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Are Music Apps having a lean period.
I've been following the iOS music app scene now for 4 years plus and I've never known a time when so few new apps have not hit the App Store. At the time when apps like Sunrizer hit the streets there seemed to be 2 or 3 big player drops in synths, drum machines, DAWS, and other instruments every 1 to 2 weeks. Have we now reached saturation point on the music app scene, have all ideas for new apps been covered. Or is there still a lot more to come? Are developers waiting for new iOS software, or a new more powerful ipad to push the boundaries? What's the groups take?
Comments
Maybe software developers have realised that their ROI is limited or non-existent now. I think the initial rush period is coming to a close.
There are so many great synths & DAW's of all kinds available that it is extraordinarily difficult to get noticed and attract sales, especially when people shout "too expensive" or "I am not getting that until I see a sale".
I would imagine we will see a slowing down of product we are used too, but an increase of apps such as Earhoof, that take a slightly different path.
The development of music apps is not an easy task. I think it is mainly a lack of resources. Furthermore, the app pricing model is problematic. The apps have to be cheap and the updates have to be free -- that can not work in the long run. I think this is the main reason why not a single music app is really finished. Something is missing in any music app, often just small things (e.g. the lack of MIDI synchronization).
I can see a lot more to come and it's needed, apple is in control with their market strategy. I think the ios music production surge took them by surprise, me too, 3 years ago when I got my first ipad which at 3 or 4 years puts this still at its infancy. Mac book pro is their flagship mobile product. When the two merge, at least in my take, then well see a completely different landscape and the big boys will step in. There is quite a deficit working on ios right now, you get touch and gesture, which is huge and changed how I produce music largely, but lack cohesiveness, maturity and horse power. Things will change in a years time, how much, depends on Apple.
Noticed this too. Introductions of new instrument apps in particular seem to have died right down, effects and sound manipulation apps are still being released on a fairly regular basis though.
And we've seen some great updates to existing apps such as Guitarism.
Maybe it's just that there are so many synth, piano, guitar and drums apps now that developers are looking elsewhere for inspiration, and the fields of recording/mastering, effects and pattern manipulation are where they're finding it, so it seems.
Here's hoping for some great new instruments soon, though!
DrumPerfect, iVCS3, Soundfont Pro, Nice To Be Your Friend Synth, Real Piano Free, The Piano : 3D - all instruments released in the last few months. There's probably others as well that didn't pique my interest. Beepstreet are working on a new synth, as are Twisted Wave, there's an iFretless Strings in the pipeline, etc., etc.
I, for one, welcome a break from lots of new music apps. It gives me more chance to make music with what I already have
But, yes, I am sure there will be plenty more to come in the future 
My wallet is happy... having a constant stream of (relatively) cheap apps just means I end up buying more of them, rather than saving any money.
I'm not sure if the main premise of this thread is true. We'd actually have to compare the numbers on this. So far almost every developer I know is working on the next iOS audio app.
Maybe It is time for the new exciting stage where after many emulations of the old boxes we'll get inundated by more creative approaches use of touch screen to make music.
@Sebastian Jarek told me he is waiting for AB 2 SDK to go public to implement it in his very popular set of apps. Any idea when?
I haven't been in the "app game" long enough (just a few intense months) to give a longitudinal opinion on if this is a lean period or not. To me, there's SO much content already in the store, what we need isn't "new" apps, per se, but improvements to and support for existing apps.
You see it on these forums all the time: "_______ Synth from 2011 now on the Bus!" The App Store had tons of these noise maker apps that even the developer may never have considered serious music making tools. AudioBus turned all of them into potential "instruments" - some good, some bad, but all of it subjective. YUMI Synth is a good example of that: an older app with a very lukewarm 3.5 star rating, but if it adds AB or another export option, somebody will find something musical to do with it for 99 cents.
Looking at guitar apps, specifically, BIAS for iPad (and later iPhone) are relatively new developments. I'll bet there was a time when people said "We have Amplitube, why do we need more guitar apps?" If you do something innovative, or even repeat something but do it BETTER, you can charge for it on the App Store. I agree that the economics of it are messed up in the long run, but much like owning a sports franchise, a lot of the independent developers aren't in it to make money. I think they make apps that they would want to use, and enjoy other people appreciating their work. That's why it's important to support those people with purchases and written support in reviews and on forums.
@supadom said:
He already has access to it.
Available apps are already overwhelming. Personally, I want time to develop and grow my craft and my vision with what is already available. We're insanely beyond my Roland 880EX from the 90's...much less the 4 track cassette(quadraverb, DX & HR16) based home studios of the 80's.
@Sebastian said:
Mmmmm, interesting.
Ah ok, I just re-read the message. He's waiting for the official SDK.
I think "common" apps are saturated. Everyone has the basics. Everyone is having to step up their game and get more creative. Since @Sebastian knows hundreds of developers and since he said that every developer he knows is working on the next big thing, I suspect we have some really cool stuff coming up soon. :-) We've just hit a quiet period because all the developers have their heads down and are busy working.
:-)
This might be an interesting topic for Doug to take on in his next weekly IOS news show.
No need for more apps, I would be happy with improvements for existing ones and in IAA, making them work better together. There is still no good, complete DAW available, app switching is stupid, etc.
+1 on what @raz said - I don't have the answer on how to do it, exactly, or I'd be a developer...but you could argue that we could use a more convenient, AudioBus-friendly DAW meant for iOS. I use MT DAW mostly because it is low CPU usage and simple, but it's basically just a stripped down version of Audacity for mobile.
App switching in IAA is getting a bit better now that developers are getting a little bit better at using it.
I welcome any new apps, even if I have to pay for some of them, but it's not "more" new options that would be at the top of my list. An update to a prior app is equally as exciting to me, if it makes what we already have work better.
I have an addiction to feed so I'm eagerly awaiting new apps. I've resorted to buying apps like Audulus, great app but I know I'll never use it.
@NoiseHorse said:
If you are interested, here's Tim Webb's take: http://discchord.com/blog/2014/1/1/new-years-predictions-2014.html
Perhaps we're only in one of those pre-Bell Curve moments... You may have noticed some small trend only because you pay attention to the scene. I think we could be seeing the 'calm before the storm' of devs who dang-sure better get their worthy stuff on the Bus!
@Bsteff21 said:
Yeah, but for the money? All this audio power? At least you can't get DUIs consuming apps!
Yep, innovation baby. I agree with Tim. I think we'll see some cool beat based effects coming our way this year too!
I think the premise is false. This is not a lean period at all. More music apps keep hitting the App Store on almost a daily basis. If anything, there is more of a spread of different kinds of apps. Too late for me here in London to go into this deeply but you only need to check all the iOS music blogs to see that there is a much more diversified music apps now available. How many drum machines or synths do you need to make some noise? What I can say is that iOS producers are more choosy these days; you can't have all the apps :-)
+1 to @AlterEgo_UK's statement, agree completely! would like to see some improvements on the apps we already have available, of which there are some great ones.
I look at it like things have been great so far and it will only get better as devices improve and devs make use of what they have to work with. Much thanks for this informative website and all of the help I have received here. Also for the AB guys for providing a much needed app, a place to discuss issues, and for the devs that chime in.
I don't use a lot of the apps I have purchased but I am glad to have them on my iPad in case the time arises. A mobile device capable of many of the things I can accomplish on my desktop DAW is priceless. Many of my friends are envious of what is possible musically on my porch, out in the yard, on my boat, camping, or waiting in line somewhere.
Thanks for what we have at our fingertips.
I kind of agree with the op as I think I have become quite de-sensitised to new releases unless they are something special....
One reason for this is I know without question i need more Ram & CPU to accomplish what I wish to accomplish in terms of app multitasking and my preferred workflow.
Eg: Cubasis as a Daw with Ab2 state saving etc with multiple apps working together.
Another is that every Daw I have has key features missing and are basically in mid development.
All the above have workarounds but if I'm honest they are mostly beat by my inclination to wait until I don't have to workaround them, bugs and all.
My favourite and most productive and hassle free ios workflow is Nanostudio or BM2 sampling via Audiobus. No ram or CPU issues!
Gadget is cool but where are the new Gadgets?
I think there's still some way to go before ios music production pulls me away again from my laptop, Ableton live and my iConnect Midi 2. Maybe with a new ipad release and an Auria midi update
If a lean period exists it won't for long. I have been making livable money in the freelancing world with music and I see a lot of projects for music apps. Unfortunatey many people have no clue about ab2 and what is already out there.
I have watched projects get delisted after I kindly explained to them that their awesome idea for an app that let's a user "record music and change the instrument if needed" already exists. And I have also explained to a few that they better have a method to connect the app to others or it will not be bought. Many entrepreneurs do not simply google their idea or they would see they are remaking the wheel that has been remade already.