iPad Music Apps

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Vocalive is a sound recording and effects processing app for the iPad.  While it’s main focus is the recording and manipulation of vocals, other sounds can be recorded and processed as well.  The iPad version of this software comes housed with vocal effects like Pitch Fix (vocal tuning),  Choir (harmonizer), Morph (tonal modifier),  and Double (sound doubler).

Vocalive also comes with a mastering section that provides you with sound processors and effects like Compression, Reverb, EQ, Phaser, Delay, and De-Esser.

Other noteworthy features are Voice Cancellation, which will allow you to sing along with songs from your iTunes library by removing the vocals and the Vocal Tools addition for warming up your voice.

While I like the quality of the results this app can achieve, there are several things I don’t like about this app.  First and foremost, is its lack of a audio copy / paste function.  Any time you want to transfer your recorded files elsewhere you have to connect to a computer.  This can be a tiresome and aggravating process over time.   I find lacking this feature to be inexcusable because its usefulness and functionality are well known by iOS music users and developers alike, so the fact that IK Multimedia has not implemented it into an expensive app such as Vocalive absolutely drives me bananas!

My next problem is the price tag.  Vocalive starts at $19.99 for the basic version of the software and this version only comes with a single track recorder and no Master FX section.  You will need to spend an extra $14.99 to upgrade to a four track recorder and to get the Master FX that come with those invaluable tools for dynamic and tonal processing of vocals like compression and EQ.  Now, add this to the fact that you will need an iRig or iMic to record vocals or instruments into your iPad and you just spent a ton of money for iOS standards.  I will say that technically you could use the mic built into your iPad, but I wouldn’t expect to get great recording results.

All in all, I just don’t know if this app is worth the $35.  My advice would be to try out the free version first and see if it’s something you really need or make frequent use of.  Again, this app is capable of achieving quality results, but a lack of common sense features and a hefty price tag make Vocalive a questionable purchase.  I’m a fan of IK Multimedia and have been for years so hopefully they  can step it up and get this app where it needs to be.