Since the introduction of the iPhone, iPad and the Apple App Store, the potential for recording on the fly has never been so tantalisingly varied or powerful. There are now a host of apps capable of tracking, creating, importing and exporting, ranging from mini multitrackers like nanostudio to full-blown multi-oscillator driven synths like Moog's excellent Filtatron. But with the introduction of the iPad 2 - it would seem things are about to step up a little.
Speedier iPad Means More Music Potential
Apple's new 9.7 inch tablet manages to pack roughly double the speed of the original iPad, which gives it a major advantage when it comes to making music. Apple's decision to develop an iPad version of Garageband - which costs little under a fiver has given a huge bonus to mac-based music makers.
Musicians and producers will now have the ability to sketch out a track in garageband on their iPad, and then transfer it straight into Logic Pro to turn that doodle on the train into a fully-blown studio-quality session.
The iPad version of Garageband gives users the ability to track 8 channels, and use an impressive range of plugins and softsynths. And the increased processing power should pave the way for more developers to get stuck in to producing more apps with high-end audio potential.
iPad 2 Functionality Draws in the High End
As the music-making power of iOS based devices develops, more companies are exploring the possibilities of the tablet. Apogee - the company behind the high-end audio interfaces the Duet and Ensemble, have announced they're developing hardware to allow professional recording solutions with the iPad and iPhone.
They've released "JAM" - a studio quality guitar input for iPad and iPhone which promises to bring their well-respected conversion sound to the mobile market. And for under £100, many will see it as a good buy. Furthermore, in the last few weeks, Apogee made another announcement: They were going to go one further and release MIC - a studio quality USB microphone for iPad, iPhone and Mac. The iPhone-sized device, according to the developers "makes it easy to capture your best take with incredible quality ... and build a track right on your iPad with GarageBand."
Then there's the other side of hardware - control. There are already a host of clever apps on the market that allow the remote control of software like Logic. For example the incredible TouchOSC which allows producers to use an iPad as a touch screen control-surface, offering integration with faders, panning, plugins and even synths. The dream of having a multipurpose studio accessory that encapsulates MIDI control, fader control, and when done in the studio can be swept away to become a creative sketchbook, is just around the corner.
Where does iPad Music go From Here?
There's already rumblings in the music industry over the possibility of both an iPad only external soundcard, and a fully-integrated midi control option in the not too distant future. There's a host of videos on Youtube of just how much can be achieved.
Damon Albarn's electro-pop wizards Gorillaz already proved the music making potential of the first gen iPad last year - making their album "The Fall" entirely on the iOS device using a combination of apps like Speak It!, SoundyThingi, Mugician, Solo Synth and AmpliTube. But with the increased power of the iPad 2 and the flood of developer interest in the new technology, Steve Jobs may have just revolutionised the way we make music, as well as the way we buy it.
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