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Beats are the foundation of my music and usually act as a catalyst for creating entire compositions. Making beats is easy and satisfying, and here are three of my favorite apps for beat building and composing music whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.
1Groovepad
Groovepad is avirtual DJ appthat provides a valuable introduction to the fundamentals of music creation and the various building blocks that form electronic music. It is designed as an easy-to-use step sequencer with multiple filters, effects, creative elements, and the facility to record tracks on the fly.
Sequencing Beats With Groovepad
Open Goovepad and choose a compilation from hundreds of options across multiple genres, including EDM, techno, house, hip-hop, dubstep, and many more. Your selection will take a few seconds to load, and you will then be presented with a matrix of various instrument loops, including synths, bass, leads, pads, and beats.
Tap once to activate each sample or twice to deactivate them as you build your compositions in real-time. You can hitRecordat the top left to save your musical creations while you work, and check out the in-appLessonsat the top right of the Groovepad display to practice building tracks and get the hang of the timing.
Adding Filters and Effects With Groovepad
Tap theFXbutton at the top left. The bottom third of the display is dedicated to a trackpad, which allows you to drag your finger to apply filters and effects. In the menu directly above the trackpad, select the filter or effect you want to control and move the cursor to increase/decrease its level.
Tap theHoldbutton to lock the effect in place as you program music, and tap it again to restore your audio to its default state.
Exporting Audio From Groovepad
PressRecordagain to stop recording. A popup window will appear as you do so, prompting you to name and save your file. It will then appear in theMy Musicmenu at the bottom of the app. Tap the three vertical dots next to the file to share your music or save it to a folder.
While Groovepad offers many different sounds and rhythms, it is limited in flexibility and not a serious creative tool. However, novice musicians would benefit from its free 7-day trial period to learn the basics of track building and effects use. More experienced users will find it valuable as a musical sketchpad for formulating ideas and backing tracks.
Download:Groovepad foriOS|Android(Free, subscription available)
2Roland Zenbeats
Zenbeats is a funky app from the Japanese company Roland, which created the legendary 808 drum synth and many other iconic electronic instruments. It works with audio and MIDI instruments on desktop and mobile devices and includes a drum sampler, synthesizer, and a mixer to create multi-layered masterpieces on the go.
Programming Beats With Zenbeats
Adding Audio and Effects With Zenbeats
Exporting Audio From Zenbeats
Zenbeats is almost a fully-fledgeddigital audio workstation, capable of producing professional-sounding results, thanks to Roland’s wealth of experience and excellent software instruments. This comprehensive and intuitive program is ideal for making electronic music of all styles and is suitable for musicians of all capabilities, although its user interface may initially appear fiddly.
Download:Zenbeats foriOS|Android(Free, subscription available)
If you want to expand your beats into a complete song with audio instruments and vocals, BandLab might be your best option. The software also has social features to connect you and like-minded musicians and share your material with the public. It also features one of the most intuitive and fun drum sequencers with multiple drum kits and preset effects.
Programming Beats With BandLab
Adding Audio and Effects With BandLab
Exporting Audio From BandLab
If I were to pick just one app out of these three, I would choose BandLab. It has plenty to offer instrumentalists, vocalists, and programmers, and it is easy to get started but can produce professional-sounding results. There is autotune andEQ for vocals, modeled amps and effects for guitarists, and an array of MIDI instruments to embellish your tracks. It is the best one-stop mobile music-making solution suitable for all genres and abilities.
Download:BandLab foriOSandAndroid(Free, subscription available)
With just your phone and the right app, you can make beats that sound like theyy were created in a studio. Give these apps a spin and see for yourself.
