12 of the best Android apps
We have only had a few of them so far, so let’s round up some of the other apps you can download for Android. (These are on top of FL Studio, Cubasis, Caustic et al, included in our other categories)
01 AUDIO EVOLUTION MOBILE STUDIO $9.99 DAW | AN/ iOS | AUDIO & MIDI TRACKS, EVOLUTION ONE SYNTHESISER PLUS SOUNDFONT INSTRUMENTS
This full DAW offers flexible MIDI and audio track recording plus a range of built-in instruments, including Evolution One which is based on the rather great Synth One from AudioKit (see the synth roundup). It features decent import and export functions, a good range of effects plus automation. There are more effects, sounds and presets by way of IAPs. extreamsd.com
02 2 BEAT OSCILAB PRO $9.99 GROOVEBOX | AN/iOS | STEP SEQUENCER PLUS OSCILLATOR GENERATOR
A stand-out feature here is that you are generating much of the melodic parts of your grooves from flexible core oscillators and then adding beats with an easy step sequencer. It’s very simple to create very electronic-sounding grooves that are a little different from your average groovebox and the UI makes it a somewhat addictive process. It’s now one of the older music Android apps out there but still looks (and sounds) fresh. play.google.com
03 GRAINSTORM $FREE GRANULAR SYNTH | AN | EFFECTS, AUDIO RECORD
More intriguing sound design app than hands-down useful audio tool, Grainstorm features a convolution ‘verb, time-stretching and a phase vocoder. You load in audio to apply the granulartype synthesis and while the interface might not win any awards, Grainstorm does do something few other apps will… for free. play.google.com
04 G-STOMPER STUDIO $12.99 DAW/PERFORMER/ GROOVEBOX | AN | STEP SEQUENCERS, INSTRUMENTS, FX
Stretches the definition of both groovebox and DAW, resulting in a great experience for live performance as well as producing tunes. It certainly looks the business with enough screen options for every task (step sequencers for melodies and beats, a sampler, VA Beats synth, piano keyboard, 24 pads, effects rack, and more) and there’s a line mixer that handles up to 36 channels. Enough to keep any producer and performer busy and a great Android option. planet-h.com
05 MIKROSONIC RD4 GROOVEBOX $4.49 GROOVEBOX | AN/iOS | 4 CHANNELS, 8-PART DRUMS, BASSLINE
Nice and easy groovebox with four channels on which you can place a Baseline synth (similar to a Roland TB-303), a virtual analogue synth (with three oscillators and six different waveforms) or drum machine (with 10 kits based around classic
machines like Roland TR-808s and 909s). With such a combination of instruments, you can realise everything from classic acid to more contemporary EDM. There are even five realtime effects (reverb, delay, phaser, filter and distortion) which are handy as performance effects. It’s easy to use and a great way to make quick tunes. mikrosonic.com
06 MIXVIBES REMIX LIVE $FREE LOOPER AND SEQUENCER | AN/iOS | FINGER DRUM, SEQUENCE AND MIX
With the addition of a step sequencer this app has been lifted from what could have been a mere loop arranger into a more creative tool. There are definite Ableton Live vibes with cells being launched in sync – and an Ableton Link option – and plenty of additional sound packs to enjoy (for a price, natch). The audio import and share features give it a lot of flexibility as do realtime effects. There’s more depth and flexibility here than you might expect. mixvibes.com
07 QIBRD: FREE VIRTUAL ANALOG SYNTHESISER $FREE VA SYNTH | AN | 63 KITS, EXPORT TO ABLETON LIVE OR AUDIO
One of the best (and indeed most highly-rated) synths out there mostly because it’s completely free – and there are no ads – but also because of its lovely touch UI that will have you tweaking its sound in real time. Don’t be fooled too much by the ‘analogue’ name as the resulting sounds (and look) are a little more varied, ranging from arpeggiated to metallic, dreamy to deep. A lovely Android-only and totally free experience. play.google.com
09 ROCKRELAY FM SYNTH $5.99 SYNTH | AN/iOS | I512 PRESETS, 6-OPERATOR FM SYNTHESIS
An emulation of Yamaha’s mighty DX7 synth with some of the simplicity an app can bring. It certainly sounds the part and you can easily play it with a MIDI keyboard or controller supported via USB. It’s a lovely emulation and free (with a one off payment of $8 to remove the ads). Rock Relay also do a 303 and a VA synth which don’t score quite as well reviews-wise but are still very capable apps. rockrelay.com
10 SAUCILLATOR $FREE SYNTH | AN | CHANGE OSCILLATORS AND FX, LIVE-LOOPING AND RECORDING
Like Grainstorm, this is something a little different with the user controlling two touch oscillators to produce sound by dragging along the X and Y-axis. It might be limited but does give you some functionality of the Kaossilator (above) for free. play.google.com 11 SEQUENCE GROOVEBOX $FREE GROOVEBOX | AN | INC. VA SYNTH, 16 PADS, 300 DRUMS
An app that takes some of the best bits of others here – and desktop apps – to try and push the very boundaries of the genre into full DAW territory. You get a Launcher area for clips and scenes a la Live, pad and keyboard note inputs, plus edit pages for beats and piano roll notes; so you see, something for everyone. It’s a bit of a jack of all these trades but is being tweaked as we speak to allow arpeggiation, better file export and more. Certainly a lot of fun and one to watch bloom and fly. seqvence.co
12 SUNVOX $5.99 MODULAR SYNTH | AN/iOS | INCLUDES SYNTH MODULES AND EFFECTS
An intuitive modular synth that features plenty of draggable synths and effects (including Analog Generator, DrumSynth with 120 synthetic sounds, FM synthesiser and more) and a tracker-style pattern-based sequencer to create tunes. As the reviews state, it’s well worth immersing yourself into the environment in order to feel comfortable navigating what can be a slightly alien interface, but you’ll discover a sonically diverse app which is great for sound design and a bit of hands-on tweaking fun. warmplace.ru