One of the featured apps in Apple’s iPhone 3.0 release announcement this past March was Smule’s Leaf Trombone, their second music app (see my review of Ocarina in the Spring 2009 issue of iPhone Life) that leverages both the iPhone’s touch screen and “peer to peer” capabilities of the iPhone. It’s very cool. . .
The interface for playing is simple and straightforward. There’s a “slide” in the shape of a leaf that’s very responsive and fully chromatic with two arrow buttons for transposing up or down in octaves. To help achieve pitch accuracy, diatonic pitches are marked and animate when the slide is directly aligned. You can either blow into the iPhone’s microphone (or I assume with an add-on mic for the iPod Touch) or set to play on touch alone. There are settings for the key and sensitivity too.
Again Smule goes beyond simply playing a cool instrument by leveraging two social networking capabilities of the iPhone, playing duets by pairing two phones in close proximity of each other and their World Stage which allows you to play either the role of performer or judge. As I understand it, to be a performer requires spending “leaves” that you earn by judging others. This seems like an equitable way to fill the need for judges and give performers opportunities to play for others.
Smule
Marc,
I'm smitten with Smule too, the marriage of music created with your iPhone and social networking is a powerful way of interacting with others indeed. One of the most exciting things I can think of is the growth of digital works in the humanities, and the Leaf Trombone is an excellent example.
What I'm curious about, is whether outstanding works performed are at all being saved or discussed in music forums, or whether the work created is flying below the radar of much of the music world?
Smule
Good question John. My guess is that we're still flying under the radar when it comes to alternate music making devices and the general public.