Written by Christopher Buttner
Thursday, 27 May 2010 10:49
Now, more than ever before, musically-inclined travelers are enjoying the art of composing and recording their own original music with the professional results of a high-end multi-track recording studio with, literally, every instrument ever imagined at the ready… from the comfort of their airline seat and hotel room. And they are doing it all on their Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and the, recently released, iPad.
But, seriously. What do the finished results sound like?
Rock Stars travel a lot, so who knows more about cool musical technology that makes the hours fly by, keeps your spirits up and mind active and creative when you’re away from home for weeks and/or months? For such answers, www.JetSetExtra.com turned to legendary keyboardist, Jordan Rudess.
Jordan Rudess first gained national attention when the readers of Keyboard Magazine voted him 1994’s Best New Talent in the Overall Best Keyboardist category after his first solo release Listen. Since 1999, Jordan has been an integral member of and creative driving force behind Dream Theater, the most critically acclaimed progressive hard rock band in the world.
Aside from being an incredibly accomplished and world-renowned/globe-trotting musician, Jordan is a technological wizard who continually seeks out and adopts radically innovative electronic instruments to use on stage and in the studio. In addition, he’s directly involved in the creation of new virtual musical instrument apps for Apple handheld devices.
As new and powerful virtual musical instrument apps evolve for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, these devices are with Jordan at all time, as they allow him to continually practice, create and record, capturing inspiration whenever, and wherever, it strikes.
Jordan recently traveled to Northern California to perform as a special guest soloist at Stanford University with the Stanford Laptop Orchestra (SLOrk) and Mobile Phone Orchestra (MoPho).
Afterwards, Jordan sat down with Uri Neito, a Center for Computer Music Research and Acoustics Department (CCRMA), Stanford graduate student, and a gifted multi-instrumentalist and technologist, to demonstrate several revolutionary music apps for Apple devices. Aside from the accompanying video demonstration, Jordan also gave www.JetSetExtra.com his list of additional killer music apps not covered in the video.
Here’s a list of some of Jordan’s favorite music apps for the iPhone, Touch and iPad.
JR Hexatone ($9.99) from www.Amidio.com - The first-ever music creation application that bares Jordan’s name, in where he was directly involved in the product’s development. Jordan states, “JR Hexatone specializes in sound sequences that are perfect for the Drum-n-Bass, Glitch, Techno, and electronic scene. For hard rock and heavy metal beats to jam to, I like a program called Thump.” ($3.99) from www.mrkbrz.com.
4 Track ($9.99) for the iPhone and StudioTrack ($39.99) for iPad from www.SonomaWireWorks.com – Trey Anastasio of Phish stated in Rolling Stone Magazine, “I’m obsessed with this FourTrack recording app – a super powerful studio in your pocket. I can record basically anywhere.”
Looptastic (FREE to $14.99) from www.soundtrends.com - Jordan states, “This suite of Apps allows you to mix together a variety of cool loops and loop sets without a lot of effort, and add wide array of cutting edge effects, some of which I helped them create. It’s the best way to get a lot of cool sounds and loops happening quickly from a very user-friendly, easy and fun environment.”
Music Studio ($14.99) from www.xewton.com – Jordan states, “Music Studio is a very powerful and serious App that is almost like having Apple’s Garage Band on your iPhone. For anybody who’s traveling, this is the most serious, must-have, all-in-one music App.”
Guitar: Play and Share: ($3.99) and iShred ($4.99) from www.FrontierDesign.com - “And not to leave out guitarists,” Jordan says, “there are a lot of guitar Apps, but these two are so easy, fun and clear that will have you up and running quickly, and the sampled guitar sounds are excellent.”
Download info for Apps demonstrated in the accompanying video:
Just remember, if you see the guy sitting next to you in 23B flicking between iPad screens displaying piano keys and automated multi-track recording faders and VU meters, chances are it’s Jordan Rudess laying down the basic tracks for either his ninth solo CD or the next Dream Theater epic.
Be sure to visit www.jordanrudess.com or www.DreamTheater.net and don’t miss Dream Theater this summer as they tour North America with Iron Maiden from June 9 to July 20, 2010.
Reach Christopher Buttner at chris @ prthatrocks.com
Read Jordan’s San Francisco Chronicle cover story entitled, “Musicians flex creative muscles on iPhones”, on September 9, 2009. Yes, he plays his iPhone in concert as part Dream Theater’s elaborate stage show. http://bit.ly/demSYr
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