Audiobus: Use your music apps together.
What is Audiobus? — Audiobus is an award-winning music app for iPhone and iPad which lets you use your other music apps together. Chain effects on your favourite synth, run the output of apps or Audio Units into an app like GarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface output for each app. Route MIDI between apps — drive a synth from a MIDI sequencer, or add an arpeggiator to your MIDI keyboard — or sync with your external MIDI gear. And control your entire setup from a MIDI controller.
Download on the App StoreAudiobus is the app that makes the rest of your setup better.
Help me spend a little money
TL;DR help me buy ipad-friendly hardware for exploration - synth, sequencers, poss sampler? budget £850 GBP
Impossible request, especially (as my friend @JohnnyGoodyear will confirm) since I don't really have a clear end result in mind, but there are such a lot of intelligent, knowledgable, talented, good-looking etc etc people on here, that I thought I'd ask.
At the dawn of time, music was my living - playing piano/keys and singing. Now I earn my crust elsewhere, so I can be more self-indulgent musically. I have logic on the mac, which I use for the rare paid recording gigs that still come in occasionally. I have the ipad for fun.
I'm a longtime ipad fan for music (pre audiobus, daddio). I have far too many apps, and I don't make enough music with them.
A couple of years ago, I fell into the hardware rabbit hole. I liked this rabbit hole. I don't have unlimited funds, so I tried gear, selling it if I wasn't using/enjoying it. Akai Force, OP-Z, Synthstrom Deluge, Novation Circuit, MPC Live... they all came and went.
During this exploratory process, I realised I preferred the hands-on, designed for music, knob-twisty, button pushy, slider, er, slidey nature of hardware. A good piece of hardware invites you to spend time, learn its quirks, its limitations - make music. But I wanted hardware that could integrate with the ipad - ideally without workarounds/lots of cables/a degree in engineering.
I sold my OP-1 yesterday. One piece of gear I thought I'd never sell, and I learned so much playing with it, but—as much as I loved it—it doesn't play well with others.
I'm left with an Elektron Digitone Keys (beautiful sound, love the sequencer, especially trig conditions and parameter locks, plus it sends and receives ipad midi and audio through usb), a Spire Studio (for audio and vocals, although I'm focusing on instruments more), and a Novation X-station.
I'm not ready for Eurorack. Not yet. One day, maybe.
Here's what I do know. I like fun sequencers (the Elektron is a breeze to use, despite my worries to the contrary, although I'm not quite ready for sound design on it.) I'm finally learning the foundations of synthesis, so an analogue synth is on the list.
What kind of music do I want to make? Not sure - but if Frank Zappa and Steely Dan got drunk with Plaid and Aphex Twin, then had a fight with Jan Jelinek and Stimming... um, what was I saying?
Budget: £850
I particularly like gear that rewards being used on its own, but can connect to others easily (and, ideally, the magic ipad). And I want to finish pieces of music without having to involve a computer and a DAW.
Candidates so far (for possible combinations)
Arturia Microfreak
Dreadbox Typhon
Doepfer Darkmind 2
Korg Minilogue xd desktop
Arturia Minibrute 2s
Polyend Tracker
1010 music Blackbox
Launchpad Pro mk3
Any champions for a particular piece of gear?
Sorry for long post. I wouldn't normally ask, but you're such a helpful bunch, and what else are we going to do while we wait for our vaccines?
Comments
I’ve been looking at midi controllers. Ikm wowed by the Arturia MKii 61 at $500. Comes bundled with Ableton LiteandAnalog Lab (7000 sounds from their V collection) Amazing connectivity and build quality.will possibly add the Genki Expression Ring and CME Widimaster to use eith SWAM and other synths. That’s getting toward £800... but doesn’t seem to be your direction.
Thanks! Their controllers are very good. I have a keylab 88 for gigging (which came with Analog lab too). I suppose I'm looking more for sound sources, and sound manipulation. My aims are frustratingly vague, sorry. I hope this post might provoke a few fans of various bits of gear to evangelise about them.
From the list I’d suggest the PolyEnd Tracker...
And i might add the following to consider:
MPC Live
Maschine+ (granted you’d need to adjust the budget)
Which 88 do you have?
I read the whole post! :0
I would say ...
1) Arturia Microfreak - digital and proud of it. Very fun instrument. Wears it's quirks very loudly.
2) Dreadbox Typhon - wow what a thing. It never ceases to please. You can lose yourself in this thing it just sounds soooo good. Great effects. Inexpensive too!
I too went way too far into the hardware rabbit hole. Now is the point where I put self imposed limits (one in, one out rule) to actually learn the gear that I have. Really wonderful problem to have I know.
the original one: https://arturia.com/products/hybrid-synths/keylab88
Thanks. Tried the MPC Live, didn't enjoy the workflow. Maschine+ is very interesting. I've seen you over at the Elektronauts forum, so I know you're also a Tracker fan. Another eight tracks to compliment the Digitone, with a song mode too... very tempting. My most recent shortlist was Polyend Tracker plus microfreak or Typhon. You seem to get to grips with different workflows very quickly. How did the polyend workflow compare to MPC or maschine for you? And is ipad integration straightforward?
Brave.
They both seem great. The Typhon, in particular, sounds amazing. The microfreak just makes me want to play it.
Very good system. It's pretty much what I'm doing. But the op-1 can be one out, two in. Even three, perhaps?!
Yeah i hear you on the MPC Live.
The Maschine+ has been a real gem to use so it might be worth testing the waters with a used MaschineMK3 or new and return it if you like the workflow.
Note: you can get a good feel for the Maschine workflow through BeatMaker3...so if you like BM3 you will probably love the Maschine workflow.
The PolyendTracker is really straight forward once you understand the workflow. I was never a Tracker user but found it really easy to understand.
It integrates great with the iPad and love using it that way. Here are a few tracks/experiments i made using the PT and the iPad:
There’s also a walk thru on using the PT with Gadget iPad.
FWIW, i think the PT will help you achieve that state of mind of Zappa+Steely+Plaid+Aphex+Stimming equation you are trying to solve 😜
For the record, this man is a beast. He buys children and then throws them back. The one thing I don't want folks to encourage him to get is anything Maschine-related. I, who am but nothing, a simple apprentice plying no trade etc etc, have the MK3 and it's brilliant, but game-theory says we do not want others (especially those with skills far beyond our own) having access to the same tools, so, please. keep it quiet etc. Appreciate it. JG
Hahaha. JG you slay me brother. This form of logic will only push him to the sacred Maschine+.
You have kids mate. You know the rule of law. To say ‘Don’t’ insures it will be done 😜
beautiful tracks - especially the first one. Great to see it with the Digitone too.
But... now that @JohnnyGoodyear has waded in
Well, the Maschine + is under £900 now, so it's within reach.
For the record, BM3 makes me scratch my head a bit, although I love the idea of scenes/clips etc (and I can get things done fast in gadget) I believe Mr Goodyear shares my reservations about BM3 - NS2 fits me much better. And yet, Mr G loves the Maschine workflow. A conundrum.
I will watch some videos. Does Maschine+ offer fun tweaking options now? I haven't monitored updates, but I remember some complaints about individual instrument UI choices - not much to play with.
@iansainsbury Out of curiosity have you looked at the Novation SL MK3?
It might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Out of interest, is a Digitakt not up for consideration?
Ultimately I like two different approaches to making music:
You are a flirt, Sir. A flibbertigibbet of the first order. Skittish in your preferences. More changeable than the olde country's weather. You take on the grand responsibilities of life, but then discharge them without thought or regret. I fear for the dog in this place where loyalty now so withers...
hmm. Help me spend my money, I said. It appears that the mysterious new user 'lucky tiger' has taken me at my word. An extremely persuasive argument, Mr Tiger. I am done with music henceforth. It's a life of gambling for me. Farewell, all!
You do me a disservice. I often discharge my responsibilities without thought, but rarely without regret.
@iansainsbury another wildcard consideration: dunk that £ investment into Korg Volcas and a great stand for them (this almost completely changes the experience of using them).
You could get several and use them individually and in conjunction with each other. I own three and Every session is in some way majorly rewarding as much for music output as mental therapy. Hardware being the “go outside and get some fresh air” to software.
Given that you have Logic as an ultimate compiler (if you wish, or not) the sky’s the limit. This is all assuming you like Volcas of course.
With the Pajen firmware on both the Samples and FM, who doesn't?
I will watch this later, but you’ve piqued my curiosity with all this maschine plus talk. Heh. You’re a man of much gear. Is maschine plus your favourite child?
Hahah...it's definitely up there. If I had to get rid of all my gear, the M+ would be the one I kept for sure.
Currently I have the following pieces of kit:
. Toraiz AS-1
. Korg Minilogue
. Arturia Microfreak
. MPC One
. Push 2
. LaunchPad X
. Launchkey MK3 49
. Octatrack MK2
. Digitone
. Polyend Tracker
. Maschine+
. OP-Z
. iPad+Drambo+AUM+n# synths and kit
. Ableton Live
. BitWig
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Cheers
Digitakt or digitone was last year's conundrum. Digitone won, and I’m very happy to have some Elektron sequencing at last. But I’m won over by the immediacy of koala on the sampler front, and I still have samplr and the usual suspects for more esoteric uses (when I learn to use them properly).
I like your two-point approach. I fear I want both 1 and 2 from every device. That may be my problem...
Norns looks scary, and I’m about to google Axolotii
Well, that’s some list. I want to keep the digitone keys as my main keyboard, as it’s a good size, has multiple outs, and the sequencer is great. I’m guessing you can sync it with maschine easily and run one into the other?
My worry with maschine is sound design, which I want to have a go at. Do you do much? Found this video which uses a template to make it more straightforward.
Thanks for the help. You may be about to help me spend my money and then check behind the sofa cushions for more money so I can spend that too.
They do seem like fun. I find them tempting in the same way as pocket operators. Limited, but in a good way. I’ll check YouTube for inspiration. @PeteSasqwax , what does the pajen firmware add?
What I like about them conceptually is that you can sit down with one (anywhere) and later patch that one Volca back into the fold of the others and ideas / parts etc just seem to Flow. Another bonus of this idea is since it's modular in nature you can try one single box first and see how the feel suits you (if you've not already). If it's not a great fit flip the box back into the market and go forth.
PO's are wonderful though they feel a fiddly if only because of their size and what you're touching: very physical but not the same as "the boxes" we're so used to and the Volcas are juuuust big enough to give that "box you can lean into" experience while also being small as heck.
As a dude rocking non-modified boxes I can report nothing but love for years now. But do I need to check out the Pajen os's? I've got Samples, Drum and Beats and personally value them in that order.
@echoopera - a quick question I can't find an answer to (even in the M+ manual). Does M+ have midi thru?
ie could I plug Digitone Keys into the M+ usb, then M+ midi out to the ipad (via korg plugkey) and play ipad synths as well as M+ sounds on the Digitone?
@echoopera oh, and one more thing (you might regret offering to help at this rate). Any problems with overloading the M+, crackles, dropouts etc? I'm a fan of using sends for reverb which will help, but is it possible to print midi tracks to audio to save cpu?
Yeah definitely. In this setup you can route the DigiTone thru the M+ to play the iPad. You can either route it via the iPad or the M+ depending on how you have it all set up.
I personally haven’t experienced the issue but it definitely exists...much in the same way it exists on the iPad and desktop.
You can resample tracks. Right now i haven’t found a way to ‘freeze’ tracks but i haven’t really needed to.
Here’s a playlist of how i use the M+ in my work: