What are the most inspiring and expressive instruments on iOS ?

noisefan

I always enjoyed experimenting with the unique modular synth Jasuto. The way that modules could move around and their motion could be recorded and looped, combined with the amazing feature of distance between nodes affecting the sonic relationship is bonkers!

Something similar could be done with a mouse/pointer interface but not the ability to nudge a bunch of nodes with each of my fingers at the same time.

[Deleted User]

I agree, Korg did the worst multi-touch input ever

Philippe

Hexaglifics in the noise field is excellent , and LCW-1, 8 pads of synth tweakable as one is played, one of my favorite lite app compatible with split view, a good partner for thumb jam and tc-11.

cian

iDensity/iPulsaret. Never really got granular before those apps - but they just make it so tangible for me.

Also Virsyn Cube/Addictive Pro for additive synthesis.

LeonLeroy

@Mark B said:

@LeonLeroy said:

@Mark B said:
Anything that allows you to set velocity and glide your fingers for polyphonic aftertouch. Animoog was a revelation when I first tried it. The worst iOS keyboard is Korg Gadget.

i think the lexington keys are terrific

The keyboards are all fixed velocity. No aftertouch. Not all of them have pitch bend or modulation wheels.

now that you mention it...totally.

Will

Impaktor.

DrumJam.

+1s for bebot, tc-11, thumbjam, orphion, and animoog.

Animoog is kind of based on a keyboard but, not. It's not just the addition of the Y access for parameter control, it's also the ability to set how hard it does pitch correction on the X axis that makes it magic.

audiblevideo

DrumJam ThumbJam- one finger fun

Soundprism - all the cords no "mistakes" and 3 part orchestration

Xynthesizr - great random generator. Multiple midi outs. Easy sequencer transposition and alteration.

GeoShred and Geo Synth - the sounds on Shred are like nothing in iOS.

Animoog - nuff said

ReSlice - take sounds repatten them

Figure, SeekBeats, SquashIt and Echopitch

BigDawgsByte

For me its simply the sheer volume of Synths, Effects, DAWS, MIDI generators, touch instruments, etc. There are literally hundreds. I have over 70 synths/keyboards and even more effect apps. No way can I afford this on my Macs. When I'm bored I just pick a random app and see where it leads me. This is why I bought a 512GB iPad, simply to make sure I could have all my apps available all the time. No way I can go through everything in my lifetime so there is always something new to play with!

LemurFlight

Bebot!

iansainsbury

agree with pretty much everything here (Samplr and Animoog in particular). Only one mention of Borderlands Granular so far, though. That app is stunning - and so suited to the touch screen. One day, I'll actually use the thing in a piece of music!!

Gaia.Tree

Def Samplr and Geoshred for me so far.

grizzlegritz

@JRSIV said:
The iOS platform is unique for many reasons but @Alex fox you hit upon the biggest differentiator and reason to switch from desk/laptop IMO: the touchscreen interface.

Although some balk at the sea change from knobs & buttons to flat glass (hey, I love me some knobs too), it takes mixing, performance and composition to entirely new level.

The standard bearers of the tech like Animoog, ThumbJam and even manipulation devices like Borderlands and Samplr are unimaginable without the touchscreen.

So those classics are definitely in the race and I'd throw in Yonac's Slide Guitar app too, that thing is incredibly cool.

@JRSIV said:
The iOS platform is unique for many reasons but @Alex fox you hit upon the biggest differentiator and reason to switch from desk/laptop IMO: the touchscreen interface.

Although some balk at the sea change from knobs & buttons to flat glass (hey, I love me some knobs too), it takes mixing, performance and composition to entirely new level.

The standard bearers of the tech like Animoog, ThumbJam and even manipulation devices like Borderlands and Samplr are unimaginable without the touchscreen.

So those classics are definitely in the race and I'd throw in Yonac's Slide Guitar app too, that thing is incredibly cool.

@JRSIV said:
The iOS platform is unique for many reasons but @Alex fox you hit upon the biggest differentiator and reason to switch from desk/laptop IMO: the touchscreen interface.

Although some balk at the sea change from knobs & buttons to flat glass (hey, I love me some knobs too), it takes mixing, performance and composition to entirely new level.

The standard bearers of the tech like Animoog, ThumbJam and even manipulation devices like Borderlands and Samplr are unimaginable without the touchscreen.

So those classics are definitely in the race and I'd throw in Yonac's Slide Guitar app too, that thing is incredibly cool.

Will

Forgot Samplr in my +1 stream. For sure.

Also, Drumjam in general but the Bedlam feature in particular.

Will

Also, maybe a little different from the original request, but there is something inspiring—or at least inspiration preserving—about apps with really buttery workflows. Even if the sounds or the UI or ... isn't particularly revolutionary or maximizing the possibilities of touch/multi-touch. Figure, Auxy and Nanostudio fit into this camp for me. The delight of sliding your finger around on Bebot or Thumbjam is similar. The sheer simplicity of Loopy. That these apps go out of there way to stay out of your way is something.

RedSkyLullaby

Fingerfiddle

[Deleted User]

Gestrument has some potential in the touch arena

Kühl

I'm always using Symphony Pro, but that's because I prefer to write notes without the disturbance of any sound

gusgranite

Refraktions

LeonLeroy

@LeonLeroy said:

@eross said:
even though it's not audiobus compatible....if you have a phone or ipad with touch pressure. Roli's seaboard 5d.
for just plain pitch and modhweel fun. poison 202
thumbjamb is very expressive.
animoog
there are lots ios is an awesome platform for synth and effect apps

5d is sooooo good and totally ruined by its lack of compatibility.

there is an animoog preset pack that focuses on expressive touch---it's not through moog and the name of it escapes me atm ---i will check when i get back to my ipad--but they are amazing.

TF7's pads are fun too

luftrum presets for animoog. cant say enough about them

realdavidai

GarageBand touch instruments.

lukesleepwalker

@Fruitbat1919 said:
Gestrument has some potential in the touch arena

Great call! I keep waiting for V2...

iansainsbury

@syrupcore said:
Forgot Samplr in my +1 stream. For sure.

Also, Drumjam in general but the Bedlam feature in particular.

Yes, fantastic app. Also think finger fiddle would pay dividends if enough time was put into learning it. Although, I can't stop smirking whenever I say finger fiddle.

bert

Nanologue is inspiring for me. A one page UI, a seemingly simple synth, but what a sounds you can get from it!

JeffChasteen

@Fruitbat1919 said:
Gestrument has some potential in the touch arena

Doubleplus this!

hazardtears

Borderlands is amazing and surprisingly versatile with its automation recording. Midi tools on ios made me fell in love with midi programming (Midi designer, midilfos, midisequencer, fugue machine) and all the granular tools are superb too. Two areas of music production i used to avoid!

also anything that is playful and unexpected, like fluXpad = loving em!

lovadamusic

GeoShred. I’ve also played many hours with the virtual guitar and other string instrument interfaces in GarageBand.

Peanutcram

SpringSound wasn't mentioned yet. It is expressive.

RUST( i )K

GeoShred

Thumbjam

DrumJam

TC 11