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“My fingers too big, my attention span too small”

I think I’ve started using these Welcome columns as some kind of self-help therapy sessions. Maybe it’s COVID (or that I just need to get out more) but I appear to be using them to unleash long-held demons and insecurities, and all at your expense. Last month I admitted I can’t play keyboards and use technology as my crutch in this regard. This month I’ll admit that I used to find making music on an iPad (and iPhone especially) a largely tedious experience. I think my fingers are too big, my attention span too small and my expectations too ‘desktop’. But having written several App Roundups over the last decade, it fell on my shoulders to give it one last chance with this issue, and I have to say, I was largely surprised at my own findings. Making music on a tablet - I won’t go as far to say ‘phone’ just yet - is now not just possible but, and I almost shiver to say this, actually quite good fun. Gadget, Beat Maker 3 and the excellent free synth Audiokit Synth One (download it now) are my own favourites and real eye openers as to what can be done, but it’s the excellence of the AU3, IAA and AB connectivity formats that have revolutionised mobile music-making. So enjoy that one, and enjoy one of our best-ever free software giveaways in the form of Kilohearts’ Slice EQ. And enjoy them while you can, because next issue I’ll probably untether an even more depressing demon. Did I ever tell you about that time when I was 14 and bought my first Atari? Well…