Check out the latest and greatest in apps for your iOS device with our monthly app roundup.
DM1 for iPad
An intuitive, powerful drum machine.As a testament to the quality and ease-of-use of DM1, I’ve just spent the last 15 minutes stuck in a techno-style, melody-free trance. This has to be the easiest drum machine I’ve used.
A good drum machine needs not only a great selection of drums – of which DM1 comes stuffed with 64 different drum kits, including 19 ‘classic’ kits, like the legendary Roland TR-808, plus 45 created especially for the app – but it also needs an intuitive UI.
Well, having always felt a little intimidated by sequencers, I can say that this was simple, inviting, and I was up and running/dancing in no time.
On top of the basic sequencer mode, there are drum pads available for on-the-fly drum solos; dual FX pads for tweaking the beats; randomiser mode for beat mayhem; a song mode for putting together your different loops; high-quality export to email, iTunes shared folder or AudioCopy; WIST sync to sync two iPads/iPhones together; and MIDI in via the Camera Connection Kit.
What’s truly amazing is that drum machines with this many features used to cost hundreds of dollars (and they didn’t come loaded with 64 different kits), but this app is a mere $5.50. iOS really has revolutionised the music creation game.
$5.49 > Fingerlab > Link Frederic – Resurrection of Music Complete
A rhythm game with a quirky, classical twist, Frederic thrusts the classical composer, Frederic Chopin, into the modern world, where he travels across the globe in a golden carriage, battling various antagonist musicians with his magic, pocket-sized grand piano.
Of course, this being a rhythm game, the story isn’t really the focus here, and thankfully so, as the hammy voice acting in the cut scenes is only forgivable because of the bent humour.
However, the most important part of any rhythm game is here; great music and scalable skill levels.
$4.49 > Forever Entertainment S.A. > Link The Tiny Bang Story HD
The most obvious contemporary comparison to this game would be 2009’s Machinarium, but of course, the point 'n' click adventure has been a staple of gaming for many decades. The reason I make this comparison is because the quality of the art and music is on par with that well-regarded game and the puzzles are of the same classic ‘find the missing objects’ style.
I find these types of games almost therapeutic, but if you didn’t enjoy Machinarium maybe give this one a miss. iPad only.
$2.99 (Lite available) > Colibri Games > Link