Groovebox is a FREE iOS Beats & Synth Studio
iPads and iPhones may not yet be the no.1 go-to tool to make music but that doesn’t mean all the big boys aren’t providing the tools to entice us, such as the new Groovebox app powered by Novation.
It has actually been developed by Ampify which was known as Blocs and is now a part of the Novation group.
The Groovebox app is a free download and has a very easy-to-learn interface and a unique synth engine developed by the Ampify team.
The app is FREE but it does include in-APP purchases so naturally the idea is to get you hooked and then one starts to buy the add-ons.
No problem there; at least with the FREE version you get to make some beats and see how useful the tool is going to be and from what we’ve seen in the video this Groovebox app looks pretty tasty.
The lowdown
While the primary objective of Groovebox is to kick start ideas, the app has some pretty awesome features to actually do some production too.
The advanced synth engine means you can craft your own sounds and there’s a note sequencer, and iPad mixer, plus key and scale modes to further control your sound.
The synths are called Retrobass and Poly-8 and these were developed with Novation and they say these will deliver “deep retro basslines and analogue harmonic melodies.” The drum box machine, they say, offers a modern edge.
You can also sync to other apps using Ableton Link and export your sounds or connect with Audiobus or Inter-App Audio.
Each one of the devices has its own set of patterns and sounds but you can also create your own with the touch interface.
With the in-app purchases you can add more devices and buy more presets and patterns.
Groovebox is downloadable for free from the Apple App Store. It is, alas, only for iOS 10 so older iPad users won’t be able to use it.
The ‘expanded instruments’ in-app purchase costs £4.99/$4.99/€5.49, while the sound packs start at £0.99/$0.99/€1.29.
