Photos from the March Mobile Music Meetup

In anticipation of the next Mobile Music Meetup May 6, we wanted to pass on a few photos taken at the last event by the talented Amy Lee. Check out the entire set on Flickr!

Tabletop 1.4 Available

It's been awhile since the last Tabletop update, and as regular blog readers know, we've been hard at work on a variety of projects in the meantime. But today we're proud to announce that Tabletop 1.4 is now available in the App Store and it's loaded with a bunch of cool new features that are included free for all existing users who upgrade to the latest version (or at the regular purchase price of $9.99 for new users).

The biggest new feature in Tabletop 1.4 is Auto-Routing - just drag a device to the tabletop surface and it routes up to the mixer. Spend less time hooking up cables and more on your music!  For anything that doesn't route exactly how you want it, the old routing controls are still in place to design the signal chain to your specs.

You can now also swipe between devices with a single gesture while writing or performing a song. Save precious seconds & never miss a beat!

Finally, if you have the new iPad 3, Tabletop's 1.4 release also includes support for the Retina display to make the app look even more sharp and crisp.

All these updates plus a handful of bug & performance fixes are included free in the Tabletop 1.4 update! Grab it today & stay tuned for more updates soon.

StudioTrack 1.5 Update Save $9.99 on StudioTrack and $4.99 on FourTrack

Big news from our friends at Sonoma WireWorks as they've just announced the release of a new version of StudioTrack, the highly acclaimed multitrack recording app for iPad, developed in partnership with Retronyms!

The new version includes:

• GuitarTone Amps & Effects: Interpretations of essential vintage and custom amps and pedals. GuitarTone includes three free amps ('60 Slant, Custom and Tweed Blues) and three free effects (UltraPhase, Drive+ and Va-Room), with additional tones available for $9.99 per 12-pack. Amp and effect packs purchased in the GuitarTone app are activated in FourTrack and StudioTrack. GuitarJack activates $19.98 worth of GuitarTone amps and effects while connected.
• Free High Visibility Tuner: Fast, accurate tuning.
• GuitarJack Control Panel - Adjust the input settings and modes for Sonoma's GuitarJack high quality interface that connects a wide range of instruments, microphones, and other audio hardware to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Select 1/4-inch line in, stereo 1/8-inch line in for mono or stereo recording, or use both inputs for simultaneous voice and instrument recording onto two tracks at once. GuitarJack's 1/8-inch stereo line/headphone output offers increased drive for headphones. GuitarJack features Lo-Z and Hi-Z modes, 60 dB of continuous level control, a 12 dB pad for 72 dB of adjustment, a 24-bit AD/DA converter, and the highest quality sound when compared to alternative accessories.

To celebrate, StudioTrack and FourTrack are half off for a limited time. Save $9.99 on StudioTrack (was $19.99) and save $4.99 on FourTrack (was $9.99).

Moving Tabletop Devices between iPads

UPDATE: There is *one* important exception to the information I posted a few minutes ago, which is as follows: There were a few users who had devices added to their account by customer support after the first Tabletop update was released. For these users and these devices only, you'll need to repeat the original process you went through to unlock these devices. Don't try to do the "re-buy" thing described below or you will actually be charged for them. Sorry for any confusion!

Original Blog Post:

Oh hey... Did we hear something about a new iPad coming out today? Is that like... a pretty big deal? Haha, but seriously folks... we've been getting quite a few emails and tweets in the past few hours that are all asking the same question... "How can I get all the Tabletop devices I've purchased onto my shiny, new iPad?" So, rather than cutting & pasting the same reply into a dozen different emails, we decided to post this blog! (and then cut and paste the link into a dozen different emails...)

So, to move your devices to a new iPad, you have 2 options. You can either...

1. Use the "Back Up" option on your old iPad (in the desktop iTunes app on Mac or PC) and then...

2. Use the "Restore from Backup" option on your new iPad.

Doing this will move *everything* from one iPad to the next, including all your apps, music, video, and (most importantly!) in-app purchases! Of course, you may not want to move *everything* from one iPad to the next, so there is another way.

First, make note of which devices you've purchased on the old iPad. Then, after installing Tabletop and signing in with the same iTunes account on your new iPad, simply go back and "re-buy" each device you already own. I know this seems a bit counter-intuitive and I'm not sure why they chose to make the in-app purchase process work this way, but here are some screenshots I took on my own iPad just to show you how it works.

 So first you click on the big green "Buy Now" button in Tabletop...

Then, even though you already own this device, it asks if you want to purchase it again...

You even have to log into your account again, just like with a real purchase...

But then... Surprise! Now they check to see if you already made this purchase before, and since you did (you signed in with the same iTunes account, right?!) it happily completes the transaction without charging you again!

Anyway, hope this is helpful, and we apologize that there's not an easier way to do this, especially for those of you who have purchased lots of devices! We're working on some ways to simplify all this in a future release of Tabletop & hopefully we'll have that ready before any more new iPad models are released... As always, if you have any other questions about Tabletop that aren't answered here, please email us at support@retronyms.com and we'll respond as quickly as we can. Thanks & enjoy those new iPads!

SXSW Announcement: MPC in Tabletop!

We're really excited about this one! As you may know, we're working with Akai Pro on the official MPC App for iPad. And now we can announce that the MPC will be available as a device inside Tabletop!

The MPC on iPad is going to be a blast with classic MPC beat making features, sweet effects, and a killer sampling workflow, and now you'll be able to work this legendary device into your Tabletop sessions!

Possibly the best part is how it works: owners of the stand alone MPC app will automatically unlock the MPC device in Tabletop for free — no need to purchase it twice!

SXSW Announcement: New Features Coming Soon to Tabletop

Long-time users of Tabletop know that with each new release of Tabletop, we've been working not only to make new devices and effects available for in-app purchase, but also to include lots of new content and functionality free of charge to all users who install the new version.

Past updates have added the ability to post songs effortlessly to SoundCloud, support for swing and expanded tempo range, 3-band equalization and *lots* of new samples & presets for the M8RX, Gridlok and other included devices. Today we're excited to tell you about a few more new features that will be appearing on a Tabletop near you very soon!

• Auto-routing - Drop a device on the table, and you're good to go!


• Improved gestures - Swipe easily between devices


• New iPad - Retina display support!

But of course a new Tabletop release wouldn't be complete without a couple new devices and effects, and we've got a couple of really cool ones planned for the next few updates as well. Over the next two days on the Retroblog we'll be going into more detail on some of these new devices, so be sure to check back every day, and follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or subscribe to our email newsletter to make sure you're the first to know about all the latest Retro-news!

Retronyms 2012 - Full Speed Ahead!

We know the blog's been quiet for the past few days, but it's not for lack of things going on here at Retronyms HQ! After making the return trip from last week's Debacle 2012 in Santa Cruz, we've been plunged directly into preparations for the upcoming South by Southwest festival this coming weekend in Austin. Even though it's been a hectic week we're actually really glad that SXSW is coming up so soon because it means we'll get to share some of the "super-sekret" projects that we stayed up all night working on at the Debacle with you very soon!

To make sure you're up to date on the big announcements, just head over to our brand-new SXSW page and check back each day as we reveal more of the exciting stuff we'll be working on this year. Some of it will be stuff you might be expecting, and the rest... well, you'll just have to wait and see. One thing we can tell you right now is that we weren't waiting for Apple's presentation this morning before we started creating "Retina" versions of all the Tabletop devices, so if you haven't put in your pre-order for "the new iPad" yet, don't hold off on our account... =)

As always, if you want to stay on top of *all* the latest Retronyms news, make sure that you've subscribed to our email newsletter, followed us on Twitter and liked us on Facebook.

Something Wicked This Way Comes...To Tabletop

Some wicked cool new features are coming to Tabletop November 15!  What you ask?  Oh, we can't say.  But we can tell you to be excited.  Very excited.

All right, maybe just a hint.  Sounds and sharing.

Sounds!  What kinds of sounds!?!
No, that's all you're getting.

Sharing!  How!?!
Seriously, stop.  No more clues.  You gotta wait 'til Tuesday for the rest.  But get your songs ready...

Synth 2.21 in the App Store

The latest Synth update was just released - no new features - but the Skins Pack is now free!  It was previously $4.99 and comes with four additional skins and 20 new sounds, so hurry up and nab it.  (Pics after the jump).

Read more »

Tabletop in the LA Times

The LA Times has a great piece on Tabletop that includes a video interview with Salva.  Be sure to check it out!

Thank You Tabletop Users!

Hello everyone, just wanted to send a quick shout out to let you know how much we appreciate you all!  We were number 3 in the iPad Music category yesterday, and we couldn't have done it without you!  We've been getting tons of feedback throughout today and yesterday - please keep it coming.  We are listening to everything you have to say and taking everything under consideration as we decide where to take Tabletop as the app grows.  We love feedback, so send us an email, post a comment below, or join us on Facebook. If you love Tabletop, tell a friend and/or share your praise in an App Store review.

Our goal is to make this the most awesome iPad production environment that anyone and everyone can use.  Thanks again, and we'll keep you posted on what we have planned for the upcoming months!

iPad 2 Announced Today

As expected, today's Apple announcement revealed the iPad 2.  The new device will be released in the United States next Friday, March 11 and will be available internationally a couple weeks later on March 25.

New features include front and rear-facing cameras with HD video recording, slimmer size (thinner than the iPhone 4), A5 chip (making it run twice as fast while retaining the 10hr battery life), gyroscope, and the option of black or white.  3G models will run on both AT&T and Verizon's networks, with the same price point of $499 for the 16GB wifi-only iPad.  There's a couple new accessories as well: an HDMI output cable and a smart cover that wakes up the iPad or puts it to sleep when you open or close it.

Complementing the release of the iPad 2 is the release of iOS 4.3, also set to come out 3.11.  It'll have better Safari performance, AirPlay improvements, and the option to make an iPhone 4 a personal hotspot.  Of particular interest to iPad owners will be the availability of two very useful Mac apps - iMovie and GarageBand, both of which you can get for $4.99.  Oh, and PhotoBooth will be another new app addition.  Random House has also partnered with Apple to bring some 17,000 new ebooks to the store.

That pretty much wraps up the news, details can be found all over the internets, and here are the CNET, Engadget, and Guardian articles to start you off.

iPads as performance tools

The iPad opens up fantastic opportunities for music creation and performance. We recently checked out Low End Theory's San Francisco debut. It was a great time, and I was stoked to see many of the artists and DJ's using iPads in their sets. Everything from triggering loops and beats, to controlling filters and other effects. The iPad was an extremely versitile tool in this setting and fit in perfectly with the turntables, laptops, and controllers setting on the table.

Here's a video from the event - iPad featured at 0:44 and 1:42

StudioTrack One of Engadget's Best iPad Apps!

In Engadget's app recommendations for proud new iPad owners, StudioTrack makes the cut for the Music category!

Gorillaz Used Synth in Their New Release the Fall!

OMG, I almost just peed my pants.  The Gorillaz' new album The Fall was created more or less with an iPad, and our app Synth was one of the apps used to make it!  The Gorillaz are one of those bands who've gotten better with every release, and Plastic Beach was one of those albums that got put on repeat as soon as I got it. 

Been listening to The Fall today, and it's pretty freaking great.  I like that the influence of the cities is evident in the songs' compositions.  For a month's work of work - on tour no less - well done guys.  And I can't even begin to say how psyched I am that one of our apps was used in the project!  [continue the squeals of girlish delight]

Go to the site to listen to the album now, and the download is available for fan club members, with the official release coming in 2011.  Love to see such a big name band using the iPad to make their music!

Retronyms Interview in SF Weekly!

SF Weekly has a great interview with one of our co-founders out today!  If you've ever wondered about the origins of Retronyms or our products, take a minute to check out the article.

ReBirth for iPad in the App Store!

That's right, ReBirth, everyone's favorite desktop synth that we helped port to iPhone last spring, is now available for iPad!  It's still the same app you know and love, with the added bonuses of sharing your music via Facebook and Twitter, not to mention the delight and ease of using ReBirth on the iPad's larger screen.  But check out this video, it does a great job of explaining everything in detail:



So if you've got an iPad and love makin' beats, be sure to pick up ReBirth!

Synth 2.1 in the App Store

Main feature of this update - metronome!

New Product Videos!

Here are the videos for Synth and Studio Track for your viewing pleasure.

Synth - Our New App for the iPad

Ah yes, the iPad buzz is already underway in anticipation of tomorrow's launch. Apple's even made iPad apps available in the App Store.

We're pretty excited about the launch too, not just because we get a new toy to play with, but because we've got a new app for the iPad - Synth!

Anyone remember the Casio SK-1? Well if you do, Synth should ring a bell. It's a keyboard-based synthesizer with a sampler and 40 built-in instruments.

It's also got 5-note polyphony, an independent mod wheel to control the sound parameters for each instrument, and delay and distortion controls. Great for anyone with any level of skill, and for an introductory price of $0.99, what's not to love?