Beatonal - Easy Music Maker Reviews

by T.j.V.

After reading some of the reviews, I decided to give it a go. In no way did I find this to be like Figure as most 5 star reviewers claimed. There are other app alternatives that make better money sense overall... including Figure!

With that being said... If you have the extra cash available and need a new app fix, you could do worse.

by Maples Ex

If I really felt it useful or necessary, I could mention two really very minor details. But critically nitpicking Beatonal makes no sense whatsoever. For $2.99...? Lemme just say you're good to GO for $2.99. They could charge $7.00 to $10.00 for the functions made available.
But here's what I found ANYWAY: Rhythmically, the patterns/note values/division are controlled in a way very similar to the free 'FIGURE' app. There is no tap tempo ) : and for some reason it seems that on iphone the bpm can only be set numerically by every other number (ex: 92 bpm, 94 bpm, 96...etc.)
...However, THAT SAID, it CAN be synced up to Ableton Link.
Also, the synth presets are 'just OK'
...However, THAT said, they are way way more than 'good enough' ($2.99??!!) AND you can tweak the sounds to your hearts content with the built-in parameters/controls.
Besides, who cares? After all, Beatonal is taylor-made for the MIDI/inter-app user...without a doubt.
Like I said, I feel ridiculous mentioning any criticism at all. I love this thing. I predict that this will get way more use than many of my other midi sequencers.
Good for banging out some ideas on your lunch break, or for serious songwriting over a long weekend.
....OH! And one last thing... the UI is pretty small. If you have the option of doing the really detailed projects on an iPad- you'd be less likely to get frustrated....(but whatever...)
....(c'mon-$2.99?- just get it).

by Mike Z100

I like Beatonal a lot! The GUI is very simple and straightforward. Definitely worth the money! The reason I’m giving it 4 stars is because I would like to see an “undo/redo” button and it should have inter-app compatibility.

by Holla @ Thine Tuna

Love the approach! Would be amazing if you integrated inter-app audio!

by DRKPHK

I forgot how overwhelmed I was when I discovered the potential in this multidimensional application 3yrs ago -wow-you kinda get overwhelmedly lost in the awesome new ways a producing music on iOS -
Sadly I forgot about how usefully productive this I almost lost it in usual swamp of iOS Evolving fluidity you can remember sort of the name and what it did ....Weirdly enough I remembered purchasing it by using its highly popular less usable rolling stone of a bastard father application-hmpfft! - gladly we’ve found each other again & I hope others do too & hopefully more will soon !
Overly productive gem that seems to be hidden deep -

by Tim Cox

This thing is so good. Twould be insane if I could load my own samples?

by Guycoolio

I agree with many that this app is similar to Figure. But it has taken Figure's original beat making concept to a new level. It has landscape mode, 4 music tracks to work with, deeper editing of synthesis parameters, individual control over more drum sounds, effects, chords, scales, MIDI, Ableton Link, and on and on! Yes, the UI could be better and it could use pattern chaining/song mode among other things. But at the end of the day, it is an extremely useful music creation app that plays nicely with other apps. All the really cool things this app does right out of the gate makes you want to support this developer!

by Leom187

It's definitely an easy music maker, and if you're familiar with Figure, you will feel right at home. The real star though is the synth engine. It's weird at first glance, but once you dive in and start playing with everything, you'll find that this is capable of some very organic sounds. Don't overlook any control, they all contribute, including the eq on the mixer page. Overall, it's just a very fun musical playground, you can really do no wrong here. And by the way it can be used as a MIDI controller! Total steal at the 2.99 upgrade price. My only wish is that there was some recordable automation possibilities, that would really send it over the edge.

by Lewis7119

Um not going to lie, this is an ugly looking app. Reminds me of a late 90's Reaktor synth. But if you can get past the looks, this thing is really fun. It's like Figure on steroids. The external midi is fantastic. I've been using to drive a Monologue and Volca FM and it works great. Well done.

by Codowlsky Polopumus

Dope. Fresh. Purdy.

by Musikman4Christ

Hello Luuk,

First, i want to thank you soooo much for such and awesome and well programmed musical studio app! I sincerely thank you because it allows me to make music for God and to create songs that will touch people's hearts all over the world. You are so blessed to have the knowledge to program and develop such an awesome app!

I would like to provide some ideas of how to make Beatonal even better and again, these are just suggestions. I have over 35 years of music experience and I have been looking for a simple app that will allow me to make music, songs, basic sketches or complete songs in a matter of minutes and not days or months. I have found this in your app.

My first request and greatest request, would be:

1. User option to link or unlink Chord Track with Bass Track. Why?

Ok, i come from a background of using Arranger Keyboards, such as the Korg i30 interactive arranger keyboard synth, or the Yamaha Tyros, which these cost upwards of thousands of dollars. These keyboards allow the user to create backing tracks for songs in a matter of minutes.
My idea is that your app basically already does this, but there's one step that many keyboard arranger players like myself always like, is to create the song in realtime as we change chords while listening toa Drum track. In this case, you app already does this, which is awsome! But the Bass track is static to what ever I had previously recorded. Instead, if only you could program a type of link where the Bass track listens to what ever root key I'm playing in the chord track, and it would actually play that root key, where now, as I change chords, the Bass track would match exactly they key I'm playing in realtime.

This feature Luuk would attract thousands of Arranger Keyboard musicians all over the world because your app would be the only app in IOS that would be considered an arranger app. I imagine all this users buying you app for this feature alone. Because now, they would be able to create a backing track in a matter of minutes. Even better, since your app, outputs realtime midi out, imagine sending this realtime midi to Cubasis and have Cubasis host AUv3 synths like Thor, Infinite, and Beathawk, imagine the quality of sounds that could be achieved? Oh, and since the bass track and chord tracks are linked up, there is no need for song mode anymore since the midi would be recorded in Realtime into Cubasis, thereby creating a backing track of a complete song in one pass!

Luuk, you app has soooo much potential and the fact that you have landscape is soooo awesome! I've been praying for an app like this and I am so glad a user in the Audiobus forum mentioned, and that's how i found out about it. Then I went to the SountTestRoom YouTube Channel, run by Sir Doug, and watched his video review of you app!, then I immediately purchased the IAP to Pro.

My other wishes would be if you could upgrade Beatonal to AudioBus 3.0 and with State Saving and MIDI input to use external midi controllers to change chords or do lead track. Or even add the ability to use the AudioBus remote where one can enable or disable specific tracks or patterns on the fly for even more control and for realtime playing in a live setting.

Well, enough requests for now. I don't really care that Beatonal doesn't have that "beautiful" look, i dont care, all i know is that Beatonal works and works great at what it is designed to do. I had it controlling Beathawk, Moog Model 15 and PPG's Infinite and wow!!! This is truly a special studio App for composing and making music.

I hope my ideas and suggestions someday may come to reality as I think Beatonal should be on every single serious IOS musician's iPhone or iPad. It is that good!!!!

I highly recommend Beatonal!

Musicman4Christ

Update:
After using Beatonal more and more and tweaking all the Available settings in each of the four tracks plus master settings Ive concluded that this is one amazing, huge and deep app worth every cent spent and more!

Dear Luuk, I have figured out how to use this app as a One Man Band where the Bass and Chords are driving external synths such as Beathawk and Groovebox and Rock Drummer and I have it where the Bass track is actually following my Chord track although it's being sent out and recorded on a separate midi and audio track for the chord and bass tracks. I'm using AUM to record these and I'm blown away at the power and flexibility of Beatonal!

I'll contact you and will be doing a YouTube video to show how powerful this set up is to create backing tracks in a flash!!!

Please add more Patterns if possible as these are the patterns that I'm using to create the Bass lines more would rock big time!

I highly recommend Beatonal!

MM4C

by Percy Smitty

I love Beatonal,can you build s sampler to input,sound.👀

by The Organist

I loved Figure but wanted more. Now I’ve found it: this app. I wish there was a track for pads. This is great.

by Cantfindbloodynickname😜

Original and user friendly. Could go huge but needs sample import...with timestretch maybe? Midi out would be huge too...let’s do this...I will pay more!

by One Awsome Gamer

Ok I just wanna say you have to download this I just made soooooooooooo many good songs I just can’t figure out how to save them so I can play them later but other that that Beatonal is AMAZING

by So Far So Good123

Do you like Figure but wished it had greater features that enabled you to use it like a music workstation?
This is it! For just $3!!
The graphics are plain, but don't let such superficiality deter you. The UI itself is very functional, smooth workflow.
An advanced Figure with MIDI out. Perfect. Should be "Editors Choice".

by Anickt

Thought I would update my review and add a star. This is still a fun and useful app for generating loops and ideas. Exports wav files wherever I want them. MIDI files too. This is one of those “under the radar” apps for music creation.

The UI is not fancy but this guy is powerful and fun! Would like to see sample import from iOS Document Picker or AudioShare. It's what Figure should have been and more. Well worth it!

by Capedape

This is great fun and has huge potential. I own a lot of apps similar to this and most don't result in usable results so quickly. I should add I'm a long-time producer and usually play MIDI parts in with controllers or spend long hours meticulously painting drum hits in the piano roll on desktop DAWs. The difference is this is fun, musical and also *quick* to work with. Love it.

Dev, export as separate tracks and some more patterns would be very welcome. Cheers