Acccelerando: Making Music on the Android (Like an Android)

Price: $1.95
Rating:
Acccelerando: Written iPhone App Review

Now, we’ve been using Android for a long time (more or less since it hit the scene) and we cannot begin to tell you how much we enjoy the platform. Still, we do wish there were a few more apps that were just . . . well, interesting. With that in mind, we’re just chuffed to bits to be bringing you a full review of Acccelerando, an engaging new way to create soundscapes from your Android device using spreading, pinching, and a little bit of ingenuity. It’s great fun, and for the price, it’s a pretty phenomenal bargain, too. For our full review, you need only to slide on down below the break!

Concept and Functionality

Acccelerando for Android

Any app that we define as “interesting” is going to come with a difficult concept, so we’re going to do our best now to describe the process of creating music with Acccelerando to you. Essentially, the entire process centers around the concept of nodes. Each node you create is designed to act as a single instrument, and spit out orbs at a given rate. You can define this rate (which is based on the set tempo, as well as the beat you set it to) that way the sound is your own. These orbs spin out at the given trajectory (also defined by you using some handy spreading) until they hit another like-colored bubble. When this happens, they heat up, burst and create a sound. It’s a cool idea, and if that sounds too simple, don’t you worry: There’s bucket loads of complexity here.

Just about every inch of the app can be customized by you, and there are also neat additions under the surface. You’ll get a sound-boosting synthesizer, as well as percussion and adjustable chord progressions. Add in a recorder, and you’ve got yourself one solid concept at work!

Design and Graphics

Strictly speaking, no Acccelerando is not a game. Then again, with how good it looks, it could have fooled us. The app positively glistens and sparkles with energy, and the longer your song goes on, it only gets more so. Furthermore, the app’s interface is pretty cleverly designed, too. It was easy for us to edit the scenes to our liking, and of course the playback itself is a cinch. All in all, this is a stunningly well designed application, and if you’re not mesmerized by your own explorations, you’re doing something wrong.

Overall Value

At the end of the day, you’ll get as much out of Acccelerando as you put in. It’s a fantastic idea that’s a lot of fun to play around with, and the more you play with it, the more rewarding you’ll find it. With that in mind, just shy of two dollars is hardly a lot to ask for Acccelerando. If you’re interest has been piqued, spend that half a Starbucks latte and give it a go: You won’t be disappointed.

Android Apps Review Details: Acccelerando is FREE. This app requires Android 4.0+ and up. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.