This is my favorite application. But there are draw backs. – Groovebox - Beat Synth Studio Review

This is by far the most user friendly application available in the app store. For those just getting into using DAWs (digital audio workstations), it provides a hands on experience that provides you with a vibrant platform and hundreds of genre-specific patterns, kits, and instrumental presets that illustrate how minor tweaks to the mix can change the whole picture you’re hearing. This app has provided a fun way to learn the basic components of analyzing, writing, editing, and identifying the complex structures in the music they hear. For those who lack the desire to compose their own music note by note, this application also provides a quick and easy method for generating random patterns and melodies for you to mix up & vibe to. One need only experiment with this application to foster their creative growth. But there are draw backs to its simplicity, for the more experienced producers looking to get a more in-depth grasp on the music. 1. Inability to measure exact velocities of notes, except with the 3 default low/medium/high volume presets included. Very untechnical. 2. Limited bar capacity. Each Section cap limit is restricted to 16 measures maximum. If you want more, you’ll simply have to start a new section and then with impeccable timing tap between the two if you want to hear how they transition. The other option is to cut your tempo in half, and tap the horizontal narrow view, which basically doubles the bar count, but at the same time renders your workspace half the size. If you do this, keep in mind There isnt a zoom option either. It makes it a hastle when attempting to create a bigger project. 4. You’re limited to 20 sections per project. That is a HUGE drawback. You cant create bigger projects unless you cut the time in half and then youll have to deal with bite-sized editing, and adjusting all your music to fit the new time scheme. As much as i enjoy this user friendly daw interface, it’s Not fun to be restricted by such creative limitations and it makes me want to switch applications if i want to do anything bigger. 5. No project playthrough function. With a lack of project-section-playthrough capability, if you want to hear the transitions between sections youll have to click through manually (again with impeccable timing). Seing as how Other applications such as Auxy or beatMaker 3 have this, im not sure why this app doesnt. 6. No cloud service. Projects don’t sync between the iphone and ipad applications unfortunately. On both devices You have essentially the same application, but with different viewing platforms. If a user starts a project on an iphone, they are without the ability to sync the project over icloud, and access it on another device. It is impractical For the user to have to transpose all of the details in a given project onto another device by hand. Same thing vice versa. For a specific example of this issue, I am unable to take my iPad everywhere with me, so when I’m on the Go i cant work on any projects that I’ve started on my ipad, and in the same vein anything that i write while on the go im unable to access or edit in depth with my ipad. It makes using this application Impractical. 7. Only one section/pattern playthrough mode. If a user wishes to hear only a select group of bars within an instrument’s pattern or a project’s section, they are unable to do so without listening to the rest of the pattern/section as well. A good way to add this function would be to include movable brackets on the navigational bar, able to be adjusted according to which bars a user wishes to hear. [- -]- - It would also be useful for an additional navigation bar (with the adjustable brackets for selecting which measures/bars will be heard) to be included in the section preview mode, so that users can listen to bar-specific playthroughs of their entire section as well. Change these 7 things and i will edit my review!
Review by LTKalama on Groovebox - Beat Synth Studio.