Android music applications

GripBeats / Wearable Bluetooth Midi Instrument With Android app

11/18/2019

It is a Kickstarter thing but it has already reached its goal so that is good.
Hard to say how much something like this would be used in the end and feel that it could be a great thing or just something that is disappointing or collecting dust. Guess that live anything that make electronic music performance more visual is a plus!

Here is some info from the Kickstarter page:

Create music in any style, sound or instrument with a device that connects to your smart device or computer wirelessly over Bluetooth.
Use GripBeats® in multiple ways; as an extended controller for each hand, the wrist, or even on a flat surface.
Our patent-pending adaptable multi-instrument design makes use of 3-dimensional space, acceleration, and direction for making music.
Make use of your hands' motion and touch controls with over 100s of apps like Garageband or Ableton using BLE MIDI (100% wireless).
The GripBeats® App (iOS/Android) allows growing gestures-to-music configurations and lessons on how to play music virtually, through movement.
Design new instruments and configurations for making music in your own way as well as with over a dozen preconfigured modes in the GripBeats® App.
A collaboration of designers and engineers by musicians from the Royal Academy of Music in London and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

To read some more:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gripbeats/gripbeats-the-multi-functional-wearable-musical-instrument

Fractal Bits used as melody and drums in Elektron Digitakt

10/30/2019

Source Audio Intros C4, A ‘Eurorack Modular Synth in a Pedal’ Plus app editor

9/6/2019

Have been looking at different synthesizer pedals for guitar for some time now and this one looks real nice. Unfortunately it does not seem to be polyphonic... Boss just released one but what I have heard was not to enticing to me and the one that seems best so far is one made by Electro Harmonix but I digress and in either case do not have money for synthesizing my guitar right now in either case :(
But would seriously look into this one as it can function for effects as well and yes it does have a lil app to go with it.

Homepage:
www.sourceaudio.net/c4_synth.html

Google Play:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.sourceaudio.neuro&hl=en

Jammy Guitar -Guitar with midi and Android App

8/18/2019

Lately been looking for a travel guitarso this is interesting as it is small and light weight and can be used as a midi controller... But for around 360 monies it is not cheap.
Also been curious to control hardware/softwareand would love to find a way to play synthesizers with guitar so looked this up.
Read one review and it seems that it does not allow for bending etc when playing synthesizers and do not know how well it works with the app plus weird strings.
SO maybe this post is a little bit redundant but in either case putting it out as it could be worthwhile to test it out if possible and having the monies.
There is some similar news that should be posted that is more interesting if you like to make synthesizer sounds with guitar and do not care about the midi part... (tomorrow?)

Website:
playjammy.com

Android app:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.playjammy&hl=en

With the neatly designed Jammy Guitar mobile app, you will mix practice and pleasure in the most fun and effortless way.

Shape your unique sound by choosing your guitar type and applying FX pedals to it. Explore a variety of guitar tunings available at a single tap.
Train your sense of rhythm playing to an easily adjustable metronome. Jam along to 20 live recorded full-band backing tracks — it's like having a whole band in your phone!

Don't know how to jam? No worries! Each backtrack is accompanied by a set of appropriate notes that you can combine into solos so even a beginner will be able to drop some cool licks! The best thing is that you can use most of those features with your ordinary guitar as well as with Jammy.

Nux Mighty Lite BT amplifier and Android app

8/5/2019

Seeing the video below and hearing something that small and battery powered that sounded more or less good was thinking that it could be interesting for some people here.
There is a Android app that gives a lot of control over a lot of parameters and there is drum loops built in as well.
Have been thinking that it would be good to have a small battery powered amp for some time as there is chance that will take my guitar to the street one day when economic pressure become to severe...
The price is a little bit steep at a around a hundred monies and there is better options for small practice amps specially second hand for that price but it is probably hard to find something this portable with this sound.

To read more about the amp:
nuxefx.lpages.co/nux-mighty-lite-launch/

Google Play App:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nux.mightylite

LUMI -Roli Portable Color Midi Keyboard On Kickstarter/Ten More days for Discount

7/7/2019

It is meant for learning and of course can be used as a midi keyboard.
Mention it as there is an Android app as well that will teach you da piano or something...

Kickstarter link:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/playlumi/lumi-the-smarter-way-to-learn-and-play-music?ref=5owlck

OP-Utility -For Teenage Engineering's OP-1 and OP-Z users

6/26/2019

Google Play:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metske.oputility

OP-Utility is an Android application designed to accompany Teenage Engineering's OP-1 and OP-Z synthesizers.

The app features a versatile drum kit utility which allows you to create drum kit patches on the go from samples stored on your Android device. (Samples not included).

It also features a backup utility which streams the contents of your OP-1 or OP-Z directly into a zip archive. You can choose what folders you want in each backup (synth, drum, tape and album / bounces, config, projects and sample packs).

Currently only backing up is supported, restore functionality will be available in the future.

Please be aware that this app has been developed independently and has no affiliation with Teenage Engineering.

Specdrums tutorials

4/16/2019

Waiting for some Specdrums to review. Meanwhile I will look at theses here vids.

Specdrums -Two videos finger playing with rings on colors in action

4/9/2019

These videos show some interesting ideas for using Specdrums and soon there I should be able to test them myself and will write a review as soon as possible and how and which apps they will work good with on Android. Think it is a brilliant idea and have fantasized some time now to paint some walls to use for playing music....

nanoloop -Goes Hardware!!!

3/12/2019

This is something magick! Nanoloop taking the step into its own hardware but with some very nice extra features... Analog filter, midi in and out and a mighty nice look.
Perfect for confusing fellow travelers on trains and buses...

For what it is the price is great. Less than a Volca but so much more exciting.
It is still on Kickstarter but is already fully funded. Took about a day...

Here is what is said:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/734721310/nanoloop?ref=project_tweet

The original nanoloop software started as a study project to explore the game-like character of making electronic music on little devices. Developed from ground up around the Game Boy’s button interface and tiny greyscale display, it introduced the 4×4 stepsequencer matrix and a simple, flat structure for easy access, with graphical elements reduced to a couple of dots and digits.
While the first version of nanoloop (still available as “nanoloop one”) relies on the Game Boy’s internal tone generators, subsequent variations have their very own sound:
Nanoloop two implements an FM-based software synthesizer on the Game Boy Advance’s 16 MHz CPU and the latest version nanoloop mono embeds a complete synth with true analog filters inside the cartridge.
The new nanoloop device merges these two approaches and combines FM with analog for maximum flexibility.

synthesizer

4 channels:
dual square wave with true analog filter (mono)
4-voice polyphonic FM (stereo)
monophonic FM (stereo)
noise & clicks (stereo)

sequencer

4x4 matrix
per-step control for all parameters
pattern transpose for all parameters
"meta step": play note only every 2nd or 4th loop
variable pattern length per channel
individual channel tempo
ping pong and random modes
shift pattern in four directions
randomise all parameters

display

8x4 bi-color LED dot matrix
5 LED digits
8 menu icons
various color combinations available

interface

silicone rubber buttons with plastic caps:
d-pad + 4 buttons
volume dial

connections

3.5 mm mini jack stereo headphone/line out
3.5 mm mini jack input for CV an MIDI sync
3.5 mm mini jack output for CV an MIDI sync

case

bent acrylic glass

power

2 x AAA batteries, micro USB (power only)
physical power switch -> zero "standby" power
battery life: 50+ h

memory

99 banks à 4x8 patterns each
song 999 patterns length
backup / restore via audio cable
micro-SD slot for near infinite projects (SD-card not included)

sync

MIDI sync in & out
analog 1/24, 1/16, 1/8 in & out

dimensions

12 x 6 x 2.5 cm, 100 g (incl. batteries)

Specdrums - Control sounds on your device with ring/s

1/8/2019

This had a small journey that have been going on for around two years since first being announced on Kickstarter to later being bought up by a toy company doing robotic starwars toys and other things.
So now it is here and have been fascinated by this since seeing it at first.
Basically it is rings that can easily learn to read colours that can be used to trigger sounds on a device through bluetooth.
It seems to work good and hopefully will get some extra monies to buy a pair and try them out.
Was hoping that the price would be lower. My treshold being set to around fifty up to 60... for two of them as one would seem a little bit too limited.
Now they are about 65 monies for one and 100 for two.
They do look like a lot of fun though and would be great for playing live as it can use colours on anything, like clothes or paintings etc.
To see a whole band perform tapping walls would look wonderful!
To have a couple of these for a theatre would seem like a must...

Here is a short list of what can be done:

Tap any color or the included Play Pad to create sounds, loops, and beats.
Discover music creation without spending money on expensive, singular instruments
Scalable for all skills levels, from curious-minded kids to seasoned musicians
Connects via Bluetooth Low Energy as a Bluetooth MIDI device
Long battery life of 2+ hours per charge
Specdrums MIX app with curated sound packs
Specdrums Music app with instruments, drum kits, and other sound pack

What is worth is important to mention as well is that it can be used to trigger other software that allows for Bluetooth midi.
It will be fun to see what people will do with this.

Also hope to see them used on Android with some different devices to see how they perform.

To read more or see more videos go here:
www.sphero.com/specdrums

Audioweld® Synthwatch® world’s first wristwatch synthesizer - Kickstarter

11/30/2018

So posting this as this synthesizer/watch thingie will be coming with an Android app to expand on its possibiities.
It is a weird thing reading about it as there is a lust to have such a thing but to be honest would probably never use it more than once or twice and a smart phone is more flexible in either case... plus that it is going to be kind of expensive (450 as early bird on Kickstarter) which really kills any lust for a big watch mini synthesizer.
But there is something funky to it anyway and it would for sure work as a conversation starter and a lot of people would think you must be an annoying hipster idiot!

To check out the Kickstarter:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/synthwatch/audioweld-synthwatch-worlds-first-wristwatch-synth?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=synthwatch

PolyRytm - New sequencer good for driving hardware

10/18/2018

Looks very interesting for people using hardware and love polyrhythms (or not).
If you want to see some videos of this in action go here:
www.synthtopia.com/content/2018/10/17/new-sequencer-for-android-devices-polyrytm/

Google Play:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.allibrante.PolyRytm

- Master midi clock
- 8 midi tracks with gate and velocity
- Individual pattern length
- 8 pattern pages
- Copy/paste/clear/mute function
- Customizable midi settings
- Plug and play USB connection on gears
- Midi connection
Written and designed by Gian Maria Allibrante
Improved by Alexander Glettler and Mark Hudson.

Tested on Roland Tr-08, Tr-09, A-01, Hexinverter Mutant Brain and Elektron Analog Rytm.

WHAT'S NEW
added master midi clock
added 16th note-off on individual channel
added customizable low/high velocity value
added plug and play USB Connection
increased performance
improved graphic design

Quantum VJ with mic - Quantum VJ in hardware form

9/29/2018

Mr Nightradio i sshowing off his hardware version that is also available as an app.
I love the app and made some very nice videos with it and it does not hurt that there is not much else (and nothing else on Android) out there that can obtain such lofi beauty that easily...

He sold some earlier versions of this and am tempted to get into the action with this one when being sold for the right price...

Ahh always curious what Mr Nightradio is up to.
So many cool apps and other projects already plus composing albums and artwork using his own creations!

Modal CRAFTrhythm / CRAFTsynth / Android app for tweaking etc

9/26/2018

There is a lot of small funny toys now for anyone with some extra cash...
These looks like they could be fun and the app provide a lot of control that would have been hard to fit into such small machines otherwise...
Myself have been snared into toyland and have a small drum machine -tek.Drum and in the end got a Volca Bass for a good price second hand.
So it is nice to have these things around as they provide some inspiration.
How much they actually gets used in the end is something else...

Google Play:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.modalelectronics.craftapp

Specdrums - Play Sounds With Colours and Finger Contraption/Ring

8/20/2018

Remember seeing this when it was on Kickstarter and it got released but not for long as a company called Sphero bought it up.
Maybe that was good as the Android app did not seem to work so good and a bigger company will probably spend more money on Android developers?
It shoulld be released in some months and seeing videos it looks mighty faboulus!

Just the idea to have a small concert with some phones and coloured papers or play clothes with patches on them etc...
The company makes robot toys and it looks like in good quality. But the rings should not be very expensive to manufacture so hopefully there will be a low price.
Waiting eagerly to see the price and see how well it will work with the Android app and if okay will for sure get a set of rings. at least one for each hand.

This is the webpage to the developers of the concept:
www.specdrums.com/

iRIG Guitar Interface - 2-3 Euros!!!

8/19/2018

It used to cost 30 euros or something but now when the iRIG 2 is out, there is a lot of chinese vendors dumping the first one for almost nothing.
Have been curious about the Tonebridge app for a while now and to use it properly it is necessary to have an interface and it is supposed to work good with the iRIG and took a look at Ebay and as mentioned above it can be had for almost nothing and postage free...

Well it is sent from China and ordered a lot of things from there and yapps if you have not and decide to, be prepared to wait for about one and half month or two...
(Have ordered maybe thirty or forty things from these places and everything arrived sooner or later to my surprise).

Of course it is supposed to work with Ik Multimedias Amplitube app and Samsung devices but reading the reviews it does not sound too promising...
But will post some impressions of the apps and so forth when it arrives.
Do not have any illusions that it will sound high class using the phone with the iRig but for that I do have some good hardware for my guitar.
But for this price it is worth to check it out and who knows maybe it is possible to coax something nice out of it, or some beautiful Lofi tones?
Plus am really curious about Tonebridge where in difference to Amplitube people write very nice things.

Here is one link to the one I ordered but must say that there was one place that sold it even cheaper! Yapps so it is possible to get it for twenty small monies less...

www.ebay.es/itm/A2E2-iRIG-IK-Multimedia-GUITAR-Midi-Interface-For-iPhone-iPod-iPad-Pro-Tools/202406009790?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Nanoloop mono is an analog synthesizer cart for the original monochrome Game Boy

5/15/2018

So the Nanoloop family have a new member.
Okay so it is not Android but it is a portable and old school and funky, so felt that it had to get mentioned. Plus that an old gameboy can be had for like 10-15 moneys...
Ahh the cartridge is more expensive of course but analogue mojo with three channels for 69 moneys is more or less what other gadgets cost, like pocket operators and the like... Plus have admiration for this single developer to just keep pushing such a niche product as much as he is.

Here are some facts and link:
http://www.nanoloop.com/mono/index.html

Specs

3 channels:

r = Rectangular Wave

Dual oscillators
Variable pulse width
Low-pass filter with adjustable resonance

c = Click

Single impulses
Extra-resonant bandpass filter for 808-like drum sounds.

n = Noise

True analog noise generator or
Dual square waves
Bandpass filter with medium resonance

Technology

On the original Game Boy models, one pin of the cartridge connector functions as audio input, connected to the built-in amplifier. This unique feature allows to generate sound on the cart and play it through the headphone output on a completely analog signal path.

In the nanoloop mono cart, the analog components (op-amps, comparators, logic cells etc) of a PIC microcontroller are connected and configured in such a way that they form a hybrid soundchip with 3 analog filters and a true random noise generstor, using only a few passive external components.

Hardware

The cart is a flat but very robust PCB with all electronic parts embedded.

Software

Nanoloop mono is a stepsequencer with per-step control for all parameters. There are 8 banks of flash memory each of which can hold 15 patterns per channel and a song structure.

Compatibility

DMG (original Game Boy) OK, clean and bassy

Game Boy Pocketworks, but less bass, more hiss, whine

Game Boy Colorworks, but very little / distorted bass, a lot of hum and whine

Game Boy Advancedoesn't work, cart won't even boot

Allthough amplitudes are the same as with internal sound, with nanoloop mono's softer characterisic, differences in audio quality are more noticeable.
Some improvement is possible by adding capacitors to the Game Boy's main board ("bass mod" and "noise filter mod"). However, GB Pocket will still produce a high-pitched whine and GB color will still hum and distort basses.

In conclusion, only the original Dot Matrix Game Boy can be recommended.

Sync

Nanoloop mono offers the same sync options as nanoloop one.

How to connect guitar to android (USB)

3/27/2018

Bandlab goes hardware - New affordable audio interfaces

1/11/2018

There is three flavours and the one that is out now for ordering is Link Analog which looks like a nice audio interface and with a good price point- 59.99$.
It is supposed to play nicely with Android mobile devices but works with computers as well of course.

To read more about it and if fancy takes you to order a unit or two go here:
https://www.bandlab.com/machines/link-analog