SampleTank, a professional quality sound and groove workstation, recently announced a new update, which now makes it a universal app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. More importantly, it now features a built-in 4-track MIDI recorder, which is an essential tool for any music enthusiast or professional as it enables the mobile musician to record beats, grooves or complete songs anytime and everywhere. The new recorder features quantize and loop functions, export to audio and integration with the built-in pattern player making it a full-featured mobile sound and groove workstation.
Additionally, its drum pads interface was enhanced for easier use and now includes a total of 136 instruments as well as an another few hundred available as in-app purchases. The update also added more than 1,000 patterns as well as made the app compatible with any audio dock. The SampleTank music app is available for $19.99 on the App Store.
+Universal & Apple Watch App - Designed for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
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Navigation apps in the app store are a plenty. But one developer that continues to push the bar is NAVIGON, who's first app was published two years ago and has received almost 10,000 four star reviews. Their newest app, an overhaul of their first app published two years ago that has seen eight major updates packed with new features, is available as of today as a free update to current NAVIGON users. For those new to the service, NAVIGON 2.0 for iPhone North America, USA, Canada, East, Central or West costs between $19.99 and $49.99 depending on the location.
NAVIGON 2.0 received a complete overhaul to its user interface with pull down menus and an easier to use POI menu. It is the first onboard iPhone navigation app that solves the issue of having to save large amounts of map data on the phone to be independent of a data connection because it allows the user to download maps by state, leaving more room for media files and other apps. Also included in NAVIGON 2.0 is an in app purchase option for quarterly map updates, which is key as every road around seems to be under construction.
iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, compatible with iPad
There's a new competitor for the navigation app throne and its name is Don't Panic. Admittedly this is a new competitor for the UK crowd as it only currently works in the UK but it could be well worth a look for those from these fair shores.
Don't Panic promises to be precise in its turn by turn instructions as well as speedy with some impressive promises of being up to 100 times faster than its competitors. An intuitive search feature is easily and instantly accessible from any point within the app and the ability to find destinations via partial addresses and points of interests is possible along with other typical navigational features.
A constant internet connection isn't even needed as the maps are available offline presumably aiding the speed issue hugely with promises of no stuttering or image lag.
For the asking price, Don't Panic offers unlimited free updates for the app with iPhone users exclusively getting unlimited free updates on the maps that come with the app itself.
Don't Panic is available now for UK users and priced at £19.99.
Remember how just over a month ago I wrote about AmpliTube, the guitar amplification application for your iPhone and iPad? Well, Peavey Electronics have now joined the scene with their AmpKit software to create a bit more competition and rivalry in the music amplification section of the App Store.
AmpKit turns your iPhone into a highly customizable guitar amp, boasting a myriad of effects and the ability to record your latest music creations. Such effects include the pedals Noise Gate and Elevenizer, and the mics Workhorse 57 dynamic and Germann 87 condenser. As is to be expected, AmpKit contains a number of in-app purchases, including: 12 more amps, 16 effects padls, 13 cabinets and 8 unique mics. Most of these extra purchases are in the range of $2.99-$5.99.
"We're delighted to be working with Peavey to provide AmpKit and AmpKit LiNK to musicians around the world. Peavey's world-class hardware design and manufacturing capabilities complement Agile Partners' unmatched expertise in creating guitar-focused apps for the iOS platform," said Jack Ivers, a principal at Agile Partners. "Peavey's music industry experience and global dealer network will provide musicians around the world with easy access to the AmpKit LiNK guitar adapter."
The aforementioned AmpKit LiNK adapter, required to hook up your guitar, costs $39.99 and is available worldwide. Interestingly, this is exactly the same price as Amplitube's IK Multimedia iRig, AmpKit LiNK's main rival.
The iPhone application comes in two flavours: free and plus. The plus version costs $20, and with that you'll get access to: a Peavey 3120 amp and a matching 4x12 cabinet, a Colonel Vintage amp, a Vintage Brit amp and a number of additional pedals including distortion, fuzz, compressor, chorus, phaser, flanger, reverb and 10-band EQ.
The application is not natively iPad supported, meaning you're stuck to the iPhone if you choose the Peavey solution. Agile Partners, developers of the application, are also the authors of the much-renowned GuitarToolkit and TapToolkit applications.
Images courtesy of Peavey. For more details on the application and where to buy the LiNK hardware, here's where you need to go.
Every day the iPad can be something different - a fun way to play games one day and an easier way to read books the next. Now, it's music's turn with AmpliTube for iPad. Amplitude is a virtual amp and effects processor for your guitar or bass, allowing you to plug in your instrument via the iPad's 3.5mm jack connection with some specially designed kit made by IK Multimedia. The application is available now for $19.99. There is a free version available, with a limited number of effects, but you can buy and download effects on-the-go.
AmpliTube provides the same twenty-three effects as the iPhone edition, which was released last month also at $19.99. Such effects include five amp models, eleven stompbox effects, five cabinets and two mics. For a full break down, see the bottom of this post. The iPad's extra power means that it can handle four simultaneous stompbox effects, rather than three on the iPhone. In addition, a built-in tuner and metronome are provided, as well as the ability to import songs and backing tracks.
The specially designed kit that I mentioned earlier, namely IK Multimedia's iRig, costs $39.99 (€29.99) but doesn't include the premium version of AmpliTube. You plug your guitar into iRig, which then connects to your iPad. It offers a 3.5mm line-out for headphones and speakers. You can buy it here.
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