As the iPhone's popularity has grown, so has the list of useful things it can be used for. In the last couple of years, music production has been added to that list. The music industry has taken so strongly to the iPad that Apple's App Store now features a section dedicated to apps that are geared towards music production.
Whether a person is looking to record live guitar or mash samples together, there's an app that suits their needs. We've rounded up seven apps below that enable even an iOS novice to create and edit beautiful music.
GarageBand
Without a doubt, GarageBand is the standard for music production on the iPhone. Originally developed by Apple for the Mac and then later ported to iOS, GarageBand lets users pick an instrument and start composing from there. Users get their choice of smart instruments or traditional instruments, with support for everything from drum machines to actually plugging in a guitar. Combine that with a stellar multi-track editor, and users can make incredible music using GarageBand by itself.
Figure
Produced by the team behind Reason, the popular desktop music production suite, Figure takes a more on-the-go approach to music production. It presents a handful of different synthesizer and drum sounds, then allows artists to create tracks in just a few minutes by swiping the screen for melodies and adjusting knobs to create programmed beats. It's a unique approach to music production that's sure to stir up inspiration, and the fast-paced nature of the app is perfect for the iPhone.
AmpKit+
For artists who still prefer to compose with a physical instrument instead of a touch screen, AmpKit+ is the solution. Artists simply connect their guitar to their iPhone through a third-party adapter and then load up AmpKit+. The app lets musicians choose from several different amps and 10 pedals. These aren't just generic amps, either: AmpKit+ users get to choose from well-known sounds such as the Peavey ValveKing. The presence of an EQ and effects such as reverb ensure that the AmpKit+ can deliver the perfect sound every time.
DM1 for iPhone
Produced by Fingerlab, DM1 for iPhone will satisfy the hip-hop and electronic music crowd. Its purpose is simple enough: Let users tap out beats on their iPhones. It presents an MPC-style layout with 16 drum pads and 64 unique kits. Even users with no feel for the drums can come up with catchy beats, since a step sequencer is available for tightly quantized beats. The presence of a composer view lets users blend together different patterns for interesting fills and variations.
Player Piano Plus
With many of the iPhone apps listed here, there's a requirement for prior knowledge. All of the apps in the world will be useless to someone that has had no introduction to playing an instrument. That's what makes Player Piano so helpful.
Like a real player piano, the app displays sheet music and highlights the notes to a song. It simultaneously highlights the corresponding keys on the piano, allowing complete novices to gain a basic understanding of how to play the keyboard.
NLog MIDI Synth
We've covered full-fledged music suites, guitar amps, piano tutorials and a basic synthesizer so far. However, we've yet to cover anything for the keyboard and synth enthusiasts. Fear not, though, as NLog MIDI Synth can satisfy even the most picky synthesizer users.
Among other features, NLog touts a low-latency sound engine with support for a number of other platforms. Tracks can easily be exported to iTunes, and the app can also be controlled through compatible music apps using interfaces such as WIST or Core MIDI. On the sound side of things, NLog presents a seemingly endless array of potential configurations, giving users full control over their sound. When it comes to producing thick sounds with an analog vibe, no other app really compares.
What's incredible is that beyond these seven apps, there are even more that we don't have time to mention. Some apps provide their own twist on producing melodies while others focus on providing new amps or sounds. The iPhone and iOS aren't just the future of computing, they're also the future of the music industry and the producers behind it.
Image Credit
Christina Daniel is passionate about software changing industries. You can find her site at DownloadHaus.com where you can download 7zip for free.