Soda is a new app that was just released on the App Store – it lets you easily design your own user interface which you can then DJ with. It’s developed by Zerodebug, the same developer of the d(–)b modular DJ app on the iPad. You can have up to eight track decks complete with zoomable waveforms, transport and mixer controls, and up to 16 cue points. There are five effects onboard: Delay, Reverb, Phaser, Flanger, and EQ, and you can use up to two Send FX chains for adding effects to multiple tracks simultaneously. Sync and manual beatmatching controls are available, and the software is Midi-mappable to any Midi controller connected to your iOS device.
The app also has a split output setting, meaning you can use a splitter cable connected to your iOS device, letting you cue up your next song with your headphones without affecting what’s coming out of the main speakers. Finally, Soda also has Ableton Link support, allowing you to sync it with other apps that have Link baked-in such as Mixvibes’ Remixlive on iOS and Ableton on your Mac/PC.
Customisable interfaces aren’t new – Lemuur on iOS allowed you to design your own touchscreen interface for use with DJ software like Traktor. Another more recent example is KRFT, which is a DAW environment that lets you build your own virtual studio from scratch. However, this is the first DJ-specific “create your own” app that we’ve seen that comes with its own playback engine, effects, and Midi-mapping capability. The latter gives it even more flexibility than a standalone DJ app, especially when you consider the syncing possibilities that Ableton Link brings.
Stay tuned for our review of Soda. For now, check out the promo video below to see it in action.
Promo Video
• Soda is now available on the App Store for US$9.99. Check the Soda site for more details.
What are your thoughts on this app? Do you think it’s a good addition to the iOS DJing range? Why or why not? Let us know below.
Joey Santos
