First Look: BtBx
Here's BtBx, for the iPhone and iPod touch. I think you pronounce it "beatbox". And it's lovely.
There's so much potential for music apps on the iPhone and I'm one of the people who's very keen to try them out. BeatMaker is top of the tree in the App Store right now, but there's a lot about BtBx that appeals to me.
The interface is cartoon-like, but I like it that way. It works and it doesn't crash, and those things matter more to me than aesthetics. The controls might be a bit confusing to anyone who's never used a sequencer before, but there's a brief user manual built-in. The app was built by the same team that created Rhythm for the PSP.
BtBx is cheap and it's simple, and simple is always good in my opinion. Right now there's no way to import custom samples (but that's on the way), nor can you save your patterns or export them elsewhere -- BtBx's greatest drawback at this time. For many people, that will disqualify it immediately.
But: the limitations and drawbacks haven't stopped me playing with it, messing with the patterns to build something interesting, and that's what I like most. The simplicity encourages creativity.
BtBx is a $3.99 download from the App Store.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Louie said 4:14PM on 8-13-2008
Just a quick update, BtBx will be getting a new graphics update and have the ability to copy/paste patterns, delete patterns and erase specific sounds in a pattern in the next release.
-Louie
Reply
Jeremy said 4:14PM on 8-13-2008
I don't know why developers don't spend even a few moments to try and think about the aesthetics of their programs.
Whatever else this app is, it's (needlessly) ugly. What's the point of that? Same app, but with a nicely designed interface would sell either as well or better.
I find it hard to look beyond the jarring visuals and horrible name, and I know I am not alone in that regard. BTW - There are actually *rules* to English pronunciation and "BtBx" is pronounced "bitbix" if it's pronounceable at all. A horrible silly name that again, just makes one *not* want to investigate the program itself.
Whatever sales this program has, could have easily been doubled by making the UI at least passably attractive, and giving it a non-silly, non-"street" name.
Reply
Dave said 9:27AM on 8-14-2008
Jeremy I agree with you that there is nothing worse than an ugly app. That said, I like the way this app looks. It's got a cheesy 80s boombox vibe going on, which is quite funky. I'm guessing this is what the developer intended, and it works.
Dev, if youre reading, please at least provide an option to keep the visuals old skool. Maybe not by default, but in the prefs.
Thanks!
DJ
Bad Mojo said 4:40PM on 8-13-2008
I'm desperately looking for something like this with support for Garageband importing... how cool would that be?
I'm bummed with some of the limitations in the MooCow Music apps which has kept me from springing for them.
here's hoping for that day of Nirvana :)
Reply
Yorgle said 5:03PM on 8-13-2008
Purchased and love it. I like the cartoony look of it. Perhaps it makes it feel less professional, but for $4 who really cares?
It's actually pretty easy to work with once you understand the modal editing.
Reply
JonesH said 6:02PM on 8-13-2008
This is nice!
However, what I'm really looking forward to is an "Logic iPhone" or somesuch where we can use loops, program beats and such, and most importantly record and edit from the mic. Then, with a little "import from the iPod library"-support, we'd have the worlds greatest portable radio/podcast production gizmo :)
Reply
effzehn said 6:30PM on 8-13-2008
Try Beatmaker if you're up to something sophisticated. IR-909 is a replica rhythm generator as well, but it looks much more 2000s.
Reply
Meatleg said 7:13PM on 8-13-2008
BeatMaker is the most amazing music program available for the iPhone. Stable, versatile, export/import/download your own libraries.
$20 and worth every penny.
http://www.intua.net/
a 4.5 star rating in iTunes with nearly three hundred reviews.
iTunes link here:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=285512415&mt=8
I doubt this BtBx program can even hope to match it anytime soon...
Reply
jbud said 7:20PM on 8-13-2008
I think beatmaker has most of what this lacks and it is very professional looking/sounding and I am sure they will add some kind of synth eventually.
Reply
Chase said 7:50PM on 8-13-2008
Why buy a beatboxing program when you can learn to do the real thing for free from Youtube?
Reply
brian said 10:35PM on 8-13-2008
I'm still looking for a good (and cheap!) desktop app to replace Propellerhead's ReBirth.
Reply
Ben Margolin said 10:01PM on 8-14-2008
This app is totally worth $4, and the UI, while cheesy, seems intentionally so and is perfectly usable. I have already gotten my $4 worth out of it playing with it on the ride home. Very easy to use if you've ever programmed an old-school drum machine. I am totally digging it!! (This is the most expensive app I've bought so far for my iPhone, even...)
Reply
Tosui said 1:45AM on 8-16-2008
I was skeptical about buying this app, since I already have BeatMaker. But I've used it now for a few hours (not being able to put it down) and I can say for sure that it is well worth the measly $4! Yes, it's not BeatMaker, but it's also a fifth of the price and truthfully, it's a lot more fun to pick up and flex your musical muscles with. Oh, and I'm completely sold on the ugly interface, having seen it in action. I'm now dreading the new skin - Louis & Billy, please allow users the choice of new or old!
Reply