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Google Magenta’s Lo-Fi Player is an AI-based virtual music studio
Google Magenta's Lo-Fi Player lets you create your own lo-fi hip hop tracks by clicking around in a pixelated, 2D room.
Roland releases Zenbeats, a cross-platform music-making app
Roland has been making electronic musical instruments for nearly 50 years and has delivered products like the JU-06A tiny portable synth, keyboards with built-in Alexa controls and mini smartphone mixers. Now, it's entering the world of mobile music-making apps. Today, the company released Zenbeats.
Endlesss shares details on its collaborative iOS music platform
The new iOS music-making platform Endlesss is scheduled to launch later this year, and as its release approaches, we're starting to get a better picture of what it will include. What we know is that Endlesss, driven by musician and software developer Tim Exile, has been pitched as "a virtual place where you can make and share music in the moment, solo or with friends." It's been in the works for three years, and this year, we'll finally get to see it on iOS.
Ask Engadget: What's the best laptop for music production?
First tip, avoid 'u' CPUs, as they're typically designed for mobile or low power usage (and can be more aggressive in their throttling, thereby causing dropouts).
Making music on the Mac with GForce M-Tron Pro synth
The M-Tron Pro (approx. US$225) is a software-based Mellotron emulator synth, available for Mac as stand-alone or as a plug-in with Logic, GarageBand, Pro Tools, and a host of other music apps. It's made by UK-based developer GForce Software. Design Let's start with a simple question: what is a Mellotron? No doubt, it's an instrument you will have heard in many popular songs. In the 1960s, the Mellotron was one of the first sample-based keyboards. It was made famous by Pink Floyd, David Bowie, The Beatles and others, and later by many more bands, like Radiohead, for example. The Mellotron emulates choirs, voices, strings and orchestral instruments, among other things. Here's a description of how the Mellotron works from the GForce website: When pressed, each key engaged playback of a discrete strip of tape containing an eight-second recording of that note played on an instrument such as a violin. The tape rewound after key release. The lack of looping forced the player to adapt his playing style giving the instrument a unique playing characteristic in addition to its already distinct sound. The M-Tron Pro, well... It digitally models those tape sounds, but with enhanced features, like vintage-style ensemble and delay effects, dual layering (29 parameters per layer), filter sections, a very cool tape reverse option as well as dynamic keyboard control and filter aftertouch. The "Tron" has just under 200 high-quality sample banks, with new and classic tape sounds, including 19 tape banks from the original M-Tron that were remastered at London's Abbey Road Studios. Performance The Tron comes with over 700 patches, with many authored by world-class recording artists and programmers. Out of the box, Tron produces instantly recognizable and usable sounds. But the real fun comes with Tron's powerful editing tools. Tron allows you to layer two tape banks, both of which are individually editable with filter and envelop controls, effects, pitch LFO, and keyboard responses (velocity, aftertouch). You can also apply those same editing features to both samples at the same time. If you've used any kind of audio editing software before, you'll feel right at home with Tron. Once you understand the simple dual-layer premise that blends the tape banks, you'll be on your way to sculpting your own, bespoke Mellotron-based sounds. I have to say that there's a wealth of high-quality sound on the M-Tron. The samples sound fantastic. Editing is intuitive and straightforward. I lost an afternoon enjoying the tape reverse and the half speed option, producing some rather tasteful results! G-Force also offers expansion libraries, including the ChamberTron, OptiTron and the OrchesTron. I was particularly fascinated by the ChamberTron. Check out the video below to hear about the instrument and how it was invented, used and later sampled for the M-Tron Pro. Conclusion The M-Tron Pro offers high-quality virtual modeling of the classic Mellotron instrument, with fantastic editing features and effects to make unique, signature sounds. If you're looking for a fresh, inspiring take on the virtual Mellotron instrument, the M-Tron Pro won't disappoint.
Propellerhead's Take is a supercharged memo recorder for iPhone
Take Creative Vocal Recorder is a free iPhone voice recorder, designed by the fantastic Propellerhead, creators of great music-making apps like Reason and Figure. Thousands of musicians around the world use the iPhone's Voice Memos app to instantly and easily capture moments of creative inspiration. However, the app is limited to just a single take, with limited editing features -- perhaps that's its strength. Nevertheless, Propellherhead's Take capitalizes on those ideas, with an app that's just as easy to instantly grab and start recording, but with a few supercharged features. Take gives you three tracks to record on, so if you get a great idea down, it's really easy to build on that idea right there and then, adding a harmony and perhaps a second instrument part. Each track also has volume levels and a simple reverb effect. Previously I've laid down a catchy idea on the Voice Memos app only to realize my timings been all over the place, meaning it's not a usable guide for a later production. Take adds a simple metronome with adjustable BPM as well as beats and loops to keep you on track and further inspire your ideas. I only wish the metronome had other time signatures. Hopefully we'll see that in a later update. Finally, just like on the Voice Memos app, Take makes it really easy to share your ideas with friends and colleagues via email, Facebook and Twitter. One important thing to note is that Take works best with headphones. If you want to take advantage of Take's metronome or loops and beats, you'll need to plug in headphones, preferably without a built-in mic, so you don't get sound bleeding into your recording and you get the best audio recording from your iPhone's mic. Check out Take in action in the video below.
IK iRig MIDI 2 brings updated features, Lightning connector compatibility
IK Multimedia's iRig MIDI 2 (US$99.99) is a universal MIDI interface for Mac and iOS. IK's original iRig MIDI was compatible with Apple's 30-pin dock connector, but not Apple's newer Lightning connector interface. The updated iRig MIDI now supports both connectors as well as USB for connecting to Mac. I reviewed the original iRig MIDI back in 2011, so it's great to see a revamp of this portable MIDI interface. Features include a re-designed, smaller, pocket-sized form factor with a rubberized, sturdier enclosure, standard-sized MIDI ports, power provided from host device, detachable cables that are bumper / case friendly, and, of course, Lightning connector compatibility. IK also offers a host of iOS apps to work with MIDI instruments. SampleTank Free is a comprehensive sound workstation with high-quality instruments and patterns. iGrand Piano FREE is a high-quality sampled grand piano. Finally, for Mac users, SampleTank 3 SE is a free desktop workstation with instruments and patterns. All apps can be upgraded with more sounds and features via in-app purchase. The only downside to the iRig MIDI 2 is that it cost $30 more than the original iRig MIDI. However, with the improved features, design and higher-quality enclosure -- the original one was on the tacky side -- the iRig MIDI 2 should be a worthwhile investment for iOS MIDI enthusiasts.
Apogee ONE: An audio interface and microphone for Mac and iOS
Apogee's revamped ONE (US$349) is a 2 IN 2 OUT USB audio interface with a built-in microphone for Mac and now iOS, too. This means you can plug the interface into your Mac or straight into your iPhone or iPad (via Apple's newer Lightning connector or the legacy 30-pin dock connector) to record audio. The ONE's built-in microphone means that you can get to recording straight away, without the need for additional cables or mics. Apogee is a name synonymous with high quality mic preamps, AD/DA converters and clocking found in its high-end studio products, like the Symphony. These products are used by professional musicians and studio engineers around the world. Does the ONE live up to the renowned name and reputation of Apogee? Read on to find out. Hardware The revamped ONE (2013) replaces Apogee's first generation ONE (2009), which had just the single input and was not compatible with iOS devices. The original ONE was USB 1.1 compatible, Mac: bus powered, had a 24 bit, 44.1/48kHz sample rate and cost US$249. The new ONE beats its predecessor in all aspects, except price -- it'll cost you a $100 more. Aside from that, it offers low-latency USB 2 speeds, it's DC mains or battery powered (in addition to Mac: bus powering) and, finally, the new ONE has a 24 bit, up to 96kHz sample rate. The ONE is constructed with a die-cast aluminum body, which feels strong and sturdy. It's not heavy, and it's not particularly large (though taller than the original ONE), which is a good thing since it's intended to be extremely portable. The molded rubber base doesn't allow the ONE to go slipping off of surfaces either. There's just a single, large dial on the front of the ONE, which is used to operate all aspects of the device, though all operations can be carried out via Apogee's Maestro app for Mac and iOS, too. Above the dial is an LED input / output level meter and above that an LED input / output indicator (internal mic, external mic, instrument and volume). When using the ONE's built-in mic, it was particularly useful to have the level meter on the front of the device to reference input levels, instead of looking to my Mac or iOS device to see if things were peaking or too low. On the top of the device is a microphone / instrument input (expandable via breakout cable), a micro USB input (to connect to a Mac or iOS device) and a DC power input. All cables and the power supply are included with the ONE. The bottom side of the device has a 1/8" stereo output for headphones or powered speakers. The ONE's breakout cable gives you a 1/4″ instrument IN and an XLR IN. The devices allows you to have 2 simultaneous inputs: the instrument IN and the XLR mic IN or the built-in mic with the instrument IN. Of course, you can just use the ONE's built-in mic without the breakout cable attached. On the rear of the device is a battery compartment for two AA batteries, though these were not included. Powering the ONE with batteries eliminates the power supply from the mix when using the ONE with an iOS device, which dramatically adds to its practicality in a portable context. One glaring omission is MIDI input, especially for a device that's iOS compatible. With so many apps designed for MIDI use on iOS, it feels like the ONE's missing a trick. Performance on iOS Connecting the ONE to my iPad was just as easy as connecting it to my Mac. However, the first hurdle was power. iPads and iPhones won't power the ONE like a Mac does, so I opted to use the included power supply (though I could have gone for the battery option had I any to hand). On the plus side, using the power supply with the ONE meant that my iPad was charging instead of draining away. The next step was downloading Apogee's Maestro app, which is required for Mac as well. The app allows you to control all features of the ONE as well as improving latency issues. Once Maestro was installed, I launched GarageBand and got to adjusting settings. It took me a little while to get a good level because I was unfamiliar with the Maestro app. I found myself repeatedly switching between GarageBand and Maestro, trying to get a level that didn't peak, but wasn't too quiet. I found this process cumbersome, but once I was a bit more familiar with Maestro, things seemed to improve. That being said, The Maestro app does feel like a bit of a third wheel. The interface is akin to its desktop counterpart. Although that may be a comfort to those who've used it on the Mac, it doesn't feel at home on iOS. Buttons and sliders are small, for example, particularly on the iPhone. It's still workable, but a Maestro app designed solely with iOS users in mind would go a long way to improving the experience. Performance on OS X Really, there's not much to say here. If you've used an Apogee interface with a Mac, you know it's a solid combination. The ONE felt right at home with my Mac. I can't put my finger on it -- maybe it was simply familiarity -- but everything worked as you'd expect it to. The Maestro app is still required, but it does fit much better in place on OS X than iOS. Results Once I got to some recording, I was really surprised with the results. Using a Rode NT 2000, I found I was getting some fantastic results for the first time on my iPad. Similarly, things sounded great on OS X running Logic. But for me, the big surprise was actually the ONE's built-in microphone. It admirably handled whatever I threw at it. Once I realized how compelling the built-in mic was, the ONE began to make sense to me. You see, there are many external mics for iOS out there, but the ONE's mic in combination with Apogee-designed preamps and digital audio converters makes it a compelling package for recording audio on iOS (or Mac). You really can just plug in and record. There's no need for additional cables or mics. And you do get a fantastic sound out of it. Conclusion Plugging the ONE straight into my Mac and putting something down at a moments notice is a real plus, especially when the quality of the audio sounds this good. More so, for those moments where it's easier to grab your iPhone or iPad, the ONE produces the same results. The revamped ONE carries Apogee's name well. For its class, it's got stand-out preamps and converters and a built-in mic that really impresses, with expandability if you need it. And all of this in a highly compact and portable form factor. If you're looking for that kind of convenience, but without skimping on quality, the ONE is a solid choice.
PUC interface connects iOS, MIDI devices wirelessly [Updated]
The PUC MIDI interface (US$129.99) connects MIDI devices (keyboards, drum machines/pads, DJ controller, floor pedal, etc) to iOS devices (or Macs) wirelessly. This is fantastic news, because the joy of the iPad and iPhone is that they're wireless, multi-function devices. Connecting wires makes them stationary and often singular in purpose, which is more often than not a nuisance. Hardware The PUC looks like, well.. You guessed it. A puck. It's round, plastic, black and fits in the palm of your hand. On the top is a single power button and a light indicator shaped like Apple's symbol for wireless connectivity. The underside has a removable cap, which exposes a compartment for two AA batteries (included). On the front side is a standard MIDI port connector (cable included, too). The backside has a micro-USB input for auxiliary power. The top and bottom of the PUC are covered in a shiny, glossy plastic, while the sides are covered in a lighter colored, rubber-like material. It's a good looking design, with a pleasant feel to it. With the two AA batteries inserted, the PUC feels weighty and solid, just like a real puck! Functionality The PUC is really easy to use. Connect the MIDI cable to the PUC input and the other end to the output of a MIDI device -- I used a M-Audio Axiom 49 MIDI keyboard. To turn on the PUC, press the power button on the device after making sure you've inserted the AA batteries or you're connected to a power source via the micro-USB port. You'll see the power button light up in green as well as the wireless connectivity symbol flashing green. This means the PUC is waiting to be connected. On your iOS device, download the free PUC Connect app (iOS App Store link). Once downloaded, connect your iOS device's wireless network to the PUC's network and open the app to complete the connection. The flashing green on the wireless indicator turns solid, indicating that you're connected. From there, I launched GarageBand and started playing through the various MIDI keybaords, synths and drums without a hitch. A nice touch is that whenever a signal is being sent from the MIDI device through the PUC to the iPad, the solid green lighting on the PUC flashes red. Conclusion Not having wires connected between my MIDI device and iPad was a great experience. Too often I've felt the process of using my iPad as part of a music setup -- requiring wires trailing all over the place between devices -- cumbersome and frustrating. Thanks to the PUC, the process was a pleasure. I could move my iPad around, get someone else to tweak a sound setting, or even just pick it up and walk away without worrying about cables or disrupting the setup. That's exactly why the PUC is awesome, because any scenario where you don't have to use a cable is a good one - especially when it comes to the creative process in a portable context. The PUC is available for pre-order now and will ship in mid-June. Update: Regarding latency, during my test there were a couple moments where I did wonder if I could hear a slight latency between triggering a sound on the MIDI controller and that sound registering on the iPad. I got in touch with Zivix, makers of the PUC, to ask them about latency. They said, "The Zivix team has noticed a negligible latency between the PUC and an iOS device registering a MIDI signal, and one that doesn't affect the overall performance or experience by using the PUC." I do agree with Zivix. While there may be a slight latency, in most applications I can't foresee it being a problem. It's worth noting that the MIDI controller simply triggers the audio that's stored on the iOS device (or Mac). That audio is not traveling through the PUC, just the MIDI signal that triggers it.
Jamn for iOS makes learning to play guitar visual, easier
Jamn (US$1.99) is a universal iOS app that visually communicates the relationship between musical keys, chords, scales, notes and the audio an instrument produces. Having spent some time teaching music to young students, I know all too well how difficult it can be to communicate the relationship between music theory and the sound that an instrument produces. Inevitably, it involves me scribbling endless analogies on a piece of paper until the penny drops. And while there are helpful visuals out there, I've not come across one as clear and as simple on the iOS App Store as Jamn. Through Jamn's intuitive and interactive Jamn wheel, the relationship between theory and sound is made visual, helping to connect the dots for beginners and those wanting to learn more. For example, by selecting the key of C in Jamn, the wheel will clearly identify all relevant major and minor chords for that key. Turn the wheel and the key changes to reveal the next appropriate chords. You can also hit play to hear exactly what each note and chord sounds like. It's a simple premise, but has the potential to make a big difference in the learning process. Each note and chord is also represented on a virtual guitar fretboard, displaying where each finger should be placed to make up the chord. The same can be done by swiping the fretboard to ukulele or piano mode. In guitar mode, tilting your iDevice will put the app in eHands mode, giving you a literal hand position representation of what your hand should look like when playing the chord. The app comes with 10 of the most common hand positions, a further 200 can be purchased via in-app purchase for $1.99. Additional features include an in-key chord finder, a scales library, a tuner and tutorial videos to get you started. There really is a lot in Jamn to get you learning, understanding and playing your instrument. If you've already got the basic principles of playing, for example, the guitar, Jamn will be a fantastic tool to help you develop and progress in your musicality. But if you're a teacher, I can see Jamn being particularly useful in providing a creative and interactive way to teach students the fundamentals of playing the guitar, ukulele or the piano. Jamn is certainly worth checking out. What apps have you used to help you learn or teach an instrument? Let us know in the comments below.
Reflow: A music composition and notation app for Mac and iOS with iCloud sync
Reflow for Mac (US$19) and iOS ($5.99) is a tool that makes composition and practice of music easier. A few weeks ago you may have seen TUAW's Editor-in-chief Victor Agreda, Jr. interview Sébastien Bourgeois, creator of Reflow, in our Origin Stories series. The interview spiked my curiosity about the app, so I took a closer look. While there are some great music notation apps out there for Mac (Tabular) and iOS (Weezic), what caught my attention about Reflow is that it supports both Mac and iOS. Plus, Reflow takes advantage of the latest Mac OS X and iCloud sync features. Let's say you're composing a song in Reflow on the Mac. Reflow (which supports fullscreen mode) will automatically save your work as you progress with autosave. And if things take an unsurprising turn, simply engage versions (just like you would in Pages, for example) and go back to the last iteration of your work that suits you best to carry on from. Finally, Reflow takes advantage of iCloud support, meaning you can be working on the Mac one minute and switch over to your iPhone or iPad and carry on where you left off the next. These simple features make a huge difference to the creative process by letting you focus on the music. But all of these great features would be meaningless if Reflow didn't have the basics to make a fantastic music notation app. Fortunately, it does. The app's beautifully simple interface lets you build multi-track (guitars, bass, keyboards, drums) compositions with musical notation or tablature. It's as easy as clicking or typing in a note or beat, playing on a MIDI keyboard or, for guitarists, dragging and dropping chords in from the extensive chord diagram database. Of course, you can create your own chords, too. Furthermore, Reflow gives you an audio representation of your work using a lightweight audio engine, so you have a great idea of what your composition will sound like before the real players step in. And you can modify and edit your work during playback. Reflow also lets you build and re-arrange your own song structures, so if you suddenly decide the intro sounds better as a middle-eight, just drag it over. Finally, Reflow also supports Guitar Pro and Power Tab files for import. Export your compositions in Guitar Pro, PDF, Wave and MIDI files, or share by email. For songwriters and composers looking to write for a typical band, Reflow has all the tools you'll need. But where Reflow stands above the rest is in its creative process and workflow. With iCloud support, Reflow allows you to transition work seamlessly between Mac or iOS and takes the worry out of saving your work as well as going back through previous versions.
polychord for iPad: an inspiring way to create music
polychord (US$9.99) is a virtual instrument for making and creating keyboard / electronic-style music on the iPad. With its easy-to-use approach and layout, polychord makes it painless to get your head around the basics and start making some really lovely sounding and creatively inspiring music. Whether you're an expert musician looking to perform live or a novice, you'll find polychord engaging and fun. There are two main components to playing polychord: chord circles and strum keys. There are nine Chord circles, each representing a chord that is derived from the musical key you've selected. Each chord circle has seven chord inversions around it, so you can play a variant of the root chord (minor, major seventh, augmented fifth etc). This gives you 63 chords to play in total in a really straight forward and easy-to-read (and touch) structure. Strum keys is a virtual keyboard with 13 keys or individual notes that are derived from the corresponding chord circle you're playing at the time. There are no keys present that wouldn't melodically fit in with the chord circle you're playing. Strum keys is placed horizontally at the edge of the iPad, making it really easy to reach for and play, as opposed to so many virtual keyboards that mimic a traditional piano layout. You can play individual or multiple keys, or strum the strum keys up and down, which produces a very satisfying sound. Additionally, swipe the keys to pitch bend or add tremolo. polychord lets you specify strum keys to play a specific scale pattern, like blues pentatonic, dominant Bebop or Ionian, depending on the style of music you're looking to play. The idea is to play chords with the chord circles and a melody over the chords with the strum keys. In theory, polychord makes it nigh on impossible to hit a wrong note, and with very little practice you'll soon have some nice chord circle progressions and strum keys melodies under your belt. Once you've got an idea for a song, turn on Auto Accompany to add drums and bass (27 patterns) to your track. There's also a customizable arpeggiator which plays the notes of the chord you're currently on. When you switch chords, Auto Accompany's drums, bass and arepggiator will follow you. It all adds much more dynamic to your song. For more advanced musicians, and those wanting to dig deeper, polychord lets you mould and tinker the sound with some very practical variations and customizations (filters, envelope control, warm and fat waves, bitshift mode and timing). It's all accessible and generally designed to be tweaked on the fly, particularly in live performances. When playing, everything is really responsive, with very little noticeable latency, so it really does feel like you're playing an instrument while you're tapping away on polychord. Additional features include saving and exporting, sharing with Soundcloud, Twitter and Facebook, MIDI (for using polychord as a controller with a DAW) as well as virtual MIDI (controlling other apps) and finally, full Audiobus support and integration. Speaking of Audiobus integration, polychord with a few other choice music apps on iPad (see video below) really does make for an exciting and rewarding music-making experience. Spending some time with polychord, the things I loved about it most are just how engaging and playable it is. And it sounds great, too! If you're looking to approach a musical task from a different angle (like songwriting), polychord is a great way to inspire and think differently. Or if you're a beginner, or someone looking to kill some time, polychord is also just a lot of fun, too! polychord is available from the iOS App Store now. For more info on polychord, check out the polychord website here.
triqtraq for iOS, an electro jam sequencer app
If you love Propellerhead's Figure app for iOS, you're sure to love triqtraq, a quick and easy music-inspiration and creation app for short bursts of creativity when you're waiting for a train with a few minutes to spare, or live for improvisation. With a library of more than 350 samples, triqtraq lets you create musical patterns on the fly, either by simply improvising and seeing what works or being a bit more specific and using the step editor. triqtraq has some exciting features, like specific sequence lengths per track, automation of effects in real time and automation of multiple tracks simultaneously. There's also the Loop Range, which creates poly-rhythms and other unique sounds / effects. To share your music creations, triqtraq offers export via SoundCloud, AudioCopy, iTunes or email. I've not had a chance to use triqtraq myself, but from what I've seen, a beginner could start using it and make some great sounds really easily, while there's plenty for the more advanced user to dig deeper into. triqtraq costs US$2.99 and is available from the App Store now. Have you used triqtraq? What do you think of it? Let us know in the comments below.
Figure for iOS updated to 1.4, adds social sharing and Audiobus support
Figure, Propellerhead's popular and inspiring music-making app for iOS, has been updated to 1.4. The update makes sharing your musical creations even easier, now with SoundCloud integration (and, by extension, sharing on Facebook and Twitter) and AudioCopy, which allows you to copy and paste your music into other compatible AudioCopy apps. The update also brings Audiobus support, making it possible to stream your music from Figure to other Audiobus-supported apps. Sharing your music from Figure has never been easier! Additional updates include background audio, so your music keeps playing when you leave the app, sorting of songs in the song list by name or date, and bug fixes and performance improvements. To celebrate the update, Propellerhead has announced a competition with some great prizes. To enter, simply create some music on Figure and share to SoundCloud. Each listen your track gets on SoundCloud equals a lottery ticket into the competition. Winners will be announced on March 15th, 2013, so get to it! Figure is available from the iOS App Store at US$0.99.
Scape, Brian Eno's new ambient music creation app is now available on the iPad (video)
Music making apps for the iPad are ten-a-penny, but when it's the brainchild of a super-producer like Brian Eno, you have to take notice. Scape is the third of his collaborations with Peter Chilvers after Bloom and Trope, an app that lets you generate ambient music with Eno's own sounds on a colorful, conceptual interface. Unlike standard beats'n'loops setups, each sound is tied to a series of rules -- including the time of day -- that ensures the tunes you create never play the same way twice. It's available from iTunes for $5.99 / £3.99, and who knows, maybe in a few years time, Coldplay'll come calling for your professional expertise.
Interview: Artist Growth for iOS helps manage your musical career
Artist Growth is making waves in the tech and music industry. For musicians, Artist Growth is a means to manage all your gigs (including live performance royalty registration), recording projects, merchandise, social media promotion as well as advice and mentoring from industry pros, all from your iPhone. Artist Growth gives you step-by-step directions on how to take the next step in your musical career, too. Whether you're just starting out or you're selling out venues, Artist Growth brings the administrative side of being a performing artist all into one easy to use place. And in the tech world, Artist Growth was just awarded Best Music App in the MTV O Music Awards, surpassing music tech giants like Spotify and Live Nation for the accolade. So what's all the fuss about? We were fortunate to spend some time with Jonathan Sexton, Co-Founder and Chief Administrative Officer of Artist Growth, to find out. The Unofficial Apple Weblog: Firstly, tell us about Artist Growth. Jonathan Sexton: Artist Growth is a tool that helps musicians and artists reach their full potential. It is a software platform available for iOS and all other mobile and web devices where artists can track and organize necessary business tasks, keep up with merchandise and receipts, and access financial reporting. In addition to these business management tools, Artist Growth boasts a database of 50k venue, press, and radio contacts (straight from the Indie Bible) and offers tutorial based features, such as AGtv. AGtv is a library of videos created by experts from all sides of the entertainment industry, ranging from GRAMMY-winning producers to leading journalists to label executives. Action Packs are another key feature where to-do lists are compiled by industry experts, and put on an industry standard timeline. When the "Action Pack" or goal is activated (i.e Promote a Show, Routing a Tour) all the action steps needed to accomplish it hit the users calendar exactly when the task needs to be done. When needed, the task links back to AGtv to give more insight and strategy on best practices geared for the artist. TUAW: How did it all come about? What was the moment when things clicked into place and you knew you needed to start Artist Growth? JS: My co-founder Matt Urmy and I have both been independent touring artists for many years. On the road, we would always share tips, trick, tools, and contacts. It didn't take too long to figure out that something was missing from the digital landscape and that we were the guys who could make it happen. We knew we needed a dashboard from which we could manage everything, look at data, organize tasks, and also a place we could learn anything we didn't already know how to do. It started on a napkin, moved on to a business plan, and now it is live on the web and the iOS App Store. TUAW: So Artist Growth was birthed out of your own personal experience with the music industry. Typically, musicians are great at being, well... musicians, but not so much businessmen and women. You guys learned that the hard way? JS: Absolutely. We have both learned so many things the hard way so there is certainly a desire to shorten the learning curve for people like us. When our careers really started moving and we started signing management contracts, booking agents, publishers, publicists etc. We learned quickly that there are all sorts of insider industry protocol we had previously known nothing about. For example, it changed my life the day I learned what a "press release" was. Now it seems common knowledge, but that moment of discovery was a game changer. I remember thinking, "So THAT's how I get the press to know what I'm up too." TUAW: Given the advent of digital music, home recording studios and platforms like Artist Growth, for the up and coming artist, where do you see the future of the music industry going? JS: Well, this may be a better topic for an entire book, but in short...it's in the artist's (and their teams) hands more than ever. Which is a really exciting opportunity for everyone involved, it just doesn't look like it used to. Formerly, an artist can get their music out, meet the right person, get signed and go for it. Now, the decline of album sales has led to a music economy that is much more DIY. Labels don't have the money to gamble acts like they used to, so they don't. My guess is that 4 or 5 artists per year get signed to any given major label. That doesn't mean labels do not play a huge role in the business, because they do. Labels remain very useful and relevant. The difference is that an artist needs to figure out how to make money on their own first, in order to present themselves as a "good investment." Figuring out how to do this is no small task, but a great start is to develop business acumen by setting measurable goals informed by data and laying out a plan to get there. This is what Artist Growth is designed to help artists do, in a way that removes the intimidation that artist's typically feel when attempting to turn their art into a business. Obviously, this is a ton of hard work, so you better be sure that you love it. It's not an easy road. The silver lining is if you can make it work then you're in a fantastic position moving forward because you've created options for yourself. Figuring out how to become profitable on your own creates leverage in negotiations with labels and other bigger music companies, or you can decide you like the way its going on your own and forgo the whole "big business" thing. When you've figured out how to make money, then it isn't about survival anymore, it's about what you want your personal accomplishments to be. You have the power. Artist Growth is free to download from the iOS App Store or register online. You get a 60 day free trial and form there it's US$5 a month. If you're a musician looking to take the next step in your musical career, I highly recommend you check it out.
Microsoft applies to patent gesture-based MIDI interface, turn us all into Jean Michel Jarre
Microsoft has applied to patent a free-space gesture controller for a MIDI interface that could see you kicking out jams on invisible instruments. Using a Kinect-style depth camera, individual movements would be mapped to notes and played out by the games console observing the action. The company actually teased a similar function in its Kinect Effect advert, where it showed cellists, violinists and pianists all miming in front of the sensor, although we doubt the technology is at a sufficiently capable stage just yet. If granted, it means we could see plenty of intentional arm-waving in future music games, or an even more outrageous stage show from the world's most beloved Gallic synth maven.
IK Multimedia announces AmpliTube SLASH for iOS and Mac
IK Multimedia has just announced AmpliTube Slash for iPhone, iPad and the Mac. Yes, that's right. Slash, the guitarist from Guns N' Roses (and many other musical projects), has teamed up with IK Multimedia to produce his signature pedals and amplifiers on AmpliTube. The app comes with two Slash signature Marshall amplifiers (the JCM Slash and AFD 100), and six pedals (Octo Blue, Booster, X-Chorus, Delay, Slash Distortion Wah and a gate). And, of course, a comprehensive collection of presets (including Paradise and Jungle, to name a few) to get your tone sounding just like Slash's. If you've used AmpliTube before, you'll feel right at home with how the app feels and operates. I was given an early release of the iOS version, and it's just as slick as AmpliTube for iOS (which we did a review of here) and AmpliTube Fender for iOS. And yes, it does sound very much like your playing through Slash's setup, it's almost uncanny! But the unique thing about this release of AmpliTube (apart from it having Slash's signature tone) is that Slash, the professional and legendary guitar player that he is, has partnered with IK and endorsed the app. This is a huge plug for the credibility of virtual guitar setups. Okay, he's not using it on stage or in the studio, but Slash says, "AmpliTube iRig comes in really handy for on-the-go practicing, recording, or just jamming on different ideas -- even if it's on the bus -- it's right with me all the time." So, for even the most experienced and professional guitar players out there, apps like Amplitube on mobile devices are becoming common place in their setups. Of course, if you're using AmpliTube on an iOS device you need IK Multimedia's iRig guitar interface (review also here) to actually plug your guitar in. And AmpliTube on the Mac requires an audio interface too. AmpliTube Slash for iOS costs US$9.99. Users of Ampltubue 3 on the Mac will shortly be able to purchase all the Slash gear as an add-on purchase through the AmpliTube Custom Shop system for $79.99. Check out the video below of Slash putting the app through its paces.
Hands on with the iKlip Studio stand for iPad
It's difficult to get excited about a stand for the iPad, unless it's something exceptional. But most of the time, a stand is to serve a very practical need. And with IK Multimedia producing a vast array of accessories and applications for musicians to use with their iPads and iPhones, it makes sense for them to make a stand for the iPad (like the iKlip for the iPhone and iPad -- attaching to a mic stand), but for the desktop. At US$29.99, the iKlip Studio for the iPad provides everything you need in a stand. It assembles in a matter of seconds and folds away virtually flat for transportation to your next studio session. It's made from shock-resistant thermoplastic, so it won't shatter if you drop it, or mark or scratch your iPad, either. Rubber foot pads are placed at the corners of the underside of the stand to make sure it doesn't go sliding and slipping about. Similarly, rubber foot pads are also found on the upper-side of the stand, which the iPad rests on, so your iPad won't fall out of the stand with a knock or jolt. The iKlip Studio has been well thought through. All your iPad's controls, buttons, connectors, and the camera are easily accessible. There's also ample space to accommodate a case for your iPad if you use one. When placed in portrait mode, there's a grill in the stand to allow sound from your iPad's speaker to come through as intended, without being muffled. If you have IK's iRig guitar adapter, there's a useful bracket that can be attached round the back to neatly house the adapter. Possibly the most useful feature is the flexible orientation of the iKlip Studio. You can tilt its position to a very low angle or have it just about vertically facing you, or anywhere in between. The iKlip Studio may not be the most aesthetically exciting stand around, but if you're looking for a stand which ticks all the practical boxes at a reasonable price, you won't go wrong with it.
How would you change Native Instruments' Maschine Mikro?
Native Instruments' gear is a must-have for those in the beat making world. We put the cheaper, dinkier Maschine Mikro through its paces and found that while we loved the portability, we weren't so hot on the lack of MIDI ports and absence of knobs for twiddlin'. That said, we weren't able to hate on the compromises that were made to bring it in under $600 and small enough to stow in a backpack, but how about you guys out there? When you've used this gear day in, day out, can you forgive its flaws in exchange for that extra cash in your hand, or do you wish you'd saved up a little more? If you were in NI's position, what would you have done differently?
