Tabletop is one of few iPad music production apps that could replace your whole electronic music arsenal. With multiple instruments and a variety of gear, this app replicates a full setup, and you can even choose which gear you want to use for a particular track. You can load a template or you can simply drag and drop items from the device list.
Extra gear is available for purchase, as are additional sounds and samples. But you can add in your own sounds through iTunes. The guide explains how to do this. You can also choose from a pretty extensive range of presets, so even without any extras, you can create some interesting music.
Tabletop offers a turntable, a sequencer, a filter, a keyboard synthesizer, an audio recorder (you need an audio cable to use this), a splitter, and more. You can use each of these more than once for each setup, if you want multiples of any item, as long as it all fits in the given space.
Everything you record can be controlled and organized in the Triggerator, a block system that lets you keep track of loops, sections, and other aspects of your recording. The interface for this system, like for the whole app, is very straight-forward: it's easy to move blocks around, lengthen or shorten their duration, rename them, and trigger them during playback, whether instantly, on the next bar, on the next beat, or after the current block is finished. You can also edit them in real time to mix it up during a live performance.
The only glitch I can see in the programming is that virtual knobs are hard to turn. This is the only part of the layout that does not respond easily to touch, but I suppose once you got used to rubbing them the right way, they would cooperate. Still, this could be a hindrance if you wanted to switch things up on the fly, but it's not a major problem.
The app allows you to save every single session, and you can duplicate a session if you want to have two versions of something you have created. If you opt to create a new session from scratch, you start off with just your mixer and output monitor. If you go with a template, you can pick a style of electronic music that you want to work on, and the app will provide you with a suggested layout that could suit your needs. A number of demos come pre-installed, so you can test the water and your skills on these if you are not sure where to begin.
The deeper you dig into Tabletop, the more you will discover, and it can be useful and fun for people at any level of experience. It's a great way to learn the ropes, but it's also ideal for maintaining a compact multi-purpose setup for professional use.
I work directly with electronic music master Spinoza Gambit, who recommends Tabletop as a king among iPad music production apps. He especially loves it for travel and touring, but it's just as great for learning the ropes.
He's also giving away a free track : http://www.spinozagambit.comli.com/
to download it instantly : http://www.spinozagambit.comli.com/
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