloud.

GrooveMaker Hip-Hop for iPad – $9.99

The application for creating non-stop electronic, dance and hip-hop tracks in real-time.

Features include instantaneous control of eight stereo loop tracks, play, mix and randomise loops on the fly, combine studio-quality loops, manipulate loops in real time, arrange grooves with drag and drop, save and recall tracks and upload WAV files via Wi-Fi.

Nota HD – $5.99

Designed for pianists of all levels, Not a HD features piano chord and scale browser, piano and staff note locator, note quiz and reference library with over 100 symbols.

Raindrops for iPad – $1.99

Play music simply by touching the screen, either solo or over the Internet.

Synth – $0.99

Simply titled “Synth”, this cheaper app offers over 40 instruments, mod and pitch bend wheels, adjustable delay and distortion plus a built in sampler.

Bebot – Robot Synth – $1.99

Feature packed polyphonic musical synth with a unique multitouch control method — an onscreen animated robot character who moves and sings while you play.

Four synth modes, analog-sounding filters, versatile delay/loops, overdrive distortion, programmable scales, and full touchscreen control.

Music Studio – $14.99

A complete music production environment featuring dynamically configurable 85-key keyboard, 74 studio-recorded instruments, low-latency, high polyphony, real time effects, 128-track sequencer, note editing, quantising, transposition, repeat, move, velocity and so on, Wi-Fi transfer, MIDI import/export.

iSequence for iPad – $14.99

Music creation studio featuring eight-track sequencer, flexible mixer with DSP, real-time recording and control, 160 instruments, pattern editing, sampler, and wi-fi file sharing.

Electrify – $14.99

A virtual sample groovebox for iPad, designed to combine the best features of existing hardware grooveboxes and the ease of use of software applications.

Features include an eight-track sequencer with individual track lengths, two chainable effect buses with 8 effects, direct access to track parameters, step sequencer, pattern matrix, seven parameters editable per step, professional sample library, import of samples, sample editing, copy and paste to other iPad apps.

Mellotronics M3000 for iPad – $11.99

The only moxMatrix – $4.99

Turns iPad into a canvas for rhythm and melody, featuring a multicoloured, multitouch pulsating groovebox.

Features include tone matrix interface, loop creation, sampler, alternative scales, pattern storage and jam mode.

olsynth – $6.99

Classic monophonic synth with a clean and simple interface. Settings include dual oscillator with four waveforms, fine tune, modulation, filter, envelope volume and filter, and arpeggio.

TuneLab Piano Tuner

– $299.99

A highly specialised app designed for professional piano tuners. It can be calibrated to an accuracy of 0.02 cents, stores hundreds of tuning files for individual pianos, plus historical temperaments for period music, automatic note switching, plus a range of displays to aid in tuning.

Popularity: 2% [?]

ReBirth Roland emulator for iPhone/iPad: TB-303, TR-808, TR-909 in your palm

Propellerhead Software (probably best known for Reason) has announced the availability of a three-in-one synth emulator for Apple’s portable devices.

ReBirth faithfully recreates the TB-303, TR-808 and TR-909 units on screen, offering all the functionality you’d expect from the real things but at a fraction of the cost, and completely virtually.

Features include:

• 2 x TB-303 Bassline synths
• TR-808 Drum Machine
• TR-909 Drum Machine
• Pattern Controlled Filter
• Distortion unit
• Compressor
• Mixer
• 5 user mods
• Pattern sequencing
• Full automation
• Combine patterns to build songs
• Share songs with other ReBirth users

Go retro or create something completely new. The choice is yours and for the tiny sum of just £3.99.

Get more information or go to the iTunes Link for ReBirth.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Mobeat Synthesizer launched for iPod, iPhone, iPad

We haven’t covered a lot of iPhone/iPod Touch apps recently, but with the recent launch of the iPad, and the possibilities that brings with it, we thought we’d start taking a keener interest again.

On that note, here’s the Mobeat Synthesizer, released yesterday on the iTunes Store.

It claims to be able to “create an almost infinite number of sounds” and has the following features:

• Dual Oscillator Module
• Fine Tune
• Waves Types, Square, Triangle, Sawtooh, Osc
• Glide Rate
• Octave Selector
• Scrollable Keys
• Modulation Module
• Resonance
• Envelope Generator
• Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
• Filter
• Arpeggiator

A free, ‘lite’ version is available, though the full version is only £1.19 ($1.99) so it isn’t going to break the bank.

You can see a virtual demonstration of the app over at the Mobeat web site, or find Mobeat on iTunes.

The app was designed for the iPod Touch and iPhone, but it will also work on the iPad.

Popularity: 1% [?]

When touch and tactility matter: “Station” DIY MIDI controller surface [Video]

Create Digital Music posted this great video and explanation of Station, a huge MIDI controller board built by Ander.

It’s a heady mix of coloured LEDs, control knobs and touch pads, and most importantly for our increasingly touchscreen generation, it provides touchy-feely feedback whenever you press something.

That might not bother the iPod/iPad generation, but if you’re used to real instruments and hardware control surfaces, it is a big deal. There’s nothing quite like getting proper touch feedback from something, and even mobile device haptic technology doesn’t quite cut it for everyone.

Anyway, watch the video because it’s worth seeing and listening to. Don’t ask me what all the controls do, because I don’t know. This is DIY after all, and if I was clever enough to build my own version I’d probably not put any labels on it either

Tellingly, Ander’s interview with CDM includes the line “I have not counted the buttons”. Awesome

But the basic specs are:

• based on the open hardware platform ucapps.de
• Aluminium casing, custom made
• Acrylic knobs, also custom made
• Modularized, can be made into any form
• Flexible PCB: can hold sensors, encoders and/or buttons
• Custom firmware on the microcontrollers
• Custom software interface on the host computer which interfaces via MIDI (in my case to Live)
• RGB LEDs, 24bit color depth (technically)
• USB interface (plus power, this thing needs a lot of power for all these LEDs)

Want?

Popularity: 1% [?]

Patternarium: vote on computer-generated drum patterns for µTonic

I’ve just found this cool tool (via Synthtopia) that builds random, computer-generated drum and rhythm patterns for the µTonic VST/AU plugin.

Patternarium builds new patterns by mixing together two previous ones, creating a subsequent ‘generation’. Visitors to the site can vote each pattern up or down. Patterns with more positive votes have a higher chance of being used to create more patterns.

It’s audio evolution by public vote.

What’s more, all the patterns can be freely downloaded or copied for use in µTonic.

It’s a fairly simple concept but with a great interface and, most importantly, great sounds.

Check it out and see what you think.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Keyboard Finder: Find the perfect digital piano or synth

Piano and Synth Magazine is proud to introduce the first version of the Keyboard Finder.

If you’re looking for a new digital piano, synthesiser or home music keyboard, the Keyboard Finder is the tool for you.

Pick from a few simple options, such as the number and style of keys, whether it has a decent piano sound, number of sounds and accompaniments, educational features, and that all important price, and the Keyboard Finder will list the instruments that match your search.

Instead of being overwhelmed by a wealth of detailed specifications, we’ve narrowed it down to the most important ones.

Rather than visiting every manufacturer web site or online store, with varying layouts and ways of describing things, we’ve standardised everything in one place.

The database will be continually updated as new models come onto the market.

Check it out now. Keyboard Finder

Popularity: 2% [?]

Roland intros GAIA SH-01 sweet little virtual analog synth

I love little instruments like this. OK, so I can’t use it to play much Chopin on, but the GAIA SH-01 is a great portable compositional and sound-generation tool, equally at home in the studio.

This three octave beauty offers a huge range of virtual analog synth sounds and a range of easy-to-use sound synthesis controls.

Features include:

• Huge sound with three virtual analog engines onboard, each with a dedicated oscillator, filter, amplifier, envelope, and LFO
• Layer up to five simultaneous effects, including distortion, flanger, delay, reverb, low boost, and more
• 64-voice polyphony for massive sounds without note drop-out
• Fun, hands-on control panel that’s great for instant gratification, and for learning synthesis
• Lightweight, compact body with 37 full-size keys
• Runs on AC or battery power for portable convenience
• D Beam, arpeggiator, and Phrase Recorder onboard
• USB ports for saving user patches to USB flash drives, and for audio/MIDI connection to computers

Triple-Fat Virtual Analog

Sink your teeth into the new triple-stacked virtual analog engine, comprising three complete synths for incredibly thick, powerful sound. Unleash the beef of three oscillators that drive a trio of multimode, resonant filters, multi-shape LFOs, and amplifiers, plus nine envelope generators. It’s like having three synthesisers in one! With 64 polyphonic voices onboard, the GAIA SH-01 makes it possible to play massive sounds without experiencing note drop-out.

Stackable Effects

From the silkiest reverb to the grittiest growl, the SH-01’s instantly selectable multi-effects will catapult your sounds into another spatial dimension. You can layer up to five simultaneous effects for dozens of variations. The onboard effects include reverb, distortion, fuzz, bit crash, flanger, phaser, pitch shifter, low boost, and delay with panning and tempo sync. Dedicated control knobs are provided for tweaking the effects in real time.

Portable Power

At less than 10 pounds (approx. 4kg / 9lbs), the GAIA SH-01 is lightweight, compact, and great for musicians on the go. The 37-note keyboard is full-size, however, so performers can play naturally and comfortably. The synth can be powered via AC or batteries* for the ultimate in portable convenience. A battery-life indicator on the front panel ensures that you won’t lose power unexpectedly. When used in conjunction with a battery-powered amp such as Roland’s CUBE Street, MOBILE CUBE, BA-330 or KC-110, the GAIA SH-01 can be played and heard anywhere!

*Can be powered by eight rechargeable Ni-MH AA batteries.

Instant Control

The front panel puts every control directly under your fingertips. There are no hidden menus, no nonsense. Just play and move the knobs and sliders, or wave your hands over the invisible D Beam for dramatic effects. The logically designed front panel shows the signal path from left to right. It helps beginners understand synthesis, while experienced players will love the instant gratification of hands-on control during performance.

Phrase Recorder and Arpeggiator

Hold a note or chord and let the arpeggiator create musical magic automatically for you. The tempo can be set via tap tempo. In addition, the onboard Phrase Recorder lets you record what you play on the keyboard as well as the movements of the knobs and sliders. The controller data can also be played back independently to complement the notes you play in real time.

USB and EXT IN

Connect directly to a computer (Mac or PC) with one simple USB cable, and stream audio directly to the software of your choice. The SH-01’s USB ports can also be used to transmit and receive MIDI data, and to store your patches and phrases (recorded with the Phrase Recorder) to a USB memory stick. For integrating with external devices, the SH-01’s EXT input lets you connect external audio sources such as an MP3-player and play along with your favourite songs or backing tracks – great for practice and live performance. Manipulate the incoming audio with three Centre Cancel modes, which let you eliminate pre-recorded vocals, guitars, or bass.

Full Specifications

keyboard	37 keys (velocity sensitive)
Maximum Polyphony	64 voices
Sound Generaor Section	Virtual analog synthesizer sound generator (Number of part: 1) (Oscillator + Filter + Amp + Envelopes + LFO) x 3 PCM sound generator (Number of parts: 15)
Patch Memory	Preset: 64 User: 64
OSC Section
Oscillator waveform	SAW, SQUARE, PULSE/PWM, TRIANGLE, SINE, NOISE, SUPER SAW
Knobs/Sliders	PITCH, DETUNE, Pulse Width, Pulse Width Modulation
Envelope	Attack, Decay, Envelope Depth
Modulation	Oscillator Sync, Ring Modulation (Tone 2′s OSC 2 is applied as modulation to Tone 1′s OSC 1.)
FILTER Section
Filter Type	LPF, HPF, BPF, PKG (-12 dB/-24 dB)
Knobs	CUTOFF, RESONANCE, KEY FOLLOW
Envelope	Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release, Envelope Depth
AMP Section
Knobs	LEVEL
Envelope	Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
LFO Section
LFO Shape	TRIANGLE, SINE, SAW, SQUARE, Sample&Hold, Random
Knobs/Sliders	RATE, FADE TIME, PITCH DEPTH, FILTER DEPTH, AMP DEPTH
Tempo Sync	ON/OFF
Effects
DIST	Distortion, Fuzz, Bit Crash
FLANGER	Flanger, Phaser, Pitch Shifter
DELAY	Delay, Panning Delay (with tempo sync function)
REVERB	Reverb
LOW BOOST	Low Boost
	.
Knobs	Control 1, Level
Controllers	Pitch Bend/Modulation lever D BEAM Controller
Arpeggiator	Preset pattern: 64
Phrase Recorder	User: 8 Number of Track: 1
Jacks/Connectors	OUTPUT jacks (L/MONO, R) (1/4 inch phone type) Headphone jack (Stereo 1/4 inch phone type) PEDAL jack (TRS phone type) MIDI Connectors (IN, OUT) USB COMPUTER (supports USB Hi-Speed Audio/MIDI) USB MEMORY (supports USB 2.0 Hi-Speed flash memory) EXT IN jack (Stereo miniature phone type) DC IN jack
Power Supply	DC 9 V (AC Adaptor or rechargeable nickel-metal hydride AA batteries x8 ) * Batteries sold separately. * Zinc-carbon batteries or alkaline batteries cannot be used.
Current Draw	600 mA
Battery life for continuous use	Approximately 5 hours * Using rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries * Approximately 4 hours if USB memory is connected * Differs depending on the conditions of use
Accessories	Owner’s Manual, Guide Book, CD-ROM (USB DRIVER), DVD Video, AC Adaptor (PSB-1U), Power Cord
Options	Keyboard Stand: KS-18Z(*), Pedal Switch: DP series, Expression Pedal: EV-5, USB Memory: M-UF2G * Make sure that this instrument is mounted at a height that is no higher than 1 meter.
Size and Weight
Width	689 mm 27-3/16 inches
Depth	317 mm 12-1/2 inches
Height	100 mm 3-15/16 inches
Weight	4.2 kg 9 lbs. 5 oz.

GAIA SH-01 Product Page

Popularity: 2% [?]

Synth Basics: What is polyphony?

Whenever you buy a new digital piano, keyboard or synthesiser, one of its key specifications is the amount of polyphony.

But what exactly is polyphony?

In pure musical terms, polyphony is used to describe two or more independent melodic voices. This is in contrast to monophony (a single voice) or homophony (a single melody with chords).

However, when it comes to electronic musical instruments, we’re simply concerned with how many tones can be sounded at any one time.

These sounds don’t have to be melodic — in fact they don’t even necessarily have to be audible to the human ear!

Polyphony is the number of sounds an instrument can generate simultaneously.

That’s the theory, and in principle it’s pretty simple. In practice, however, things get a bit more complicated.

Let’s take a look at a digital piano. It may say that it has 64 note polyphony. That sounds rather a lot, right? After all, you only have ten fingers so you can’t play more than ten notes at any one time.

Correct — in part.

However, consider how most pianists play the piano, with judicious use of the sustain (damper) pedal.

Now consider that, in a digital piano (as opposed to an acoustic one, which effectively has unlimited polyphony) every single note counts towards the total polyphony from the moment it is first played, when a key is struck, to the moment its sound finally decays.

Long passages of music with heavy use of sustain could have tens or even hundreds of notes sounding at any one time, which is why a high polyphony count is generally considered a good thing.

If any instrument “runs out of sounds”, then generally new sounds take priority and currently playing sounds are abruptly cut off. This can produce an unnatural, clipped sound.

Now let’s look at a synthesiser instrument.

You may assume that every note you play is a single sound, but your selected sound might be a composite of several sounds. That eats into polyphony.

As a further complication, some manufacturers “bank” polyphony into two or more groups. So, an instrument that claims 128 notes of polyphony may in fact offer two distinct groups of 64 notes. Some sounds may be available in one group but not the other, so, depending on which sounds you select, you may not always get full polyphony.

Now consider the use of rhythm and other accompaniments on home keyboards.

Every auto-accompaniment you play could be using multiple sounds at any one time, reducing the amount of polyphony remaining for the sounds you wish to play over the top.

And finally, it’s fairly obvious that if you are using either an on-board sequencer, or one on your computer that uses the keyboard’s own sounds, then you’ll need more polyphony in order to play two or more tracks of sounds simultaneously.

So, when purchasing a keyboard instrument or synth unit, consider its polyphony and whether it will be sufficient for your needs.

Generally, the higher polyphony the better, though you will pay more for the privilege.

Image by Horla Varlen

Popularity: 5% [?]

JR Hexaton Pro comes to iPhone: Jordan Rudess approved!

Developers continue to push the envelope for using the iPhone as a music creation device. JR Hexaton Pro is one of the latest rhythm generators/live performance apps available.

Pairing Amidio, makers of other hit iPhone apps such as Star Guitar and noise.io with legendary keyboard player Jordan Rudess (who demoed Yamaha’s Tenori-On last year) and you know you’re going to get something pretty special.

It’s pretty unique too, being the first drum machine / rhythm and loop generator built on a hexagonal playing surface. It also responds to the iPhone’s movements, making for some interesting live performance possibilities.

Amidio describes it:

“JR Hexatone Pro is something totally new. There’s nothing like it, it creates sonic textures based on absolutely unique principles. It can be called a 6-channel 6-directional step sequencer with variable step length and artificial intelligence of each channel. Given that you can easily load your custom samples, you can create anything, any kind of loops, for all music styles.

The best way to see what’s going on is to watch Jordan demo the app.

Alternatively, check out the factory presets here:

It’s available from the iTunes Store right now.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Next Page »