iPad Beatmaker Apps

iSequence for iPad

 

iSequence is a beat making app for your iPad. It has an 8-track sequencer, on board effects, and 160 instruments to choose from. Instruments range from a collection of acoustic kits to leads, pads, and more. You can also expand your sound library via the app store with additional sound sets for $1.99. Available effects include Filter, Reverb, Flanger, Delay, Ring Modulator, Equalizer, LO-FI crusher, live looper, Distortion.

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DM1 Drum Machine for iPad

 

DM1 is a classic drum machine for your iPad.  It is comprised of a traditional step sequencer, a drum pad section, a mixer,  an arranger, and X/Y FX pads.  You can manually input grooves via the seqencer or record a performance using the drum pad section.  Automatic quantization makes it easy to create beats on the fly.  No need to record a groove, stop playback, hit quantize, then start playback up and keep working.  Simply lay down a groove and keep building without ever breaking stride.

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Rebirth on iPad

 

Propellerhead’s Rebirth has been a popular desktop production tool for many years, so I knew it was just a matter of time before it made its way to the iPad.  Rebirth is a beat making app built around the popular TB-303 and TR 808 and 809 drum machines.  The groove engine behind all three of these modules is a programmable step sequencer with various effects.  You’ll get a Compressor, Tempo-synced Delay, Distortion, a Pattern Controlled filter, and Mixing section for polishing your creations.

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OscilloScoop for iPad

 

OscilloScoop is a unique beat making app for the iPad.  It comes with 6 beat sets and the ability to save presets from your creations.  The thing that makes OscilloScoop unique is its visual interface and sound engine.  Three spinning crowns allow for the manipulation of tone/pitch, filter, and volume.  As the crowns spin you can morph these effects by sliding your fingers vertically across them.

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Electrify for iPad

 

Electrify is a virtual Groovebox for your iPad.  It makes use of sampling and step sequencing to create music.  The on board sample library contains more than six hundred samples and gives you the ability to import your own as well.  Export your songs in high quality .WAV format.  Electrify also comes with 8 effects processors and 7 editable parameters for each step in your sequence allowing for detailed editing and tweaking.  Audio copy and paste functions make it compatible with other music making apps as well.

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Ratatap Drums for iPad

 

Ratatap Drums is a free beat making app for your iPad.  It boasts 10 drum kits and lots of great sounds.  I recommend upgrading to Ratatap Pro via in app purchase for $2, which will give you the ability to edit drum size, appearance, and location.  You can also add reverb, and tuning to your drum sounds in the Pro version.

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Reactable Mobile for iPad

 

Reactable Mobile is a music creation app based off of its hardware predecessor, Reactable, which costs thousands of dollars.  Fortunately for iPad users the iOS version rings in at $9.99.   The problem is that, while the hardware version is an amazing performance and creation tool, the app is simply unimpressive.  A cluttered interface and catalog of sub par samples make this unique approach to sound design a hot mess – to say the least.

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Tabletop for iPad

 

Introducing Tabletop, a music production and remixing app for disc jockeys and producers alike.  Tabletop is a great production workstation because of it’s extensive number of tools (for iOS) and the ability to mix and route these devices within the app. Retronyms (the developer) call this program an audio playground and I think that description is dead on.  You can choose from mixers, samplers, effects, sequencers, and expand your options even further with the purchase of app store additions.

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Sound Trends Introduces Meta.DJ for iPad

 

Meta.DJ($9.99) is a DJing performance app for the iPad.  It allows you import tracks and remix them on the fly with effects and built-in instruments.  You can import tracks directly from iTunes into Track Decks and and choose from up to 15 different effects.  Automatic BPM detection allows for smooth syncing of remixed elements and even makes this app useful in live situations.

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Aurora Sound Studio HD

 

Developed by Limelight Software, Aurora is a musical sequencing program for your iPad (also available for iPhone and iPod Touch).  It doesn’t have recording capabilities but could be considered a complete production suite as it does give you the necessary tools to compose a full musical arrangement.

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