How to Create Ambient Music on an iPad
Welcome to my little corner of the music world, where I'm messing around with ambient music on an iPad. If you're curious about how to turn your tablet into a mini music studio, stick around. I've got some cool stuff to share from my latest doodle (garabato)!
Starting Off with MIDI Magic
I kicked things off with some MIDI controllers – Rozeta Particles and Chordjam. These guys are my go-to for getting those spontaneous notes and chords that make ambient tracks feel like they're alive.
Picking the Perfect Apps for That Dreamy Sound
Next up was finding the right sound. For lush pads, I used Twin 3 by FabFilter and King of FM by AudioKit Pro – both are amazing for iPad music making. And for that hint of real-world vibe? Pure Upright piano.
Effects: The Secret Sauce of Ambient Tracks
Here's where the fun really starts – effects! I went all out with Blackhole and Crystalline for those deep, spacey echoes. Mixing in K7D and Other Desert Cities was like adding spices to a recipe – it just brought everything to life.
Mixing It Up in AUM
Now, let’s talk about the real wizardry – mixing it all up in AUM. This is where things got super fun and a bit technical. AUM is like the heart of iPad music production for me. It's where I blend all the different sounds together, and for this track, I really dove into bus mixing.
Here’s the scoop: I had Twin 3 by FabFilter and King of FM by AudioKit Pro set up on their own tracks, but here's the twist – I sent them to different mix buses for some extra control. Twin 3 was doing double duty, sending to Bus A and C. King of FM was playing it cool, sending its vibes straight to the output.
Then, I had a second Twin 3 track that was also heading to Bus A, but with a twist – it was getting some special treatment with K7D by Imaginando. Imagine this like adding a dash of magic to an already mystical potion. Bus A had the Blackhole effect by Eventide, which is like a ticket to a sonic universe.
Meanwhile, Pure Upright by e-instruments was serenading Bus B, which had the Crystalline effect by Baby Audio. Think of it as giving the piano a dreamy, starlit quality. And let’s not forget Bus C, hosting Other Desert Cities by AUDIO Damage for that extra layer of mystery.
All sends were pre-fader. This meant I had more creative control over the balance and blend of each element, making the mix feel alive and ever-evolving.
A Little Rhythm to Keep Things Interesting
And hey, I even added a bit of rhythm with Playbeat 3. A subtle beat can make a huge difference, especially when you're weaving a chill ambient track.
Wrapping It Up: iPads are Awesome for Music!
So there you have it – my latest adventure in making ambient music with an iPad. It’s pretty wild what you can do with a few apps and some creativity. If you're even slightly into music, give it a shot. It’s super fun, and you might just surprise yourself with what you can create!
🎧 Apps I Played With:
Rozeta Particles by Bram Bos
Chordjam by Audiomodern
Twin 3 by FabFilter
King of FM by AudioKit Pro
Pure Upright by e-instruments
Blackhole by Eventide
Crystalline by Baby Audio
K7D by Imaginando
AUM by Kymatica
Other Desert Cities by AUDIO Damage
Playbeat 3 by Audiomodern
That’s it from me – go out there and start mixing your own ambient tracks on an iPad! Catch you next time for more sound adventures! 🎧📱🌌