14 DAY TRIAL // Aviary is quickly creating a name for itself as the go-to company for creative-oriented web apps. Its latest addition is the Aviary Roc, a music-creation tool. The company already had an audio editor on its roster and this is the next logical step. Roc is a bit on the basic side, but it’s a fun, simple tool, perfect for doodling. It’s also a good choice for schools and students.
“We're happy as a lark to announce the launch of Aviary's new online music creator (codenamed Roc). Aviary's music creator turns anyone into a musician with a few simple clicks,” Avi Muchnick, CEO and founder of Aviary, announced.
“Now anyone can create music and beats completely from scratch and right in their browser, by simulating almost 50 different instruments, ranging from common instruments like various drums, pianos and guitars to orchestral instruments like harps and flutes to more obscure (but fun!) instruments you may never have heard of like the balarimba and hammered dulcimer,” he added.
The tool itself is basic, but that was the point. You get 8 bars' worth of space to play around with and 12 tracks, which correlate with the actual notes for most instruments, so that’s a little over an octave of leeway. You can fill the 12 tracks with any of the sounds provided and let your imagination loose within this rather limited space.
You can adjust the tempo and the volume and pan of the individual tracks, but that’s pretty much it. If, however, you send out five invitations for your friends to try out the tool, you get access to more features like the possibility to import or record your own sound clips and more advanced track controls.
It’s fun to play around with for a few minutes, but its limitations become obvious soon. As far as online music-creation tools go, there are far more advanced and way more fun options like the awesome Audiotool.
However, for Aviary, this is just the first step. The company is amassing an interesting suite of creative tools, mostly centered on design, but now with audio getting some love as well. If Aviary can manage to focus on improving the tools and make some money at the same time, in a couple of years, maybe even sooner, traditional makers of this kind of tools, yes that means Adobe, are going to have something to worry about.
