Please recommend a music app for Newbie

StMichaels

Hi,

I first want to thank all that have helped me to get things organized for my son's Christmas gift. I am excited myself:)

You see, he spends much time on games and I would love for him to start learning how to create music. He seems to like listening to game scores (nintendo, motherbound etc.)

I really wish that he would get an interest in this, and was wondering if you could recommend synths/sounds for a newbie to get "hooked" in the realms of mobile music creation what would it be?

Something that is fun, yet still apply learning of synths, sequencers, arps and that obviously sounds great!

Thanks!

illaddin

Gadget for sure

MikeyP

Sidenote: If VideoGames Live ever comes to your town, definitely go. Amazing experience.

johnfromberkeley

Second on gadget. It's a great start. The Kingston and Kamata gadgets are specifically chiptune.

He also might like the 8-bit Music Theory Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeZLO2VgbZHeDcongKzzfOw

Don't underestimate Garageband.

If you can get him to sit through these videos, awesome:

(there's two more).

Finally: piano lessons.

Sbee

I would go with GarageBand first for ease of use. Then give him the choice later to go onto Gadget.

What don’t want is for him to find his first app too complicated and give up.

Also try not give him too many things to choose from which could also put him off.. I tried and failed with my teenaged son.

Good luck on your mission

db909

Auxy and Figure are both free and both capable, user friendly music makers. You can buy more sounds for Auxy if you want and it is designed to sound very good. Also many Auxy users started out with Auxy so there's that. Gadget is very capable and good and I own it myself, but I worry it might be a little too complicated for an absolute beginner. There's a lot of options.

JangoMango

GarageBand... easier than falling off a log....

AndyPlankton

Garageband.....very easy to use and the visual instruments make it easier for a newbie to make the link between the virtual and the real.

They use Garageband in my daughters school, it helps her a lot that she can be taught something at school, and then be able to practice that herself when she is at home.

ExAsperis99

Garageband is not quite as easy as you're making out. You need to understand the theory of multitrack recording and audio lanes. Same with Gadget, which is great fun and really inspiring — although if your son is into trap or country, or anything not actually EDM, he might get bored with it.

I second Auxy and Figure — these are really fun and almost foolproof. You can't make a bad beat on either of them, especially Figure. And Figure is a lot like a game, too.

oat_phipps

Yeah, Gadget is probably overwhelming for a first timer who doesn’t know notes/scales and has probably never seen a MIDI piano roll before.

Figure may be free, but I think it’s the best gateway to music on iOS. I’ve been trying to get my friend who I’ve written songs with for 15 years now to get into iOS music, even put a lot of the friendlier apps on his phone from my account last time I visited (including Gadget)...the only thing he didn’t delete was Figure.

wellingtonCres

excellent answers already, but maybe triqtraq?

Triqtraq - Jam Sequencer by Zaplin Music

robosardine

Korg iKaossilator has got to be up there as an option-

ExAsperis99

@wellingtonCres said:
excellent answers already, but maybe triqtraq?

Triqtraq - Jam Sequencer by Zaplin Music

Absolutely. Immediate fun and highly adaptable. Plus you get to spend a little money, which is important to teenagers, if I recall.

fjcblanco

+1 for TriqTraq.

And (IMHO): Pixitracker, (Standard or 8 bits) Cotracks, even Caustic or iSequenceHD (with Chiptunes bank).

wigglelights

I'd agree that Tritraq or Figure that might be a great intro for a gamer - kinda idiot proof all from one screen. GarageBand a close second with all its smart instrument..... might wanna consider what sort of music he prefers in that choice...

teleb

@StMichaels said:
Hi,

I first want to thank all that have helped me to get things organized for my son's Christmas gift. I am excited myself:)

You see, he spends much time on games and I would love for him to start learning how to create music. He seems to like listening to game scores (nintendo, motherbound etc.)

I really wish that he would get an interest in this, and was wondering if you could recommend synths/sounds for a newbie to get "hooked" in the realms of mobile music creation what would it be?

Something that is fun, yet still apply learning of synths, sequencers, arps and that obviously sounds great!

Thanks!

Does he have any experience with music? Does he play an instrument?

Generally, GarageBand is a great app to start with. Many sounds, quite easy to use. A bunch of loops in various genres are included. Great touch instruments to play own melodies. And last but not least the Smart Instruments are gems to get some music done the easy way.

teleb

Noise isn't a bad app for starting.

CracklePot

Dhalang MG, and Sunvox controlled by Modstep.
(nah, stay away from those for now)

I think iKaosillator, or maybe Launchpad and a Launchpad controller would get any kid interested.

DeVlaeminck

ThumbJam. And Bebot must never be forgotten.

Will

Figure, Auxy, GarageBand. In that order.

Triqtraq and gadget are awesome but I reckon they both presume a certain amount of intention from the start.

db909

Another vote for ikaossilator. Probably the most fun and toy like of them all, but powerful nonetheless. Also, there's nothing else like it

realdavidai

GarageBand and point him at the virtual drum set first.

RUST( i )K

Dhalang.

RUST( i )K

@RUST( i )K said:
Dhalang.

Kidding

Easy Answer

Figure
Native Instrument iMaschine
Synthmaster

I really would be happy with these 3 apps anyway come to think of it.

Here is iMaschine I did this eating my lunch on my iPhone.

sonicreef

Looptunes, LooptunesHD or LooptunesDJ

super easy to use, high instant gratification factor. A lot of fun.

teleb

As long as we do not know anything about experience in that area which already might exist, no suggestion can be seriously fitting the individual situation

Looping_Loddar

Dont miss some free apps:

https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/beat-machine-audio-sequencer/id1229389230?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/figure-make-music-beats/id511269223?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geometric-music/id886989888?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/snap-reactable-drum-machine/id1276650009?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/björk-solstice/id488541912?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scythe/id451337446?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coldplay-hypnotised/id1214700084?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skram-electronic-music-maker/id1085836793?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundprism/id386833491?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chiptunes-pro/id838163742?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grantophone/id476003757?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/beatonal-easy-music-maker/id1157803880?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ton-drum-machine/id1224621320?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ituttle/id707128902?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/garageband/id408709785?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blocs-wave/id1085697317?mt=8

knewspeak

Caustic, it's even available on that other system

RUST( i )K

@sonicreef said:
Looptunes, LooptunesHD or LooptunesDJ

super easy to use, high instant gratification factor. A lot of fun.

x2

And it makes your wiener bigger

supadom

Garage Band for getting whole songs together

Thumbjam for error free finger playing

Loopy for recording voice loops etc.

I think korg gadget might be a little advanced for a newbie and probably a bit expensive for something that might not work out.

Good luck

JeffChasteen

Tonestack, an interface, and an electricguitar