AppCraver » Georges Papas

Melodica Light and Sound Combine for Simple Music Creation

Georges Papas — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:00:20 +0000

Melodica presents a 16 by 10 surface where the length represents the 4 bars of a 4/4 beat and the height is a set of 10 notes that all harmonize well together. Anyone familiar with arppegiators or sequencers will find themselves at home using the software’s interface.

But, can Melodica be one of those apps you could use as much for fun as you can in your home studio? And is it easy enough for non-pros to use and enjoy?

Read the rest of Melodica Light and Sound Combine for Simple Music Creation or discover more iPhone apps.

Tongue Drum Brings Archaic Music to the Modern Era

Georges Papas — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:00:02 +0000

The Tongue Drum, the world’s oldest form of instrument, has been used for millenia by tribes throughout the world as both a story-telling instrument and war drum. Originally crafted from hollowed out tree bark, it has evolved into a modern instrument with multiple tunings, sizes and variations. Earsmack Music has created the next evolutionary step by adapting the tongue drum to the iPhone age. So how does the digital version compare to the real thing?

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Looptastic Producer Makes Mobile Mashups Mainstream

Georges Papas — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:00:07 +0000

Looptastic Producer – As far as iPhone looping software goes, it’s either a hit or miss. Some developers seem to over-complicate or oversimplify, while others can find the just the right balance.

One of the latest contenders in the loop station race is Looptastic Producer by Sound Trends, which used loops from piploops.com to develop their application. Which category would this latest effort fall into?

Read the rest of Looptastic Producer Makes Mobile Mashups Mainstream or discover more iPhone apps.

Tuner Metronome Minimalist Interface Gets it Done

Georges Papas — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:00:05 +0000

From the land of sushi and Godzilla comes Tuner Metronome, an app which as the name suggests offers various tuning and tempo tools for everyday musicians. It’s developer MIZO claims it to be “the most high quality digital tuner metronome.” I wouldn’t go so far, but this is certainly a solid application.

Tuner Metronome has three main functions that are easily identifiable to even novice musicians, the first of which is the “tone generator.” You choose a note and it will emit a precise synth note, to be used as a reference pitch. Couldn’t be any simpler.

Read the rest of Tuner Metronome Minimalist Interface Gets it Done or discover more iPhone apps.

FMScreen is Frequency Modulation on the Cheap

Georges Papas — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:30:00 +0000

A couple of months ago, I was given the opportunity to review a number of synth apps for the iPhone. In that round-up, I took a look at noise.io pro, one of the deepest and richest apps I’ve come across.

On the other end of the spectrum is FMScreen, from developer Piticule. FMScreen offers Frequency Modulation, just like noise.io pro, but that’s where the similarities end. When you run FMScreen, you’re presented with nothing more than a black screen. The basic synthesizer controls follow a scheme set by the earlier iPhone synths, similar to a Kaoss Pad.

Read the rest of FMScreen is Frequency Modulation on the Cheap or discover more iPhone apps.

Dynolicious Measures Auto Performance Astoundingly Well

Georges Papas — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:00:01 +0000

Many of the apps available on the App Store today are aimed at replacing expensive hardware or software on the cheap. With Dynolicious, Bunsen Tech achieves that goal. Simply stated, Dynolicious is just as good as it sounds.

The app is an automotive performance meter. According to the company, “Dynolicious uses the hardware built into your iPhone to measure the performance characteristics of your vehicle.” At just under $13, Dynolicious replaces hardware that can cost up to ten times as much. In some tests, the app even outperformed dedicated in-car dyno units, in both usability and precision.

Using the iPhone’s built-in accelerometer, the app can accurately calculate acceleration statistics as well as timed runs. But the little app that could doesn’t stop there. There’s a skidpad mode in which you can view how many lateral G-forces your car is pushing. It’s a great tool for any performance nut who knows numbers speak wonders.

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FourTrack is a Big Step in iPhone Music Production.

Georges Papas — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:30:27 +0000

When developer Sonoma Wire Works set out to create a multi-track recorder for the iPhone, they enlisted the help of Retronyms, creators of the best selling Recorder iPhone app. Together they built FourTrack, the closest anyone has gotten to creating a rich-featured, studio-quality multi-track recording app for the iPhone. It allows you to create songs on the go, without the need to carry around any other hardware.

Read the rest of FourTrack is a Big Step in iPhone Music Production. or discover more iPhone apps.

Bebot Chirps Its Way Into Your Heart

Georges Papas — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:00:40 +0000

The App Store is flooded with a number of inexpensive apps that serve a very specific purpose. A prime example is Bebot, a “Robot Voice Synthesizer.” I have to say, I did not have very high expectations for Bebot, mostly because I didn’t see the utility of the app. However, I quickly realized that somewhere, at some point in time, everyone needs a robot voice synthesizer. At that specific time, Bebot will be there.

I’ll admit I don’t have much experience with voice synthesizers, but from a software point of view, it’s great. Stable, responsive and wrapped in a great little shell, Bebot is a little robot that lives on your screen.

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iTurn is a Dead End

Georges Papas — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:00:35 +0000

There isn’t much to say about iTurn. It does what it claims, sort of, but iTurn is just too simple an app without enough options or controls to keep it interesting.

After loading iTurn, you’re presented with a turntable interface, with the only feature being a volume knob. While playing music on your iPod as you normally would, you can open up the iTurn app and begin scratching the vinyl — much like a traditional DJ and producing the same effect.

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7 Chords is a Chord Book in Your Pocket

Georges Papas — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:17 +0000

7 Chords is an iPhone app designed for both beginner and intermediate guitarists. Through a remarkable easy-to-use interface, the user can select what chord’s information to display on the screen. The chords are presented in a simple tabulator manner, each with the fingering, fret number and notes indicated underneath. It’s just like those guitar chord [...]