Review on BM compatible Apps
This is a quick review on apps compatible with BM. All of them I own personally and have been used often.(or not because some arent too great.)
This review includes: iSequence, nLog Synth, Argon, Jasuto Pro, Bassline, Thumbjam and Drumtrack8.
I AM IN NO WAY ADVERTISING ANY PRODUCT. I AM GETTING NOTHING OUT OF THIS. I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY COMPANY.
For the record, I'm only an amateur. I'm trying hard to learn to produce because its part of my plan in life. I started out by using BM, and now I'm moving on to the computer. However, BM remains as a great tool, and I respect it as my starting step into producing music. So, I'm no pro and therefore this is strictly a half average Joe/half growing musical mind review. If there are any questions, feel free to ask and I'll answer as best I can.
Anyways, lets start this off.
iSequence
iSequence is something like taking the BM sequencer, getting a grip of good sounds, and making the process more technical. You get two free banks of 100 drumkits/instruments to start, and can purchase up to 200 more. There are plenty of drum kits (you start with 15), but what I found is that iSequence is better suited for making melodies. Keep in mind that iSequence is not semi tonal, meaning it isnt like BMs melody creation. It is very much like having a small button like keyboard, and the sounds are all well orchestrated and properly tuned. Despite this, it is difficult to come up with a melody on iSequence alone. This is why I usually make a melody using the Grand piano on Thumnbjam(see below) and then write down the keys, then go to iSequence in order to lay it down and pick a sound that works. A huge aspect of iSequence is the fact that you can make a melody with one instrument/drum kit, and easily keep the same melody and switch to a different sound/drum kit. Perfect for creating chorus like melodies that flow together well, or just finding that right sound. iSequence can make loops as long as you'd want them to be. Its only limitation sequencewise is that the sequencing space is cramped and could use 2 more columns. But thats a minor issue. If your one of those people who is just too lazy to upload samples of your own into your idevice or maybe cant for certain reasons, investing in iSequence is a smart move if just for that reason alone. I highly suggest getting the Acoustic and Club Sample banks. Funny Farm was one of the worst dollars I ever spent, but maybe I just lack a sense of humor lol. I have not yet tried the Synth bank.
In conclusion, iSequence is a useful sequencer for making technical melodies, exploring different sounds for those melodies, and getting some good solid drum kits and can even be used alone to compose full songs.
nLog Synth
If you play an actual keyboard, then the app for you is nLog synth. If your skeptical on this, just go try the free version which showcases about 70% of its capabilities. This app is truly amazing. Its the kind of application that makes you want an iPad badly (or probably extremely happy you own one haha). It is a synth in your pocket. Thats a simple as it gets. It comes with tons of presets, although many sound similar(not a new thing when it comes to keyboards). However if your into making your own sounds, the possibilities are endless. You can alter every aspect of the sound. Delay, phasing, XY filter(you can set the effect), cutoff, resonance, release,LIVE pitch,oscillation... the list goes on and on. To be honest, i don't know what most of these terms mean yet, but I know that all of them allow me to make original and fresh sound. You can save them to a personal custom bank. There is a recorder with metronome as well. If you aren't into making your own sound however, I wouldn't recommend nLog. For the synth heads, there is an appregiator <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> . nLog makes it easy to make one shot recordings(you can layer as well) and see them easily filed in a folder. From there you can easily copy to the pasteboard and go to BM.The only issues I have with nLog are ones that are not fixable. Meaning, I wish my itouch could somehow expand horizontally lol. But, nLog solves that issue for the most part by allowing you to have a split screen with two parts of the keyboard, as well as giving you the ability to change the key size. i short, nLog is a synth in your pocket,and if your willing to whip up a good sound youll get awesome results.
Argon
(In progress, i'll continue this later)
This review includes: iSequence, nLog Synth, Argon, Jasuto Pro, Bassline, Thumbjam and Drumtrack8.
I AM IN NO WAY ADVERTISING ANY PRODUCT. I AM GETTING NOTHING OUT OF THIS. I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY COMPANY.
For the record, I'm only an amateur. I'm trying hard to learn to produce because its part of my plan in life. I started out by using BM, and now I'm moving on to the computer. However, BM remains as a great tool, and I respect it as my starting step into producing music. So, I'm no pro and therefore this is strictly a half average Joe/half growing musical mind review. If there are any questions, feel free to ask and I'll answer as best I can.
Anyways, lets start this off.
iSequence
iSequence is something like taking the BM sequencer, getting a grip of good sounds, and making the process more technical. You get two free banks of 100 drumkits/instruments to start, and can purchase up to 200 more. There are plenty of drum kits (you start with 15), but what I found is that iSequence is better suited for making melodies. Keep in mind that iSequence is not semi tonal, meaning it isnt like BMs melody creation. It is very much like having a small button like keyboard, and the sounds are all well orchestrated and properly tuned. Despite this, it is difficult to come up with a melody on iSequence alone. This is why I usually make a melody using the Grand piano on Thumnbjam(see below) and then write down the keys, then go to iSequence in order to lay it down and pick a sound that works. A huge aspect of iSequence is the fact that you can make a melody with one instrument/drum kit, and easily keep the same melody and switch to a different sound/drum kit. Perfect for creating chorus like melodies that flow together well, or just finding that right sound. iSequence can make loops as long as you'd want them to be. Its only limitation sequencewise is that the sequencing space is cramped and could use 2 more columns. But thats a minor issue. If your one of those people who is just too lazy to upload samples of your own into your idevice or maybe cant for certain reasons, investing in iSequence is a smart move if just for that reason alone. I highly suggest getting the Acoustic and Club Sample banks. Funny Farm was one of the worst dollars I ever spent, but maybe I just lack a sense of humor lol. I have not yet tried the Synth bank.
In conclusion, iSequence is a useful sequencer for making technical melodies, exploring different sounds for those melodies, and getting some good solid drum kits and can even be used alone to compose full songs.
nLog Synth
If you play an actual keyboard, then the app for you is nLog synth. If your skeptical on this, just go try the free version which showcases about 70% of its capabilities. This app is truly amazing. Its the kind of application that makes you want an iPad badly (or probably extremely happy you own one haha). It is a synth in your pocket. Thats a simple as it gets. It comes with tons of presets, although many sound similar(not a new thing when it comes to keyboards). However if your into making your own sounds, the possibilities are endless. You can alter every aspect of the sound. Delay, phasing, XY filter(you can set the effect), cutoff, resonance, release,LIVE pitch,oscillation... the list goes on and on. To be honest, i don't know what most of these terms mean yet, but I know that all of them allow me to make original and fresh sound. You can save them to a personal custom bank. There is a recorder with metronome as well. If you aren't into making your own sound however, I wouldn't recommend nLog. For the synth heads, there is an appregiator <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> . nLog makes it easy to make one shot recordings(you can layer as well) and see them easily filed in a folder. From there you can easily copy to the pasteboard and go to BM.The only issues I have with nLog are ones that are not fixable. Meaning, I wish my itouch could somehow expand horizontally lol. But, nLog solves that issue for the most part by allowing you to have a split screen with two parts of the keyboard, as well as giving you the ability to change the key size. i short, nLog is a synth in your pocket,and if your willing to whip up a good sound youll get awesome results.
Argon
(In progress, i'll continue this later)
Comments