Welcome to our roundup of piano/synth/electronic music-related apps for the first week of 2014. Bit of a slow start, and as usual very heavy on the iOS platform (iPads and iPhones). Rest assured, we’re keeping our eyes peeled for the best apps on all mobile and desktop platforms.
YouCompose [iOS] – $2.99
Claiming to be “the most advanced mobile classical music writing application available today”, YouCompose uses rules from the common practice period to allow the user to create compositions in classical 4-part harmony style.
The built-in assistant composer helps novice users to compose music in many different ways.
You can enter melodies using the built-in virtual keyboard (with metronome) or enter single notes in a grid editor. Your assistant composer will then harmonize your melodies.
You can influence the way the assistant harmonizes your melodies, by setting harmonization points and other options, or you can also leave that completely to your assistant.
You can ask your assistant to compose a melody or even a complete composition.
A composition can be edited in many ways. YouCompose allows you to copy, paste, move, repeat and discard movements, segments and individual notes, enter lyrics, transpose, change gain etc.
YouCompose can play your composition with its built-in instruments and since YouCompose is Core MIDI compatible, you can also utilize a MIDI keyboard or a MIDI sound module.
You can view your composition’s full score or the individual parts and print them directly from YouCompose to an AirPrint compatible printer.
You can save compositions to your device and load them again later. Additionally, YouCompose allows you to send and receive them from other devices running YouCompose via an AirDrop connection.
You can share your composition with others by sending an email containing MIDI files and a PDF document with the full score and the individual parts.
R&B Studio PRO [iOS] – $1.99
R&B Studio Features:
* Beautiful Design and Rich Functionality
* Mastered Instrumentals Produced by Industry Musicians, Producers and Engineers
* iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch compatible
* Built-In TapTempo/Metronome
* 6 Channels of Vocal Stacks
* Low Latency Recording
* Save Lyrics to each song
* Email your creations to friends
* Pan each of your 6 vocal stacks left or right
* Your Mixes will maintain volume and panning settings when exported
* High Quality Mp3 conversion
Beatmaker Studio HD [iOS] – $9.99
Beatmaker Studio HD is an easy-to-use, full multi-track beatmaking & sequencing, music-production environment.
You can have a choice of 16, 32, or 64 beats to each track that can be highlighted by pressing.
When you press play all highlighted parts will play. To unhighlight each part simply press again and the sound will turn off.
You can also adjust the pitch and volume of each track and of each sound in real time!
With a great library of high quality preset sounds, you can create your perfect beat in just a few minutes.
Transform tracks into fresh, new sounds with our multitrack playpack. You can control & effortlessly change the groove of a track by increasing or adjusting the BPM (beats per minute) in real time.
You can use this app to make beats or to or to play over with live instruments.
There are 2 great demo tracks for you to check out too…. Try remixing them!
You can also save your up to 8 of your beats to show off to your friends!
