The Voice Band iPhone app ($2.99) was way more fun than I thought it was going to be. The idea behind the app is that you can create an entire song without using any instruments except your voice. And no, the song is not a capella, and there is no catch.
First, you choose from a selection of instruments: microphone, crash and hi-hat cymbals, snare and kick drums, organ, two different kinds of synthesizers, sax, bass and lead guitar, and a third guitar for power chords only. Then you record. The only instrument where you will get back what you give is the mic. Sing into your headset, play it back and it sounds like you singing.
But if you select lead guitar, for example, and then make noises into your headset, those noises will swoosh through an invisible filter and come out sounding like a lead guitar. Amazing! You can go back as many times as you want and add more instruments. You can even layer the same instruments if you wish; I overdubbed my vocals a second — and then even a third time — for a little harmonizing.
Another cool thing about this app is that while in your virtual recording booth, you can make adjustments. There is a metronome there if you want to keep tempo, and you can adjust it to make it go either super fast or slow. You can also change the time signature, adjust the reverb/delay size, drum threshold, and auto pitch tuning.
Mostly, this app is pretty easy to figure out and it’s fun to play with. If you have any questions or are seeking singing guidance, you can check out the very informational “Help” section and also view not one, but two, video tutorials: “Introduction to Voice Band” and “Creating a Song With Voice Band.”
Last piece of advice: play with this app in the privacy of your own home, and make sure you’ve got the place to yourself for the night!
