Satelite Plugins mixedinkey

 mixedinkey.com/satellite

This amazing plug-in allows direct collaboration in projects across many popular DAW's - ideal for working across our student's many different patterns and collaborating remotely. 

Say if you are working in Logic and want to collaborate with someone using Ableton - rather than constantly sending stems, you can both load up the plugin and then collaborate: it seems like magic and we can't wait to try it out. Also, it seems to be free?!

Thanks to Oskar for noticing this :)

Camo

Use any iPhone as a 1080 WEBCAM

 As an alternative to the wireless iRuin, Reincubate Camo uses any old iPhone in a wired way (not wireless) and has a host of image options. 

Compatible with many platforms for meetings and streaming. There are additional paid features like removing the (small unobtrusive) watermark from the screen.

Linn Drum 1 emulation: EGLM1

So if you have been watching Haim doing lockdown performances or want to sound like Prince - you will be interested in this. Doesn't display very well and only gets the all important volume sliders on the iPad version (unless you have a huge phone - I don't know- terrable on my 5SE - doesn't even display properly on that at all!) Irritatig that it uses Korg Whist (does anything use that?) to sync rather than good old Ableton Link. I'm not convinced by the sounds, doesn't seem to have the sound I'm looking for, although when out through a big reverb and saturated compression in Logic it seemed a lot closer. MAybe I was after an LM2 instead of the Price Lm1? Faders might be large enough to tweak on a live performance (like Danielle Haim) but could easily miss that snare. Overall, I'm a bit underwhelmed for the £4.99 price tag, Meh. but if you find a better LM2 emulator out there please let me know! I tried the EG808 version and it is ok but there is a lot more choice out there for that one - see the audiokit version below.

Looper by Audio Kit INSPIRED BY RC505

Very affordable (£2.99) by the great developer Audiokit who brought us Synth One. Ableton link enables synchrnisation with other devices and apps. Sound quality seems good, very easy to use and quite flexible. A good selction of effects and 16 channels of looping. Easy to share and mix down. Good for live work. An external mic for your iPhone would be an advantage, try it with headphones nd the results re not bad with the built in mic Aims to bring the functionality of the RC505 to a £2.99 app (normally £19.99)

FLIP sample based DAW for iOS

Affordable and insanely featured Sample based DAW for iOS by Andrew Huang. Has Ableton Link. Has some great performance features. Would be great for EDM and beatmaking, live Tech based performance with Ableton Link devices. Might be useful for basic Sound design possibly. Also Stings etc.

Soundtrap

From Spotify, an online garageband like tool that allows for collaboration on tracks and creation of classes and tutorial tools in one package. Easy to use with decent effects and good basic sounds - press tweak and you can get under the hood of the synthesis. Works with midi controllers, piano rolls, seems to do everything a DAW should whilst being able to collab in real time. £199 a year for an educatonal licence for 50 students. Bit pricy but could be a great tool for those students without access to a DAW at home. Vimeo tutorial

AudioKit AR909

Ok, So Audio kit have just done this new Roland 909 emulation - Looks better than the 808 below and cheaper at £2.99!!

Audiokit synth 1

AMAZING SYNTH for iOS- totally free - look no further!!

Korg Gadget

You can get a free LE version of this that is limited but good to get started with. It has great vintage sounds but the LE version is a bit limited. really good for those of you that like to program in the piano roll style...

Recording with iOS

JamKazam

Jamkazam is great if you spend time with it and you have fibre, ethernet and a good system. Can be a useful tool but you need to get all your collaborators to the same tech level. There is a real BETA feel to it and they have just started charging... the service can be patchy between updates but it is a new thing that hopefully will get better.

iKaosilator and Ableton Link

EGDR808 Drum machine emuation

This drum machine emulation for iOS sounds authentic and is easy to use. The price is ok too at £4.99 Bit fiddly for fat fingers on a small phone but can use it, better on an iPad. Supports ableton link there is a dmeo trial before you buy

AUM iOS audio Mixer: http://kymatica.com/apps/aum

http://kymatica.com/apps/aum This app although pricy (£19.99) looks to be the answer for creating a complete DAW on your iOS device - it chains together and mixes sound form multiple music apps and connects them to sync with many DAWs such as Ableton. You can also mix and export your sound form all the apps together on the single device -looks like a must for the serious music maker looking to make mobile music.

OBS for education?

OBS is free and easy to use. We were able to attach 4 cameras (HDMI capture, Web cams and iRuin) to my laptop and live stream a performance live to YouTube with instant camera angle changes and splash screens – great for virtual open evenings, performances and dynamic lectures. However: Getting good sound on OBS took a little learning and skilling up. Need to remember that anyone can be watching – although the URL can be hidden and shared only with paying audiences and those signed up to watch it for example. Need to monitor live comments….

Why use Blogger in education?

Blogger works with Gmail account – most students have a Chrome sign in and it works as part of that. We found that we can post some script form Facebook videos and embed YouTube videos to it. Students finding it very good for formative and cumulative portfolio work. Should produce something that could be shown to an employer or HE – learning professional online presentation skills Can be a career route, professional Bloggers can attract sponsorship. DRAWBACKS: Students sometimes share the pre-post page link (which can’t be viewed by anyone else) rather than sharing the blog URL In theory, anyone can search and find their Blogs; students need to practice online etiquette, e-safety (personal details) and professional presentation – HE looking at poor grammar and spelling for example: good lesson to learn though.

iRuin

iRuin phone as webcam. Appears as an alternative cam that can be switched in Zoom/OBS – good for an alternative view close/up although you can link an iphone in the screen sharing facility anyway…. iRuin works fairly well on Strode_business – not sure about BYOD. It can drop out and can be a little delayed through the WiFi or it can be excellent – depends upon the bandwidth and traffic I suppose. Perhaps good as part of a set of tools.

Scannable – scanning documents as part of your lesson

We use lots of bits of paper when researching or revising topics – they can be instantly scanned, text recognised and indexed into virtual notebooks to assist with revision, to collect evidence or to check learning.

Instructions: Students may be set an activity to remember key points to revise and write them on a post-it note, to select three relevant passages from a pile of magazines or books, flip charts or any quick scribbling starter you may wish to do!

To collect and review/revise the information at a later date – scan the information into phones and mobile devices. Rather than using just the camera and losing the info alongside a load of selfies or not being able to read it – use scanning apps such as Scannable. This can then be forwarded to any cloud storage or email you wish. If the student, or you, have a free Evernote account – it can be quickly tagged and sorted into the relevant notebook for the subject.

Tips: practice with Scannable and keep it updated – it works better on some updates, be patient with it. Read the instructions the first time you use it and let it walk you through the features. Use good lighting and place on a contracting background – clear desks or popping on the carpet works well. If it doesn’t automatically scan (sense the edges of the document) you can manually snap it. Let it work to auto adjust the contrast then upload/share it. When it is synchronised with Evernote – the handwriting will be recognised and searchable.

See the App café blog for more ideas or to contribute your own findings!

Opportunities for use: to collect starters, to collect research items (see REFME app for instant citations and referencing!) to store and sort class notes, good for the range of personal organisation issues that revolve around dyslexia.

Resources needed: Smart-Phone or tablet, Post-it notes, scrap paper, flip charts pens etc.

Apps For Assessment; Dance & Drama; Research by Becky Harvey

Teaching and Learning

Innovation Fund 14-15 by Becky Harvey

Aims of Project

•       To develop students technical and performance skills by giving instant visual feedback in class

•       To develop students critical analysis skills through self and peer evaluation

•       Summary of Project

•       Use video camera to film technical exercises and exam work for visual feedback by myself or self/peer evaluation

•       Record students creative/choreographic work

-          This ensured no ideas/movement was forgotten in between rehearsals

-          Any student who missed lessons or rehearsals would be able to catch up at home

The use of the app 'ubersense' was very effective for development of technical & physical skills

Freeze frames of a performance can be highlighted and annotated. 

For example areas of

misalignments are highlighted:

•       Hips

•       Shoulders

•       Arm

The app allows the viewer to slow down the recording, which is great for detailed analysis of technique

The app enables you to be able compare exercises and performances.

Students are able to instantly assess themselves in terms of

-          Timing

-          Spacing

-          Shapes made

-          Technical aspects e.g. Flat back exercise

They can compare two of their own performances to assess development of skills or performance over time

-          I can record a voiceover to draw students attention to different aspects of  their technique.

Use of the iPad video camera:

Used to develop choreographic skills particularly in the second year:

•       Students could perform their group work in different ways e.g. Different formations and then watch the two back to assess which one works best aesthetically or translating their dance idea.

•       Record work to analyse at home

•       Record work to be able to effectively plan their next rehearsals for their dancers

Benefits and Outcomes

iPad became an integral part of the course this year

•       Students became more reflective dancers

•       Aspects of technique improved

•       Saved time in choreography lessons

•       Students were able to keep up to date

•       Record of progress

Future Developments

•       Upload videos into clickview and moodle for student access

•       Use of video camera to record evidence for BTEC Performing Arts – video log

•       Develop use of iPad for theoretical elements of the course – revision tools ('flash cards++' & 'ideas flip')

Presentations

Suggested by Helen Kelsey

Explain Everything App,
We have been using iPads as an alternative to interactive whiteboards. This app has a lot of features to rival most interactive whiteboards and to learn in an interactive way.

It seems to have a few advantages over Evernote presentations and Skitch, depending on your preferred method of working.

Padlet is also very useful when used in this way.
When using an iPad in this way, you can connect using a VGA or HDMI adapter, but this is awkward. Apple TV works well for wireless projection and allows you to be truly mobile around the classroom. Amazon TV and other WiFi connectors may also work, but can be tricky in terms of setting up with WiFi systems in large educational establishments. The Apple Configurator program is essential here to access the extended security functions of the Apple TV.

Presentation tools such as Slide shark are useful, as is PREZI - but you need really good stable WiFi for Prezi!

Multiple screens at once are supported by Air Server, but we have yet to try it - has anyone out there used it as Helen Kelsey has?.