When it comes to quality music apps, iOS leads the pack by an extremely large margin. The iPad in particular with its beautiful and responsive screen, makes for a perfect touch instrument in addition to a processor for audio given its power. When I got an iPod touch 2nd generation, I bought an app called Bebot because I read Jordan Rudess used it. That was my first real music app on iOS. Today the wealth of options available is mindblowing. There are full fledged workstations like Cubasis as well. I love apps that don’t just try and simulate traditional instruments. Chordion by Olympia Noise Co is a beautiful music creation app.
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On first look it reminded me of the Star Trek PADD with its colours. Chordion is simple to use and it caters to anyone who just wants to play around with an app and create some music and even musicians looking to get more out of it. The main interface is split up into 3 main sections. The right side has a keyboard that will only have the notes related to the chord played on the left. The left side has hexagonal buttons indicated chords which play either as a chord or as an arpeggio depending on the settings. Both the keyboard and the chord buttons are related to each other so even pressing random buttons will not create something out of tune. The top of the screen is split up into the playback controls that start the drum beat and the left side with controls and other options. The customization options are enough to please almost anyone. You can pick how many chords are displayed, what scale is used, create custom beats and even adjust the reverb among other things for the drum beat. Chordion supports MIDI as well which is a huge plus for many people. As of version 1.2 it supports Audiobus as well which is more or less essential for any new music app on iOS. Chordion lets you create good music easily and with Audiobus you can send the stuff you play in real time to Garageband or even Cubasis.
Chordion is an amazing music application. I wish more music apps worked well for experienced people and people new to an instrument or music in general. Chordion also reminds me of Figure in how easy it makes composing something. Apps like this make me love my iPad even more. Chordion for iPad is available on the App Store for $3.99 and is well worth it.
