nanoloop for iPhone / iPod
Nanoloop for iPhone combines sequencer, synthesizer and sampler in one package. Features include:
- Six channels, each can be synth or sampler
- Fast and easy to use stepsequencer
- Synthesizer with envelope, filter, LFO and other parameters
- Sample external audio
- Re-sample
- Song editor with loop function
- Save function
- Works on 1st gen iPod touch and 2.2 software
- WAV-export (beta)
- WAV-import via e-mail
- Send and receive projects via e-mail
App Store
The sequencer displays the pattern as a grid of 4 x 4 rectangles. Notes can be set, removed and edited just by tapping and swiping. This editing without mode-changes and the straight, generous layout ensure a smooth workflow.
Unlike the Game Boy versions, nanoloop for iPhone only allows to set pitch, volume and one additional value step-wise in the sequencer. All other sound parameters are controlled channel-wide through the synth panel.
The simple but powerful synthesizer allows to create a great bandwidth of sounds, including beats, noises, basses and pads. Available synthesis types are:
- rectangular wave with filter
- FM
- LFSR noise generator
Rectangular wave and LFSR sound similar to the Game Boy's and other console's soundchips but offer more fine control and additional effects (lfo / envelope for pulse width or filter, simple phaser for noise).
The FM synth is the simple type with two sine wave oscillators, with fixed base frequency and variable modulator frequency. An envelope / LFO can be applied to modulation amplitude or frequency. For a sweeping spatial effect, the modulator can be slightly detuned, with inverted phase for left/right.
Each synth channel is two-voice polyphonic and a stereo effect can be applied.
Samples of one second length @ 44 kHz, mono (or about 5.5 sec @ 8 kHz mono or 0.5 sec @ 44 kHz stereo) can not just be used in a drum-machine style, but also be pitched and played as notes.
Recording sources for samples are the built-in microphone (iPhone only), a headset microphone (iPhone, iPod touch 2nd gen only) and nanoloop's own sound output. The latter allows to create new samples from scratch, using up to five channels to create one single sound. Typical applications would be percussion (claps, snares etc), chords, arpeggio and microrhythmic / microtonal elements.
With nanoloop for iPhone, you can send your saved projects to other nanoloop users and your PC via e-mail. If nanoloop is installed on the recipient's iPhone / iPod, you can simply tap on the file name in the received e-mail to start nanoloop and import the attached file so that it is available for editing. This makes collaboration very easy, multiple users around the world can work on the same project by simply e-mailing the file back and forth.
Projects sent by e-mail can be converted to WAV audio files with just one click, using the nanoloop2wav desktop conversion tool (beta, Mac OS X only). More information can be found here.
It is planned to add more functions and to further optimise the interface in the future. New functions may be suggested and discussed in the forum.
More screenshots can be found in iTunes.
The manual can be found here (html, optimised for iPhone screen).
Nanoloop for iPhone is available in the App Store.