ustwo – the app developer that gave us Mouth Off and also the Granimator iPad app – has just released Inkstrumental, the interactive fruit of a collaboration with illustrator Jon Burgerman...

The idea for Inkstrumental is simple and fun - users 'audition' various Burgerman characters, each of which makes a particular sound (could be percussive, bassy, vocal or a bit synthy) when you tap him. So you decide which eight characters you want in your Inkstrumental band by scrolling along and pressing each character to see what they sound like on the screen below...

Then, with your eight characters selected you go to a screen like the one below where a looping beat plays (you get to choose the backing beat too). Simply press a character at just the moment when you'd like its sound to be added to the back beat et voila, you're making music!

Once you're happy with your new doctored beat, you can press the TV button on the screen and the band members are transported to a stage where they proudly perform your tune for you. You can send this film to the Inkstrumental YouTube channel or simply show your friends on your phone when you see them.

Here's a short film of someone actually playing with Inkstrumental to help you get a better idea of the fun that can be had:

Jon Burgerman and ustwo are presenting Inkstrumental tomorrow evening in a special talk at 7pm at the Apple Store on Regent Street in London. Visit the apple website to find out more: apple.com/uk/retail/regentstreet/

AND, fans of Burgerman's work might be interested to know he's got a solo exhibition entitled Brain Drain, currently running at Winchester Discovery Centre until July 7. Here are some images:

The above "soft sculpture" was created in collaboration with Felt Mistress

jonburgerman.com

ustwo.co.uk

inkstrumental.com