It’s 2021, technology is advancing by the minute, and gladly, the music industry takes part. Gone are the days when music could only be created in physical studios. Having a personal studio at home is good, but what happens when you are away and need to make out something? Musicians are on the go regularly and need a mobile solution for their midnight muse on the road.
As a result, the DIY approach to music production has gone remote and improved every month. There are lots of music-making apps available now for smartphones. And yes, you can expect sound-recording apps to produce superb tracks that’d even become a big hit. Did you know Kendrick Lamar recorded ‘Pride’ only with his iPhone and a guitar?
It makes no difference if you are a music pro or a newbie. Were you always secretly dreaming of becoming a musician, writing songs, or just DJing an awesome party? You can do that now. The navigations are simple, and you can even learn on the go.
So many apps are on AppStore and GooglePlay; it might be overwhelming to choose which is suitable for you. So we did some research for you. Below, you will find six classic and easy-to-use apps to lay down your on-the-move ideas and make great sounds.
BandLab is more than a mobile music app; it is a global cloud platform for all music lovers. It is available both on Android and iOS. Though the company is Singapore-based, it does have users globally, up to about 30 million in number.
The cloud platform is equipped with excellent tools, including 120 musical instruments, amplifier simulation, pocket sound recording, to mention a few. What more do you need to go remote with your music production or sound recording?
The mind-blowing part is that the app is free. You will not be paying for the tools. There are no subscription fees, no paywalls. All for free!
Schools and institutions are also not left behind. BandLab has a digital workstation, BandLab for Education. The platform has in-built classroom and assignment learning features for teaching music production. Once you have your ideas on BandLab, you could get them fine-tuned on your PC later.
This song was entirely made on BandLab:
Beat Maker Go is another classic music-making app that operates like a drum machine. If you are looking for a mobile app for mixing cool beats on the go, Beat Maker Go has all you need. The app has 32 professionally created drum pads. And that is not all. With these drum pads are over 90 sound packs. These sound packs are a collection of some of their past hits.
A while back, The Chainsmokers – America’s highest-paid electronic DJ duo, gave the app a thumbs-up, calling it “the ultimate drum pad controller.”
Just with your Android or iPhone alone, you are a step away from turning your smartphone into a drum machine to make beats that would make the next big hit. The user interface is appealing and easy to use. Plus these top-notch qualities, Beat Maker Go makes music fun with its stages of challenges.
Here’s how you can play Ed Sheeran’s Shape on Beat Maker Go:
As a musician, it is very likely you’ll get stuck at some point, looking for a right chord. If you struggle to put your chord ideas into meaningful progressions, Suggester would be the perfect tool for you. This iOS app assists in fine-tuning and arranging chords and creating new ones as well.
Suggester is easy to use. When you tap a chord, listen to the sound produced. Then, as you hear the succession, the app has a playback speed icon on the screen if you deem it fit to adjust the playback speed. And while working on your chords, you can go both forward and backward on various scale types.
The Suggested app is a quick way to build a logical succession of chords for your songs.
Here’s how it works:
n-Track Studio DAW is a cloud platform for recording and music production. It is a digital audio workstation with features including Piano Roll, Step Sequencer, Screen Drumkit, Guitar Amplifier, Bass Amplifier, VocalTune, Songtree Integration, and more. The recent version, n-Track Studio DAW 9, even has more.
You either use it with the built-in microphone or connect an external sound card. n-Track Studio DAW has a free version, but you could make in-app purchases to enjoy other features and effects. It is available for both iOS and Android.
See it in action:
Working with Propellerhead’s Figure would be an excellent place to start if you are a newbie to music production. Arguably, it excels in the simplicity of its user interface. With a few taps and swipes, you already have your sound. In a matter of seconds, you can craft killer beats, soul-warming melodies, and pretty much any music you can imagine.
The platform also supports Ableton Link, a technology that allows you to collaborate with friends over a local area network to work on your beats and rhythms together. This means if you want to start a band, you can do so easily with this app.
Check it out:
The last to make the list is Novation’s Groovebox. It is an app every pro music producer and a beginner should have on their smartphone. Groovebox features Circuit Rhythm, Circuit Tracks, Amplify Groovebox, and more as a music production tool. You do not have to wait till you get to a studio to make the perfect beat with these features. Like Figure, you can use Groovebox collaboratively with Ableton Link and also with Audiobus.
Here’s how it works:
Whether you use an android device or iPhone, your smartphone can provide a massive boost to your music career (or hobby). Only be sure to install an app with features that match your needs and keep your phone or tablet safe and sound (see what we did there?) at all times.
Got too excited during recording, and your phone needs a fix? – We’re here for you and can come to you – so your music production should not be interrupted for longer than 3 hours in total. Get a quick quote here to summon one of our certified technicians to your location. It works like magic :)
Once a month, stay-in-the-know kind of relationship.