Grüvtron Brings Grid-Based Beat Making To The Masses
grüvtron ($4.99) by Sound Trends LLC offers just the kind of groove experience one would expect of a casual music app for iOS.
That’s just the first impression. Underneath the app’s simpleton hood is a surprisingly deep music production tool that absolutely anyone can use. It’s laden with presets, ripe with a slick interface, and absolutely begging for you to run your fingers up and down its keyboard.
Speaking of the keyboard, a description of Grüvtron is best started there. The app features an eight-by-five keypad that fans of the Korg Kaossilator will instantly feel at home with. To create music, the user simply presses a button, and a sound is produced. In essence, it’s music so simple that even a caveman could do it.
But Grüvtron isn’t just a pretty face: The app comes loaded with over 50 loop presets, each with a unique backing groove to get the beat going. By pressing and holding the pads (with a little dragging included, too) users can create complex arpeggios, ringing chords, and even vocal accents. Admittedly, the unlabeled buttons make the process more guess work than artisan crafting, but it’s quick, simple, and sounds great anyway.
In addition to the massive amount of presets, Grüvtron also features an effects bar along the left that’s custom tailored for each track, the ability to change tempos and keys with only a few clicks, and the option to copy recorded tracks to other music apps like Looptastic HD or studio.HD.
Despite the tight packaging and massive amount of features, Grüvtron users will likely fall into two separate groups: Those that are just looking to dabble in groove production, and those looking to create serious house mixes. With that in mind, the joy the app gives really depends on which issue you subscribe to.
As a casual music mixing app, Grüvtron is almost perfect. The interface could not be simpler, and the ability to record your creations for quick sharing with others is a tremendous boon. There’s almost no wrong way to play a song with the app, making it the ideal tool for those looking to try their hand at synthesized beats.
For the serious user, however, the lack of fine-tuned controls may be too irritating for major work in the studio, though the included presets really do sound great, and the CD-quality sound exporting is a tremendous tilt in Grüvtron’s favor.
But without any detailed way to control the beats in-app, Grüvtron will likely be a launching pad for quick loop sampling: a ride that ultimately lands in a larger, more detailed music suite. Grüvtron does offer the ability to sync two iDevices together inside the app, allowing for some interesting possibilities in live music production.
Grüvtron is comfortably priced at $4.99 as a universal offering. The app comes with a low learning curve and heaps of potential, but what you get out of it largely depends on your end goal.
The app is a perfect casual music creator, and an excellent loop spawner, as well. However, if you’re looking for a deep-house wonder-pad, Grüvtron may not be the best fit for you.
