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dRambo

edited December 2020 in Other

A personal experience.

dRambo was released on the 1st April of this year.
Up until then I thought it was an in joke of the AB Forum
which I didn't quite get and the only way I would be able to be in
on the joke was to wade through a few thousand comments.

When I saw the amount of comments I thought to myself
,'hhhmmm, I couldn't be bothered with that', and
carried on perusing threads, looking for recommendations
for the various apps that I needed for my configuration.

After years of of freelance production and sound exploration
I knew what tools I needed for a mobile production rig and that
was what I had accomplished right up until dRambo was released.

I needed one more good reverb, another good compressor,
I already had a really good sampler, the best DAW
that was on the iOS platform at the time and
I was well on my way exploring the DAWless capabilities of
AUM and a good solid looper.

So along came the announcement for dRambo.
What was dRambo?
I thought it was a joke.

'Oh, this is interesting , it's a groovebox, sampler thingy'.
Well, I've got everything else for the mo,
might as well have a little play...

I had some spare left over from my
iOS budget and thought hhmmmm.
Why not...
Let's have a looooook...WTF!!!!

Four weeks after playing around with dRambo and seven or so videos up?

I decided to get serious...

Eight months later I'm still serious...

On route I've learnt about modular synthesis,
how to build a compressor, a multiband compressor,
multiband eq and variations of multiband processors,
a delay pitchshifting sequencer thingy of my own design,
adding, subtracting, dividing, rectifiying, log, signals.
An m/s decoder of all things...
Is this a cv signal or a cc signal or can I use them as both.
I hadn't even reached the sound synthesis section yet.

I clearly remember rs2000 commenting...
'The graphics shaper is your friend',...
' Graphics shaper???',
'WTF is a graphics shaper when that's at home???

He was right by the way...
It's very useful.

I sat for a week listening to one oscillator
with an env module connected to a filter
before I placed an ADSR on the end.

At one point I was so, 'zen', with dRambo
that I entered a deep meditative state.

Taking into consideration the recent events
of a global nature that we've all had to face
dRambo has been and continues to be a boon,
a blessing as it where.

I've learnt about modulations in way
that I hadn't approached before.

Sending signals to trigger sequencers that
tell other modules to roll, swoop, spin and whirl.

I built midi machines that harmonised the arp module that
was in turn harmonising the notes that I played in.

Imagine being able to sequence the harmonies of the harmonies
that you've played in and being able to play those in any key.

Well, that's what you can do with dRambo.

At one point I started looking at the synths that I already
had trying to figure out how the signals flowed so that
I could recreate them in some way like a jazz musician
would take a piece and perform it in their own way.

I'm a jazz musician and composer so it is a natural state
of being for me to approach synth design like this.
A synth is much akin to a piece of music.

I've played around with all of the sound
generating modules in dRambo.
The possibilities and combinations are endless.

Though I love the integration of the auv3's and
being able to play the rest of my synths in dRambo,
there is a distinct pleasure in being able to design
ones own synths from scratch and to listen to the results
of ones own labour.

This in some small way must be how the synth developers
must feel when they design their synth apps etc.

I've designed about 87 synths so far not including
the ones tucked away inside my projects.
Some are mere woodblocks,
some are so intricate I've already forgotten why
I started them in the first place but the thing is
they make sounds which I enjoy.

dRambo can be made to sound like an h'ordeuvre
or a full on orchestra now that it can host auv3's
it all depends upon what you have in mind or not.

It can boom bap or be full on gabba.

It can....

I haven't had a piece of software impress
me so much since Cubase came out on Atari.

I had been looking for an app that brought
all of my main iOS apps together.

dRambo was the missing link.

On this note...

I think I've completed my basic training as a dRambonaut...

Whether you be a beginner, an intermediate or advanced?

There will be something inside dRambo for you.

Fly straight.

Fly true.

«13

Comments

  • wow this was an inspiring read! it’s also made me realize i still have a LOT to learn about Drambo.

  • this is a much more in depth review than your last in depth review

  • Is it just the effort involved in using Drambo for every possible thing that we all don't stop buying apps and just learn to program Drambo? I returned the IK MixBox for a refund after realizing I'll hardly use any of it, but now I'm thinking I might be able to create 80% of what is in that app in Drambo, albeit for a lot more effort than simply pressing "buy now" in the app store.

  • edited December 2020

    dRambo is an altered reality field. It's a journey not a destination.

    Still, I'd like to know what drugs you're on. How do I get some of that?

  • @fprintf said:
    Is it just the effort involved in using Drambo for every possible thing that we all don't stop buying apps and just learn to program Drambo? I returned the IK MixBox for a refund after realizing I'll hardly use any of it, but now I'm thinking I might be able to create 80% of what is in that app in Drambo, albeit for a lot more effort than simply pressing "buy now" in the app store.

    That pretty much nails it!

    @mojozart said:
    dRambo is an alerted reality field. It's a journey not a destination.

    Still, I'd like to know what drugs you're on. How do I get some of that?

    No need to go on drugs at all.
    I would say that Drambo is an authentic mirror of your knowledge and experience about (modular) synthesis.
    It is a journey, no question.

  • edited December 2020

    I've invested a lot of time into various iOS apps for music. Some of them, heartbreaking to lose or abandon a lot of ideas and work. As a musician that can really hit you hard...

    Enter Drambo which I never really put time into learning like those other apps... I just started and music happened. Well ok I got a little help from "Hey it's Ben..."

    I enjoyed your post @Gravitas because it made me feel the joy that this app has brought you in the same way it has brought me the same feelings as well as a never before felt confidence in iOS music as a whole.

  • @BroCoast said:
    I've invested a lot of time into various iOS apps for music. Some of them, heartbreaking to lose or abandon a lot of ideas and work. As a musician that can really hit you hard...

    I hear you on that.
    We invest a lot of time and effort into making our
    pieces of music and it does hurt when we lose them.

    Enter Drambo which I never really put time into learning like those other apps... I just started and music happened. Well ok I got a little help from "Hey it's Ben..."

    I'm sure you're not the only one,

    I enjoyed your post @Gravitas because it made me feel the joy that this app has brought you in the same way it has brought me the same feelings as well as a never before felt confidence in iOS music as a whole.

    I'm glad that you resonated with my words.
    and yes, it has brought me a lot of joy for sure
    and continues to do so.

  • Is ‘dRambo’ some sort of Apple naming joke?

  • @Michael_R_Grant said:
    Is ‘dRambo’ some sort of Apple naming joke?

    It's @Gravitas' own nickname for a beefy drummer hero 😁

  • After an initial flurry, I hadn’t used Drambo much, but then very recently was inspired to get back into it and explore more - and its certainly one of those things that the more you get into it, the more rewarding it becomes, and the more you can accomplish with it. A never ending journey!

  • More food for thought:

    Dollar coneys on Wednesdays.

  • @zilld2017 Give us food for our eyes please. Show us one 😊

  • @rs2000 said:

    @Michael_R_Grant said:
    Is ‘dRambo’ some sort of Apple naming joke?

    It's @Gravitas' own nickname for a beefy drummer hero 😁

    😂

  • edited December 2020

    @rs2000 said:
    @zilld2017 Give us food for our eyes please. Show us one 😊

    Here, have three...

  • @zilld2017 said:

    @rs2000 said:
    @zilld2017 Give us food for our eyes please. Show us one 😊

    Here, have three...

    Whoah, thank you!!
    Is that sweet mustard sauce?

  • @zilld2017 said:
    More food for thought:

    Dollar coneys on Wednesdays.

    Errmmmm....

    What is a dollar coney???

  • @Gravitas said:

    @zilld2017 said:
    More food for thought:

    Dollar coneys on Wednesdays.

    Errmmmm....

    What is a dollar coney???

    See above!
    I'll leave one for you 😉

  • @rs2000 said:

    @Gravitas said:

    @zilld2017 said:
    More food for thought:

    Dollar coneys on Wednesdays.

    Errmmmm....

    What is a dollar coney???

    See above!
    I'll leave one for you 😉

    Lololololol....

    With extra mustard...😉

  • @rs2000 said:

    @zilld2017 said:

    @rs2000 said:
    @zilld2017 Give us food for our eyes please. Show us one 😊

    Here, have three...

    Whoah, thank you!!
    Is that sweet mustard sauce?

    Yellow mustard. French’s. No Grey Poopon, no honey mustard, no ketchup. Dog with the snappy skin, beef lard chili, yellow mustard, uncooked onions, steamed bun. And no cheese! Please!

  • @zilld2017 said:

    @rs2000 said:

    @zilld2017 said:

    @rs2000 said:
    @zilld2017 Give us food for our eyes please. Show us one 😊

    Here, have three...

    Whoah, thank you!!
    Is that sweet mustard sauce?

    Yellow mustard. French’s. No Grey Poopon, no honey mustard, no ketchup. Dog with the snappy skin, beef lard chili, yellow mustard, uncooked onions, steamed bun. And no cheese! Please!

    Wow....

    That's very specific.

    I'm impressed.

  • If you are ever stuck in suburban Detroit—specifically in Ferndale, around Woodward Ave and Nine Mile Rd—and are craving a meat tube with sauce, Hambo Coneys will do. But seriously, if you want a real coney, you gotta head downtown to Lafayette Coney Island (or American Coney Island, literally right next door). Chicago’s got their red hots, Philly’s got her cheese steaks, Detroit’s got it’s Coney Dogs. There’s a National Coney Island at Detroit Metro airport if you’re in the vicinity—not the best but it’ll do if your Spirit flight is delayed another two hours.

    That’s all that needs to be said about Hambos and coneys. Back to dRambo!

  • Where I’m from coney means rabbit.

    https://www.thefreedictionary.com/coney

  • I’d love a few coneys while jamming with Drambo. A roll of paper towels would be necessary as well and a bathroom close by but it’s worth it

  • edited December 2020

    d
    +
    =

    Meme aside, great read. Very inspirational. I've been able to make some unconventional modules with Drambo but I'm still scratching the surface of it. Guitar pedals seem to be the next thing coming to mind.

  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • @Max23 said:
    would I love about Drambo is
    besides from being able to do the most absurd things
    its quick :)

    I can spit out something presentable in minutes.

    Good point.
    I love miRack for its power and all those incredible modules but whenever I had a new idea in mind and wanted to get the job done, I've launched Drambo.

  • @Gravitas, yeah brother!

    @Max23 i was just about to say this. Drambo is super quick! I know MiRack has a huge following but the UI just killed it for me. With Drambo i guess a one on one tuition from JJ helped a lot since I was user #2 in alpha testing would have helped. At this point though, the time it takes for an idea in my head to become a sound is incredibly quick. I know that my patches aren’t complex but even then, with most apps it ends on ‘ah, I guess I cannot do this’ brick wall. With Drambo it’s just a few ninja swipes away.

  • @supadom said:
    @Gravitas, yeah brother!

    @Max23 i was just about to say this. Drambo is super quick! I know MiRack has a huge following but the UI just killed it for me.

    Yeah, agreed.

    With Drambo it’s just a few ninja swipes away.

    Agreed.

  • I really should check out patch storage a lot more. Thanks for this @rs2000

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