Facebook has finally released its collaborative music app, Collab, to the public. The app, which was previously in private beta testing, allows users to create and share music mash-ups.

Collab Simplifies Remote Jam Sessions

Collab was developed by Facebook's New Product Experimentation (NPI) team, and the group announced its official launch in a post on the NPE Blog.

The concept of the app is simple enough. It's centered around joint jam sessions between users, fittingly called "Collabs." With the COVID-19 pandemic putting a damper on concerts and in-person band practices, Collab offers a way for musicians to remotely make music.

Related: Everything You Need to Collaborate on a Music Project Remotely

Upon opening the app, you'll see a feed of Collabs, all of which are presented in a three-screen format. Each screen contains an independent 15-second clip that all play at the same time, coming together to create a short tune.

Facebook Collab screenshots

While one clip might contain a drummer, another might show a pianist or a singer. If you're feeling musical, you can swipe on any of the screens and record your own musical contribution, ultimately allowing you to inject a different sound into the clip.

Collab comes with tools to ensure that your contribution isn't out of sync or offbeat. According to the NPE's post, "Collab automates the complexity of audio and video syncing so you can easily produce a final composition you love."

It lets you seamlessly sync audio with the other clips in the Collab, and also gives you the ability to use external audio interfaces to add recordings from your electric guitar, keyboard, or drumkit.

Fortunately, you don't have to be musically-gifted in order to have fun with the app. As you scroll through your feed, you can watch Collabs, and then swipe on each screen to mix and match musical contributions from other users.

Collab is currently only available for iOS users. If you want to try it out for yourself, you can download it for free on the App Store.

How Does Collab Stack Up to TikTok?

It's clear that Collab is Facebook's response to TikTok. Collab attempts to one-up TikTok by featuring three screens stacked on top of one another, an upgrade from the two duet-style videos offered by TikTok.

But despite the room for an extra video, Collab's lack of variety may be its downfall. While TikTok is a hub for memes, funny videos, music, lip-syncing, and even educational clips, Collab leaves little room for variation. The app is entirely centered around music, which may only pique the interest of those who are musically-inclined.