Play Antique Cymbals On Your iPad With CrotalesSS
CrotalesSS ($1.99) by YUJI HASEBE is an iPad-only simulation of a complete set of antique cymbals. Ranging from a mid C to an E that is two and a half octaves higher, this is about the closest thing you can get to the real thing.
I had never heard of Crotales until I came across this app. I discovered that Crotales are a type of antique cymbal that are used in orchestral compositions. I had to do a little research to find out if the developers created a reasonable simulation. To my pleasure, they did. I compared the sound of the app to various audio clips of musicians playing the real thing. CrotalesSS sounds just as beautiful as, and at times even better than, the samples I heard.
With 29 different cymbals arranged on the iPad’s screen, you simply touch one of them to hear the bright, resonant chime. You can play more than one cymbal at a time and it is easy to understand the layout. For those unfamiliar with Crotales, their key progression is exactly the same as a piano’s. The ability to create a beautiful song is amazingly simple. The only problem is that you can’t record your creations within this app. The only feature is the cymbals and the sound they make.
Overall, the sleek design and beautiful sound makes this app worth the money. Unfortunately, it does not offer anything else. Hopefully, the developers will add a couple of features, like the ability to record and save songs. Even without those additions, CrotalesSS is a great way for the adventurous musician to discover a new instrument.
