BeatMaker is one of the most sophisticated music apps available for the iPhone. A loop construction studio laden with professional features, it is worth its high - for the App Store - price of $19.99.
Developed by Intua, BeatMaker is a breeze to use, featuring robust real-time and step-sequenced recording modes. Users can even create their own kits using their own samples with the BeatPack software download for both Windows and Mac PCs. Ultimately, songs can be exported in either the WAV or AIFF audio file formats.
BeatMaker for the iPhone Features
- 16 Sample Pads with Excellent Action
- Easy-to-use Pattern/Song Creation Views
- Mixer with Effects Buss
- Both Real-Time and Sequenced Recording
- Four Different Time Signatures
- Audio Recording (2G and 3G iPhones and 2G iPod Touches)
- BeatPack Software Allows User-Created Kits
- Export Songs in WAV and AIFF formats
- Original Sound Library/Kits
- Guest Artists Kits (including Richard Devine, Jacque Polynice, more)
Virtual Drum Pads with Fast Action
BeatMaker's elegant interface uses four main screens which each allow access to more sophisticated functionality. A flyout menu at the top of each screen allows the user to navigate between the other screens. Another flyout menu at the bottom contains a transport panel with the play, record, loop, and metronome buttons along with the tempo and current position of the song.
The Pad View is the easiest way to record patterns. The 16 pads feature action that rivals the excellent iPhone drumming app, Digidrummer. The iPhone's multi-touch screen is well-supported, as up to five pads can be hit simultaneously.
Various menu buttons lie to the left of the pads, allowing the control of pad specific or song specific parameters. The Maestro button leads to a screen to control the song's tempo and time signature. The Mixer button does the same for each pad's volume and pan settings along with its effects routing. Each sample's start and end points are configurable after tapping the Sample Button.
Another button allows the addition and editing of new patterns directly from the pad screen which is perfect for real-time recording. There is even an X-Y effects tweaking screen similar to the virtual KAOSS pad from the Korg DS-10 for the Nintendo DS. All told, there is a stunning amount of functionality for an iPhone app, and this is just the Pad View.
Creating Loops Under Hip-Hop Supervision
BeatMaker's Sequencer View contains the Step Sequencer and Song Sequencer screens which allow a more detailed methodology to be used in loop construction. Patterns created using either the step sequencer or the pads are assembled into songs in the Song Sequencer screen by selecting which patterns play over a song's timeline. This is all elegantly accomplished on the iPhone using finger taps and swipes.
In addition to creating beats on its grid, the Step Sequencer screen allows those beats to be fine tuned using the groove editor to change the feel of a loop. The step editor even makes it possible to create simple melodies by changing the underlying sample's pitch upon playback.
The FX View is where additional sonic manipulation is possible through the use of virtual effect units, including delay, 3-Band EQ, filters, and a bit-crusher. There are two sets of effects; one for each effect buss. The pads are routed to each buss through the screen accessed from the Mixer button.
User-Created Drum Sets and More
The Home View is where BeatMaker's kits and songs are loaded and saved. BeatMaker comes with a nice supply of sounds and kits created both by Intua and by various Electronica artists, including Richard Devine and Jacque Polynice.
While the main BeatMaker software lets the user export their sonic creations in either the WAV or AIFF formats, the downloadable BeatPack software for PC and MAC desktops allows new BeatMaker drum kits to be created using one's own samples.
BeatPack also allows for the creation of servers to share BeatMaker kits and songs between both the desktop and iPhone and between BeatMaker owners. There is a robust online community of BeatMaker owners because of this additional functionality.
BeatMaker is a highly recommended loop creation tool for the iPhone. While the price is near the top of available iPhone apps, its professional-level functionality and elegant UI easily justify its cost.
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