A Professional Piano for the iPad

MooCowMusic has announced the release of their new application Pianist Pro for iPad. Building on their highly successful iPhone application Pianist, this new iPad-only app offers advanced music composition functionality aimed both at the casual user and the music professional.

Pianist Pro includes the full 88 keys of a professionally sampled piano with configurable soft and sustain pedals for additional emphasis during a performance. Up to 10 keys can be pressed at once, and react to the touch just like a real piano. Alternative instruments are available within the app including organs, synths, and guitars - all of which can be recorded and overdubbed to provide what MooCowMusic are calling a 'Musical Scratchpad' in addition to a live performance tool.

A built-in arpeggiator allows the user to create perfectly timed runs of notes just by holding down a few keys. As well as the standard arpeggiator modes (Up, Down, Up/Down, Random) Pianist Pro includes a new mode called 'Pattern Arp', allowing the user to define patterns of notes that turn a simple held chord into a complex musical phrase. Pianist Pro makes it easy to play shuffle-beat blues piano, complete with walking bassline and overlayed jazz chords and runs - all by simply holding down one single chord. Changing the chord changes the melody but maintains the tight rhythm provided by the arpeggiator.


Another new addition to Pianist Pro is the 'Scale Piano'. This allows the user to select a musical scale from a large choice of presets (from standard scales such as Major and Natural Minor, to more specialised scales such as Pentatonic Blues, Persian Gypsy or Chinese), or define their own from scratch. Notes and runs on that scale can then be played back in any key, simply by running a finger up and down a virtual touchpad. The Scale Piano can be used as a solo instrument, as an experimental tool for musicians working on a new piece of music, or as a teaching aid for musical composition.

Pianist Pro also includes a host of features to add an extra dimension to a performance. A built-in drum machine offers an elegantly simple interface for adding rhythm, with a choice of drum kits to suit all musical styles, and even a shuffle control to add a touch of swing. A configurable delay effect brings energy to even the simplest synth bassline, and can be used to add interest and complexity to piano and guitar riffs. Finally a pitch bend / modulation wheel and swell pedal can be enabled which not only change the sound of the instrument and can be recorded live into a track, but also respond to the touch visually in a perfect emulation of physical controls.

Pricing and Availability:
Pianist Pro is available now from the iTunes App Store, priced at $9.99 (USD).

Read More