Smule’s Strum app adds music and Instagram-like effects to your videos

Even if you don’t recognize the name Smule, chances are you’ve still heard of one of their apps. The Palo Alto-based mobile developer has delivered some pretty big iOS hits in its day such as Ocarina, which turns your phone into a flute-like instrument, Magic Piano, and I Am T-Pain.

This past week, Smule introduced its latest creation: an iPhone app called Strum. Unlike the aforementioned titles, Strum doesn’t help you create music, but rather it allows you to create and edit short movie clips with Instagram-like video filters, digital audio filters, and more…

Strum will allow you to shoot videos of up to 15 seconds in length, and then edit them with a library of visual and audio effects. The advanced audio filters automatically compose music to match your video and range from simple background melodies to crazy remixes of your favorite tunes.

In my short time playing with the app, I have to say, I’m actually very impressed. The UI is great, in-line with Smule’s other applications, and it’s really easy to both share your creations, and view those of others. In fact, it looks like Smule has built its own full-blown social network here.

But I also discovered a couple of caveats. Like for instance, you can’t get very far into the app without creating an account — which is extremely annoying. And even though the app is free, like other Smule titles you have to pay for most of the audio and video filters by way of in-app purchases.

Regardless, Strum is still an engaging release, and it’ll be interesting to see if it gains any traction over the next few months. If you’d like to check it out of yourself, you can find it in the App Store for free.

Have you tried Strum yet? Thoughts?