I can usually find my way around simple music by ear, but with more complex tracks I often get lost. Sometimes I can guess the scale, sometimes I miss, and sometimes I just fall back to pentatonic and hope for the best.

So I tried making a different kind of tuner. Instead of showing one note at a time, it listens for a while and tries to figure out what notes seem to fit the music that is playing. Then it shows that scale or mode on keys, guitar, and bass, so you can quickly see where it is probably safe to play.

It’s not trying to generate tabs or transcribe the melody. More like a compass. It points you in a useful direction, and you still have to play and listen.

It is very much a weekend prototype. It sometimes gets the tonic wrong, and it can be confused by voice or messy audio, but with YouTube tracks it often gives me something useful after 5–10 seconds.

No release yet, just a video for now. I’m curious if this kind of thing would actually be useful to anyone else, especially beginners or people who jam by ear.

UPD: TestFlight beta is now available: https://testflight.apple.com/join/1Xy3dEev

UPD2: AppStore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jam-assist-scale-finder/id6787274044

Right before summer travels I have my compact studio for me.

Because many have asked, the full setup is:
iPad, OP-1, Ugreen USB-C hub, Ugreen audio adapter connected to the hub, USB-C cable connection to powerbank or power adapter.
Fits into a neat small bag.

App is GCS model 8.

This past year I spent so much money on building a studio…and I still want more and more devices.

I need to relax and stop buying everything under the sun…i’m thinking my next big purchase will be during Black Friday sales

Someone mentioned this app in the synth sub…it caught my attention when they said ‘Juno-emulator’…so instead of buying a drum machine i just paid $19.99 for this

The sounds are 🔥🔥🔥🔥…can also use as a plug-in in the Logic App

Hiya,
I've just released a new version of Patterning, for the iPhone. It's called Patterning.

It's so new that it doesn't show up in the App Store search yet, so if you're interested : patterning-for-iphone.app

I'm a long time app developer, (Chordion came out in 2012, Patterning in 2015), but I'm not a seasoned Redditor.

Figured this was as good a time as any to say "hello!"

Pretty cozy. Not very serious. And yes, those clips in loopy pro are recordings of my 6-year-old that play when he hits the black keys on the qunexus.

• KeyStep midi out to midi splitter (with built in BT midi)

• CME Midi to USB cables from splitter to camera connect/aux power adapters connected to iPads

• Everything - iPads, midi splitter and KeyStep powered by USB hub and a single power cable

So much fun! The 4 tracks of the KSP pair so well with it. Super easy to vibe with. Still need a little 4 channel stereo mixer to get a L/R main out. And I will definitely be scheming up a cool custom case for this monster! Stay tuned!

You can now load AUv3 instruments and FX plugins inside Koala. Everything explained in the attached 2 minute vid!

I just launched my new project: Battlestation

The 1-minute groovebox: a workstation designed to get an EDM jam going in <60 seconds

Battlestation is a groovebox built for DAW-less jamming. It has an analog drum machine, three synths, a mixer and a bunch of effects. All controls are laid out on a single screen, so no menu diving is required.

Battlestation has generative sequencers (inspired by the modular concept of Turing machines) instead of conventional sequencers, so you can focus on the most enjoyable parts of jamming.

If you want to turn your jams into full tracks, Battlestation also offers AUv3 plugin compatibility with separate outputs for each instrument, MIDI in/out and fully exposed AU parameters.

It is a fully universal app - standalone and AUv3 plugin - and can be installed on iPads and Macs (and iPhones, but a big screen is highly recommended).

Some promo codes for the fast/lucky responders:

LRH99MXNJA6P

9AK6KA36RHLM

AKHAAMPWN9XR

App Store Linky

Here’s the download link:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gcs-model-8-mobile/id6784474862

A little rundown:
It’s completely free with zero in app purchases.

It’s an 8 track version my tape daw which has a custom physics engine and tape emulator for a hyper realistic tape sound. You can choose different tape formats like cassette, 1/4”, 1/2” and 1” tape.

It comes full stocked with built in effects and instruments, so you can make an entire album or demo without external tools.

If you have a Bluetooth keyboard and wired headphones it’s very fun and easy to track a song. The onboard pad sampler comes with an 808 drum machine and Acetone vintage drum kit.

Hi everyone,

I've been working on a new DAW the past year and I'm about to release it. I decided relatively last minute to port it to iPad, and have made some iPad specific changes to make it more user friendly. Essentially, its an exact replication of a reel to reel, with the exact same workflow and tape physics.

Here's the link to try it: https://testflight.apple.com/join/Q76VVGJM

I've been recording to tape for over a decade and am obsessed with the sound and limitations and have been wanting to make a digital version for a long time. I built a custom physics engine that models how the tape moves across the rollers, heads, capstan, etc for an extremely realistic sound. You can choose between cassette, 1/4", 1/2" and 1", and do things like mess with the tape as you record to warble it, record in varispeed and reverse, and essentially any trick that's possible on real tape.

In addition, you can draw defects onto the tape like crinkle, flutter, drop outs, etc and set it to auto age as you play it so it degrades over time.

It supports third party AUv3 plugins, but I also have built in tape echo, analog reverbs like spring, compressors, chorus etc. It also comes with software synths based off my favorites like Prophet 10, Moog, Acetone 60's drum machine, and an Ondes Martenot expressive synthesizer.

I personally think its most fun on desktop but I've been working with the iPad community on the Loopy Pro forum to optimize it and would appreciate any feedback before I release it.

There's a skeumorphic UI as well as a minimal ui which is better suited for iPad which has larger knobs,etc. You can also import audio if you want to run it through tape as well as tons of other features - I'm happy to answer any questions.

I also started a sub if you'd like to troubleshoot or follow along for updates, which I put in my profile.

Thank you!

Edit: here’s a manual for an older version

https://gulfcoastsynthesis.com/model8_manual_1.8.pdf

And to clear any confusion, you can do 8 track, 16 track, and 24 track sessions.

Here’s a demo of a much older version, playing around with the tape loop function and aging for lo-fi piano: https://youtu.be/1QtmTU8u37I?si=tdP9GjYJ5QI2ymd3

I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I used to play a real Jupiter-8. Never did I think I would ever get one for my iPad for under ten bucks. To my old ears, it sounds just like the real thing. I feel transported back to my youth, when anything was possible.

I've been dabbling in iOS off and on since it started. Just wanted to say hello to everyone

This is a project I've been working on for a while: it's an iPad instrument built around a "gear" metaphor. Gears can be be connected, disconnected, dragged, resized, etc. The gear ratios define polyrhythms, and the angle of connection determines the pitch. Changing the connection angle between groups of gears can create cascading harmonic effects, as in this video.

It can run as a standalone instrument, producing it's own audio, or it can be used as a MIDI sequencer/controller. In this video I'm controlling a software instrument in Logic.

It runs on iPad/iPhone, as well as silicon macs, but I haven't tested it too much on the latter.

This has been a personal creative project, but I'm also curious if it's something people might be interested in. If you'd like to follow progress, hear about releases, or try out a beta, I'll share that on my substack: https://phasechimes.substack.com

[EDIT: Updated substack URL]

You pick a chord, the grid shows what fits next. Listen, keep what works for the track. Make wrong choices, hit the dice, try the weird option.

Drop chords on a timeline, try inversions, mute notes. Export MIDI to your DAW or WAV. Keyboard or fretboard view.

Curious if it helps anyone!

Web: https://chords-explorer.me

iOS : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chords-explorer/id6761266228

Small how-to if needed: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NIiAQLWAvHs