NanoStudio 2 is a powerful music production environment for synthesis, sampling, arranging, editing and mixing. It’s the successor to the original NanoStudio, an app held in high regard by musicians for many years for its usability, quality and productivity.
NanoStudio 2 builds upon the same design principles as its predecessor and introduces a huge range of extra features. An all-new audio engine delivers truly professional sound quality, highly optimized to handle complex projects with large numbers of instruments and effects.
NanoStudio 2 hosts external Audio Unit (AUv3) instruments and audio/MIDI effects. A library of all your AU instruments and presets is maintained so they’re tagged, searchable and just as accessible as NanoStudio’s own internal instruments.
Obsidian is NanoStudio’s built-in synth. It has 3 oscillators with 32 note polyphony and 7 different synthesis methods including analogue, wavetable, FM, multi-saw and phase distortion. It also supports samples and multisamples which may be split by note or velocity. Obsidian has 18 different filter types, including resonant analogue, super clean digital, formant, comb and waveshaping. Nearly every parameter can be modulated via the synth’s 5 envelopes, 5 LFOs and 10 configurable macro controllers, and modulation connections can be assigned with just a few taps. 300 factory patches are supplied with macros set up and ready to go. It’s easy to create your own patches and there are many more professionally produced patches available as IAP.
Slate is NanoStudio’s second built-in instrument, a sample/synthesis-based performance pad which makes it easy to tap out drum beats. Slate comes with 500 quality factory samples ranging from multisampled acoustic drums with natural variations through to cutting-edge electronic percussion and effects. 50 factory kits are include, and it’s easy to construct your own drum kits using the factory samples or your own. Slate can also be used with samples of just about anything: vocals, guitar riffs, synth pads – you name it.
There are powerful editors for song arrangement, MIDI, automation and samples. All share a consistent user interface so you’ll be up to speed with them and making music in no time.
A fully-featured sequencer supports tempo and time signature tracks (including tempo ramps) and Ableton Link.
Everything’s brought together by a mixer with unlimited tracks, track grouping and audio/MIDI sends. Tracks may have an unlimited number of insert effects with 11 built-in effects to choose from including reverb, sidechain compressor/expander, EQ with spectrum analysis, look-ahead limiter, delay, exciter, chorus, flanger and phaser. You can add AU audio/MIDI effects to the chain and use them just like an internal effect.
There are many mixdown options available with quality settings up to 32 bit/96kHz and support for file formats including wav, aiff, ogg and M4A. You can mixdown track stems in a single operation or select just a region of the song - great for resampling.
NanoStudio supports Audiobus and has many options for file sharing via the iOS Files app, Dropbox, AudioShare, iTunes File Sharing, AirDrop, email, WebDAV and importing music from your iTunes library.
Develop your initial musical ideas through to a final master with an intuitive workflow designed to get things done.
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In-Apps
Acoustic 1
USD 5.99
Acoustic 2
USD 5.99
Industrial 1
USD 4.99
Industrial 2
USD 4.99
Studio Drums
USD 3.99
Dance & Dub 1
USD 4.99
Dance & Dub 2
USD 4.99
HipHop & Trap 1
USD 4.99
HipHop & Trap 2
USD 4.99
Screenshots
NanoStudio 2 FAQ
Is NanoStudio 2 free?
No, NanoStudio 2 is not free (it costs 14.99), and it also contains in-app purchases.
Is NanoStudio 2 legit?
🤔 The NanoStudio 2 app's quality is mixed. Some users are satisfied, while others report issues. Consider reading individual reviews for more context.
Thanks for the vote
How much does NanoStudio 2 cost?
NanoStudio 2 costs 14.99 to download (and they also have additional in-app purchases).
NanoStudio 2 is an all in one music making powerhouse. Its Obsidian synth is so good you don’t really need any other synths inside the app, as you can import a single sample into Obsidian and turn it into something great with relative ease, and that’s on top of the other synthesis methods it offers. Recording or drawing in automation to further add movement and interest to your sound is a snap, because the interface is as good as you will find on iPhone. All in all NanoStudio 2 ranks up there with the best apps available for iPhone.
Updates!??
Can we get an update soon? Ability to add audio tracks and a beater sampler would be nice.
It’s the best iOS DAW IMHO except…
The audio track thing. They were planned to be added soon after initial release but the dev got sidetracked due to user requests for AUv3 compatibility. For me the audio tracks would have been much more useful than AU. I think audio tracks would’ve generated more sales also. Then he could have justified the time to implement AU. If you don’t need audio tracks then I would suggest NS2 over all the others. It does need an update but still…
Also, reading some of these reviews, people are just wrong. Several say that NS2 doesn’t perform certain functions when actually it does. RTFM people! It’s not that hard.
Snap crackle pop
Originally, I had to dig around a bit, but finally got a handle on the app. And soon crew to appreciate it. However, as I progressed, I discovered a few things. First, the inability to adjust the length of notes in the piano roll but I kind of found a workaround, using the duplicate function - still very imprecise, and did not help when shortening notes. But most disturbing was the crackling and popping that I was getting and realized how the CPU was being overwhelmed, when even just a few instruments were being used.
MIDI
Please add support for External MIDI to be able to be recorded into NS2, also, Please add suppport for drag and drop midis!! Make it easier to do so we dont have to use Streambyter or MIDI tools.
The Long Review (summary: CHARGE MORE!)
I fell in love with the original NanoStudio, lamented its disappearance from the app store, then rejoiced with the release of NS2.
I use Cubasis for mobile recording (mostly vocals), but I never begin my ideas there. It's a mature DAW with fancy bits, but about as inspiring an environment for creativity as a sterile lab.
When it comes to generating ideas and assembling the building blocks of a song, NanoStudio wins. For pure creative fun, it's up there with Animoog.
If you're a beginner, it's easy to get started. I normally ignore factory synth presets because I want my own sounds, but the presets for the "Obsidian" engine are brilliant. You can use them as-is, or you can fiddle obsessively. Either way, you win.
Oscillators, waves, evolving textures and effects... you don't need to know anything about them to create with NS2, but as you drill down into the nitty-gritty of control over instrument expression, you *will* be amazed.
Whatever DAW you use for finishing your song (Cubasis, MultiTrack, GarageBand, etc.), NS2's export system, like the rest of the app, is easy. If you're working on drafts, mixing your composition down to a single audio file is as complicated as tapping a couple buttons.
You can also *just as easily* export selected tracks to their own files (with or without tails). Even better, let NS2 export tracks to a zip file so you have everything you need in one place. Just open the iOS Files app, tap your zip file, then drag your audio files directly onto your DAW so you can add vocals and live instrument tracks.
From the beginning, NanoStudio has been underpriced, and that probably leaves you wondering whether it's "professional" enough.
It's more than enough. And it plays nicely with the various MIDI controllers out there like NaviChord and Audanika (formerly SoundPrism).
Just don't confuse NanoStudio for a full end-to-end DAW. You can use it in a pinch to record vocal tracks, but that's not what NanoStudio's for. Some users see this as an oversight, but it's actually a feature. Instead of adding DAW features you can find *anywhere*, NS focuses on creation.
My only concern is whether NS2 will disappear from the app store the way NS1 did. The lack of an upgrade path from NS1 to NS2 was not only irritating, but I lost access to works in process (that I still want back).
NS1 upgrade gripes aside, if anything, the developer isn't charging enough for NS2. You don't get hit with paywalls left and right. There aren't giant pop-ups sayin
Incredible app!
I first got nanostudio one several years ago to keep me occupied on flights when I couldn't play online games on my phone. I got so into it that I started releasing cassette tapes to my friends made purely from nanostudio one, as an exercise in restriction. That grew to several cassette tapes, a cd, and a vinyl record, released by various labels and sold around the world. I've also used nanostudio (both one and two) to perform live for the past decade or so. It's super handy to have such a versatile musical program when performing overseas, because I don't have to try to explain what a eurorack case is to airport security. Super powerful app!
My favorite iOS DAW!
It’s absolutely incredible for the price. The only drawback is it doesn’t have audio tracks. Besides that, it does everything perfectly. The included synth, drum machine and overall workflow makes this better than all of the other iOS DAWs. Thank you very much for making this, Matt.
Great place for making ideas!
I’ve been using NS2 for a few years and it is definitely the best iOS DAW app I’ve found for sketching out ideas. It’s more intuitive than most of the other iOS DAW apps that have more features.
Auv3
Some auv3 plugins work
Some don’t
Just doesn’t make any sense
I try to record animoog z and get no sound
Cruel really
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