Nanoloop for iPhone (App Store link) combines sequencer, synthesizer and sampler in one package to bring vintage 8-bit Gameboy music goodnesss to the iPhone and iPod touch.
The app builds on Nanoloop for the Gameboy, but features a new software synth and features not possible on the Gameboy.
Features:
- Six channels, each can be synth or sampler
- Fast and easy to use stepsequencer
- Synthesizer with envelope, filter, LFO and other parameters
- Sample external audio or nanoloop’s own sound output
- Song editor with loop function
- Save function
- Works on 1st gen iPod touch and 2.2 software
- Send and receive projects via e-mail, using the iPhone’s / iPod’s e-mail program
Details below.
Sequencer
The sequencer displays the pattern as a grid of 4 x 4 rectangles. Notes can be set, removed and edited just by tapping and swiping. This editing without mode-changes and the straight, generous layout ensure a smooth workflow.
Unlike the Game Boy versions, nanoloop for iPhone only allows to set pitch and one additional value step-wise in the sequencer. All other sound parameters are controlled channel-wide through the synth panel.
Synthesizer
The simple but powerful synthesizer allows to create a great bandwidth of sounds, including beats, noises, basses and pads. Available synthesis types are:
- rectangular wave with filter
- FM
- LFSR noise generator
Rectangular wave and LFSR sound similar to the Game Boy’s and other console’s soundchips but offer more fine control and additional effects (lfo / envelope for pulse width or filter, simple phaser for noise).
The FM synth is the simple type with two sine wave oscillators, with fixed base frequency and variable modulator frequency. An envelope / LFO can be applied to modulation amplitude or frequency. For a sweeping spatial effect, the modulator can be slightly detuned, with inverted phase for left/right.
Each synth channel is two-voice polyphonic and a stereo effect can be applied.
Sampler
Samples of one second length @ 44 kHz, mono (or about 5.5 sec @ 8 kHz mono or 0.5 sec @ 44 kHz stereo) can not just be used in a drum-machine style, but also be pitched and played as notes.
Recording sources for samples are the built-in microphone (iPhone only), a headset microphone (iPhone, iPod touch 2nd gen only) and nanoloop’s own sound output. The latter allows to create new samples from scratch, using up to five channels to create one single sound. Typical applications would be percussion (claps, snares etc), chords, arpeggio and microrhythmic / microtonal elements.
Share
With nanoloop for iPhone, you can send your saved projects to other nanoloop users via e-mail. If nanoloop is installed on the recipient’s iPhone / iPod, she/he can simply tap on the file name in the received e-mail to start nanoloop and import the attached file so that it is available for editing. This makes collaboration very easy, multiple users around the world can work on the same project by simply e-mailing the file back and forth. This function may also be used to backup projects on a PC.
This does not mean that files are sent as audio, data are in the native nanoloop format which can be read only by nanoloop. An export function to wav or mp3 is planned for future versions.
Just downloaded it to my itouch. It's tight. Very intuitive. Within minutes, got a tune going already. This will be my fist chiptune sequencer, synthesizer. Loving it.
Just downloaded it to my itouch. It's tight. Very intuitive. Within minutes, got a tune going already. This will be my fist chiptune sequencer, synthesizer. Loving it.
Just downloaded it to my itouch. It's tight. Very intuitive. Within minutes, got a tune going already. This will be my fist chiptune sequencer, synthesizer. Loving it.
Damn – you just sold me on it!
I just got the Gameboy version a few months back… and I'm tempted to add this to my iPhone anyway. Looks great.
I just got the Gameboy version a few months back… and I'm tempted to add this to my iPhone anyway. Looks great.
This is the best news if heard in a long time. Especially since other synths on the iPhone/iPod Touch have been such a disappointment.
can anyone comment on how this compares with sunvox, dopplerpad, bleep!box or any other of the iPhone toys?
i was reading the nanoloop manual and didn't see anything about swing, is this possible on the iPhone version?
thanks!
Swing on there. It’s a pretty in depth app, I’m not sure about how it compares to the others as I’ve never tried them, but I would suggest nanoloop to anyone really. I bought it like 3 hours ago and I’m having a lot of fun with it.
can anyone comment on how this compares with sunvox, dopplerpad, bleep!box or any other of the iPhone toys?
i was reading the nanoloop manual and didn't see anything about swing, is this possible on the iPhone version?
thanks!
not sure what you mean by swing, but there is a simple "shuffle" that delays every 2nd step by 1/3 note. more complex variations could be achieved either with a higher base tempo (240 bpm instead of 120) or by using a sample starting with silence and then varying the sample offset (named "start", also available per step. not so precise though).
hi horst, i think we're on the same page. i'm glad there's some sort of shuffle but roland style where you can set the percent would sure be nice. seems like it's so close if turning delay on, why not let user tweak the number.
i like that you hold this application naturally rather than landscape mode. that's been a gripe of mine with many music software so far.
hi horst, i think we're on the same page. i'm glad there's some sort of shuffle but roland style where you can set the percent would sure be nice. seems like it's so close if turning delay on, why not let user tweak the number.
i like that you hold this application naturally rather than landscape mode. that's been a gripe of mine with many music software so far.
A more precise control of shuffle may come in future versions. The simple on/off switch could be turned into a fader for percent values.
Nanoloop does not intend to bring "vintange 8-bit Game Boy music" to the iPhone. The synth is somewhat similar to Game Boy and also vintage Yamaha FM chips such as OPL-2, but not an emulation. The synth models were not chosen for nostalgia but just because they are simple and sound good. Plus they make a nice complement: The filtered rect wave is rough and dirty while the FM is crystal clear, clean and artificial.
Bought it, tried it for ~25min…
1st impression = Beautiful!!
The UI is especially great, better than 99.9% of iPhone apps, some real thought has gone into this. Seriously just the simple things like sliders are implemented brilliantly.
Sound quality is charming- punchy without being too harsh; I like the global clipping distortion.
I was a little disappointed with the limit of 'only 1 param type for sequencing per instrument' but I know that Oliver is always striving to find the right balance of limitations and complexity so I will give it more of a chance before I complain about that. Oliver, any comments on your philosophy behind this choice?
It might be sacrilege but so far I think I like this version better than running v2.2 9 (which I own) on my DS.
Bought it, tried it for ~25min…
1st impression = Beautiful!!
The UI is especially great, better than 99.9% of iPhone apps, some real thought has gone into this. Seriously just the simple things like sliders are implemented brilliantly.
Sound quality is charming- punchy without being too harsh; I like the global clipping distortion.
I was a little disappointed with the limit of 'only 1 param type for sequencing per instrument' but I know that Oliver is always striving to find the right balance of limitations and complexity so I will give it more of a chance before I complain about that. Oliver, any comments on your philosophy behind this choice?
It might be sacrilege but so far I think I like this version better than running v2.2 9 (which I own) on my DS.
Been playing with this some more. Absolutely loving it. I was pleasantly suprised to be able to get some beautiful wobble bass using the LFO. Didn't know it would have that capability. Still working on a track, it will have some wobble bass generated by this. Loving this app, so many possiblities and sound ranges. Awesome UI. This is my new favorite app.
Been playing with this some more. Absolutely loving it. I was pleasantly suprised to be able to get some beautiful wobble bass using the LFO. Didn't know it would have that capability. Still working on a track, it will have some wobble bass generated by this. Loving this app, so many possiblities and sound ranges. Awesome UI. This is my new favorite app.
Yes, one additional parameter for stepwise editing is indeed somewhat limiting, but for the beginning my focus was on usability.
I had experimented a little and found that a global instrument with sliders is more convenient to use than stepwise editing only. The latter is great for Game Boy, but on the iPhone navigation is different. Tasks that are simple on the Game Boy (editing discrete parameters) are difficult to implement on iPhone and vide versa (with a touchscreen, jumping to arbitrary positions is possible without stepping through an array for example).
I definately want to add more flexibility in future versions. There are various possibilities to do that which I wish to discuss with users in the nanoloop forum.
Possible solutions would be:
– have 12 monophic channels instead of six polyphonic ones
– have separate instrument settings for each pattern or pattern bank
– have multiple parameters in the sequencer (volume plus one variable would help a lot)
– parameter automatisation
We'll see what works best.
Yes, one additional parameter for stepwise editing is indeed somewhat limiting, but for the beginning my focus was on usability.
I had experimented a little and found that a global instrument with sliders is more convenient to use than stepwise editing only. The latter is great for Game Boy, but on the iPhone navigation is different. Tasks that are simple on the Game Boy (editing discrete parameters) are difficult to implement on iPhone and vide versa (with a touchscreen, jumping to arbitrary positions is possible without stepping through an array for example).
I definately want to add more flexibility in future versions. There are various possibilities to do that which I wish to discuss with users in the nanoloop forum.
Possible solutions would be:
– have 12 monophic channels instead of six polyphonic ones
– have separate instrument settings for each pattern or pattern bank
– have multiple parameters in the sequencer (volume plus one variable would help a lot)
– parameter automatisation
We'll see what works best.
oliver, great to see you directly in touch with your user base (even if they don't come to your forum)! also great to hear you taking careful consideration of the iphone interface and tailoring your app to it. sunvox suffered from a great engine but intolerable interface.
adjustable shuffle would be the tipping point for getting my funk-addled ass on the nano train. still holding out until i can play with it on a friend's phone because so far i've been disappointed with every iphone music app i've purchased so far. lsdj and lgpt have me spoiled for handheld expression.
oliver, great to see you directly in touch with your user base (even if they don't come to your forum)! also great to hear you taking careful consideration of the iphone interface and tailoring your app to it. sunvox suffered from a great engine but intolerable interface.
adjustable shuffle would be the tipping point for getting my funk-addled ass on the nano train. still holding out until i can play with it on a friend's phone because so far i've been disappointed with every iphone music app i've purchased so far. lsdj and lgpt have me spoiled for handheld expression.
as a workaround for the missing adjustable shuffle, you can work at four times faster tempo. four patterns can be chained so that they form one long 64-step pattern.
I've been playing with this all day. I think this is the first music app that I didn't regret buying. At first I was a bit confused about some of the limitations (no peak in the filter?) and it was a little hard to figure out at first (it took me a while to make the notes "glide"), but the interface is so easy to use it is just a joy to play with.
I feel like there could be some improvements but I can't think of anything specific. A peak in the filter would be nice as well as improved note glide/ envelope. I would like a more powerful synth would be nice but I guess that goes against the minimalistic philosophy. Oh, I know. I would like to be able to fine tune a synth note so I can create that classic "chorus" effect with 2 synths.
Gee, I didn't mean to write an essay. Oh, and I like the FM synthesis a lot!
I've been playing with this all day. I think this is the first music app that I didn't regret buying. At first I was a bit confused about some of the limitations (no peak in the filter?) and it was a little hard to figure out at first (it took me a while to make the notes "glide"), but the interface is so easy to use it is just a joy to play with.
I feel like there could be some improvements but I can't think of anything specific. A peak in the filter would be nice as well as improved note glide/ envelope. I would like a more powerful synth would be nice but I guess that goes against the minimalistic philosophy. Oh, I know. I would like to be able to fine tune a synth note so I can create that classic "chorus" effect with 2 synths.
Gee, I didn't mean to write an essay. Oh, and I like the FM synthesis a lot!
oliver, compromising pattern space to gain the resolution necessary for shuffle beats might be ok if i had more than 16 patterns per voice, but even as is 16 patterns feels a bit cramped (wasn't a fan of that limitation in the original nano or ds10).
is it easier to code an adjustable shuffle or to add patterns? both would be nice but i understand there are only so many hours in every day =) and i also understand it will be a while before we see any of these features because of apple's slow approval process.
oliver, compromising pattern space to gain the resolution necessary for shuffle beats might be ok if i had more than 16 patterns per voice, but even as is 16 patterns feels a bit cramped (wasn't a fan of that limitation in the original nano or ds10).
is it easier to code an adjustable shuffle or to add patterns? both would be nice but i understand there are only so many hours in every day =) and i also understand it will be a while before we see any of these features because of apple's slow approval process.
bwahaha …
http://mp3death.us/diplodocus2/
bwahaha …
http://mp3death.us/diplodocus2/
bwahaha …
http://mp3death.us/diplodocus2/
can u import ur own samples ?
nakto ~ the input sources are listed above: mic, headset mic, internal sound engine ( for doing layered sounds) but no .wav import.
wav import is coming soon, wav export even sooner.
Bought it 2 days ago, love it.
Waiting for an update is like waiting for xmas… 🙂
got to say, even tho the compo page is out of date, i'm still accepting submissions for the diplodocus2 compo … get your squiggles in!!!
http://mp3death.us/diplodocus2/
got to say, even tho the compo page is out of date, i'm still accepting submissions for the diplodocus2 compo … get your squiggles in!!!
http://mp3death.us/diplodocus2/
dear oliver …. can we please get audiobus support .. midi synch … option for audioclip loop with out a long tail … and master pitch bend for synching 2 ipads/ipods ? really love this app but boy it will kick ass if you could fix some of this !!!