In its free incarnation, the main view randomly lists your albums – and you simply prod one to play it. Albums wants to counter this trend, helping you to appreciate albums and rediscover your music library. Streaming media has marginalised the album, transforming tens of millions of tracks into a colossal virtual jukebox.

IAP unlocks pro-grade features, but for free you can still twiddle some knobs, burn through a slew of presets, and save custom sounds – all while aiming to become the next Brian Eno. As you play the tactile scale-locked keyboard, tiny neon comets dart about in a 3D visualiser. We mean that literally – sounds now exist across three axes. Animoog Z adds a new dimension to proceedings.

The original Animoog was a pioneering iPad synth, combining classic Moog sounds, eye-popping visuals, and a touchscreen interface that let anyone make an amazing noise without knowing the first thing about playing a keyboard. For free, it’s unmissable, unless you absolutely hate the idea of making music on your iPhone or iPad. For 20 quid, GarageBand would be a bargain. GarageBand can also act as a hub for a range of other iOS music apps, given that it supports Audiobus, Inter-App Audio and Audio Units. Within an hour or two, it’s genuinely possible to end up with something approximating a chart hit.įor pros, there’s a ton of added depth awaiting discovery: multi-track and multi-take recording, a slew of effects, and the mightily impressive Alchemy synth. Newcomers can tap out tunes on a loops grid, experiment with a drum machine, and always play in tune with smart piano strips. It was already hugely ambitious when first released, but GarageBand has since grown to become a hugely capable app.

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