Ten Great iPhone/iPod Touch Apps For Producers and DJ's

With the iPhone Apps store recently celebrating it's first anniversary, I think it's a good time to highlight some of the best applications relevant to producers as well as DJ's that have been optimized for use on-the-go. As we all know this market has reached the point of saturation, and with that there is a ton of garbage out there. However there are also several serious programs that serve a variety of practical needs, are fun to use, and reliable. Here's a few of my top picks, which span the $1-$20 price range:

Hexler TouchOSC ($4.99)

This program serves as a control surface that lets you send signals remotely from your iPhone to control parameters in your host DAW on your computer over a wi-fi network. TouchOSC is fully customizable, allowing you to set your own templates, as well as the ability to utilize rotary knobs, faders, push/toggle buttons, XY pads, equalizers, etc. A very viable device for live performers using Ableton as well!


Intua Beatmaker ($19.99)

Sitting at the steeper end of the price range, Beatmaker is a no-nonsense drum machine that rivals traditional DAWs costing many times more than this. Beatmaker allows you to import your own samples, has powerful .wav editing capabilities, and uses the 4x4 pad arrangement. Step and multi-track sequencers let you arrange your ideas, and 2 effects channels help add a bit of character. Beatmaker uses the horizontal layout of the iPhone screen, and maximizes every millimeter of space effectively.


Novation Automap (coming soon)

Similar to TouchOSC, this is a MIDI controller that allows you to directly control your software applications and plug-ins remotely from your iPhone. It uses Novation's custom software, so producers using their MIDI devices can expect skin-tight integration. Automap is scheduled for release sometime in July, so it should be available for sale any minute now.

Audiofile FiRe ($5.99)

This is hands down the best field recording iPhone app out there. Hook up a good mic and it will allow full stereo recording from any source; it processes a waveform in real time, allows broadcasting WAVE metadata as well as instant uploading of your tracks to your Soundcloud account. Fire's interface is nice and simple, including accurate VU meters as well as the ability to control things like recording quality, different formats to export your recording in, and overdub mode. Awesome.


Izotope iDrum ($4.99-5.99) 

Izotope's easy to use, no-frills drum sequencing application has been gaining a ton of ground in the past few months, attracting both producers and non-producers alike. It's a painfully simple program to use yet still a powerful tool for recording ideas down. There are several different versions of iDrum out there which include different source samples for you to use, including hip hop, club, and electronic editions, along with ones from specific bands which allow you to mix their content on the fly (Depeche Mode, Major Lazer, etc.) 

DrumTracker ($1.99)

 
Released only days ago, DrumTracker is quickly becoming one of the most fun drum machine sequencers to use on the iPhone, the interface is smashing, and I have no complaints whatsoever about the $2 price tag! DrumTracker easily lets you program 16-step patterns of drum fills, using multiple kits the program comes pre-loaded with. Classic drum kits are included, including the 606, 808, 909, as well as hip hop samples, jazz stabs, etc.

Sonoma FourTrack ($9.99) 


Fourtrack is the only multi-track recorder available for the iPhone/iPod Touch at the time of writing. With a third-party headset mic hooked up this thing arms your iPhone up for 4 tracks of full 16-bit, 44.1 kHz quality recording. Great for bands and session musicians, Fourtrack comes with many practical tools, including a metronome, track bouncing, meters and clip detectors to prevent distortion, a shuttle wheel to scroll within your song, etc. WiFi sync allows you unmatched flexibility with importing your content to your computer.


Noise.io Pro Synth ($14.99) 

 

This great soft synth comes loaded with so many features a simple picture of it won't even do it justice. This thing seriously comes loaded with the functionality of a soft synth/VST that would cost hundreds of dollars on a desktop computer. Just for starters, Noise.io comes with 3 oscillators, 2 filters, 6 effects, LFO's, built-in sequencers and EQ's, tons of presets and control surfaces, and this barely even scratches the surface. It is based off ESFM technology, which utilizes traditional 1980's FM architecture but through an user's approach that is more similar to subtractive synthesis.


Jasuto ($4.99)


Chris Wolfe's Jasuto is a modular synthesizer that utilizes a completely unique yet user-friendly interface. Jasuto has clearly been created with sound generation in mind. Essentially, you can create an oscillator and hook up effects, LFO's, other oscillators, etc. up to it. The size of each object and the distance to how close or far it is from other objects control the sound itself as well as how much one effects the other. It's tough to explain and there is a bit of a learning curve, but the flexibility for synthesis here is unparalleled.


Softalk Spreadsheet ($7.99) 

 
Now I know what you're thinking here, why the hell would I include a spreadsheet program here? I personally think it's a great tool for DJ's, especially those who are using CD's/vinyl and not laptops, to keep their music organized. By being able to enter in track titles, BPM's, key, genre, and other notes, it's a great resource to have at your disposal when it comes to keeping your music organized. It takes a bit of upkeep to enter everything in, but what I like about this version is that it boasts full XLS compatibility with Excel. There are some free spreadsheet apps out there for the iPhone but based on the reviews they are loaded with bugs and many don't even support Excel files, which is a nail in the coffin. A great resource to have during a DJ set!