Remote work and doing things on the go have become the norm in the modern world, especially after the global pandemic. This has undoubtedly given a boost to various apps for musicians as well. Whether an artist on tour, a bedroom producer, or just someone who enjoys making music as a hobby and sometimes has to do it on the go, mobile apps certainly have something that will fit any kind of music maker.
Our smartphones and tablets today have some powerful features that allow musicians to compose, record, edit, collaborate, and even practice their skills without being tied to a traditional studio setup. In this article, we are going to share some of the best mobile apps for musicians who want to make music on the go or collaborate with people from all over the world.
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Guitar Pro (Android/iOS): Best for Band Collaboration on the Go
Guitar Pro is a very well-known desktop app for band collaboration by making tabs and notations. We've covered the Guitar Pro desktop version before, so you can read it. The Guitar Pro creators have released a mobile solution to provide musicians who already use the full version with the opportunity to work on musical projects on the move. The best thing about the mobile app is that it's portable, so you can work on musical projects from everywhere, be it on a train, in a cafe, or while staying at a hotel. Since the app is mainly for rehearsing and editing your tabs and notations, the interface has been simplified to fit the smaller screen sizes of mobile devices, and the functionality is more limited. The playback function is also pretty simple. In addition, the app has access to its own cloud storage and provides sharing options.
You can install Guitar Pro on multiple devices with the same operating system without having to repurchase it if you already have the desktop one. This makes the mobile version a great addition to the PC program, and it is compatible with tabs from all Guitar Pro versions.
LALAL.AI (Android/iOS): Best for Stem Splitting & Noise Cancellation
This is a tool that uses advanced AI technology to separate your track into stems, for example, if you need to isolate or remove specific elements from a song, such as vocals, drums, bass, piano, or other instruments, in less than a minute. You can use it in many various ways, such as making samples for your songs or cleaning the voice part. It is also great to make a karaoke version or a minus track song to practice vocals or, similarly, a version of a song without a particular instrument to use it for rehearsal and performance preparation.
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This way, it is quite convenient to practice certain songs no matter what instrument you play. The LALAL.AI app eliminates the need for manual editing or reliance on some questionable software that often results in distorted output (we all know these karaoke versions where you can still hear the voice). On the contrary, this app provides you with clear, great-sounding output, making it suitable for any creative need. The platform supports both audio and video formats.
KORG Gadget 3 (iOS): A Handy DAW
KORG is a Japanese company that's well-known to any musician for making electronic musical instruments, audio processors, recording gear, and software. The company has also released the mobile DAW that gives you a complete set of virtual instruments and tools for making music on iOS and macOS devices. It is meant to be a complete solution for creating, editing, and producing music, focusing on portability. The app offers a great selection of tools, such as mini-synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers. Each gadget is designed to imitate specific sounds or functions, from analog-style synths to realistic drum kits and effects processors.
KORG Gadget 3 lets you record multiple tracks simultaneously, combining several instruments to create complex compositions. You can also sequence, edit, and arrange your tracks directly in the app. The app also supports MIDI input and output, meaning that you can connect external MIDI controllers. This tool is a perfect solution for musicians and producers who need a portable DAW for sketching out ideas and creating full tracks.
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GuitarTuna (Android/iOS): Best for Tuning String Instruments on the Go
Are you traveling with your string instrument, which sometimes needs tuning? GuitarTuna has a perfect solution for you! This is a tool that uses advanced audio recognition tech to provide super-accurate tuning for guitars, basses, ukuleles, violins, and even some unconventional instruments like balalaika. The app detects the string’s pitch and shows the user how to tune it correctly.
You can download an app onto your smart device or simply access it using a browser. The app offers a range of alternate tunings for guitars, such as Drop D, Open G, and Half Step Down. You no longer need to take a tuner device with you if you have such an app on your smartphone. GuitarTuna also supports a bonus feature, namely an extensive chord library, making it easy for users to learn and reference chords. This is especially helpful for beginners learning new songs.
Perfect Ear (Android/iOS): Best for Growing Your Ear for Music
Perfect Ear is a mobile app designed for musicians to help them develop their musical ear, specifically their ability to recognize pitches, intervals, chords, scales, rhythms, and melodies. The idea is to train musicians, vocalists, and music lovers to understand and identify different musical elements by ear. The interface could be quite familiar to you, as it looks pretty similar to Duolingo, just without the owl that attacks you with reminders every day.
The app adjusts to your skill level, offering beginner to advanced exercises, and you can always track your progress over time to see improvements and identify areas that need more work. The app also has different modes, like timed practice or free play, to suit various learning styles and preferences. In sum, this is an excellent tool for practicing your skills wherever you are.
BeatMaker 3 (iOS): Best for Easy Beats & Production
BeatMaker 3 is a music production app designed for iOS devices (iPad and iPhone) to create beats, produce tracks, and perform live music, often used by producers and musicians who want a portable and intuitive music-making solution (and it also has an excellent rating on AppStore!). BeatMaker 3 includes a highly flexible sampler that allows users to import, record, and manipulate samples. It also features a grid of drum pads that can be assigned to different samples or instruments.
The app also has a piano roll editor for creating and editing MIDI sequences and a step sequencer, which is ideal for quickly laying down beats. BeatMaker 3 comes with various built-in effects such as EQ, reverb, delay, and more. Still, it also supports Audio Unit (AUv3) plugins, allowing you to personalize and expand your sound palette with third-party effects and instruments. You can work with many different audio and MIDI tracks, using different effects and automation for each. BeatMaker 3 is quite a popular app among musicians and producers, probably because it is a convenient professional-grade DAW that fits in their pocket.
Area Messenger (iOS/PC): Best for Project Management
Area Messenger is a platform designed by and for creative professionals, such as musicians, designers, filmmakers, and other creators. The app builds decentralized, peer-to-peer collaboration between creators with standardized tools and protocols. The chat feature is closely tied to file management. You can save anything you share in a chat, and any updates to files will be automatically shown there. The area is perfect for people who want more freedom and meaning in their work without the constraints of a corporate environment (that is stated as the main aim of the app creators). The app is great for remote working and makes it easy to collaborate even when you are not online at the same time with the others. This messenger is perfect if you are looking for a simple, efficient way to collaborate with others from anywhere.
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These apps make it simple to create music on the go. Your mobile device can be a great tool for making music, whether you're practicing, composing, or collaborating. In today’s world, being able to create and collaborate on music from anywhere is more important than ever and this can give you an opportunity to build creative unions with the most incredible and most talented people from all parts of the world and stay flexible.
