Make music while the sun shines

A round-up of apps that will let you make music on the go

May 10, 2016 09:33 am | Updated 09:49 am IST - Mumbai

Summer is upon us, and the tar is melting. Everyone and everything around you is wilting. If you’ve got a whistle on your lips, a tune in your ear, a beat in your tapping feet and music in your soul, here's a few digital ways to unleash those creative juices. You don't need to be a professional producer or composer to have fun making your own tunes. Our round-up of apps is designed to have fun without letting complex user interfaces hinder you making your music. Who knows? You could be the next AR Rahman or even Psy.

Garage Band - iOS, Free

Free on all new Apple Devices, including the iPad and the iPhone. Garage Band has several in-built instruments from various genres, including an entire classical orchestra ensemble. With Garage Band, you can actually create an entire professional song from beginning to end. Android alternatives do exist like FL Studio, and for Samsung users there’s Soundcamp.

Figure - iOS, Free

From the team behind the professional music app Reason, comes Figure. It’s a music-making app aimed at casual users who like house music and all its variants; whether it’s dubstep beats, garage tunes or glitch percussions. Plus, it’s got an intuitive dial-like interface. Sadly, it’s only available on your iPhone and iPad.

Beatwave 2 - iOS, Free(with in-app purchases)

Another iOS-only winner is Beatwave 2 which has a simple user interface that lets you create music by tapping and swiping on a grid. You can create complex beats and time signatures just by playing with it without having a tune in mind. Beatwave 2 is designed to let you find a beat by simply exploring the app. Once done, share your beat with the world.

Music Maker JAM - iOS, and Android, Free (with in-app purchases)

Very similar to Figure, Music Maker JAM gives you a bunch of loops and lets you go wild with them. The best part of the app is how each loop blends in with each other. You can sample different musical styles at the same time for some truly unique beats. Much like Figure and Beatwave 2, this too is mostly designed to let you have fun with punchy music that brightens your day.

Geometric Music - iOS and Android, Free

Similar to the aforementioned apps, but with an arty twist. Geometric lets you set up shapes, record sounds and link them to those shapes or choose beats. By editing the shape, the sound gets affected. The app uses a simple and fun approach towards making music for those who prefer playing with visual cues rather than fiddling around with a lot of buttons and knobs.

Keezy - iOS, Free

A very simple app, Keezy lets you record sounds and assign them to colourful boxes. Then you can combine them into a cool beat by tapping or holding the boxes. For instance, record the clanks of the Mumbai local on your daily commute. Include the shouts from street vendors. Add in the sound of hammers as the BMC digs up the roads. Record your voice, and create an addictive beat. Keezy also has an app called Keezy Drummer, which lets you create a beat by modifying dots as the beat progresses. That should work well in tandem with Keezy, unless you can beatbox.

SMule's Songify and AutoRap - iOS and Android, Free (with in-app purchases)

Everyone loves Auto-Tune despite it being overused in music today. SMule's Songify lets you Auto-Tune your voice and you don't even need to sing. You just record yourself talking, and it will auto Auto-Tune. Similarly, AutoRap, lets you convert your spoken word recordings into rap in various styles. Sadly, SMule has several in-app purchases. If you just want a pure Auto-Tune app with more control, then you can check out MicDroid, a free app that let's you record your voice and control the Auto-Tune settings.

The writer is a freelance journalist

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