Clayton, good that you bring up the subject.  I have a Samsung tablet and phone, but I haven’t used an app for practice and recording yet.

My easiest and fastest solution is recording my guitar sound via my smartphone camera and hearing the backing track through headphones during recording. Afterwards I use my video editor Shotcut (for Windows), to merge backing track and video.

I know, that the audio quality is not that good (see my practice log videos) but it’s quickly at hand to incorporate a video recording in my exercises – and it’s enough to analyze mistakes.

My normal way would be: mic my amp - Scarlett Focusrite -  Reaper - and running the smartphone camera at the same time.

Here’s my music stand with integrated holder for smartphone (my husband’s idea). When not in use I can simply bend the holder upwards and have space for notes again. Super easy to use.

Clayton, I’m curious about your apps and I’m interested in how you use them. Could you give us a few details?

Birgit

Posted by: @bluesiline

My easiest and fastest solution is recording my guitar sound via my smartphone camera and hearing the backing track through headphones during recording. Afterwards I use my video editor Shotcut (for Windows), to merge backing track and video.

Birgit, this simple and quick setup has a lot of benefits.  You get right to the business of playing and recording and video.  Impressive!  And you are the second member who has recommended Shotcut as a video editor- I have to try Shotcut since I don't have time to dig into complex editing.

I have used my iPad mic and MacBook mic for recording with some decent results.  In fact, sometimes the device mic can "capture the room" like a kitchen reverb or outside sounds of nature.  I had interesting results doing this with my Mojo Acoustic, Who Knows (Hendrix) both recorded in my tiled kitchen, and St James Infirmary on my back porch which captured crickets during the solo track!

I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and now a Motu M4 for quality sound capture and prefer to go guitar direct into the interface and use GarageBand or Logic to emulate amps. Mic'ing the amp sounds great but it takes a little time and gets Loud when the speaker is up to breathing room volume.

Two of my amps have DI/emulated out to interface or direct to computer: Mustang III and Blackstar HT5R.  Pretty good sounds without the speakers engaged.

Now, about the iPad..Apps for tablets and mobile are fun, easy, and are increasingly feature packed.  iOS apps like GarageBand and some that integrate with Ableton help make beats, virtual drummers, synths, and other virtual instrument sounds into a project and backing track. Lots of fun to EASILY play with and create music.  It does compel me to think arrangement and song building elements.  I can have fun building from samples and adding virtual instruments, and then add in my bass, guitar, congas, shakers, clave, vocals, whatever!  It all gets me to tapping my foot and thinking music.

Oh Yeah, and while it's not an iPad or phone, I love my Trio+ Looper for making on the spot loops that I can turn into simple backing tracks or complete songs!

As for apps- stay tuned, I will look through my iPad and supplement this reply. 😬

I have a few iPad apps but I don't seem find the time to learn and use them.

I've heard some people use an iPhone to record song ideas. I always wonder how they actually do it? 

Here's "Beats Live!" app which has an incredible selection of live drum and percussion sounds.  A great metronome to inspire practices.

Amplify Music apps (ios & windows): Launchpad is excellent song creator, Groovebox and Waves are also fun to explore and get your musical juices flowing. 

Don't let the Product Video leave you thinking this is just Techno EDM stuff.  The retro funk pack was capable of making great Prince style funk grooves that you can export as an audio file to your DAW or audio player.

https://ampifymusic.com/products/

@clayton, I’m looking at the "grid overview" of Ampify Studio right now. This will need time …..

I’ll give you feedback in a few days.

Birgit

@robert Recording into iPad or iPhone is the same.  Device mic in a pinch, but you can go in by usb interface or straight usb if using a midi keyboard/device to pay virtual instruments in GarageBand (or whatever recording/DAW app).  

These apps are capable of so much and pretty user friendly to get started.

@bluesiline, play with the free version.  

@clayton, I downloaded the free version. Made quickly. And the entry is very easy and intuitive, even for me! Apparently that’s what the developers wanted.

It’s nice to poke around using the free sample packs, dragging the single loops onto the grid and experimenting a little bit with the different sounds 👍. You can let your ideas run free!

And there is also a subscription model for more packs, if needed.

Thank you, Clayton, for always coming up with new ideas to try out.

Birgit

@bluesiline, Very Cool- Studio is the one Ampify app I have not tried.  

Easy and intuitive is what we need to inspire ideas, experimenting and thinking in new dimensions.  I have a lot of fun with Launchpad, Blocks and Groovebox.

Another fun Launchpad type grid app is RemixLive.

This is not my usual set of genres for music but it gets me thinking “outside the box” and has me thinking how I would contribute with instruments or samples.   

Cheers to you for trying something new!

@clayton, here‘s a follow-up: I downloaded RemixLive for Android and tried out a little bit. I have to admit that I'm a complete newbie as far as such kind of launchpad apps are concerned.

RemixLive comes with « Massive Bass » and I tried out several other free packs like „Dubstep“ „Drum and Bass“ and so on. They have a certain attraction but everything is too techno-heavy for me. I also understand from your words that it is not your favorite.

But it was fun playing around and to get involved into the completely new. And trying out helps - maybe out of coincidence – to discover something that won’t let you go.

Thank you,

Birgit

Addendum: "Beats Live!" sounds soooo cool with the live recorded drums and percussion loops. I wish I could find something similar for Android !!!!!!

Posted by: @bluesiline

But it was fun playing around and to get involved into the completely new. And trying out helps - maybe out of coincidence – to discover something that won’t let you go.

Victor Wooten embraces  learning from things that are not familiar.  You may find nothing or something that makes your understanding better.  

Cheers for expanding your musical experience, Birgit!

I found it challenging to adapt and create in an environment that is not in my comfort zone.

Last night I returned to my Thursday night jam playing bass.  It was a very chill session so I had to be Very Restrained and hold some simple notes with a lot of feel and creation in how to time those few notes.  Discipline and trust in the music being made.  At the end of the session the keyboard player complimented my seriously chill bass grooves.

And, YEAH, Beats Live is some great inspiration!  Once you go Mac...

Jam Up app, by positive grid, is a simple and very effective practice app that is free.  Record, Loop, Load in Songs to loop, slow down, and focus.    Very Useful!

Astounding music App that is a multi voiced instrument, intuitive interface, and will build your creativity and the mind/ear connection!  AND the FREE version contains many instrument voices and control parameters including import of song files as backing tracks.  You can literally play music, reinforce scales and so many aspects of guitar along with a track anywhere using an iPad or iPhone.  Can’t put this down.  WOW!

Clayton, I’ve had a look at the video. Wow. When the professionals play this multi touch musical instrument, I can only be amazed. It looks so seemingly effortless, but I think it takes a lot of practice!

Learned something again, thank you

Birgit