Battlestation

What it does

A one screen groovebox with an analog style drum machine, three synths, a mixer and effects, and no menu diving. The synths are pared back versions of Bram Bos’s own apps: Troublemaker for acid bass, Phasemaker for FM and Ruismaker Noir. Parts are filled by a spring loaded generate dial rather than step entry, with per part step counts, chance, mutation and fill buttons. Six memory banks store whole states, and it runs standalone or as an AUv3 with multi out.

In the demo

Jade sets out to build a jam in under a minute, programming a four on the floor kick, randomising hats and percussion, then generating bass and synth lines as it plays. She then goes back through each section on its own, saves states into the memory banks, and wires up multi out in AUM so every drum and synth lands on its own track.

Worth knowing

There are no sample banks or sound presets, only synthesis, and the app is aimed at hands-on live jamming rather than arrangement. The developer recommends an iPad or a Mac, with iPhone support there for plugin compatibility rather than comfortable use.