iPhone SDK: Let's brainstorm some apps!!!

[Rufuss Sewell]

So the iPhone/iPod Touch SDK (software development kit) was released today. It looks like it will make the platform very powerful. You can check it out here:

Apple - QuickTime - Apple March 6 Event

It also looks like a great way for some folks to make some money. Apple is taking 30% but handling all of the hosting, distribution and credit card transactions. They're also allowing for free apps to be distributed with no cost to anyone.

I can think of tons of apps that I'd love to have on my iPod Touch. I'd like this thread to be a place for audio folks to brainstorm on some of the apps we'd like to see for this platform... and hopefully some of the entrepreneurs amongst us will get busy making them.

Remember, the SDK gives you access to OS X core audio.

I'll start.

1. Remote Transport

I'll start with the obvious. The Frontier Tranzport is a great device. But come on, we all know it would be so much better to remote control Logic, Pro Tools etc. from your iPod/iPhone over wifi. Lets get this happening as soon as possible!

2. Roland TR-808 emulator.

I'd love to have an 808 in my pocket with some great samples, and a step sequencer. If I'm just bored somewhere I can turn it on a make a beat. Maybe add a 303 on to it as well!

3. Tap Tempo/Metronome

Duh! I already have a metronome on my Jailbreaked iPod Touch. But it needs Tap Tempo.

4. Control surface

An integrated control surface that sends midi CC. I'd love to control my Logic mixer from my iPod adjusting several faders at once.

5. Creative midi controllers

Like an XY pad, but one that can receive multitouch for really creative expression. Of course maybe an octave of a virtual piano. You could flick left or right to get to different octaves. There's already a virtual guitar complete with strumming available for hacked iPhones, so just make that able to send midi. I'm sure there are endless possibilities for midi controllers.

6. Accelerometer Theremin!!!

The iPhone has a 3 axis accelerometer that does things like let you roll a virtual marble around on the surface of the iPhone by tiling it one way or the other. If you watch the keynote you'll some great examples of how it works. I think it would be REALLY cool to make a Theremin type instrument using one axis for pitch and one for volume. Maybe even a third to open a filter. Of course these could all be sent via midi CC to an AU or RTAS instrument specifically designed for use with this iPhone app.

7. Multitouch track pad

Although I'm sure this will be developed for general use. I'd love to use my iPod as a track pad for four way scrolling and pinch zoom in Logic's arrange page.

8. Multitrack Recorder

Of course it would be great to have the ability to throw down some quick multitrack ideas on your iphone. Put together a little four part a cappella ditty on your way to work in the morning!

9. DJ record effects

This might be beyond the possibilities of the iPhone, but wouldn't it be cool if you could beat match, scratch, slow down and reverse the output of the songs on your iPod? Start play back from your playlist, then open the DJ app and start tweaking by physically spinning a graphic of a record on your iPod! Then you'd start seeing DJs with two iPods and a mixer getting creative.

10. Waveform editor

Wouldn't it be cool if you could double click on a waveform in Logic and have it appear on your iPod? Then you could draw changes in with your fingers and they would be reflected in Logic.

So far I think the most obvious uses are in remote control, midi controller and virtual instruments.

Do you guys have any ideas?

[Igotsoul4u]

I want an iTazer. Electricity could shoot out of the usb cable slot. You would need to be careful about zapping yourself in the ear.

[octatonic]

1. Guitar/instrument tuner.

You have a mic input on the headphone socket.
It would be easy (relatively) to build and adapter that goes to 1/4 inch on the other side.
Then it is just a matter of writing the app.

My vote is for a groovy visual strobe.

2. Ear training app.

I have good-ear.com as a sticky on the iphone already- but a small self contained app that does essentially the same stuff would be great.
Intervals, chords, cadence etc.

3. Camera -> Midi Score OCD.

Ok, this might be stretching it- but wouldn't it be cool if you could use the camera to take a picture of a score and have it convert to midi?

4. Amp Sim.

Given you have an audio IO for the mic/headphones, why not have a mono in, mono out guitar amp sim like a POD?
You would have to force the phone into airplane mode- would be very embarrassing to get a call in the middle of a gig. :-)

[Zettt]

I think it would be cool if you could connect a custom Microphone to the iPhone and use it as an Analyzer. (for studio, for live ... and so on)

[Charlie-O]

There is already a tap tempo, guitar instrument tuner, as well as transport control, and remoter desktop apps, available for the IPhone. And a piano, a soft synth, and a couple of other instruments.


Charlie-O

[KyleTheSoundGuy]

I have one installed but have yet to try it and see how well it works.


There is also a pretty cool looking ProTools controller in the works.
Coolest IPhone App Ever: ProRemote Pro Tools Controller May Be Coolest iPhone App Ever (UPDATED)

[gsilbers]

wasnt there a memeber here that made this app for the iphone which was a pro tools controller?

anyone else remember?

pretty cool , controlling PT's mixer from "far" away.

i would want to have a reason like app to make beats. like one redrum, a synth with pattern seq or something.

[gsilbers]

Originally Posted by KyleTheSoundGuy

I have one installed but have yet to try it and see how well it works.


There is also a pretty cool looking ProTools controller in the works.
Coolest IPhone App Ever: ProRemote Pro Tools Controller May Be Coolest iPhone App Ever (UPDATED)

should read all posts before posting hahahah

[George Necola]

Iphone friendalyzer..

your iphone make a "friendly iphone-scan".. so it detects iphones near you... I think a lot of people will become friends because they discover they are both in love with the apple.


I am more the orange..

[blastula]

Hopefully Apple will figure out how to get rid of that intermittent static noise that the iphone makes through any audio gear it's near. Until then I'm afraid it's usefulness as a studio tool is limited.

rob

[nynex]

I would be great to have a simple control to control the transport and some faders in logic.

I am always running back and forth to the vocal booth. It would be awesome to hit record, play, delete, rewind, set different loop markers , and fix my headphone mix from the other room.

[pixelhead]

Maybe we can get Apple to just port Logic over to the iphone and maybe they will have more resources to work the bugs worked out, since it seems like all of Apples focus is in the phone business. Sorry, just having a bad Logic day and needed to vent.

[joelkanning]

Originally Posted by blastula

Hopefully Apple will figure out how to get rid of that intermittent static noise that the iphone makes through any audio gear it's near. Until then I'm afraid it's usefulness as a studio tool is limited.

rob

+1

That is SO annoying!

[SyncSailor]

how about a note to frequency translator. that would be very nice. As it is, i have to call up a word processing document.

and maybe a note length to smpte translator dependent on tempo.

[mp54u]

- A Delay Calculator in BPM tool

- Reverberation Time Calculator tool

- A Billing system for the studio... Something to use to track the time you spent on a project while you are running around but then be able to port it to an app on the computer to import the data and print out invoices and such....

[nynex]

Well? tutt

[Rufuss Sewell]

This thread is old news. I already have:

1. Touch Pad Pro which is a remote control for your Mac. It features a full multi touch pad like on a laptop, a full keyboard for use with Logic's key commands, and a media controller for iTunes.

2. A cool drum machine.

3. A cool synth that I can use while my iPod is playing so I can play along.

4. Tap Tempo that also translates in ms for delays.

5. An ear trainer that plays different scales, intervals and chords and quizzes you.

6. A piano (that plays at the same time as my iPod)

7. A strummable guitar.

8. A nintendo NES with all the games!!!

9. King James Bible.

10. Encyclopedia Britannica.

And tons more!

[Diskordia]

i thought the SDK was delayed till early June. I've been runnin the stock iphone since i got it in Nov. its not worth unlockin it to me...otherwise it might start acting like windows or something. no offense

[Diskordia]

i love my iphone..its made my life so much easier..i just wish they'd hurry up and add data texting and put a search function in the contacts menu. can that really be that hard?

it'd also be nice if the email inbox would automatically update and alert you as soon as you receive a new message

can't have everything..sorry if this is off topic

[Jules]

[C Heat]

YouTube - MooCowMusic: Band

[ScottyD]

Reaper! That's what I would buy an iPhone for.

-ScottyD

[Dom & Roland]

i'd like a customisable app that lets me do what i've always wanted to be able to do....

stand in my kitchen listening through the rest of my house and move the bass forwards and backwards (track delay) in samples to get it to groove just right with the drums...should be fairly easy with logic 8's new arrange nudge function!

i'd also like to see the accelerometer used as some kind of midi controller imagine the sounds you could make with cutoff lfo speed and depth on the different axis:
)

[5thString]

The pocket multitrack recorder was the very first app I've been thinking of... I always miss such a tool when I am on the bus commuting. That's always when new songs come to mind but they get lost by the time I hit home.

[DeBasement]

I think they should have a 'Studio Assistant' software, linked to the camera so you could take pix of mic placement and gear front panel settings, guitar amps etc, and add your notes, then save it all as part of a "session log".

Where's the GS'er who was working on the 'TeaBoy' app? Turn that into an iPhone doohickey with pix and patch storage, and you got a winner!


Next up, iPhone "Instant Producer", a little animated dude in sunglasses who - at the touch of a button - will spout useful 'producer-y' phrases, mostly gleaned from the GS "dumbest things you've ever heard during a session" thread. Think of it! The artist has just finished a take and you tap the "iProducer / iProd" to see what it thinks. "I like it. Let's change it" it pronounces. Or "Needs more balls. In G." And so on! Heck I just thought of it and I already want one!

[primemeat64]

wow, please keep these ideas coming, they're great...

The SDK looks real easy to use which means (hopefully), some of these ideas will come to fruition... I might try one myself (although haven't tried any programming for about 5 years!)

[Rufuss Sewell]

Originally Posted by Dom & Roland

i'd also like to see the accelerometer used as some kind of midi controller imagine the sounds you could make with cutoff lfo speed and depth on the different axis:
)

I already have a synth on my iPod Touch that that uses the accelerometer to control the cutoff and resonance.

[jeronimo]

Another vote for a time management/invoice/etc app!