A quick way to build a pre-show program of music if you want it to be more ‘seamless’ than you might get straight out of an iTunes playlist. the Pacemaker Editor, this free software is intended as the desktop component of an iPod-like DJ device, and is an easy way to line up multiple songs in a row, overlap transitions, even beatmatch and add effects. The demo version is free, full-featured and does not expire.Ī.k.a. Reaper is a full-fledged audio and midi music production system, that is priced at $60 for personal/unprofitable small-business use, $225 for commercial use. I’d write a whole post on these features except they’ve done that job already:Īn open source iTunes-like product that’s “part music player, part Web browser, and all about music discovery, management, and playback.”Īudacity is a very basic, very useful sound editor. It can burn CDs, sequence tracks, adjust track volumes, play mp3, wav or aiff files, and it can import files in multiple formats. I have not used most of these programs - these listings are a resource, not an endorsement.Īpple’s cross-platform, ubiquitous audio library software has many good features for sound design. Many of the programs listed will be designed with musicians in mind, but anything that works with sound is a potentially useful tool for a sound designer. Below are listed a number of free (or almost free) software packages for manipulating (and creating) sound effects, speech, music - any audio. In my post on recorded sound effect sources, I mentioned that you’ll need software to edit and manipulate audio. And yes the app is currently iOS only, but and Android version is in the works as are other exciting features. Also I’ve compiled a bunch of links, videos, and reviews over at Stumbleupon. For more info: updates are posted on the Ninja Jamm website, and the the Ninja Jamm Facebook page. Even if you have little or no background in music production, the app comes with an excellent interactive tutorial, and trial and error teaches an inquisitive user all kinds of cool techniques. I’ve used other iOS music apps in the past, including Propellerhead’s Rebirth and Figure, but nothing else has been so easy to actully make complete compositions with. In addition to the free Tune Pack included from Coldcut, there are packs available for purchase ($0.99 each, with two EPS discounted) from Dj Food, Mr Scruff, Two Fingers, Bonobo, Emika, and many more, including a pack from Luke Vibert that is an exclusive song available in no other form. Here’s my latest, a slowed-down version of the Coldcut classic Beats & Pieces: You’ll likely want access to either a fast data network or wi-fi when uploading your mixes or downloading the packs. Tune Packs also tend to be between 30 and 50MB. These files are uncompressed WAV files, and can get up to 50MB in size, so keep that in mind when uploading. You can then upload your live recording to a Soundcloud account. I’ve uploaded over 40 songs in the last month, and each one took less than 5 minutes to make (4:57 is the recording limit of the app, though you may jamm without recording as long as you like). This makes it a bit closer to djing than the more painstaking process of studio production work. Rather the focus is on live performance–the result of decisions made in the moment. Each Tune Pack, (all songs by Ninja artists at the moment, with more possibilities expected soon) gives you many sounds to manipulate (41 sounds per tune pack) at a wide array of tempos (from sludge/drone slowness, to fast-forward chipmunk music) with an of different effects, and many different ways to completely remake the songs using the provided ingredients. And this is a live mixing process, there’s no editing or sequencing capability. It’s running full 16bit 44khz sound, versatile and powerful. Even as I compare it’s interface to a video game, do not mistake NJ for a toy. It has the thrill of an intense but simple arcade game (Pac-Mantronik?) and the temporal/tactile magic of MPC beat-making. Since downloading the free app, I’ve done remixes on the subway, waiting to get my hair cut, sitting in a café, a taxi, waiting for carrots to cook or laundry to finish the dryer cycle. Then I started using the new Ninja Jamm app, developed by Ninja Tune & Seeper, and solved all that. I love working on various sound and music projects, but can’t find the time to lose myself in music production as often as I’d like. Coldcut’s Beats & Pieces, shown here, comes with the free app when you download it. The main interface of Ninja Jamm (shown on iphone 5 here), using both clip and drill modes.
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