ScalePlay 4+

generative music

RoGame Software

    • 4.9 • 7 Ratings
    • $14.99

iPad Screenshots

Description

Generate entire songs with ornate ostinatos and sequences with complex scale patterns in just minutes.

ScalePlay is a generative music app capable of producing the most intricate ostinatos and sequences by applying complex scale patterns over user defined songforms and chord changes. It can be used in music production and is also a fantastic tool for music education. It includes scale references for hundreds of scales, nine virtual instruments and 128 instrument sounds. Its unique set of features allows the musician to visualize scale relations and to play along with generated patterns.

Modern musicians often practice playing scales according to organizing principles like thirds. What is meant by that is to play a scale tone, then its third, then the second scale tone, the third on top of that one and so forth. The exercise would result in the scale tones 1, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, etc. Not an easy feat at first, because before even getting started, one has to know the base scale. Playing patterns through different keys and scale types finally is a demanding task even for advanced musicians.

ScalePlay constructs patterns like these and much more complicated ones by using two simple grids. Grids have been around in music apps for years, but they are based on half-tone steps and include all available notes of the spectrum. That leaves one difficulty on the table, namely that of correctly identifying the notes of a scale. These grids also don’t easily allow for patterning as in our scale in thirds. So a different solution is called for and ScalePlay provides just that and so much more.

In the application songs are used as metaphor to organize different scale types into a harmonic context. They are constructed with chords which in turn determine what scale types are available at a given time. During playback the app then cycles through these virtual chords or as with TouchPlay allows to call them up at will. This architecture is very helpful for superimposing ScalePlay patterns over existing pieces and even practicing improvising over changes.

For practicing ScalePlay shows a pattern's progression on the built-in instrument and also provides a music notation reference. One can slow things down to need and play along. With the pattern lock feature all patterns can be kept in the same general vicinity. So instead of raising all scale tones when a base chord moves from C to G for example, patterns stay in place. This allows guitarists to practice scale patterns over changes while remaining in the same position.

ScalePlay is also a fabulous generative music app. That is because of the magic that happens when these self-repeating scale structures are put in motion. Fantastic music occurs. Since ScalePlay supports virtual MIDI as well as Audiobus it can be recorded into any iOS based DAW. It also features TouchPlay for advanced looping. With TouchPlay scale structures can be looped endlessly and out of order. The TouchPlay environment is superimposed over ScalePlay's main interface and allows live switching between different scale types with the tap of a finger in continuous or full pattern mode. Of course ScalePlay supports multi-app multitasking as well as split-view and split-screen to make this feature even more useful.

Instruments
• Banjo, Bass, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Viola, Violin

Some other Features:
• 211 scale types
• Virtual MIDI
• Audiobus 3 compatible
• Ableton Link integration
• Advanced looping with TouchPlay
• Full general MIDI instrument library

The full online documentation for ScalePlay is available here: http://rogame.com/d/ios/scaleplay.html

What’s New

Version 1.5.2

This version fixes a potential issue with tuning adjustments, some layout issues and improves dark mode display.

Ratings and Reviews

4.9 out of 5
7 Ratings

7 Ratings

Flowtilla ,

Music production AND learning practice tool too.

I got this cause I really like iOS sequencing apps with a twist that make it easy to come up with interesting / sophisticated ideas quickly . It does that well. However, I left it playing , then picked up my guitar and learned a new scale and worked on my rhythm and steady time as I played along with the hypnotic pattern. It was an added dividend I didn’t expect but quite welcome.

qwesterish ,

Another great app

This and the app “Quincy” by Arthur Roolfs are some of the best compositional apps on iOS. These are so very inspiring and hold the key to future music composition.

K2 ,

This is GREAT!!

At the very least, it's an endless study in sequential patterns. At the very most, it can generate some interesting ostinato patterns to play over. I am loving this!! Check it out!!

App Privacy

The developer, RoGame Software, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Supports

  • Family Sharing

    Up to six family members can use this app with Family Sharing enabled.

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