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Reed Ghazala; Curtis app by The Strange Agency

iPad Music Desk

Turn an iPad into a studio-worthy, deep-end experimental musical instrument.

By Reed Ghazala

WHILE I’M BEST KNOWN FOR CHANCE-based “circuit bending,” I’ve been composing and playing deterministic music for much longer, and I’m always interested in experimental music technology. My hacked iPad 2, broken out into a Music Desk crammed with extreme audio apps, is my favorite new instrument.

On its own, the iPad sounds fine and its large touchscreen is a fantastic musician’s interface. But for studio use, the iPad is too lightweight; it needs added stability, better ergonomics, and a more ...

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