Leave a Review Demo | Songwriting Studio
Cool, but needs more for advanced song writing
The concept of this app is really cool, as it basically allows you to chunk out and write a piece without the need to pick up your instrument. I treat it as an upgraded notes app for my songwriting, where I can record my basic chord progressions and lyrics quick to then have for later when I record. That being said, the app is very limited, and things like key changes are hard because rather than being able to modulate, you have to enter in the individual chords in that key and do it all manually, which really gets in the way and just slows me down. Another thing is that there are only 2 available time signatures, 3/4 and 4/4. As someone who writes a lot in 6/8, this makes it somewhat tricky as I essentially have to write something in 6/8 around a 3/4 grid in this app. Not the biggest deal in the world, but to not include at least the most basic fundamentals when it comes to theory is disappointing. While these may not be an issue for basic songwriters, this is a real pain for us trying to write more complex music, and I think because of that the app will suffer as it isn’t as well rounded if a tool for people into more advanced song writing. Overall, I hope the devs keep adding more features and are able to make this the ultimate companion app for musicians. Keep it up guys!Show lesszoinksitsshaggy
Developer Response
On your first point, you can simplify this by enabling key changes is a setting in the 'Chords' section (gear icon, top right). It gives you the option to set a key or tempo for each progression, so you aren't having to manually add chords. On your second point, we've recently added custom time signatures, where you can do everything from 2:4 to 7:8. We also just added Custom Rhythm in v3.0. You find it in Chords > Rhythm > Custom or by tapping the edit pencil on any preset. Hopefully this gives you all the flexibility you need! If you need anything else, please reach out at hello@acolorstory.com. Thanks for trying the app!Lifetime subscription is a must. Too bad it’s not an option.
Amazing app. I’ll never buy subscriptions for stuff like this though. Give me a beefy lifetime cost if you need to, like real recording software and I’ll do that. But I’m not giving you guys 40$/year to have access to this. Nowhere near enough exists in this little app that justifies a subscription. All of the drums sound like bad keyboard synth, as does the actual keyboard. It’s a great tool, but you need to know way more about sounds you want to extrapolate the song you make on this app to something worthwhile. If it had more options for instruments and rhythms you could write out, it might be worth the asking price. Currently though, the price being asked is laughable for the service there is.Show lessVampirefirexXx
Very fun even for a novice
I downloaded this app purely for fun with no professional songwriting knowledge and made a song I’m really proud of. You can choose chords and manipulate notes and tempo. I enjoyed all the sounds you could use in the free mode. The lyrics page is so helpful, I liked being able to isolate parts on repeat and easily move the song parts around.
The problems I had were that the app would crash if I tried to record after I had all my song parts together which was sad cuz I got premium so I could layer voices:(
More freedom with the instruments, like maybe some drum/guitar kits so that a particular beat or strum pattern could be achieved.
Also it would be nice to record some voice before/after the music track has finished and fade in/out because it abruptly cuts off at the end of the track.
But overall a really nice app!Show lessLil' Lottie~100
Nice app!
Easy to choose different chords and make different vibes with them. If you dont like an accord in a chord, you can easy change it. The vocal has been choosen easily between your voice or a lyric, so you have many options to make a good track. :)skybehx
Cool app I’m going try
This is a really cool app! I’m going to try it out and let all of my friends and fans know how I like it. This looks like it will be a great tool for impulsive songwriters like my self. I’m not really disciplined in my approach to writing and only work on songs when the mood hits. This may be the right tool for someone like me!Show lessGreat googly boogly
Terrible dubs, minimal functionality
Was hoping this would be a cool, quick way to generate a sound and capture lyrics, but the canned music is terrible, the sound options are only a piano, bass and drums, and there’s little to no control of how they sound. Ok if you’re writing pop music, but otherwise, I see no real use for it. It also overwrites your chord progressions without warning if you accidentally select any of the optional built in samples. Wouldn’t recommend.Show lessJaytsung
Limited
The app asks you to pick from a few styles of music then forces you into a sort of tutorial. However, I didn’t even get to complete the tutorial and it was already asking me to subscribe to a plan. From my little experience, the app itself is extremely limited to basic and boring AF chord progressions. I didn’t see any options to write a riff or compose something that wasn’t pop. There is nothing original here. Nothing is going to beat just grabbing your guitar and writing it out for yourself, that process alone is what makes music, not this pre-made cash grabbing garbage.Show lessToist
Actually useful
The app so far has worked great, the free stuff is a bit limited but it’s great for when you’re working on the go and don’t have an instrument, it gives you great chord progressions and interesting sounds, but if you’re looking for freedom within the instruments sadly I haven’t found that (with the free version) the drum sounds all correlate with the bass and piano, and there isn’t a guitar strumming sound (again with free) however if you’re looking to get lots of chord progressions this works wonderfully and the way it separates verses is also great, keep in mind though the app isn’t 10+ years old, and is made by musicians, so everything I’ve mentioned Im sure will be adjusted, added, fixed or I just haven’t seen yet, over all this app is great and Ima keep my eye on itShow lessEH004
Developer Response
First, thanks for the kind words about the app here! Also, wanted to let you know about our newest 2.0 update, which adds guitar strumming options as well as 'Remix' functionality to rhythms, so you're able to mix and match rhythms by instrument. Please reach out if run into any issues at all at hello@madewithdemo.com. Thanks again!Great songwriting tool
Slightly limited in a couple of ways but it’s so close to being perfect that I’d rather just enjoy what’s there than complain. It’s like having a very basic inexperienced band play whatever song ideas you come up with. They only have a dozen different sounds but it doesn’t matter. Its still awesome. You can arrange complete compositions and record yourself on multiple tracks. There’s also a cool interface for adding lyrics. And it’s just an awesomely stylized design as well. It all adds up to being as organic as you could expect to be on an app.Show lessJeephunk
Good for new songwriters, hard for advanced ones
This is a great app for someone who doesn’t know how to play an instrument but still wants to make songs. However, for someone who’s been writing my own songs for years now, I find that it’s hard to use. It’s hard to edit the chords, or make the verse longer, or really make the kind of song you want without having to pay extra.
I find that it’s easier just to stick with recording myself on the voice memos app playing piano or guitar and using the notes app for writing lyrics, as I’ve been doing for years. Or for on the go when I get song ideas, I record myself playing a tune on a piano app.
This is a good app for someone who’s just starting, and it’s good to get ideas about chord progressions, but what if you want to change the key or put in chords outside of the key signature? I can’t seem to find an option for that. Maybe there is if I pay, I don’t know. So the app is good for beginners, but not for people who are serious about making music.Show lessUltraSonicMC
Developer Response
The presets are for beginners or inspiration, and it sounds like that's mostly what you tried in the app. If you want longer progressions with any standard chord in any voicing in any key, start in Custom, rather than editing a preset. The progressions can be as long as you like. If you're looking for chords outside the key, swipe to 'My Chords' in custom and tap any of the empty chord cells to add any standard chord. Advanced chords (e.g., sus, dim, half dim, etc.) are part of the subscription, which is the only way we monetize the app to compensate the labor that goes into building and updating. But most of our users are on the free version. If you run into any other snags or confusion in the app, please reach out to me in support (hello@madewithwithdemo.com), and I'd love to help any way I can. Thanks for trying the app!
