The android market has numerous apps to play music. From Google’s stock music player to winamp, the number of apps, which play music, is enormous. The only thing lacking was apps which make music. Until recently, android showed a lack of music-making apps. This was a real hindrance for musicians who wanted to create music using their android devices as a tool. Latency issues and performance inconsistency (mainly due to the different versions of android and different types of devices) kept even the most serious developers at bay. In spite of the difficulty in designing such an app, a few developers have gone ahead and taken the plunge.

One such application is Audiotool Sketch, a lighter version of the Audiotool web app. It offers one melodic synth and 2 drum machines that emulate analog sounds. The major plus point for this music-making app is that the output does not sound like it’s been produced by a mobile device. Android tablets really let the app shine in its glory, with the extra screen real estate helping a lot. Currently the app is only available for devices running android 3.0 and above; so the only mobile phone which can run it is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The interface of the app is very simple and intuitive. It is not at all complex and any amateur will easily find his/her way around the app in minutes. After the length of the melodic segment is set, the notes are picked in the melodic sequencer. Accents and slides can then be set to each note and filters & waveform editors applied to get the precise sound desired by you. Once a specific pattern is programmed, it can be copy/pasted to the banks where it can be edited and variations added or it can be randomized altogether to get an entire different melody. The two drum machines work in a similar manner but with different sounds and methods of editing the parameters. They provide a variety of rhythmic options. The melodic sequencer can be used to set the duration of the drum sequences, so as to fit the groove. An overview window looks over the mixing and matching of all these elements and maintains the consistency of the groove. The volume can be adjusted in this window. Left/right panning for each of the virtual devices is made possible from the overview window. Pattern switching is supported in the app and can be done from the overview window itself, which means this app can be used in a live performance scenario. The BPM can be adjusted from this window using a simple slider or by simply tapping.

Available for 1$ through the android market, this simple yet really powerful tool is a must have for all amateur musicians. The major plus point, as already mentioned, is the fact that the music generated does NOT sound like a mobile device made it. The no-nonsense interface and fluidity of the app make it a winner. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

About the author: Bethany is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology and luxury. She recently read an article about How to unlock iPhone and it worked for her iPhone. Beside this she recycled her iMac by these creative ideas- Apple iMac.