Nowadays technology has a big presence and impact in out lives, why don't we make it useful for the music?
So... here are some of my favorite music apps for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows
Android
Android is not the best platform for musicians, but there is a few interesting music apps that worth mention.
Cleartune (Paid) - This is a nice tuner showing the traditional needle format, but also a wheel. Allows you select different transpositions, different notation and temperaments.
Functional Ear Training - (FREE) - Software for practicing tonal functions. Very simple but effective.
French Horn Racer (Paid) - It is a very simple game to help horn beginners to find the correct pitch. You have to play the notes on the screen in order to play this game. Simple and effective!
iReal pro (Paid) - Using this app, you can practice with a playalong band... you only need to write the chords, or choose a standard by searching a music database.
Metronome Beats (FREE / Paid) - This is a very interesting metronome app supporting selecting different tempi from 1 to 300, shows italian names for the selected tempo, supports up to 16 divisions/subdivisions and increasing tempo by tapping, scrolling or adding/subtracting 1 or 5 bpm. The free version is supported by adds.
NotateMe (Free/Paid) - It is a notation software on the go. Was created by Neuratron the same makers of Photoscore. Nothing compared to a full desktop notation software, but allows you to sketch the notes with a pen, your finger or even taking a photo, and having your notes recognized into sheet music. The score can then be exported to music XML format, and saved locally, at DropBox or sent by email, allowing you to continue from your sketches when you have access to a computer. The free version of the software allows you to try most of the features on a single staff score.
Time Guru (Paid) - TimeGuru presents a different approach from the rest of the metronome apps. You can create your rhythmic patterns, for multiple bars and apply random mute to keep playing in tempo by yourself, and use the app just for control.
Tonal Energy (Paid) - Tonal energy is a very complete metronome/tuner/audio recorder. It allows you to use the tuner and metronome at the same time, analyzing your tone spectrum, email the results, and my favorite feature is simply tap a button to alternate between just and equal intonation. I've suggested some features for this software and they included some new features and improvements.
Perfect Ear 2 (FREE / Paid) - This is the best ear training software I know for the Android Platform. It Features: Interval Comparison, Interval Identification, Scale Identification, Chord Identification, Chord Inversions, Interval Singing, Rhythm Reading, Rhythm Dictation, Pitch Training, Scales Dictionary, Circle of Fifths and Theory Articles.
Play By Ear (Paid) - Although not as cool as the iOS version, it generates intervals, chords and melodies, to train your aural accuracy, allowing you to play by ear.
Pocket Brooks: Ear Trainer (FREE) - This is a simple Ear Training software for android. It features: Interval Identification, Chord Identification, Interval Recognition, Chord Recognition, and Rhythm Dictation. This is very simple app, but it is free and works on most devices.
Urban Play (FREE) - It is a playalong software with alternative music styles, available for different wind instruments, including diferente dificulta levels. It is possibile play with or without hearing the solo reference, click a bar to start working on a specific place, or select a group of bars to work in loop.
iOS
The iOS platform features great apps for musicians!
Better Ears (Paid) - Better Ears, formelly known as Karajan appeared on the iOS platform since the beginning. It features 10 different types of exercises: Interval recognition, Scale recognition, Chord recognition, Chord progressions, Pitch recognition, Tempo recognition, Key Signature recognition, Interval music reading, Scale music reading and Chord music reading. It is integrated with wikipedia and allows you to see extended statistics showing your progress.
Bionic Ears (Free / Paid) - This is a small piece of software designed for training you aural skills applied to your instrumental performance. It is packed in a simple program operated by a simple a jog wheel, but don't be fooled by it's simplicity, as it allows you to train intervals and arpeggios by imitating your mobile device. I think this is intentional because allows you to practice your instrument without thinking too much on the software navigation
Breath Master (Paid) - A game to practice how to keep a focused sound as long as possible. Any tuning or dynamics variation will give you... Game Over!
Cleartune (Paid) - This is a nice tuner showing the traditional needle format, but also a wheel. Allows you select different transpositions, different notation and temperaments.
Do Re Mi Voice Training (Paid) - This is a very interesting training device not only for singers but of every musician. Unlike a tuner, this software shows you intonation over the time by simple drawing a line. It allows you also to record and playback.
Dr.Betotte TC (Paid) - This is the best metronome I know for the iOS platform. Although not as complete as it's big brother for MAC, this metronome allowing you to select multiple meters, including complex divisions, form 10 to 310 bmp, including gradual tempo increasing/decreasing, alarm, and faders for each subdivision. I've suggested some features for this software and they included some new features and improvements.
Ear Master Pro (Paid) - EarMaster Pro is by far the best ear training software. A must have for every serious musician!
French Horn Racer (Paid) - It is a very simple game to help horn beginners to find the correct pitch. You have to play the notes on the screen in order to play this game. Simple and effective!
Functional Ear Training - (FREE) - Software for practicing tonal functions. Very simple but effective.
Garage Band (Free) - This is the mobile version of Garage band. Allows you to produce multiple tracks music by recoding your instrument or by simply playing on the virtual instruments.
InTune (Paid) - This game allows you to practice how to recognize intonation differences between two sounds.
iReal pro (Paid) - Using this app, you can practice with a playalong band... you only need to write the chords, or choose a standard by searching a music database.
Multirhythms (Paid) - A trainer for polyrhythms, it includes several standard rhythms, polyrhythms and the ability to create your own rhythms
NotateMe (Free/Paid) - It is a notation software on the go. Was created by Neuratron the same makers of Photoscore. Nothing compared to a full desktop notation software, but allows you to sketch the notes with a pen, your finger or even taking a photo, and having your notes recognized into sheet music. The score can then be exported to music XML format, and saved locally, at Drop Box or sent by email, allowing you to continue from your sketches when you have access to a computer. The free version of the software allows you to try most of the features on a single staff score.
Notion (Paid) - This is by far the best music notation for iOS platform. It is only available for iPAD but it resembles +/- what you would expect from a full desktop notation software.
Play By Ear (Free) - This is a very cool app that generates intervals, chords and melodies, to train your aural accuracy, allowing you to play by ear. The app listens to your playing and show you the notes you played with the right/wrong pitch and the notes you didn't played. Best of all it is free!
Rhythm Calc (Paid) - Using this app you can generate different rhythms, including bar cangas. It is very useful better than most metronomes.
Quality Tones (Paid) - This app generates random notes within a defined range, dynamics and articulations.
SettingSheet (Free) - This is an app to quickly create Setting Sheets including no. of chairs, np. of music stands, percussion etc.
SpectrumView (Paid) - Allow you to see the spectrum of the sound
Staff Wars live (Paid) - This is a nice music game presenting notes (asteroids) in the screen that you have to shoot (by playing the correct note) in order to save your star ship (clef). Specially interesting for young horn students!
Time Guru (Paid) - TimeGuru presents a different approach from the rest of the metronome apps. You can create your rhythmic patterns, for multiple bars and apply random mute to keep playing in tempo by yourself, and use the app just for control.
Tonal Energy (Paid) - Tonal energy is a very complete metronome/tuner/audio recorder. It allows you to use the tuner and metronome at the same time, analyzing your tone spectrum, email the results, and my favorite feature is simply tap a button to alternate between just and equal intonation. I've suggested some features for this software and they included some new features and improvements.
Urban Play (Free) - It is a playalong software with alternative music styles, available for different wind instruments, including diferente dificulta levels. It is possibile play with or without hearing the solo reference, click a bar to start working on a specific place, or select a group of bars to work in loop.
MAC
The Mac platform is well known for musicians and there is plenty music software... here some of my favorite:
Audacity (Free) - It is a free audio editor that support external plugins.
Dorico (Paid) - Dorico is the new standard in music notation, once you try it you will get in love.
Dr. Betotte (Paid) - This is the best metronome I know for MAC. It allows you to select multiple meters, including complex divisions, form 10 to 310 bmp, including gradual tempo increasing/decreasing, alarm, and faders for each subdivision. It allows you to select multiple rhythmic patterns or Chord progressions on even create your own!
Ear Master Pro (Paid) - EarMaster Pro is by far the best ear training software. A must have for every serious musician!
Functional Ear Training v2 (Free) - Software for practicing tonal functions. Very simple but effective.
Garage Band (Free) - Garage band is a very famous consumer sequencer. It allows you to produce multiple tracks music by recoding your instrument or by simply playing on the virtual instruments.
LilyPond (Free) - This is a different approach to music notation, It allows you to program anything in the score. It requires you to learn, but once you master it, you will be able to translate all your ideas into the score. One of the main authors of this software, Han-Wen Nienhuys is also a horn player. I had opportunity to meet him a few years ago in Czech Republic.
Logic Pro (Paid) - This is a professional music production software.
MuseScore (Free) - This is a free music notation software. Depending on you needs might be enough for most of the music notation tasks.
Metronomo (Free) - This is a simple free metronome that lives in your top bar!
Sibelius (Paid) - This is my favorite music notation software. It is very powerful and intuitive.
Staff Wars V2 (Free) - This is a nice music game presenting notes (asteroids) in the screen that you have to shoot (by playing the correct note) in order to save your star ship (clef). Specially interesting for young horn students!
Windows
I'm not using PC for more than 10 years, although, here are some music apps:
Audacity (Free) - It is a free audio editor that support external plugins.
Dorico (Paid) - Dorico is the new standard in music notation, once you try it you will get in love.
Ear Master Pro (Paid) - EarMaster Pro is by far the best ear training software. A must have for every serious musician!
Functional Ear Training v2 (Free) - Software for practicing tonal functions. Very simple but effective.
LilyPond (Free) - This is a different approach to music notation, It allows you to program anything in the score. It requires you to learn, but once you master it, you will be able to translate all your ideas into the score. One of the main authors of this software, Han-Wen Nienhuys is also a horn player. I had opportunity to meet him a few years ago in Czech Republic.
MuseScore (Free) - This is a free music notation software. Depending on you needs might be enough for most of the music notation tasks.
Sibelius (Paid) - This is my favorite music notation software. It is very powerful and intuitive.
Staff Wars V2 (Free) - This is a nice music game presenting notes (asteroids) in the screen that you have to shoot (by playing the correct note) in order to save your star ship (clef). Specially interesting for young horn students!