MikroWave Lite

igorski.nl

About this app

Formerly known as "MikroWave FREE", this is in fact a fully functional version of "MikroWave", your pocket sketchbook for quickly jotting down ideas for a melody... accompanied by a beat.

This version has all the features of the full version, apart from the functionality that allows you to save your creations on your device (though you can record the live audio output, read on for more details). You can see this version as a free trial, or a toy if you will... the application displays NO ads.

What it is:

Getting to the point straightaway: MikroWave is in essence a "groovebox", a self-contained instrument where multiple sound sources (synthesizers and a single drum machine) are controlled by a sequencer with parameter and effects controls, to allow a musician to rapidly construct and control a pattern-based musical sequence.

If this description boggles you, having a look at the video demonstration should clear things up.

Well suited for quickly sketching out musical ideas when on the move, patterns can be created in the sixteen step sequencer, with no limit to the amount of bars your composition requires. Apart from the basic waveforms there is a secondary oscillator which can be routed to different targets for harmonically enriching your initial sounds. You can shape the basic palette from friendly cheesy 80s trumpets via stuttering robots to totally unlistene-able sonic mayhem. If anything, you can sure annoy people on the bus.

For further improvisation there is a multi-touch keyboard allowing you to play along with the sequencer for quickly testing new ideas.

The full version allows you not only to save your songs on your device (and continue work on them later), but also to export them as WAV files and upload them to SoundCloud for sharing your track directly with friends. You can also export your song as MIDI so you can continue work on your desktop computer / other hardware devices. The free version does record live audio output, limited only by the amount of space available on your device.

MikroWave is actively being updated, so keep your eyes peeled for notifications to be sure you're getting all the latest features. You may also aid development by leaving suggestions and sharing your ideas on the website.

Just to be clear: MikroWave doesn't rely on samples for sound generation, but actually synthesizes sound. For best performance your device run Jelly Bean (Android 4.2), though any recent device should run the application just fine.

Required permissions:
Read / write from external storage / SD card. This is used for recording audio output.

Internet access. Used for accessing the online manual, there are NO ads.

More information, development updates and video examples can be found on the project page : http://www.igorski.nl/mikrowave

Ratings and reviews

It's a really good app, I like minimal groove box apps as apposed to bloated edm oriented production suits Only issue is it doesn't display properly on some mobile devices. Works fine on my Samsung tablet but doesn't seem to resize / fit to the screen of the one plus 6 and I can't see a way to scroll the screen

Total fail and requires display over other apps permission. Uninstalling now.

Most third class music maker

What's new

No functional updates other than adding support for newest Android versions.
Removed rudimentary overlay window permissions.