The Droneatron
Free AppAbout The Droneatron
The Droneatron does what it says on the tin - plays drones so performers of drone-based music have something easy to hand to play alongside. Mix environmental sounds, bass sounds, and high sounds in a shifting pattern of droneyness. Give your device a shake and get a jangle. When in a live performance, three record slots are available for you to sample and loop what's coming in through the microphone input (special splitter cable recommended).
This is the simple first early release to get the product out there for demonstration purposes - future planned updates include more sounds, more fundamentals (a C drone is only included in this release), user-access to their own sounds, sampling / recording capability, and it being made so something happens when the user waves the device around.
This is app one of a planned series of apps experimenting with the changing relationships between composers, performers, and listeners.
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Known issues
If a drone is playing set to loop and you exit the app, returning to the app doesn't let you subsequently stop a looping sound, so the only way then to stop it is to kill the task. Sorry - the next release of the app will hopefully resolve this.
The recording quality is not brilliant - more investigation is needed to ascertain whether that's handset-related or a drawback in the MIT AppInventor framework.
If you try to load a non-audio file into a slot, there's no error-trapping to stop you.
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About the permissions
The Droneatron is made using the MIT AppInventor framework; because of this, the app requires some permissions you might consider to be a bit odd:
Your location - not used in this version (beyond the sensor information at the bottom), but will be used by other apps in the series.
Storage - not used in this version, but future versions of this app will allow access to user sounds.
Network communication - not used in this version, and no plans to use for this app.
Phone calls - not used in this version, and no plans to use for this or any other app in the series.
Record audio - used to record incoming audio live for extra looping sounds
This is the simple first early release to get the product out there for demonstration purposes - future planned updates include more sounds, more fundamentals (a C drone is only included in this release), user-access to their own sounds, sampling / recording capability, and it being made so something happens when the user waves the device around.
This is app one of a planned series of apps experimenting with the changing relationships between composers, performers, and listeners.
--------------------
Known issues
If a drone is playing set to loop and you exit the app, returning to the app doesn't let you subsequently stop a looping sound, so the only way then to stop it is to kill the task. Sorry - the next release of the app will hopefully resolve this.
The recording quality is not brilliant - more investigation is needed to ascertain whether that's handset-related or a drawback in the MIT AppInventor framework.
If you try to load a non-audio file into a slot, there's no error-trapping to stop you.
--------------------
About the permissions
The Droneatron is made using the MIT AppInventor framework; because of this, the app requires some permissions you might consider to be a bit odd:
Your location - not used in this version (beyond the sensor information at the bottom), but will be used by other apps in the series.
Storage - not used in this version, but future versions of this app will allow access to user sounds.
Network communication - not used in this version, and no plans to use for this app.
Phone calls - not used in this version, and no plans to use for this or any other app in the series.
Record audio - used to record incoming audio live for extra looping sounds
All Application Badges
Free
downl.
downl.
Android
1.5+
1.5+
Bug
buster
buster
Android app
App History & Updates
What's Changed
v2.0 More sounds, user interface changes, and the ability to load user sounds into slots.
Planned for v2.1 - More recording slots, improved landscape orientation behaviour, and links to download sound expansion packs.
Planned for v2.2 - The ability to save settings / sound patches and reload later.
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v1.2 Recording ability added - in live use only (though recorded files are stored on the device)
v2.0 More sounds, user interface changes, and the ability to load user sounds into slots.
Planned for v2.1 - More recording slots, improved landscape orientation behaviour, and links to download sound expansion packs.
Planned for v2.2 - The ability to save settings / sound patches and reload later.
------------------------------------
v1.2 Recording ability added - in live use only (though recorded files are stored on the device)
More downloads The Droneatron reached 1 000 - 5 000 downloads
More downloads The Droneatron reached 500 - 1 000 downloads
More downloads The Droneatron reached 100 - 500 downloads
What are users saying about The Droneatron
S
by S####:
by S####:
If this were completed, it could be perfect for me. I just need nice-sounding bass drones, and the ability to choose the note. What it has is pretty good loops that do just a little too much (like high notes coming in suddenly), and you can't change the key. Plus if you move your phone, you'll get some weird sounds which could be very embarrassing in a live performance. So, it's a toy that could be developed into a really nice simple solution for live performers who need to be able to easily generate drones. I could use that--now! And then you'd get 5 stars from me! :)
M
by M####:
by M####:
Crackin sounds. Just wondering when the key will be changeable? Needing a G drone for an upcoming gig!
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
Compared to the last version I used, this new version is excellent. I'm happy to see the new features, and how customizable it is. I love the number of prerecorded sounds and the amount of usable slots. The app is all that I need and more.
V
by V####:
by V####:
Very good
M
by M####:
by M####:
Nice little sample app. As a drone sound/music lover, this is right up my alley. But needs way more sound samples for me to get really excited. But I'll wait the wait.
N
by N####:
by N####:
Exceeded Expectations. Compared to the last version I used, this new version is excellent. I'm happy to see the new features, and how customizable it is. I love the number of prerecorded sounds and the amount of usable slots. The app is all that I need and more.
N
by N####:
by N####:
Does what it says Nice little sample app. As a drone sound/music lover, this is right up my alley. But needs way more sound samples for me to get really excited. But I'll wait the wait.
N
by N####:
by N####:
More keys? Crackin sounds. Just wondering when the key will be changeable? Needing a G drone for an upcoming gig!
by R####:
If this were completed, it could be perfect for me. I just need nice-sounding bass drones, and the ability to choose the note. What it has is pretty good loops that do just a little too much (like high notes coming in suddenly), and you can't change the key. Plus if you move your phone, you'll get some weird sounds which could be very embarrassing in a live performance. So, it's a toy that could be developed into a really nice simple solution for live performers who need to be able to easily generate drones. I could use that--now! And then you'd get 5 stars from me! :)