The iPhone is without doubt among the coolest portable media devices on the market. But when it really comes down to it, its essentially a toy, isn’t it?
A plethora of third party software developers have been creating apps since Apple first announced it as an open-source device in June of 2007. Some of those apps are proving to make the iPhone a legitimate addition to an audio engineer’s tool belt.
This pleases me.
Bias’ iPro Recorder app turns the iPhone into a portable stereo recorder. That sort of functionality is almost a no-brainer in my mind but what makes it really convenient is the fact that you can email the recordings, meaning you can effectively backup and transfer them without having to dock to a computer.
But the best apps for audio engineers have got to be those by Far Out Labs. They’ve got a handful that are true working tools, ranging in price from usual few dollars right up to $99 for their highest functioning app, the ProRemote.
ProRemote actually turns the iPhone into a remote controller for Mac-based DAWs! You can adjust fader levels, set memory markers, and of course operate basic transport functions.
It is a beautiful thing when the lines between toys and tools blur.
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