Says who? Well, a few of the big players squarely in the Keyboard Community’s end of the music industry, for starters. Folks like Frontier Designs. iZotope. Digidesign. MOTU. Ableton.
Pro Tools on an iPhone? Woah, take it easy there. No, not by any stretch. But how about controlling Pro Tools from your iPhone? That you can do already. You can do multitrack sequencing, too, with the right app — “app” being short for “application,” or software program. Now that Apple has finally unlocked the iPhone and allowed software developers to begin crafting apps of all shapes and sizes, there’s a growing number of these music-centric apps flowing through the iTunes pipeline (that’s where the iPhone App store is located) and into the hands of performers, composers, and producers.
The question is whether these folks are finding the groovy new apps to be useful or not. There’s no easy answer, as new apps appear nearly every day and Apple updates the iPhone operating system and firmware with admirable regularity. But challenges like that never stopped Keyboard magazine before, so we downloaded like there was no tomorrow and tried out a pile of music apps. The nine that appear in this article are those that we feel have the most utility and potential for musicians. As this is all still rather new, we experienced a few wrinkles here and there, not the least of which due to the fact that the platform itself is as much of a paradigm shift as the invention of the graphical user interface and mouse at Xerox PARC was, back in the ’70s. It’s going to take developers and users awhile to realize the potential of the iPhone’s multi-touch screen — the screen tracks more than one finger at a time — and accelerometer, which tracks the iPhone’s orientation and motion.
Despite some Apple-flavored fits and starts during the introduction of the iPhone 2.0 software, the version of the OS that we tested was fairly stable in general. Of course, there are some glaring omissions, thanks to Apple’s micromanagement of products even after they’ve been purchased — for example, there’s no way to transfer music files that you create directly to your computer via USB, Apple’s Software Developer’s Kit Nondisclosure Agreement (SDK NDA) still prevents developers from discussing the operating system even though the iPhone 3G has already been released, and there’s a built-in kill switch that can be controlled by Apple headquarters, disabling any app they deem unruly — but overall the iPhone and iPod Touch show extraordinary promise as much more than a phone or media player.
That said, after weeks of testing, it became apparent that realizing the potential lurking within the iPhone is largely dependent on a developer’s ability to grasp the fact that what works on the desktop doesn’t necessarily translate into a form factor for your pocket. In fact, only one product — iZotope’s iDrum — really nailed the usability issues inherent in the device. So much so that iDrum has been the app I turn to first when I want to tinker with a beat while killing time at an airport or coffee shop.
The other apps we cover in this piece fare almost as well. Intua Beatmaker certainly delivers the goods when it comes to a comprehensive feature list, with its built-in effects and ability to transfer files via a bit of arcane WiFi magic. Which brings us to the biggest shortcoming of the iPhone, musically speaking. Common sense would dictate that a product that can communicate and sync via USB would allow you to simply drag your rendered goodies to the desktop with a mouse gesture or two. No such luck with the iPhone in its current state. Instead, you have to fiddle with firewalls, adjust WiFi settings, and install oddball software widgets on your main system just to capture a beat for use in your primary DAW. So we’ve included a quick tutorial on simply recording the audio from your iPhone, just as you would a more traditional drum machine or groovebox (see “Recording Your iPhone,”page XX).
The question is this: Is the iPhone really a viable, useful tool for keyboardists and producers? Keep reading and you’ll find that the answer is a resounding, “depends.”
Main Apps
Bloom
iTunes Link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=292792586&mt=8
Price: $3.99
The Big Picture: Musical legend Brian Eno and programmer Peter Chilvers have teamed up to create the ultimate ambient doodlepad, Bloom. Fire it up and a drone begins. From there, tap anywhere on the screen and lush, yet simple, tones start playing - their character and pitch determined by where you tapped. Tap three fingers simultaneously and you get three simultaneous notes. The result then loops and constantly evolves, creating a musical koan of sorts: beautiful, vibing, and yes, relaxing. Nine different mood settings define Bloom’s overall sound for a given piece and you can even let the app generate music using its own algorithms. Oh yeah, and the pulsing color interface is gorgeous, with softly morphing circles that animate in time with the pattern.
Strengths: Your own personal Music For Wherever generator. It’s Pure Eno, through and through.
Weaknesses: It is what it is. The word “weakness” doesn’t apply here.
iZotope iDrum Club and iDrum Hip Hop
www.izotope.com
$4.99
This is what a drum groove looks like in iDrum. Each square represents an instrument pattern. Tap the desired square to zoom in and edit.
Dragging the blue sphere around the screen adjusts volume and panning for each instrument. Can you say pretty? We thought you could.
The Big Picture. iZotope breaks a lot of rules in translating its interface to the iPhone, and overall they’ve done a stunning job of making the most of its tiny screen. The biggest paradigm shift here is the way they’ve turned the classic 16-step sequencer from a linear form to a 4x4 grid, while keeping the production process incredibly intuitive. Almost every programming function is two taps from any other feature. After a few minutes of tinkering, I had the entire product mastered, which is an extraordinary achievement for a drum machine as chock-a-block full of goodies as this.
Strengths. Totally professional sounds from the original iDrum libraries. Drilling down into and editing individual patterns is shockingly intuitive. Velocities can be set from within the pattern editor. The volume and panning interface is gorgeous and with a little fiddling on your WiFi network, you can even make your own ringtones.
Weaknesses. May take a bit of time for new users to get used to pattern editing, but the effort is well worth it.
Intua Beatmaker
www.intua.net
$19.95
Beatmaker’s MPC-style pad interface is a joy to gaze upon. The icons in the left corners are menu icons that provide access to additional functions.
Built-in effects like delay and EQ make it possible to create some seriously produced grooves, even on a subway.
You really haven’t lived until you’ve cropped a waveform with your fingers instead of a mouse. Sexy!
The Big Picture. Of all the apps we tested, Beatmaker is the closest to a mini-DAW. Its interface is evocative of both the Akai MPC series and Propellerhead Reason, with slick graphics and a modern vibe. You can record by tapping the pads or via a multi-channel step sequencer, with every track color-coded for each drum. Adding to the professional feel is a wide array of preset kits by established artists like Man Parrish, Jacque Polynice, and the ubiquitous Richard Devine. Topping it all off are two effects channels that include tempo-synced delay, 3-band EQ and a bit-crusher.
Strengths. Amenities such as quantization, pattern-based song sequencing, velocity editing, and some great-sounding kits make Beatmaker a surprisingly powerful tool — and cropping samples with your fingertip feels very Minority Report.
Weaknesses. Transferring data between your iPhone and your Mac relies on a second application called BeatPack that requires a lot of fiddling with IP addresses, firewalls, port settings and such. This is decidedly messy, but a concession due to Apple’s inflexible approach.
Far Out Labs ProRemote and ProRemote Lite
www.folabs.com
32 channels, $149.99; 8 channels (Lite), $39.99
ProRemote can control up to 32 channels of audio, along with transport and scrub controls, right from your iPhone’s touch screen.
The Big Picture. If you’ve got a ProTools-based studio so large that you need to adjust levels and work the transport controls from across the room, then this app could well be a lifesaver. ProRemote promises comprehensive control over both Digidesign’s ProTools and Apple Logic (and, it seems, other DAWs that support the Mackie HUI protocol, such as MOTU Digital Performer and Stenberg Cubase) right from your iPhone or iPod touch. That is, as long as you’re willing to pony up nearly $150 for the privilege. Once you jump through the TCP/IP, firewall, and MIDI driver hoops to get it up and running, it actually does deliver the power of up to four Mackie HUIs on the iPhone’s tiny little screen, so that’s an accomplishment in itself. While there is a discernable latency, the gee-whiz factor compensates somewhat, though I certainly wouldn’t use this app for tracking complex automation moves. All things considered, it sure seems like this brand of luxury is more the domain of the Hans Zimmers and BTs of the world, since you could accomplish pretty much the same thing with an eager intern, who would also wrap your cables and make a decent cup of coffee if you ask nicely.
Strengths: Supports ProTools and Logic at the time of this writing, with more DAWs on the way. Great for dazzling prospective clients. ProRemote Light Edition does almost as much for a third of the price.
Weaknesses: Fiddly set-up process required over an hour and three ibuprofen caplets to get things up and running. Minimal website support. You’re still stuck with a tiny screen. Pricey.
IR-909
roventskij.net
$4.99
In addition to having kits that nail the sound of classic analog gear, IR-909’s interface is quite intuitive.
The Big Picture. If you’re a fan of classic Roland drum machines, then grab this app first. It’s a straight-up homage to the TR series, with some very professional sounding modern kits thrown in for good measure. Each drum includes parameters for gain, attack, sample length, and pitch with randomization options, so you can customize the preset kits to some degree. At $4.99, it’s almost irresistible for dance producers who find themselves on planes, trains, and automobiles with any regularity.
Strengths. The 606, 707, 808, 909, Techhouse, and Kärv kits prove that Roventskij has an ear for what works on today’s dancefloors.
Weaknesses. No global volume control is an odd omission, as is the fact that there are only four pattern slots that reset to factory presets on quitting. Adjusting the various drum parameters is a bit obtuse, too. That said, it’s quite likely that these will be addressed in a future rev.
Moo-Cow-Music Band
moocowmusic.com
$9.99
Band’s dual-manual approach to their piano interface is a stroke of genius.
The Big Picture. While Band was one of the highlighted apps in Apple’s iPhone demonstrations, it feels a tad unfinished and toy-like at this stage in its development. Sure, the instruments sound good — like upscale polyphonic ringtone material — but the lack of quantization in an iPhone-sized interface is a recipe for disaster. We’ll give the 1.0 release the benefit of the doubt, since there’s clearly quite a bit of potential here, but only if Moo Cow takes the time to rethink its overall functionality and interface.
Strengths. The dual-manual piano makes great use of limited space.
Weaknesses. No quantization, no track editing, primitive mixing, and an interface only a mother could love.
Mixmeister Scratch
mixmeister.com
Free
Slick design and a bevy of classic sounds for scratching make Scratch the perfect freeware app for dazzling your DJ friends.
The Big Picture. On the other side of the toyland lives Mixmeister Scratch, which does one thing only: hip-hop scratching. The neat thing here is that the virtual vinyl actually feels darn good. Slow, fast, back and forth all work as expected, with the nifty added touch of tapping the vinyl to gate the sample. Best of all, you simply cannot beat the price.
Strengths. Terrific user interface and some really great samples that evoke the golden age of hip-hop.
Weaknesses. Can’t use your iTunes library as source material because . . . Apple won’t allow it.
iProRecorder
www.iprorecorder.com
$0.99
The Big Picture. For just 99 cents you can transform your iPhone (or iPod Touch) into a mobile audio recorder. With one touch you can start, stop, and pause any recording. Interrupt-friendly capabilities automatically pauses any recording in the event of an unexpected phone call. Input meters clearly display whether levels are too high or low. All audio files remain uncompressed as a .WAV file, which translates into higher fidelity. You can record up to 13 hours per GB of memory depending on sound quality. Once recorded editing is a snap with the optional Peak Express software that allows you to transfer files to your Mac via Wi-Fi. You can use Peak Express from building soundtracks for home movies to digitizing old cassettes and LPs.
Strengths. A full featured and professional mobile recording software for 99 cents. Transfer files via Wi-Fi.
Weaknesses. Can’t record phone conversations. Does not support stereo recording.
Helper Apps
Adding to the iPhone’s Swiss Army knife factor are a number of bite-sized apps that are well-suited for the day-to-day tasks of composing and studio work. While not particularly glamorous, having them embedded in your phone means you’re never without them when the need arises.
Mauvila Software OmniTuner
mauvilasoftware.com
$4.99
Three tuning modes and microphone based pitch-detection make OmniTuner a terrific value.
The Big Picture. While there are several tuner applications available for the iPhone, OmniTuner is by far the most full-featured — and easiest on the eyes. Interface niceties aside, the app includes three tuning modes — standard, fretboard, and clef — that cover pretty much every tuning application. What’s more, OmniTuner actually uses the iPhone’s microphone as an input device with pitch detection, as opposed to simply generating a tone and leaving you to use your ears for the actual work.
Audiodog BPM Tap Tempo
www.audiodog.co.uk
$0.99
While it’s not the prettiest iPhone app, BPM Tap Tempo is a utility no club music producer should be without.
Electronica producers and DJs are the target audience for BPM Tap Tempo, which is a fantastic app for more than simply determining the tempo of a given track. In addition to providing the BPM for a given series of taps, the app also displays both millisecond and Hertz info for the most common note-values at that tempo, from whole-notes down to thirty-second notes. This makes setting accurate delay times and LFO speeds a painless affair — and ensures its place in every producer’s iPhone toolkit.
Retronyms Recorder
www.recordertheapp.com
$0.99
A buck for a recording app that can actually email samples? Yessir.
The Big Picture. The one app that’s absolutely essential for musicians of all types isn’t found in the iTunes App Store’s music section. Instead, look for Retronyms’ Recorder in the business area of the store. Whether you’re documenting a hummed musical idea or sampling your cat, Recorder is a fantastic tool for capturing lo-rez audio via your iPhone’s integrated mic. Sure, there are quite a few audio recorders in the App Store, but Recorder’s streamlined UI — combined with the ability to email your recordings right from the phone — make this purchase an absolute no-brainer at a measly ninety-nine cents.
Sidebar: Recording your iPhone
Once you’ve got a beat, bass line, melody, or entire tune cooking along using your favorite new iPhone app, the thing you’ll want to do next is to get that groovy audio tidbit into your computer. Can you do it when you hook up your iPhone via USB? No. Can you email an audio file to yourself? Sometimes. Can you magically send it via WiFi? Depends. The iPhone and iPod Touch — which run the same software, musically speaking — are really set up to only send audio out via the headphone jack. So far.
While the new iPhone 3G includes a standard 1/8” headphone jack, the original iPhone requires an adapter in order to use its jack with most earbuds and headphones. We like Belkin’s aptly named Headphone Adapter for iPhone, as it’s the smallest one on the market. From there, you’ll need the appropriate cable for your mixer or audio interface.
Once you’ve got a signal going out from your iPhone, you’ll want to temporarily turn off its phone functions, so as to eliminate those ubiquitous — and irritating — GPS data bursts that seemingly penetrate even the most shielded of monitors. To do this, just tap the Settings icon and activate Airplane Mode. This shuts down all radio functions, allowing you to record without interruptions — including phone calls, so keep that in mind too. Once you’ve got all that sorted out, you should be all set to pipe your audio from the iPhone to your recorder of choice.
Sidebar: Contraband
When the iPhone was first released in 2007, developers bristled at the fact that Apple didn’t have a proper Software Developers Kit (SDK) ready to go, with the company suggesting instead that the iPhone community rely on web-only, browser-based applications. The approach backfired and hackers promptly cracked the iPhone’s code, thereby creating an underground community of programmers making unauthorized (but not illegal) applications that actually did something.
The process — known as “jailbreaking” — became hugely popular, and along with general-use applications such as instant message clients, quite a few musical apps began to create a stir among producers. Everything from virtual guitars (Pocket Guitar) to WiFi MIDI controllers (i3L and iTouchMIDI) popped up, captivating producers by the potential lurking within the iPhone.
Sadly, Apple wasn’t interested in supporting anything they couldn’t control from the ground up, so each new iPhone OS update compromised the jailbreaking system, sometimes even turning jailbroken iPhones into expensive paperweights.
As a consolation of sorts, Apple then announced that they would be providing their own Software Developers Kit (SDK), which would tie into the iTunes Store. Even so, there are currently several limitations in Apple’s SDK that prevent developers from unleashing the full power of the iPhone. Making matters worse is Apple’s draconian developer policy that prevents programmers from even speaking about the SDK — even now, long after the release of the product — for fear of severe legal repercussions.
You get the picture. So, rather than further editorialize about these issues, we’re going to point you to a couple of terrific online resources (at the bottom of this sidebar) for learning more about the tools that are available for jailbroken iPhones and allow you to determine for yourself whether you want to tinker with Apple’s uber-toy, as it will definitely void your warranty and possibly even destroy your beloved trinket, forcing you to pay full price for a replacement. Ugh.
iPhone Dev Team Blog
blog.iphone-dev.org/
This is the first place to check out for the latest info on jailbreaking tools.
Create Digital Music
www.createdigitalmusic.com
Keyboard’s own Peter Kirn does a great job of keeping track of the latest musical apps (both legal and contraband) for the iPhone.
Beatportal.com
I keep track of my own fave iPhone apps via the writing I do for Beatport; check it out and let me know what you think.
Keyboardmag.com
Since the iPhone OS is a moving target, we’ll keep you updated at Keyboardmag.com with developments that occur after we go to press.
Sidebar:App Amnesty
It’s worth noting that many of the legitimate music apps available via iTunes got their start as contraband. But at the time of this writing, there are still quite a few that haven’t made it to the App Store yet. Here are a few to look for in the coming months.
PocketGuitar. The first well-known iPhone music app. A strummable virtual fretted instrument that really shows the potential lurking within the phone.
iPhone Synth. 303-style synth and pattern sequencer. It would be a crime if this doesn’t make it to the App Store.
Tapstereo. Kind of like an iPhone Theremin.
I3L and aka.remote. MIDI control over WiFi. Fiddly but potentially worth it.
Noise.io. A funky little FM synth with a quirky sci-fi interface.
Korg Kaossilator. Okay, so this is pure fantasy on my part, but if there was ever a device that was tailor-made for the iPhone GUI, the Kaossilator is it. Korg, are you listening?
Sidebar: Headphones for Mobile Music
V-Moda Vibe Duo
www.v-moda.com
$101
V-moda’s Vibe Duos not only sound great, but the built-in iPhone mic ensures that you won’t miss any calls as you compose.
One of the niftiest accessories for musically-inclined owners of either iPhone model is Vibe’s V-Moda Duo in-ear system. In addition to being among the most visually pleasing headphones available, they are arguably the best-sounding consumer headphones we’ve tested. While the sound isn’t as high-end as M-Audio’s professional in-ear monitors, the Duos include an integrated microphone and remote switch, so you can use them for phone calls when you’re not banging out the jams. You can also hook ’em up to your laptop for DJ monitoring, so that’s one less thing to stick in your gig bag.