Developer Giel Bremmers has released an update to MultitrackStudio for iPad.
MultitrackStudio for iPad is a MIDI + audio sequencer that can handle up to 16 audio/MIDI tracks.
Both audio and MIDI tracks can be edited. MIDI editing features include piano roll, drum and score editors.
Here’s what’s new in MultitrackStudio v1.8:
- MultitrackStudio Instruments: virtually all instruments sound better. Acoustic pianos respond to Soft pedal (controller #67). Bowed strings and many winds respond the Legato controller (#68). Synths have Filter and Resonance knobs. Drums have Bass/Snare/Toms/Hihat/Ride/Crash level knobs.
- Track editors can copy to (or paste from) General Pasteboard or AudioShare. Swipe horizontally over the COPY (or PASTE) button to access these options.
- MIDI editors: added ‘swing’ options to quantize resolution box.
- MIDI pitch controller editor now has ‘R’ button to set pitch bend range.
- ‘Export MIDI tracks’ can export to General Pasteboard.
- Tracks can be switched to Practice Mode by doubleclicking the track’s Play button. Tracks can now be in Practice Mode regardless of instrument or effect panes being visible. Having multiple tracks in practice mode simultaneously is now possible.
- Tempo editor: BPM lower limit lowered to 8 BPM, so there’s more room for fermata.
- Soft-monitored audio tracks: level meter shows speaker symbol to indicate output clipping (the meter itself shows the input level).
- Fixed: Stereo Imager wouldn’t convert stereo input to pure mono (Width=0 didn’t work).
- Extension Pack now features Multiband Compressor effect.
Multitrackstudio For iPad is available for US $29.99 in the App Store.
If you’ve used Multitrackstudio For iPad, leave a comment and share your thoughts on it!
MultiTrack Studio is a VERY impressive, professional level app. I got it a few months ago and I’m very happy with it. (And I am PICKY!).
First of all, it does best in class MIDI recording and editing with really thoughtful workflow. For all you composers, this includes a time-signature and tempo editor that lets you freely change either throughout the piece. Import & export MIDI is all there.
The included virtual instruments are pretty basic, but it is great for sketching out ideas. It has MIDI i/o so you can play external instruments and record their audio into MTS.
The included effects are also pretty basic and don’t have very sexy GUI’s but they sound quite good and work well.
The audio functions are great, and include really accurate scrubbing.
The obvious question to ask is MTS vs the upcoming Auria Pro. I haven’t worked enough with MTS or the current Auria to offer a decisive opinion. I suspect MTS will be a better choice for older devices, as it runs very well on an iPad 4, and Auria does not. I also suspect MTS will be a better compositional tool (just because all the MIDI functions are so robust). Whereas, Auria Pro will be a better audio production DAW for later devices.
Time will tell on Auria Pro. If I end up pulling the trigger on the upgrade, I’ll post some comparison notes on that announcement thread.
I should mention that the price of the app $30 gets you all the basic functionality and 16 tracks. The $20 expansion pack (IAP) unlocks these extras:
Up to 32 tracks.
Mixer and effect automation.
Convolution effect with Vintage Reverbs.
Dynamics effect, supports sidechaining.
Multiband Compressor effect.
Transposer effect.
Vocal Tuner effect.
Audio pitch shifting in track editors.
Effect and instrument user presets.
I’ll admit a few of those seem basic enough to include in the non-enhanced version- especially user presets and automation.