FourTrack By Sonoma Wire Works

FourTrack by Sonoma Wire Works is an iPhone music production app.  I've messed around with several single track music recording apps and haven't tried any of the newer mulit-track recording app yet because FourTrack has such a nicely designed user interface.  As soon as I open the application I feel comfortable and at home.  It's simplicity and excellent graphics make it a joy to work with.

 

FourTrack By Sonoma Wire Works

FourTrack allows you to bounce previously recorded tracks to add more layers.  To record you simply arm the recording button and slide the record button.  There are pan knobs and a couple of effects in the song tools area.  You can send your recorded songs to you computer using a wifi connection or Somoma's RiffWorks software.  In it's earlier incarnations there were some glitches and bugs but they were promptly fixed in updates.  The one thing FourTrack doesn't yet have, which is much needed, is the option to import tracks from the iPod/iTunes library.  I often have rough demo's I have recorded elsewhere and would love to be able to throw them into FourTrack and record vocal ideas over them.

There really isn't much else to say about FourTrack.  It does exactly what it is supposed to and looks really nice.  One thing that everyone getting into iPhone recording apps should know is that you can not control the input volume from within the app or iPhone settings.  The only way to avoid clipping in loud situations is to use an external volume control.  In my blog iPhone Mic and Guitar Cable by KV Connection I address this problem and some other limitations.

One other thing I love about FourTrack is that it brings me back to the days when I would record on an old Fostex cassette tape four track recorder.  There is some about being limited that really helps with the song writing process.  I used FourTrack primarily for song ideas or to record band practices.  I've had access to almost unlimited tracks for so long now, I almost forgot what it was like to be 16 years old and recording music in my dad's studio.  FourTrack costs $9.99 but I think it was well worth it and I hope that it continues to improve in the future.

iPhone Mic and Guitar Cable by KV Connection

As anyone who has tried to record using an iPhone knows, the built in mic doesn’t really cut it when the volume is too loud.  There is no way to adjust the input volume on the iPhone.  I tried a variety of solutions to try and solve this problem, including the crazy train of adapters hooked up to a mini-camera cord that you might read about on other blogs.  I also tried the PRS Guitarbud interface, which was poorly constructed for such a high price.  After weeks of searching online I found the KV Connection and bought this cable:

 

iPhone Adapter 3.5mm male to 3.5mm Headphone Jack and 1/4in Microphone Jack - 

Available from kvconnection.com

They have other cables made specifically for the iPhone which may be better suited to what you want to do but this cable has allowed me to plug my guitar or mic directly into my iPhone with the 1/4in input jack.  I promise you, this is the cable you’ve been looking for!  If you are recording lectures, pod casts or speeches with your iPhone, they have a cable with an XLR hook-up so you can go directly to a high quality, professional microphone.  Although, if you want to use a condenser microphone you will need phantom power from a compact mixing board or preamp.  You can also use the mixing board to record multiple instruments are microphones at the same time.

Behringer Xenyx 502 Mixer -  Available from Musiciansfriend.com

To solve the input volume problem when recording live music or a band practice (or even just to have a little extra control) I run everything through a compact mixing board, made by Mackie, before going into the iPhone.  There are more affordable, entry level mixing boards like the one pictured above, made by Behringer, and available through Musician's Friend.  It is a lot quicker and easier to record to the iPhone than it is to record to my digital work station.  The iPhone is great for recording rough tracks, jam sessions, ideas, lectures, pod casts, voice notes and many other things.  With the right hardware it becomes much easier and the resulting quality might surprise you.

The compact mixing board can also offer a solution to the limitations of apps like FourTrack like monitoring what you are playing while listening to what is already recorded.  You can plug your headphones into the compact mixing board and then plug the microphone output on the KVC cable into one of the channels on the board.  You won't be hearing what the iPhone is recording, so you can't tell if it's clipping, but you can hear your audio playback and what you are currently playing at the same time.

  

Audio-Technica AT2041SP Microphone Pack - Available from Musiciansfriend.com

I use the Audio-Technica Microphone pack for recording acoustic guitar and vocals.  If I'm recording a live session in the studio, like a band practice, I will use two of the AT2020's as room mics.  MXL also makes a cheaper microphone pack that is more affordable and has decent sound quality.  You can use pretty much any microphone you want with this set-up but if you want to use a condenser microphone you have to run it through the mixing board or a preamp with phantom power.