With smart phones and tablets getting more and more powerful, the quality and performance of the apps developed are getting more and more complex. Although not up to the standards of PC DAWs, some basic audio recording, editing, effects processing and MIDI control can be done right on your average smartphone or tablet.

Apple offer a free copy of GarageBand for iOS with every new device. GarageBand is a great all round DAW application, with options to “Play, mix and record your own songs” including all the other features you’d expect in a desktop DAW, such as effect plugins, note editors and region markers. It offers a large array of instrument presets and loops. 32 tracks with an option of merging, gives you countless sounds and endless possibilities. With the right connectors, you can even plug in an electric guitar and use the device as an amplifier. The newest edition gives great third-party integration, with other apps running seamlessly along side GarageBand.

Once you’ve created your master piece, sharing options allow you to send your song onto FaceBook, SoundCloud, YouTube and with iCloud and a Mac, you can transfer files between devices, without even realising it.

GarageBand iOS