While Android hasn’t yet caught up with iOS in its provision of music making apps, it has been making progress. Here we will look at five apps for making music on Android.
FL Studio
A well known DAW for making music on your desktop, FL Studio also offers a version for Android.
One of the most exciting features that the Android version boasts is the ability to open projects from the Android version in the PC version, allowing you to draft songs whilst on the train and then refine them when you get home into something useable.
It includes a number of sampled instruments, synthesizers and effects, each with a counterpart on the desktop version for seamless editing. One limitation is that it can’t support VST plug-ins, but for the use case of getting ideas down on the move, that isn’t really a problem.
The app costs £12.95 and can be found in the Google Play store.
TouchDAW
While not directly an app for making music on your tablet or phone, TouchDAW allows you to control your desktop DAW over your wifi connection. This includes midi input – with both a piano roll and drum pads – as well as effect automation.
It works with most popular DAW’s, and even some less popular ones. I myself tested it with REAPER and was very impressed with the results, as well with the fact that I had found a cheaper option than buying a physical midi drum controller for getting a more organic approach to making hip hop tracks.
There is a free version which allows you to try it out before buying the full version, which is only £3.95. Both versions are available on the Google Play store (which I have linked them to).
Walk Band
Walk band isn’t a DAW – although it does have a very basic multi-track recorder – but aside from being great fun it is useful for experimenting with musical ideas that you can put into a DAW later.
It comes with a virtual keyboard, guitar, drum kit, drum machine and bass, all of which have different sample packs which you can choose from to play with.
It is also available from the Google Play store.
SynprezFM
For those who enjoy the world of FM Synthesis, this app is a programmable polyphonic synth and Yahama DX7 emulator.
For those who don’t know what that means, it’s fun and can help you create interesting sounds for your next project. While I haven’t yet used this in any tracks, I have had a lot of fun playing with a range of it’s sounds.
This app is free and available on Google Play store.
ReLoop Loop DAW
The final app on this list is ReLoop Loop DAW.
ReLoop is a mobile DAW focused towards the more sample based producer, and allows you to create songs using wav samples from your sd card. The interface is very basic, and reminiscent of many desktop sample-based DAW’s. It is able to use 24 bit wav files, export at cd quality and includes 3 real-time effects.
For the amateur producer using construction packs from loop websites, this app could prove very useful as a learning tool, however even some basic functionalities such as track panning have been left out.
You can buy this app for £2.40 from the Google Play store.
Cover image © humatic.de
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