Audiobus: Use your music apps together.
What is Audiobus? — Audiobus is an award-winning music app for iPhone and iPad which lets you use your other music apps together. Chain effects on your favourite synth, run the output of apps or Audio Units into an app like GarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface output for each app. Route MIDI between apps — drive a synth from a MIDI sequencer, or add an arpeggiator to your MIDI keyboard — or sync with your external MIDI gear. And control your entire setup from a MIDI controller.
Download on the App StoreAudiobus is the app that makes the rest of your setup better.
Comments
That is such a cool chord progression, Dimitri. Love the long build throughout the song. Guitar solo is great, jazzy and different.
@JDubbel, I like that, like the melody and the feel. Couple of quibbles: when the main synth comes in at around a minute, there's too much of it, takes over the song and overpowers it, and drowns out some of the synth and guitar solos later. Also, would like some different textures, some relief in tempo/feel/tone.
My first entry in a long time. Been studying composition with a great teacher, just wrote my third grade theory exam, and have just been damned busy. Started this over Christmas. Was mucking around on the guitar in the harmonic minor, which has wonderful diminished and augmented chords, and it sounded very latin, and went on from there. Started on guitar, then wrote it out in Notion and added all the parts. Exported as midi, loaded into Auria. Then played guitar and bass live. Oboe and violin are from Miroslav Philmarmonic II. I struggled with the mix on this one, but I always do. And and all comments welcome.
@rickwaugh, your two last posts after the review of my song came broken (missing links). Thus, I cannot listen your song.
By the way, thank you very much for the review of my own song!
@MonzoPro, thank you for the review as well!
Did you both watched the video? IMO it's more interesting than simply listening.
Interesting, I was able to get it to play in the browser. How is it opening?
Your last "good" post was the review of my song:
Now it appeared fine for me, @rickwaugh. Your immediately anterior post, the one just after your review of my song, still doesn't have the link for the song you're reviewing though.
About your song: enjoyed a lot both the composition and the arrangement. The melodies are really very inspired! Not so sure about the sampled sounds, however: they sounded a little rigntone-ish here in through my phones. Notion? (EDIT: ah, Miroslav!)
Thanks, Dimitri. probably my bad treatment of them...
Cool. I'm fluttered. The way I am with all things "button" it could well be a decade before you receive the vox track back!
Love stamps. Easy and they taste nice.
@marliess Thanks very much. And for the times. It helps me to know which parts are kinda working and I can then concentrate on those and try and understand why. Then, in turn, flicks in to help improve on my many weaknesses because of those lessons. Thanks again. Appreciated. On the subject of knowing each other's song styles etc, I heard what I thought was a marliess song on the radio. It turns out that the band Twin Atlantic have stolen your style. Please listen 0.23 - 0.42. Lock your Soundcloud down before more Jocks rip you off!
I'm never invited Richard. Thank you for these words. That one, "evolution" sticks and I am going to make sure i weld it in. 18 months of yob rock does take it's toll and with all the lessons I've learnt from all the wonderful people here, I could.... evolve. Still not sure if I will, but my wife has detected a slight polar shift in my stuff. In fact, yesterday, she actually smiled properly (not the normal, "oh my poor dear, you're ill," type one), for the first time, after listening to the cover I'm working on for next month. Good to have the family onside.
I thank you and everyone down here in the tub, and those upstairs in the posh parts of Audiobus, for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. Could be a vintage year this.
I like how the pensive keys interplay with the ominous background— they're two parts in a little playlet. A little red riding hood thing. It makes me think you could make several versions with the piano playing against different counterparts, each with their own overall tone. Since you're licensing them, anyway.
@technemedia
I enjoyed the music quite a bit. No problems there. I do think you might do to open up the vocals a bit. Like a topic I was going over yesterday, they seem to follow the music a bit too close for me. At about :30 you break out of it for just a second with this J Mascis type warble that I noticed instantly, and wanted more of. You might try to exploit that more in the future.
Very nice as always. I wish I could write a song in less than six months.
Not much to tell you. The tapping was a bit loud to my ears, but it may have been my monitors tricking me. Maybe lower its volume during the quiet bit and leave it the same for the rest.
That's a very good first go, I'd say. It has a nice bouncy thing going that pulls you along. In this case, I think it does demand a turn at some point, though. The rhythm of the road eventually threatens to lull you to sleep and right off into a Stuckey's. Most songs need either a change of some sort somewhere, or to remain well under 4 min., in my experience. Depends on the song, motivation, etc. of course, so mileage may vary (pun intended).
Many thanks. Can see from your website, you know your stuff and had a listen to "Stopping Off." Good stuff there sir. Trying to understand how to get a full, meaty slab of guitar sound. Adding more tracks of the same just seems to blur the lines. So I'm experimenting with other apps, EQ and panning. Don't know what I'm doing but there are improvements, and it's a fun journey finding out. Cheers.
Powerful gear sir. I was waiting for Carrie's arm to pop out from the gravel! It does soak me into that film genre as well, like Mister Goodyear has already said. You know there's something/one hiding in the wardrobe, and with every passing note, you build the tension skilfully. The door slowly creaks open to reveal...... Have to wait until next month to find out I suppose, you teaser you. Beautifully eerie, mesmerising.
Yes, I remember your tune first time around and my goodness, you've done some great work on it since. Not lost any of the original feel, but, wow, have you been busy on the musical/production sides. I did notice. Loving the guitar work split perfectly into each ear and you could've played your solo forever as far as I'm concerned. Really felt that. Top pop song.
Welcome news. @LostBoy85 has been found alive and well. All the PI has found out, is that he is having fun doing, what he should be doing, singing. Oh, and he's become very good singing buddies with a "Lady in Red." What a voice that man has got. Pure beauty. Good on ya Leo, talented soul.
Thanks brother, I appreciate that. I was gunshy at first to post any SOTMC critiques without first posting anything myself but saw @richardyot post a few times about people stepping up to add feedback. I have my website in my profile so there's stuff there if someone thinks "Well F you, you do better?!" lol but I really don't shit on anyone. If it's so bad that any positive response isn't applicable then I just remain silent. I can honestly say that hasn't happened here, there's loads of talent.
I'm currently remastering older stuff like you heard with Final Touch and am recording songs slowly but surely with my Auria based iOS setup. I too am trying various guitar recording techniques as its my main songwriting vehicle. Just amp sims only can be very brittle and "blehh" sounding. On some rhythm parts I'll mic my Fender Champ at a fairly medium volume with an SM57 just to get one track that's "moving air" for real. The FabFilter comp & EQ has been a huge help in getting direct guitars through sims to sound good, the Fiddlecator app to add cabinet emulation is the same.
Keep on doing work man, listened again to your track while writing this & it is just awesome, sounded like 5 vocals interacting at one point! Do work.
I happened to make this tune on my first attempt of creating something in Gadget. Not much to say really, it is 100% Gadget. I had sort of avoided Gadget previously, though I (in pure app-addict fashion) obviously had bought it and most of the IAP's. I had avoided it due to its locked-down nature. Funnily enough, that is what now attracts me to it (though I welcome audio in when it arrives).
So I had a new guitar for Xmas and than a week or so ago I signed up to the new Noiiz service giving me access to loops and samples galore. And what have I got to show for it, 'sweet fa', nada, zip, complete and utter writers block.
As a result, I have dug into the archives and done a slight update to a track I originally recorded back in 2015. The complete antithesis to last months track. I present for your delectation, a sprawling space rock instrumental epic (that just means its a bit long so try not to fall asleep). Let us all journey to a new world.
My effort for the month. It's a bit wordy for me, I wrote the lyrics first (something I've never done before). I got a free app called Word Palette that made writing words the easiest it's ever been for me, so rather than labouring over the lyrics for days on end they just poured out of me, and that's never happened before. I then tried a few different melodies to find something that worked, and once I settled on something I liked I built the harmony around it, first on guitar and then later with synths.
The vocals are not pitch corrected, there's a couple of flat notes in there, but I used Pro R to emphasize the throaty quality of the voice, by using the blue EQ curve to exaggerate the mids (while dampening the highs) to accentuate the timbre of the voice. Other than that it's just the usual compression and a smidge of very short delay. Also didn't double-track because I thought the vocal sounded better without.
The synth riff is Alchemy GarageBand, drums are Darcy. Lyrics in the spoiler.
you're a thoughtful man
with a careful plan
meticulously made
nothing left to fate
but fate's a funny thing
she likes to play to win
won't be told what to do
not by the likes of you
so with your careful schemes
and your elaborate dreams
she will come out quick
spin you until you're sick
so in this one last play
try and lead her astray
if the past failed you
when is the future due?
an intellectual man
trying the best he can
no slave to circumstance
dumb luck and happenstance
but you are not that bright
more bushel than a light
accept your destiny
and I'll keep you company
and just the two of us
we won't make too much fuss
we'll crack that paradox
turn back those broken clocks
so in this one last play
try and show me the way
if life has made us wait
why should we hesitate?
@Hennie Nice one on knocking your first tune out sir. Good feeling isn't it. Is the music you've played here what you listen to normally/by choice? Or, if you were a "musician" and had all the tools at your disposal, what would you play. I suppose what I'm getting at is what is in your musical soul. What makes you tick. I can play the drums a bit but I don't know notes/chords etc, and just go with what I think sounds ok. From the heart, because I don't have it in my brain. You have something don't you. I'm amazed by your technical abilities already. One song in and the production is top notch!
From what I've heard, and felt, I'm wondering whether you and Gadget could become a formidable team. Do you sing? Not can you, do you. You know, in the bath, putting the rubbish out. Even humming. If so, hopefully we will hear your vocals above the synth in G minor. Took 18 months to learn that.... G comes after F. What comes after minor? I don't know.
Very well done.
@marliess I know those drums, don't I?
I listened to your song before I read the back story this time. Guess what? Space. Noticed this straight away. I put that down to your song writing abilities. Starts, stops and gaps/space/air. But even the space tells a story. Brilliant. Frequency masking? Sounds technical and combined with your skills in writing and delivery, works really well. Those two words "Sonic Space" will be taken forward. Cheers.
Always thought you DO sing, and well. In fact, because of the narrative, I was expecting some rage and anger screams. But like you wrote, fun and respectful. You are a better man than I. Very restrained. If you ever feel like telling "them" just to fuck right off continually for 3 minutes in song mode, sure you're allowed the odd slip. Splashes of funk soaked in a rock attitude, is a delicious combination. The tom flicks drip in a Latin flavour. Nice.
The missus sent me a link to a Deftones track on Monday. It was POLYTONAL. Never heard of that term before. Wow, did that blow the safety pins from the lapels. You're a musician, so will know of this "thing" most probably. I mention because have you done this thing 2.08 - 2.13? I'm praying that when I take a look, there's an idiots guide to what note, chord etc, goes, (or doesn't, is that the point?) with what. Anyway, sorry Crunching rock outro to finish off another fine tune. The rock riffs feel heavier on this. Like.
Now, those drums. If they are what I suspect, I'm enjoying trying to get a full on meaty sound from them. If I'd remembered to save the 12 hours of work I spent on them as a fucking preset, I could tell you now. I didn't and I'm crying. Like a baby.
Your hard work paid off. Congratulations.
@richardyot, very nice sinth riff and great vocal melodies. Very tight arrangement, I enjoyed it. I liked the lyrics as well. The drum fill at the end seemed to me a little misplaced at first, but listening to the song again I understood you meant the last phrase to be a capella. Nice work!
Like it. Better singing again. As you gain confidence you are stripping away the effects fog and as you do so the vocals strengthen, as does the song. As with most of our work, I would like to hear this exactly the same but after you've sung it another 200 times. Not for the tune, but for the pacing. Not bad now at all, but I can hear you working to fit it in, it's a new shoe, not a comfortable slipper etc etc, but that's almost by the by.
Only other crits would be I would like/prefer an intro, even if it was three seconds of an ascending chord, the noise of a door closing or an almost off-stage 1-2-3-4....something. And, more significantly perhaps, this is a good song and I want to sing along to a chorus, I'm ready for it like a boy who wants a chocolate after his dinner. I know you have a nice alchemy line there, but I want to be told what I supposed to think or feel. I know, almost weak to admit it, but under the veil of The Club feel honor bound to mention even my most pathetic little wants and feelings
Good stuff. Def. one to add to your repertoire....
Something swift. Mostly an exercise in using ifretless sax in a non-sensual way. I am unhappy with the vocals, I don't mind them being muddled, that's pretty much in keeping with the overall idea, but they glitch in one or two places. Will probably redo them, but may not have time before the Amsterdam/Antwerp/Copenhagen trip. Hope so. Have added the lyrics below the bump. The video is a pretty good (if rough) explanation of what I was meaning...
Revelations
There's a dead sheep
In the water source
A man who believes
His wife is a horse
Memories of daylight
And then the remorse
All as I'm waiting here
For love's true course
(To reveal itself to me).
Nothing occurs here
And no one can tell
If the time of our living
Is the size of our Hell
But when I think of the knowing
I'm sure it's as well
That Adam and Eve
Decided and fell
When she revealed herself (to me).
I'm at the top of a corner
On the side of some hill
And I know if I want to
Then surely I will
Sing out for fortune
When by mouth there is nil
Compared to the falling
This would be easier still
And thus is gravity here
Revealed now to me.
Okay, I've got a bit of time, so I drop an ear here...
I don't have any tracks, keep working on my set (almost done...)
A bit expeditive, sorry for that in advance, I came in peace
I won't repeat myself on each track, but , end of song with fade out is a big NO to me.
@studs1966 not bad, but a bit repetitive, not very original, production is simple, but everything is in sync, and the melody is sweet...Keep it up !
@aaronpc nice production, whish I could hear drums & bass more. Original, nicely done. Congrats !
@trackedout hmm, the mix needs to be done differently, nice effect on the voice, drums with crash a bit too much, not so much in sync with the bass.
@DerekBuddemeyer Simple, but very nicely done. Let's see GOT latest season
@Bluepunk you always make me laugh with your tracks, I like that. You definitely got your sound, keep it up. The chorus is really cool, the mix is well made, can't see anything to say except that I love it !
@technemedia hmm mix a bit "foggy" to me, particularly with the drums that is very simply produced, mostly, I guess. With all the arrangement, might have been pushed a bit further ?
But the hole song is great, the aerian break, then solo...Again, more space in the mix would have been even greater.
Here the fade out at the end doesn't bother me (it's rare enough to mention it)
@Hennie funny, but it might have been much shorter. Like 1 or 2 min, a more punchy mix, you'll have something a bit more "unique".
@marliess hmm very clean production, impressive ! The cheap synth might have been treated differently ? or just a bit more...Drums & bass really carry the sound. Might need a bit of more rage against the machine, or some some red hot chilli pepper energy ?
@MonzoPro ah, clearly reminds me while I was at the conservatory in the electro acoustic class. Nice research, now please make me dance with all this good material:)
@theconnactic I'm always scared with your tracks, too much notes for my head, but here...Wow, love it. Just enough variations that I could follow, much less stress for my brain. At the end, I feel you want to go "somewhere else" then it's finished (ouf) Really love the intro. I might love more a full classical version, or even fewer things...
@JDubbel hmm sweet, problem, to me is that your chorus is at 3:43, before it's a bit like unstructured. That's too bad. The sound of the strings should be warmer somehow. Love the rhodes.
@hellquist Very clean, love the subtile variations, everything is homogene, deserve a proper production now. The melody, everything is fluid, really, bravo ! I'd like to produce it , not sure how long it's gonna take, but I can be fast while I've got time and I really like it...It's up to you. We can discuss it.
@orchardman not bad, production is a bit confused sometimes, guitars sounds cheap and not crispy as you want them to be. Break also not in time, too bad, deserve a better treatment I would say.
@richardyot hmm, first seconds you feel like something different, a proper sound, I love it. Production is great, lots of space, retro synths, everything is great, it's great, love it. Did I say it's great ?
@JohnnyGoodyear here again, a proper style, a proper sound, love it. At 1:37, the doubling of the drums ? Why ?
Why wouldn't have that doubled from the beginning, make some more advanced solo riffs with the synths. Disapointed by the end of the track, a mix between fade and "I don't wanna stop playing keyboard, I'll be the last, ah ok, done". Would also like to produce it !!