Franka Blazic
Are you wondering how songwriters, producers, and musicians produce so much content all the time?
The answer is this – they create whenever inspiration strikes them and whenever they get a chance.
And one of the best ways to make music on the go is by using an app for creating music.
So in today’s article, we overview the best music-making apps for iOS and Android you can explore.
All of these apps are effective and simple – you just need to find the one that meets your needs.
1. GarageBand
GarageBand for iOS is a simple music-making app designed for playing, recording, and sharing music.
The app is able to record studio-quality signals, and it’s ideal for beginners as well as seasoned songwriters and producers who want to make music on the go.
Generally, GarageBand is a free digital audio workstation (DAW), and it comes preloaded on every Apple device, even iPhones and iPads.
The app’s Sound Library lets you explore and download sound packs, and its highly expressive Touch Instruments allow you to play keyboards, guitars, and bass, as well as sounds designed for EDM and Hip Hop.
The app also features Smart Drums, the Beat Sequencer, Alchemy (one of the world’s most advanced synthesizers), and many other top-notch music-making tools and features.
2. FL Studio Mobile
If you’re a beginner and you’re wondering how to make music on your phone, you should also check out FL Studio Mobile.
FL Studio Mobile is arguably one of the best music-making apps on the market, even though the app version isn’t as detailed as the popular FL Studio desktop DAW.
Nevertheless, FL Studio Mobile allows you to make beats on your phone with ease.
The app offers basic effects and tools such as modulation, delay, reverb, compression, filter, and distortion.
It also features on-screen piano and drum pad controllers, but you can also route in MIDI control from any compatible MIDI keyboard or controller.
All in all, FL Studio Mobile is a great option for beginners and experienced producers alike.
3. Korg iElectribe
Korg iElectribe is another popular beat-making app worthy of consideration.
Korg became popular among musicians after Damon Albarn (Gorillaz) announced an album created entirely on an iPad.
The company even released a special iELECTRIBE Gorillaz Edition – a dedicated beatbox for the iPad created in collaboration with the band.
Whether you’re a fan of the band or not, you should definitely give Korg’s original app a chance.
The app provides a wide range of built-in rhythm patterns and template patterns for various genres.
It’s also packed with eight types of powerful master effects, and it generally has useful, innovative features and a familiar interface that will ensure you a smooth workflow.
4. BandLab – Music Making Studio
BandLab created an app that offers a perfect combination of social interaction and music-making.
In other words, with the BandLab music-making app, you can make your own music and share it with others.
All the loops and samples in BandLab Sounds are royalty-free, so you can use them in both personal and commercial productions.
The app also offers a 12-track Mix Editor which allows you to record live audio, import tracks, mix, and automate your music.
And the app’s Looper functionality is ideal for building up layers of beats, rhythms, and melodies and quantizing all sorts of effects.
Their app and DAW are free to download and use, but they do offer premium paid services.
5. Animoog
Developed by the legendary company Moog, Animoog is regarded as one of the best music production apps out there.
In fact, the app is described as the “first professional synthesizer” for all iOs devices.
In 2013, the app won a TEC Award and was referred to as an “Expressive, Captivating, and Sonically Immersive” app.
Animoog for iPhone is powered by Moog’s new Anisotropic Synth Engine (ASE), so it allows you to create new music in a dynamic way.
And it’s quite affordable – you can download and explore the app for free, and then upgrade to get full access for $10.
The company also developed Animoog Z, a 16-voice synth that works as a wavetable synthesizer.
6. Roland Zenbeats
Roland Zenbeats is a music creation app known for its versatility and ease of use.
The mobile version is nearly identical to their popular desktop DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and loop-building platform.
Therefore, it’s fair to say that Roland Zenbeats is one of the best apps for music production out there.
Thanks to the app’s Step Sequencer, you can throw in notes or create beats with a single gesture.
And there’s a variety of drum kits, samples, loops, and patterns to choose from.
Some other useful features include LoopBuilder, SampleVerse sampler/synth, and effects such as EQ, compression, delay, and flange.
If you opt for the upgraded version, you’ll also get the ZC1 ZEN-Core synthesizer with hundreds of presets and effects.
7. Groovepad – Music & Beat Maker
Groovepad is a music and beat-maker app that will allow you to turn your ideas into music without hassle.
The app is very intuitive and easy to use, which makes it ideal for beginners.
However, the app isn’t focused on playing instruments and creating complex melodies.
That said, Groovepad is best for those who want to play with loops, samples, and effects.
The app has an extensive library of loops, hits, and sounds suitable for a variety of music genres and styles, including hip-hop, EDM, house music, dubstep, electronic, and more.
It’s available for iOS, and it’s free to download, with the possibility of in-app purchases.
8. Caustic 3
Caustic 3 is a music-making tool inspired by rack-mount synthesizer/sampler rigs.
Everything is real-time and optimized for mobile devices, so you can create, record, and edit samples in-app and save your material in many formats.
The app is based on a Virtual analog subtractive synthesizer and Multi-sample wave synthesizer, and it provides overall good sound quality.
Caustic is a great choice for newcomers because it has easy-to-use presets and effects.
These features might seem basic to more experienced producers though.
Nonetheless, Caustic is a very popular name among music production programs and apps, and it’s worth checking out.
9. Poweramp Music Player
Poweramp Music Player is a popular music-making app for Android.
The app is packed with cool features, it has a good layout, and it offers a bunch of effects and visualizations.
Some of its key features include powerful Bass and Treble adjustment, stereo expansion, mono mixing, balance, tempo control, and reverb effect.
And thanks to their integration with the company called Musixmatch, Poweramp Music Player allows you to search lyrics which can really come in handy.
The app works on any Android starting from 5+, and it’s been localized to 30 languages.
You can use it for free for 15 days, before buying the full app.
10. The LANDR App
LANDR is a platform where music makers create, master, and distribute their music.
And the LANDR app for iOS & Android allows you to review tracks, respond to feedback, and video chat on the go.
So, unlike other apps on our list, the LANDR app is focused on musical collaboration rather than music production.
That said, if you’re looking for a music-making app with an emphasis on communication and collaboration, this is an excellent choice for you.
With the LANDR Mobile App, you can easily annotate a track’s waveform with time-stamped comments, receive feedback on your track, and play songs from your LANDR library on different sound systems.
The app is also great for storing and sharing demos.
With the All-In-One Subscription, you can gain instant access to 30+ music production tools, and you can choose from Monthly and Yearly plans.
11. Steinberg Cubasis
When it comes to reliable music creation apps for iOS and Android, we also have to mention Steinberg Cubasis.
The company’s latest Cubasis 3 has everything you need to capture the ideas as they arrive.
The app allows you to perform, record, mix, and share your music in a quick and easy way.
You can also combine individual tracks, group them in the track list or mixer, and edit them as though they are a single track.
Moreover, the app has up to eight rearrangeable inserts and send effects that allow you to polish your track to perfection.
Steinberg Cubasis is available for iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook.
And there’s a 60-day free trial offer that allows you to test the app before purchasing it.
12. N-Track Studio 9.1
This is another cool music-making app for Android you should check out.
The app allows you to record an unlimited number of Audio, Instruments & Beat Tracks, mix and add effects.
Some of the tools and effects it offers include reverb, delay, modulation, compression, and EQ.
And there’s a step sequencer and an inbuilt instrument with 128 sounds.
For playing, you can use the external keyboard or use the on-screen piano and edit in the piano-roll editor.
So, N-Track Studio 9.1. is everything you need for making beats on the go.
How to Start Making Music
Creating music is not an easy process, and if you want to produce a good beat, you have to think about many things.
For instance, a beat needs to be well-structured and carefully crafted, and it needs to make sense to the listener.
And if you want to produce complete songs, you need to be able to come up with compelling lyrics, good structure, a catchy hook, and unique melodies.
Generally, music production involves:
- Songwriting
- Arranging
- Recording
- Editing
- Mixing
- Mastering
All of these stages require a special set of skills as well as musical and technical abilities.
However, if you’re just starting out, we suggest sticking to simple digital tools, samples, and effects.
All of the music-making apps we mentioned today are, in fact, ideal for those who are just starting out with music production.
These simple apps will allow you to get to know how certain tools and techniques work.
And they will help you learn more about editing, mixing, and mastering.
But these apps are also used by more experienced producers and songwriters since they allow them to capture ideas and produce sounds on the go.
Either way, making music in such an app is relatively easy – it will just take some time for you to get used to it.
The important thing is to practice and explore new sounds and styles.
And eventually, you’ll improve your music-making skills and be ready to dig into the whole process in a more serious way.
Best Music-Making Apps for iOS & Android – Final Thoughts
We hope our list of the best music-making apps for iOS & Android helped you find an app that meets your needs.
All of these apps offer useful tools and features, and they’re fairly easy to use.
Some of them even offer the possibility to share your music and receive feedback from fellow creators.
More importantly, downloading one of these apps will allow you to capture ideas as soon as they arrive.
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