iPad music - amazingness continues

 Wow, making music on iPad is wild.  So good!!

Transit 2 just came out on sale for $10!  Got it.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/transit-2-baby-audio/id6753751150

Transit 2 is not just multi-effects, its a multi-effect that is specifically focusing on transitions.  It reminds me of Turnado (iOS) but the UI is magic -- and Dark Mode!

Other recent acquisitions 

- GRFX - an audio mangler.  I was initially intrigued, but now I regret it bc its cool looking but Im not impressed by the audio output.

- Elpiano - got electronic piano synth by Klevgrand on sale.  Not sure I needed a piano synth, but it sounds cool & looks amazing.

- Hammerhead Drums - Wow, its simple and gets the job done.  Sequencer & instruments.  Classic plugin.

- Patterning 2 - $20 was $10 off sale.  Too expensive still IMP, but it is a sick drum instrument.

Got Synthmaster2 free on sale today.

Re-downloaded - Moog 15, Moog Model D, Figure, & Samplr.  Out of all, Figure is hands down my fav -- I use it, kids use it, its just so fun ... (Could've probably become much more, but its still pretty awesome as it is.)

- almost got Moomu (wild iOS modular synthesis app) after going to this amazing spot in Portland called ControlVoltage.net & messing with Eurorack craziness, but making music that way hurts my brain so I saved $hundreds there and scored Transit 2 for $10.  Woot!

...

Now that I've said all this, the tool Im using most on iPad (or Android phone) to make music is Suno Pro (paid).  OMG what a gamechanger.

- yes, I don't like that Suno & other AI co's sample all music & dont pay the artists.  This is clearly criminal breach of IP laws.

- Yes, talentless hacks are making tons of shit tracks with SUNO or other AI tools.

But ... the tracks I get make me feel good.

Will link a few recents:

Business of Freedom. - https://suno.com/s/AFwdObjRP4WfMsDY

Flashback on Slavery - https://suno.com/s/JeHacUx7B98hRBGC

Backflipped - https://suno.com/s/oUxEP0CSXvpQogfz

And for a few really different tracks:

Kaiju and Mecha - https://suno.com/s/KzuBK2s7iCVcuwTh

Evolutionary - https://suno.com/s/tMLk9U4NjVFDp8Rg

Mo Mo Sound Defex - https://suno.com/s/ESdrlYu4tcchndnC

... And so many more!

My iOS Magic Audio Apps - Nov 2024

A pic is worth 1k words so here's what I love on iOS Nov 2024, made in Canva on an Android phone.  😁

Has been months since Ive touched iOS Audio, because of Suno AI 3.5, but today was Black Friday sale so I picked up new stuff - REAMP & ONESHOT by Klevgrand for my coming birthday.

Have to say that while I passionately enjoy making music on iOS, I dont think Ive ever made anything vaguely commercial. With SUNO AI, almost every song fits the formula! So that is one hook there.

Highlights from this pic (showing 56 apps/plugins!!), here's my fav AUV3 plugins:

FAV APPS

Drambo -- DAW of choice, has oscillator modulation & automation

AUM - incredible for generative / live performances 

Turnado - want unique noise fx?  An unstoppable monster

Grand Finale 2 ( / TD Barricade) - go to for mastering

FabFilter Q3 - Pro EQ that Im using to sweeten the mix

Koala - Wow, a complete audio solution to get crazy with samples

FAC Drums (& other FAC plugins) - great drum presets and DIY

Perforator - an effect I overuse always

Mela (2-5) - good lineup of preset synths, not sold on 5 yet

Dagger Synth - Beepstreet's synth, some phat sounds!

Audio Converter - tool to get that file format / bitrate you may need (mp4, wav, aac, FLAC, etc)

Audio Share - audio sharing tool, I find it awkward -- except when its useful

Want To Use More

Bleass Voices - Wow!  I want to use this!

Haaze 2 (Klevgrand) - this sounds wide & deep

New Purchases & Hopeful Greats

OneShot (Klevgrand drums) - analog drum samples

REAmp (Klevgrand) - amp modeling

Honorable Mention

Figure - the most fun way to rock out on iPad

Sector - trippy drum machine

Patterning - another interesting drum machine

Magic Switch & Magic Dice <-- fun, simple effects.

Tell me your favs and why?  Id love to know, & maybe I'll review them!

Got 2 iOS plugins for mastering!

Had amazing discovery and made 2 iOS AUV3 purchases to master tracks on iPad.

TB Barricade - a compressor limiter, apparently Pro sounding and great for mastering.

Grand Finale 2 - another tool for mastering, but with compression and 4-band compressor, widening tool, and a way to change / enhance the sound.

Recommendations were for both, and lots of praise.  TB Barricade had more praise, so I got that first, but I really wanted the 4-band compressor in Grand Finale 2 so I got that also.

While I tagged both in Appsliced waiting for a sale, I realized over a $30 meal that I shouldn't allow a few bucks to stop me from making my music kick.  Also, the more I read about Klevgrand AB the more I wanted to support them.  Lastly, the iOS pricing landscape is incredibly reasonable relative to Mac plugin costs.  I'm suprr happy to have spent $25 on these apps.

My fav iOS audio production apps:

- Drambo

- Turnado

- Koala

- AUM

- FAC Drums

and I've picked up a bunch of other fun synths and fx along the way.

Telepathic Audio Slices - album out Aug 23, 2023

Telepathic Audio Slices on YouTube

REkzkaRZ now has Telepathic Audio Slices, an album with 10 more tracks out!   Album is up on Spotify, Apple music, SoundCloud, Youtube, and others!

Mostly created on iPad with Drambo, AUM, Turnado, FabFilter Q3, Koala Sampler, FAC Drumkit & Maximina plugins, & others.  Published thru CDBaby after getting a $100 album deal years back.

As always, the music is pure experimental and political, with lots of anti-capitalism sprinkled with artistic turns of phrase and sonic stereoscopic audio field exploration.

Telepathic Audio Slices on Soundcloud

iPad 2022 - rekzkarz

Working on an album using iPad as creation tool.  (Pic is Drambo.)

It's amazing -- while Ableton Live on computer is really straightforward and I made a lot of neat stuff, the iPad method is completely different.

Making music on iPad is harder, it's more chaotic, and I can't do things the same way -- more performance-based 'luck' and less focussed strategizing around a timeline.  I really love it.

So far, my tools are:

Drambo

Aum

Koala (sampler & AUV3 update)

Turnado

FAC Drums and Maximina

Perforator

and a bunch of other plugins.

It's been interesting to watch some of the tools I thought I would use (like Cubasis 2 & 3) and Beatmaker sit unused, but some things I never anticipated being important are essentials.

I will change this as I continue creating, but so far (already 2023) I have 10 tracks.  They aren't complete, they aren't perfect, and most of all they are missing the standard song construction -- but they are passion projects.

Lastly,. I bought a CD Baby album for $100 awhile back and never published.  I have a bunch of older tracks, I'm considering throwing them all into a massive compilation.  Not sure how that would work.  Exciting to make music!!!  

Heres a track: Product Equals Profit

Wonder how many people will think my stuff even is music?  I'm not expecting to quit my job or make money, just doing a passion projects.  Soul food!

3 tracks @ 3am - REminderz 2010

REminderz 2010 'set' (posted on Soundcloud)
went online @ 3am. ENJOY!
Free to listen, download, share.

My Name is REkzkaRZ mod3 by REkzkaRZ

Time is all I get by REkzkaRZ

Aliens on Earthv1 by REkzkaRZ

Machine Screams enters the RPM Challenge for Feb 2010!

Make an entire CD in Feb?
10 tracks (or 35 minutes)???
Can it be done?
YES!!!

I invite you to join me on the RPM CHALLENGE for Feb 2010!
RPM CHALLENGE Website:
http://www.rpmchallenge.com/eastbayexpress
Also
RPM Challenge Facebook Page

I am asking YOU, my musician friends, if you will contribute to my RPM Challenge project,
"MACHINE SCREAMS", and contribute your music to one or more songs?

What I'd like from you is a commitment
a) to commit to something (ie 1 track of bass, drums, keyboards, vocals, etc) on Track X
b) to lay down your track(s) on top of bottom track
c) to upload your separate track before 15th of Feb (or so?)

I'm envisioning the music creation could go like this:
a) 10 tracks (working titles SCREAM1, SCREAM2, etc), each gets a 'theme' & lyrics
b) I will post a basic MP3 version online (with a lot of blank spots & room to lay down your groove)
c) you can dload the MP3 version, pull it into your DAW (or similar -- even Apple GarageBand or any Windows audio software) and lay down your track, remove or overdo any track in the 'basic' (ie lay down a better beat, more interesting piano solo, etc). *If you don't have digital setup, I'm happy to record you on my portable setup or at my place on my basic home studio.*
d) you save your added track as WAV or AIFF & then somehow get it to me (via email or we post to 'dropbox.com' or similar site) by Feb 15th
e) I mix the tracks together, burn the final CD, and upload MP3's for you to share to anyone/everyone
f) I post a final mixtape to my blog, REkzkaRZ.com, (and later possibly SoundCloud.com)

If you contribute any tracks, you are in effect giving me all rights to that track. Please do not use any syndicated or sampled tracks from other artists, only your work.

I've never done this before, so if anyone has any pointers, please add them here as a comment?

** If you want to do your own project, please be my guest! Don't let me stop you. GO FOR IT!
This note is an invite to a potentially collaborative project, "Machine Screams". **

Posting this as a note on facebook as well.

MixTapes from Mixwidget.org -- opensource & free -- formerly MixWit.com

Aaaah, rekzkarz' mixtapes are back!


RE-ACTION


This tape (and album) is called RE-Action and features most of my new songs.

THINK


This tape (album) is THINK and features various experimental REkzkaRZ songs.

ILLEGAL MUSIC


This tape actually consists of 3 albums - Illegal Music, CyberAnimals, and ElectroGroove - all combined in one. BONUS!

You might notice smaller versions of these tapes are hanging out on the right corner of this BLOG. Hell yeah! And they ain't goin' away this time, either!

I spent hours making my original mixtapes on mixwit.com, a website that wanted to make a music community based on sharing recorded mp3's.

I was so psyched that I could put up my music just by pointing this little app to my songs. And then listeners just hit play! WOW. And it looked cool, too! And then mixwit.com went bust. Gaaah

On a whim, I took at look at mixwit's old website recently and saw they now have a thing called mixwidget (which is hosted at mixwidget.org), a 'java widget' that is a form of the mixwit tape player front end. Cool! All instructions on how to setup & config are on the mixwidget.org) website.
The only trouble I had was it wouldn't play files on my harddrive (but the website has the workaround -- going to a Flash config webpage) and I couldn't edit the config files with notepad -- they worked better in wordpad.

Who cares? The only thing difference from this and mixwit that I've noticed is it doesn't have all the albums linked on one tape ... and it doesn't have the old community, but I never listend to other people's tapes. I used it to share my stuff! So who cares? (Sorry if I sound insensitive to mixwit -- I thought it was a great idea & hoped it would generate $$$.)

Ultimately, I coded the config files for 2 mixtape widgets that point to different directories on my server.

Also just started on SoundCloud.com, uploaded Techno-Thrash track. Does a lot of interesting stuff, pretty cool player too.

Techno THRASH by REkzkaRZ

But for the moment, I'm happiest with the mixtapes again. :)

RE-Action - Full Album online

Second tape online -- RE-Action - my last album from 2007-2008.
Enjoy!

If you'd like to download the songs, please contact me and I will send you the URL where you can find all of my songs & download them for free.