Music Maker Jam (Android / iOS)
The first among the apps to create backing tracks that I want to recommend you to try is Music Maker Jam. Haven't you ever heard of it? Strange, it is one of the most famous in the category. However there is no problem, we can fix it immediately. This is an application entirely dedicated to electronic music lovers, with a beautiful user interface and quite simple to use, both by experts in the sector and not. It also includes a special section through which the compositions created can be shared with other users. It's free (but offers in-app purchases to add more content) and is available for both Android and iOS.
To use it, first download and install the app on your device, then start it and press the buttons Get started right away e Salta to access all available tools. Tapping on the option Log in and following the proposed instructions you can also create a free account through which, as I anticipated a few lines above, you can share your musical creations with users who use the application.
In the screen that will subsequently be proposed to you, choose two style packages from those available, step on the button NEXT e poi pigia sul pulsating Create Music and on that Close to start creating your backing track.
To do this, first of all select the tools to be used from the previously chosen style packages by pressing the buttons + (plus symbol) that you find on the right then press the button Play at the bottom left to start listening. Using the adjustment bars in the center of the screen you can also change the audio levels of each musical instrument, while deselecting the icons of individual instruments and effects at the bottom you can exclude them from playback as well as from the composition.
Use the menu on the left to customize your creation: pressing the icon with the wavy line you can adjust the volume and intensity of the sounds by pressing the icon with the microphone you can record compositions and sounds, while tapping on the symbol of music note can change the pitch of various sounds.
When you are satisfied with the result, press on the option Save project which you can recall by tapping on the symbol of three lines horizontally located at the top right to save the changes made.
Finally, I would like to point out one of the most interesting features of this app: the one that allows you to remix songs by simply shaking the device in use. To activate it, press the button with the three lines horizontally located at the top left and, from the menu that opens, tap on the option Shake to mix / Shake for Shuffle then shake your device to remix the song you are working on.
Ninja Jam (Android / iOS)
Another app belonging to the category that I want to recommend you to try is Ninja jam. It's free (but offers in-app purchases) and is available for both Android and iOS. It is a little more complex to use than the above resource but nothing that is out of reach for most. It is based on pre-recorded samples which, once selected and searched, can be modified at will.
To use it, download it immediately on your device then install the app and start it. On the screen displayed, select which of the ready-made album packs you prefer among the various available, listen to a preview by tapping on the big button Play that you find on the left and, if it convinces you, press the button Play Jam that is down below to use it.
At this point, you can finally start to let loose in the composition of your backing track. On the left side of the screen you will find the various tools in use that you can activate or deactivate as needed by simply pressing the relative button and the relative loops and that you can use in clip or drill mode by pressing the appropriate button at the bottom left.
Also at the bottom, there are then all the various effects that you can apply with options to follow, the counter for the time and the button REC to start recording the composition, while using the button BMP at the top you can adjust the playback speed.
Walk Band - Music Studio (Android)
Another resource definitely worthy of being included in an article dedicated to apps to create backing tracks is Walk Band - Music Studio. This is a free resource available only on Android that allows you to play piano, beat, drums and guitar to compose your own music even without understanding anything about notes and staff. It has a pretty nice interface and also supports MIDI keyboards connected via USB.
To use it, download, install and start the app, then select the tool you want to use from the various available (Keyboard, Guitar, Drum kit etc.), stop on the button Ok at the bottom right and start creating your backing track by playing as you would in reality.
At the top of the screen you will find the various commands available. There is the metronome, the button REC to record and save your creations, the complete tool from which you can select the section to act on, the button to change the mode in use, the one to enable and define the type of labels on the notes to use, the one to change the type of instrument.
Also at the top of the screen, on the right, there is also a button with three lines horizontally through which you can access further app options and app settings and the list of recordings made (which you can possibly also import).
GarageBand (iOS)
Do you use an iPhone or an iPad and are you looking for an app to create alternative backing tracks to what I have already pointed out to you? Well, then you should really turn to GarageBand, the powerful and renowned Apple application that can be downloaded for free on the company's devices. It makes available to users many instruments of all kinds (drums, guitar, piano, etc.) highly customizable, also offering the possibility of using Live Loops to create music in a very simple way. In short, why not try it now?
To use it, download, install and start the application on your device and then presses the button + (plus symbol) at the top right and tap on the tab Live loops if you want to create a backing track as a DJ would do or press the card traces and choose one of the available tools (Keyboard, Percussion, Bows, Low, Guitar, ethnic, Drummer etc.) to create your own backing track by playing the individual instruments virtually.
At the top of the screen that will be shown to you at this point you will find all the various commands available to make customizations to your composition, to change the instrument in use, to change the volume, to record sounds, etc.
You can also record your musical creations by tapping the button REC (the circular red one) always placed at the top of the app screen. At the end of the registration, save the composition by tapping on the gray button at the top and then pressing on My songs. In the section My songs, press and continue to hold on the preview of the composition until it starts to oscillate and then stop on the icon of the arrow located at the top left and select Add to iCloud Drive to save the song on iCloud Drive, in fact.
If you want, you can also connect a real instrument directly to your device and play from there while keeping track of what has been done directly from GarageBand and making all the necessary changes. To do this, select the option Amplifier on the main screen of the app and connect the musical instrument to the device using the appropriate adapter.
Other apps to create backing tracks
Didn't the apps for creating backing tracks that I have already talked about convinced you in a particular way? Are you looking for alternative resources to the one above? No problem. Below you will find a further list of applications used for this purpose that I hope will interest you. So try to identify the one you think may be most useful to you and download it immediately on your device.
- Caustic 3 (Android / iOS) - It is one of the most “popular” apps for what concerns the creation of mobile backing tracks. It integrates a large set of tools able to satisfy all tastes. The download from the Play Store is free (but offers in-app purchases to unlock some extra features), while from the App Store it is paid and costs 10,99 euros.
- Audio Evolution Mobile (Android / iOS) - Great app that works as a kind of small recording studio. It's perfect for multitracking external instruments on a practically professional level. The imported sounds can then be edited with various options and effects and can be used to create loops. From the Play Store the download costs 8,49 euros, while from the App Store it is free but you have to make in-app purchases to use all the functions.
- FL Studio Mobile (Android / iOS) - Mobile counterpart of the well-known computer program through which you can create incredible projects using the catalog of sounds and effects included "as standard". Among tuners, MIDI controllers, keyboards and much more, it is certainly one of the most interesting tools currently on the market for what concerns the smartphone and tablet side. On the Play Store it costs 17,99 euros, while on the App Store the price is 14,99 euros.
- Cross DJ (Android / iOS) - Looking for an app through which you can mix two songs together like a real DJ? You found it! Thanks to this resource at no cost it is in fact possible to create customized remixes by adding filters, activating the automatic mixing and much more.
- SoundCamp (Android) - Application developed by Samsung all based, as easily understood, on Samsung Audio technology that offers various tools through which you can record, mix and edit up to 8 tracks. It is free but can only be installed on the terminals of the well-known company.
- Drum Pads 24 - Music Maker (Android) - Good app that allows you to create bass loops and rhythms using a grid of buttons to tap and play. You can therefore create fantastic backing tracks in an extremely simple way. Free.
- Basket Gadget (iOS) - Great app for making electronic music. It offers a collection of over 20 synthesizers through which any type of sound can be reproduced. It also has a special interface that allows you to focus on what you are doing without distractions. It costs 43,99 euros.
- Beatwave (iOS) - One of the simplest and most intuitive apps around to create backing tracks. It comes with a grid of bright squares and after choosing the initial set of sounds, depending on how you move, you can play arpeggios, chords and much more. Free (but with in-app purchases).
