Image via Complex Original
It's fair to say making music on mobile apps has never been easier than it is in 2013. App sales are projected to hit $16 billion this year, per Wireless Expertise, and the market is only expanding. For musicians and budding producers, that means a treasure trove of apps to get into and new sounds to make. Here are 20 apps for Android and iPhone to get those creative juices flowing. Who knows, becoming the next Pharrell Williams or Skrillex could soon be a reality.
StudioTrack
Sketch your musings on-the-go with this versatile iPad app. The multi-touch mixer resembles an analog console, featuring a range of knobs, meters and faders. You can also choose from several beats crafted by celebrity drummer Jason McGerr, or samples of live drums and percussion from Discrete Drums multi-track drum library.
Poweramp Music Player
Consider Poweramp your mobile recording booth. Poweramp offers crossfade, mono mixing, replay gain, and a whole host of features you never thought you'd need but will come to rely on. The music player also lets you make playlists from tracks in different folders or your smartphone library, and choose themes to match your smartphone's appearance.
AutoRap
AutoRap is a vocoder, but for rapping. Using Smule's "rappification" technology, the Android app turns spoken word into rhymes. You can also AutoRap from a Premium Songs Catalogue including jams by 2Pac and the Beastie Boys.
xPiano
Tinkling the ivories just got easier, thanks to xPiano. The app includes two sample songs to play as well as five octaves, 128 instruments, and functions than you can shake a stick at, including a record and play function. Time to get your Jason Moran on.
Click here to Download it Now from Google Play
Perfect Ear
Not every musician is born with perfect pitch, which is why they have to work on their hearing. Enter Perfect Ear: An Android app that helps them do just that. The app contains a set of seven exercises for training, including on the piano, guitar and bass. Best of all? The absolute pitch trainer feature will make an expert out of you in no time.
Click here to Download it Now from Google Play
Wireless Mixer
It might not be the real thing, but the app sure looks close. Wireless Mixer offers a range of features to try from sliders to user knobs and MIDI control. To use the app, make sure it's connected to a laptop with an installed music program, like Reason or Frutiy Loops.
Songify
Like AutoRap, Songify turns spoken word into songs. The app's received mentions in The New York Times, Forbes and MSNBC, and boasts 9 million users worldwide. Even better, it's the Gregory Brothers' app of choice—perfect for recording the next "Bed Intruder."
Click here to Download it Now from Google Play
gStrings
You want to make the perfect song, so you'll have to make sure your instruments are on point. Don't let the silly name fool you: gStrings is a must for measuring pitch. Though it's ad-supported, you'll find it's reliable and sensitive to microphone set-up. Try out the orchestra tuning feature to play with tone frequencies. Features range from pitch pipe to different temperaments. Perfect your sound in no time.
GarageBand
The mother of all iPad apps is still the go-to for producing great music. Not only does it allow you to make music on-the-go, you can plug your actual instruments into the iPad, iPhone or Touch and jam along. Use the built-in microphone to capture any performance, and create your own instrument from sounds you record with the Sampler.
Four Tracks Lite
Musicians, singers and composers can join in the action with this sleek Android app. Mix down WAV and OGG files, then share it with friends. Four Tracks Lite additionally features pinch and zoom views for laser-sharp edits. With this app, it's like having a recording studio in your phone.
Click here to Download it Now from Google Play
CrossDJ
Think of CrossDJ as a mixer in your pocket. As iTunes puts it, "you can mix anytime, anywhere." Using BPM analysis and synchronization tools, the app keeps your beat on point. You can also preview your beats using parallel waveforms and a sync meter. Dreams of being the next Diplo or A-Trak may soon be a reality.
Audiobus
Audiobus consistently ranks at the top of reviewers' lists, and for good reason: It's essential. The inter-app routing system lets musicians connect to various apps, including GarageBand. Audiobus can also play a synthesizer live into a looper or multi-track recorder, making it more versatile than most products out there.
GuitarToolkit
Guitar heroes will fall for this sweet, compact app. It's a metronome, chord scale and tuner all in one. And with a nearly exhaustive library of over 2,000,000 chords, scales and arpeggios, you can use it to practice on the guitar, banjo, mandolin or ukulele. It also features "lefty mode."
Impaktor
Rather than create drum loops within the app, Impaktor lets you make your own. All you need is a quiet space, a pair of headphones, and something to tap on. This iPad app/drum synth also features Dropbox sharing so you can flesh out your music with friends.
MorphWiz
Jordan Rudess' second app earns top marks for beautiful sound, usability and an easy to follow interface. As commenters note, the keyboardist's creation is a labor of love. The app received nods from Keyboard Magazine and the Billboard Music App awards, and can be used on iPhone or Windows tablets. From pitch handling to wave sync synthesis, merge audio and visual into a perfect musical experience.
Glitchamaphone
This music-making app for the iPad lets you compose and edit tracks using cute animated characters also known as jaminals. Add up to five characters, play around with the beat, and toggle between different sounds to create your own song.
Music Sketchpad 2
Music Sketchpad 2 lets you mix, record and play to your heart's content. Upload and work on your own loops and sounds, or have a free-for-all mixing session with theirs. The app is compatible with tablets and phones, and features a fully-programmed drum machine.
Click here to Download it Now from Google Play
Ringtone Maker
You don't need to be Jay-Z or T-Pain (remember him?) to turn your song into a ringtone. Ringtone Maker produces those and more, as well as alarms and notifications. The handy app also supports various audio formats, meaning it's compatible with just about anything.
Ultimate Guitar Tabs
This Android app lets you learn and practice songs on-the-go. The world's largest database offers 100,000 tabs to choose from and, like Spotify, lets you add tabs to your Favorites for offline browsing. Sign up for Tab Note within the app to access more than 150,000 interactive tabs.
Scape
Scape is an iPad app that "makes music that thinks for itself." Conceived by composer Brian Eno, Scape envisions a song as a landscape. Users manipulate elements or "sonic building blocks" to create individual scapes as the background loops continuously. Moving units can be added or subtracted to alter the sound, and no two scapes sound alike. Even individual scapes sound different each time they're played. You can share your scapes by email or save them to enjoy later.