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 Store

Audiobus is the app that makes the rest of your setup better.

Zenbeats Version 3

13468950

Comments

  • @GLacey said:
    2) key lock: I can’t select other key than the default C major. If I try to change it the window gets disabled.

    I don't have this issue. Which device and iOS version are you using?

  • edited May 2022

    Tl/dr, can someone tell me if you can do bus processing or (real) side-chaining yet?

    I liked zenbeats a lot but those features are essential to modern conventional ‘home studio’ workflow, even on iOS. If it isn’t gonna ever have those features, I would still like to use zenbeats to send an audio signal to a different app that can do those things…cuz I do like the drums and some synths …anyone know if this was added yet either?

    Thanks!

  • edited May 2022

    @MatthewAtZenbeats said:
    FYI

    For those of you with an M1 Mac that are having performance issues, try this.

    Open Zenbeats, tap the main menu then tap Settings.
    Tap the Interface tab and make sure OpenGL is disabled (unselected)
    Then tap on the Audio tab, and disable Multi-Core Processing.

    Let me know if that helps.

    @djjuniorpops

    Better but still not as fluid as version 2.
    I believe it will be improved in coming days but until then I will like to stay with version 2. It was my mistake to upgrade.
    Could you please provide a link to download version 2? I would greatly appreciate it!

  • @GLacey said:
    2 bugs:
    1) The slider above the on-screen keyboard does not work properly. I can zoom the keyboard in and out by swiping the slider up or down, but sliding left and right usually does not work. Sometimes work sometimes not.

    2) key lock: I can’t select other key than the default C major. If I try to change it the window gets disabled.

    1. confirmed
    2. works on ipad Air2 iOS 13

    same issue with send , creating a send track should either automatically add an effect to the send track (instead of insert)
    or do nothing , select the send track first , add then fx

  • wimwim
    edited May 2022

    @CapnWillie said:
    @GLacey ….Try to slide here:

    @MatthewAtZenbeats the keyboard slide zone needs to be improved.

    After much fiddling last night I found what works:

    • double-tap to set the horizontal location of the keyboard
    • drag horizontally to set the key width.
  • edited May 2022

    @MatthewAtZenbeats said:

    @Jeezs said:
    Does anymore knows where the midi learn feature is Zenbeats v3 ?

    @BroCoast said:

    @Korakios said:

    @BroCoast said:
    Updated. I forgot how good Zenbeats is in a lot of ways but hot damn it’s still so buggy and irritating too. I want to buy the unlock but not if I am just going to get the shits with it.

    wait for for a bugfix update , it's somewhat normal after major updates to have some bugs.
    I plan going on monthly subscription

    Yeah I gave the trial subscription a go.

    Hmm, it’s just so buggy with AUv3. Almost every single one I have tried.

    Midi FX don’t exist. Editing automation garbles audio.
    Can’t turn velocity off?

    Yikes.

    A fix is incoming for the MIDI FX bugs, and a design change to make the MIDI Learn functions more accessible.

    As for other AUv3 Issues: feel free to DM a list of ones that are not working correctly in Zenbeats. We have list but want to make sure the important ones from this community are on it.

    I know you mentioned DM, but to save some potential duplication, here are my 'problem' AUv3 sound generators:

    Fail to load at all (straight to white screen):
    Synthmaster 2
    SugarBytes Drum computer
    nLogSynth
    Ravenscroft275

    Load OK, and will 'sound' with DAW virtual keyboard, but crash to white screen when attempting to play sound via the plugin window (e.g plugin keyboard or pads):
    FAC Drumkit
    Koala Sampler
    Yonac Kauldron
    Yonac Magellan 2
    EG Pulse
    EG Segments
    nLogSynth
    TB Flowtones

    All my AUv3 effects appear to load fine (and a lot of my synths work fine too, for the record), but trying to automate anything and then moving automation points around, (during playback) immediately crashes the AUv3 plugin on everything I've tried so far.

    (11" M1 iPad Pro 2021)

  • @wim said:
    Zenbeats is [...] the most Ableton Live like experience on iOS.

    Loopy Pro has monopolized my attention for now, but before that Zenbeats was my go-to.

    How far ahead of Loopy is Zenbeats in enabling the Ableton clip-to-timeline experience?

  • @Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:

    @wim said:
    Zenbeats is [...] the most Ableton Live like experience on iOS.

    Loopy Pro has monopolized my attention for now, but before that Zenbeats was my go-to.

    How far ahead of Loopy is Zenbeats in enabling the Ableton clip-to-timeline experience?

    Mainly, Zenbeats has MIDI clips in addition to audio clips. It also has automation in the timeline (and in clips) whereas Loopy doesn’t.

  • @CapnWillie said:
    @GLacey ….Try to slide here:

    @MatthewAtZenbeats the keyboard slide zone needs to be improved.

    I tried to grab that thin edge of the slider, even with my Apple pencil (just out of curiosity), but got more or less the same result.
    Finally I found out they might have changed the way, how the UI processes the vertical and horizontal drags. In v2 I could drag along both axes at the same time, meaning the keyboard could be resized and slid horizontally at the same time.
    In v3 once I start to drag along one of the axes the UI won’t process any movement along the other axis until I lift off my finger and tap the slider again. Maybe it was not a bad idea to change the UI behaviour this way, BUT it seems the UI is much more sensitive to the vertical movements than the horizontal ones. If I want to slide the keyboard left or right I have to be superprecise to drag strictly horizontally while resizing with vertical drag is very easy.
    @MatthewAtZenbeats, can you please put this on your list?

  • @DanSebPage said:

    @BroCoast said:

    @Korakios said:

    @BroCoast said:
    Updated. I forgot how good Zenbeats is in a lot of ways but hot damn it’s still so buggy and irritating too. I want to buy the unlock but not if I am just going to get the shits with it.

    wait for for a bugfix update , it's somewhat normal after major updates to have some bugs.
    I plan going on monthly subscription

    Yeah I gave the trial subscription a go.

    Hmm, it’s just so buggy with AUv3. Almost every single one I have tried.

    Midi FX don’t exist. Editing automation garbles audio.
    Can’t turn velocity off?

    Yikes.

    That was very much my experience too, with AUv3 synths failing to load. I was delighted with the automation editor's ease-of-use (particularly impressed with spline curves between points), but it soon tuned to disappointment when I discovered editing the points resulted in a garbled audio mess, quickly followed by a crashed AUv3 effect. Editing with playback stopped removed the 'garbled audio' issue, but even then it wasn't long before it crashed again.

    It really needs live recording of automation tweaks too, I could scarcely believe 'manual entry' was the only automation option - especially when an AUv3 is listing dozens of automatable parameters, and I'm trying to figure out which one I require!
    (Edit - I've just seen Wim posted in the other thread that you can map an external controller to an AU parameter and record automation that way, which is certainly better than nothing)

    Hopefully the AUv3 crashing issue will be patched shortly, and I can delve into this DAW properly. It looks very promising otherwise. There's a lot to like here, it's just being held back by a few niggling issues...

    @DanSebPage said:

    @ecamburn said:

    *Is it possible to record gui movements as automation? Arming to record automation doesn’t seem to do it. I tried record the movement of the ZB internal filter

    This was a shock to me upon trying the app for the first time last night. Apparently you can't record automation tweaking 'live' (seems a bizarre omission), but only manually draw it in.

    Hey Everyone,

    Thanks for all the reports. We're currently working to fix the issues> @CapnWillie said:

    @wim said:

    @CapnWillie said:
    @GLacey ….Try to slide here:

    @MatthewAtZenbeats the keyboard slide zone needs to be improved.

    After much fiddling last night I found what works:

    • double-tap to set the horizontal location of the keyboard
    • drag horizontally to set the key width.

    Resizing is easier than that. Just slide up or down.

    Both behaviors are easy for me but i believe the slide zone for moving octaves should be improved.

    OSI scrolling and zooming will be better int he next patch. In the meantime, use the drop down presets and the left and right arrow buttons.

  • @DanSebPage said:

    @MatthewAtZenbeats said:

    @Jeezs said:
    Does anymore knows where the midi learn feature is Zenbeats v3 ?

    @BroCoast said:

    @Korakios said:

    @BroCoast said:
    Updated. I forgot how good Zenbeats is in a lot of ways but hot damn it’s still so buggy and irritating too. I want to buy the unlock but not if I am just going to get the shits with it.

    wait for for a bugfix update , it's somewhat normal after major updates to have some bugs.
    I plan going on monthly subscription

    Yeah I gave the trial subscription a go.

    Hmm, it’s just so buggy with AUv3. Almost every single one I have tried.

    Midi FX don’t exist. Editing automation garbles audio.
    Can’t turn velocity off?

    Yikes.

    A fix is incoming for the MIDI FX bugs, and a design change to make the MIDI Learn functions more accessible.

    As for other AUv3 Issues: feel free to DM a list of ones that are not working correctly in Zenbeats. We have list but want to make sure the important ones from this community are on it.

    I know you mentioned DM, but to save some potential duplication, here are my 'problem' AUv3 sound generators:

    Fail to load at all (straight to white screen):
    Synthmaster 2
    SugarBytes Drum computer
    nLogSynth
    Ravenscroft275

    Load OK, and will 'sound' with DAW virtual keyboard, but crash to white screen when attempting to play sound via the plugin window (e.g plugin keyboard or pads):
    FAC Drumkit
    Koala Sampler
    Yonac Kauldron
    Yonac Magellan 2
    EG Pulse
    EG Segments
    nLogSynth
    TB Flowtones

    All my AUv3 effects appear to load fine (and a lot of my synths work fine too, for the record), but trying to automate anything and then moving automation points around, (during playback) immediately crashes the AUv3 plugin on everything I've tried so far.

    (11" M1 iPad Pro 2021)

    Thanks for the list. Are you on ios 15.5 by chance?

  • @Korakios said:

    @GLacey said:
    2 bugs:
    1) The slider above the on-screen keyboard does not work properly. I can zoom the keyboard in and out by swiping the slider up or down, but sliding left and right usually does not work. Sometimes work sometimes not.

    2) key lock: I can’t select other key than the default C major. If I try to change it the window gets disabled.

    1. confirmed
    2. works on ipad Air2 iOS 13

    same issue with send , creating a send track should either automatically add an effect to the send track (instead of insert)
    or do nothing , select the send track first , add then fx

    1. Doesn’t work on Air 3 iOS15.4 neither on M1 Pro iOS 15.5
  • @MatthewAtZenbeats said:

    @DanSebPage said:

    @MatthewAtZenbeats said:

    @Jeezs said:
    Does anymore knows where the midi learn feature is Zenbeats v3 ?

    @BroCoast said:

    @Korakios said:

    @BroCoast said:
    Updated. I forgot how good Zenbeats is in a lot of ways but hot damn it’s still so buggy and irritating too. I want to buy the unlock but not if I am just going to get the shits with it.

    wait for for a bugfix update , it's somewhat normal after major updates to have some bugs.
    I plan going on monthly subscription

    Yeah I gave the trial subscription a go.

    Hmm, it’s just so buggy with AUv3. Almost every single one I have tried.

    Midi FX don’t exist. Editing automation garbles audio.
    Can’t turn velocity off?

    Yikes.

    A fix is incoming for the MIDI FX bugs, and a design change to make the MIDI Learn functions more accessible.

    As for other AUv3 Issues: feel free to DM a list of ones that are not working correctly in Zenbeats. We have list but want to make sure the important ones from this community are on it.

    I know you mentioned DM, but to save some potential duplication, here are my 'problem' AUv3 sound generators:

    Fail to load at all (straight to white screen):
    Synthmaster 2
    SugarBytes Drum computer
    nLogSynth
    Ravenscroft275

    Load OK, and will 'sound' with DAW virtual keyboard, but crash to white screen when attempting to play sound via the plugin window (e.g plugin keyboard or pads):
    FAC Drumkit
    Koala Sampler
    Yonac Kauldron
    Yonac Magellan 2
    EG Pulse
    EG Segments
    nLogSynth
    TB Flowtones

    All my AUv3 effects appear to load fine (and a lot of my synths work fine too, for the record), but trying to automate anything and then moving automation points around, (during playback) immediately crashes the AUv3 plugin on everything I've tried so far.

    (11" M1 iPad Pro 2021)

    Thanks for the list. Are you on ios 15.5 by chance?

    Urgh, I'm so sorry @MatthewAtZenbeats for wasting your time - I wasn't on iOS 15.5 (I remember postponing the update now, as I was in the middle of a track I didn't want to risk 'breaking').

    Having updated to latest version, I can now confirm all of the synths mentioned above work perfectly (except Synthmaster 2 - straight to white screen).

    The automation issue (when editing points) is still the same as far as I can tell.

    Sorry for the inconvenience, and 'rookie' mistake on my part(!)

  • What a BIG downer!

    • You first have to load an instrument to access a midi-effect plugin. It should be direct accessed at the channel strip, where you also add an effect.
    • Zenbeats doesn't recognise any midi-effect ???
    • So i rescanned all plugins, and suddenly ALL AU-plugins are quarantined ??????

    I did a hard reset, and tried again. No effect.
    Animoog Z was quarantined. So i looked at quarantined apps, rescan Animoog Z, and suddenly it shows up.
    Next i tried unquarantine Rozetta Bassline (midieffect), and that suddenly disappeared from the list of apps?

    I'm using iPad Pro 2017, with latest iPadOS

    I wonder how thoroughly they test this app. Its really a shame...

  • @Identor said:

    • Zenbeats doesn't recognise any midi-effect ???

    They are working on a fix for MIDI FX, hopefully not too long to wait!

    @MatthewAtZenbeats said:

    A fix is incoming for the MIDI FX bugs, and a design change to make the MIDI Learn functions more accessible.

    As for other AUv3 Issues: feel free to DM a list of ones that are not working correctly in Zenbeats. We have list but want to make sure the important ones from this community are on it.

  • @wim said:

    @Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:

    @wim said:
    Zenbeats is [...] the most Ableton Live like experience on iOS.

    Loopy Pro has monopolized my attention for now, but before that Zenbeats was my go-to.

    How far ahead of Loopy is Zenbeats in enabling the Ableton clip-to-timeline experience?

    Mainly, Zenbeats has MIDI clips in addition to audio clips. It also has automation in the timeline (and in clips) whereas Loopy doesn’t.

    It’s also easier and faster to set a record environment with Zenbeats. Zenbeats also support non linear Sequencing, (it can be bone in loopy pro with the help of LK and midi route but it’s a very unstable and complicated solution)

    Loopy pro on the opposite is more flexible and better integrated in iOS environment ( drag and drop support )
    It also support set list

  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • edited May 2022

    @MatthewAtZenbeats said:

    @el_bo said:
    What's the lay of the land regarding the need to be connected to the internet?

    Tried to use the free version on an iPhone, while out-and-about. But couldn't get it to start without mobile-data being connected. On this occasion, I allowed it to connect. but in general I'm not into having to be permanently online to use software. But more than that, when I take my iPad out with me, it has no mobile connection. Does this mean I woukdn't be able to use ZB3 with my iPad, outside?

    Thanks!

    The only time you need network access is if A. You're subscription based and the app needs to verify your status. B. If you want access to download content from the store. If you buy a platform Unlock and have it installed, you should be able use Zenbeats offline.

    Thanks! Had thought to try the sub at some point, but that's a bit of a show-stopper. Perhaps during the Winter, when I'm more likely to be inside.

  • @CapnWillie said:

    @Schmotown said:
    The new ZR1 is incredible, too! Leaning toward Beatmaker 3.

    By far my fav new feature. just need note repeat and layered pads. @MatthewAtZenbeats is on it. Not sure where on the roadmap it is. I imagine the next few updates will be focused on stability. In the meantime having a ball with ZR1 and group tracks like @Jeezs mentioned.

    More time with the ZR1 today. Import from anywhere, even iCloud Drive*. Slicing, though I’m still on that learning curve. Apply separate effects per pad. Instantly arrange in the drum sequencer. It’s seriously well done and probably obviates the need for other sample-related apps.

    *Drag and drop would be awesome.

  • A couple of things with ZR1 I think you'll want to look into @MatthewAtZenbeats

    *When you click on + to add a new pad, then immediately try to add a sample to that pad, the new sample gets added to pad 2 (C#2 for the default kit) even though you’ve clicked the folder icon on the new pad. Adding a new sample to an existing pad by tapping the pad then clicking the folder icon works as expected.

    *You can add sends to individual drum channels in ZR1 which is great. But I'm seeing strange behavior when trying to add automation for send amount on that individual channel. I added sends to the same return track for both the main ZR1 channel and an individual channel and turned send amount on the main channel all the way down and turned send amount on the individual pad up. Worked as expected. I then added automation to the pad by first selecting the pad then adding automation for send amount. Automation gets added for every pad and the added automation has no effect on send amount for the main channel or the individual pad. I tested automation of send amount for the main ZR1 channel before adding a send to the individual pad and automating send amount worked as expected then. In doing this troubleshooting I'm also seeing "blank" entries in automation parameter lists which probably isn't what's wanted.

    *In the sample editor, when snap is turned off, there’s still a hard limit to how far you can pull the right bracket to the left. Zooming in allows you to pull the bracket further but having to zoom in seems odd.

    ZR1 requests…
    Normalize and trim in the sample editor
    Being able to set sequencer lanes to variable lengths

  • @MatthewAtZenbeats Hi, Apple Pencil doesn’t work properly with ZBv3 on iPad Pro3 iOS 15.5, Cheers

  • @ehehehe said:
    Tried it, still feels janky with a cluttered and obtuse interface. If they at some point rewrite the entire app i might try it again. Just release the ZenCore ZC-1000 or whatever synth engine as a standalone au please, the sounds are okay but that's it for me. Tal uno gives me enough roland flavour anyways.

    Tal absolutely destroys ZC-1. I tried all the packs for it with cloud subscription and there is no Roland juju in there. Hilarious how far the 101 sounds sounded from my real one.

    There’s some good stuff in ZB but it’s too much of a mess for me to touch. Not when Drambo gives such a smooth and effortless music making experience.

  • @BroCoast said:

    @ehehehe said:
    Tried it, still feels janky with a cluttered and obtuse interface. If they at some point rewrite the entire app i might try it again. Just release the ZenCore ZC-1000 or whatever synth engine as a standalone au please, the sounds are okay but that's it for me. Tal uno gives me enough roland flavour anyways.

    Tal absolutely destroys ZC-1. I tried all the packs for it with cloud subscription and there is no Roland juju in there. Hilarious how far the 101 sounds sounded from my real one.

    There’s some good stuff in ZB but it’s too much of a mess for me to touch. Not when Drambo gives such a smooth and effortless music making experience.

    Funny how differently peoples brains work. My experience is the exact opposite! 😎👍🏼

  • @ecamburn said:
    A couple of things with ZR1 I think you'll want to look into @MatthewAtZenbeats

    *When you click on + to add a new pad, then immediately try to add a sample to that pad, the new sample gets added to pad 2 (C#2 for the default kit) even though you’ve clicked the folder icon on the new pad.

    I can confirm this. Intentional or bug?

    ZR1 requests…
    Normalize and trim in the sample editor
    Being able to set sequencer lanes to variable lengths

    Yes, please!

  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • @Jeezs said:

    @wim said:

    @Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:

    @wim said:
    Zenbeats is [...] the most Ableton Live like experience on iOS.

    Loopy Pro has monopolized my attention for now, but before that Zenbeats was my go-to.

    How far ahead of Loopy is Zenbeats in enabling the Ableton clip-to-timeline experience?

    Mainly, Zenbeats has MIDI clips in addition to audio clips. It also has automation in the timeline (and in clips) whereas Loopy doesn’t.

    It’s also easier and faster to set a record environment with Zenbeats. Zenbeats also support non linear Sequencing, (it can be bone in loopy pro with the help of LK and midi route but it’s a very unstable and complicated solution)

    Loopy pro on the opposite is more flexible and better integrated in iOS environment ( drag and drop support )
    It also support set list

    Thanks guys for these insights. If one were working only with audio loops, which app gives the easiest clip-launching to timeline experience?

  • wimwim
    edited May 2022

    @Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:

    @Jeezs said:

    @wim said:

    @Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:

    @wim said:
    Zenbeats is [...] the most Ableton Live like experience on iOS.

    Loopy Pro has monopolized my attention for now, but before that Zenbeats was my go-to.

    How far ahead of Loopy is Zenbeats in enabling the Ableton clip-to-timeline experience?

    Mainly, Zenbeats has MIDI clips in addition to audio clips. It also has automation in the timeline (and in clips) whereas Loopy doesn’t.

    It’s also easier and faster to set a record environment with Zenbeats. Zenbeats also support non linear Sequencing, (it can be bone in loopy pro with the help of LK and midi route but it’s a very unstable and complicated solution)

    Loopy pro on the opposite is more flexible and better integrated in iOS environment ( drag and drop support )
    It also support set list

    Thanks guys for these insights. If one were working only with audio loops, which app gives the easiest clip-launching to timeline experience?

    I'd say they're both about the same. Both support cut and paste and have the ability to record a performance to the timeline.

    Both are free to try. I think ZB's free version is enough to try out what you'd need to. Loopy Pro includes all features to try, but only for seven days.

  • Seems to be some strange (buggy) behaviour in ZB3 (Free) on iPhone.

    Unlike the iPad version, where the automation gets edited on top of the Waveform, the iPhone editing is done in a separate window underneath. This wouldn't be a problem except it seems to be impossible to resize (Using the arrows icons) the windows on screen. On the small screen of the iPhone 7, it's impossible to work with.

  • edited May 2022

    Works ok here. iPhone 13, iOS 15.5. Even though the little resize window is there I can’t resize the window.

  • @ecamburn said:
    Works ok here. iPhone 13, iOS 15.5. Even though the little resize window is there I can’t resize the window.

    Interesting! There's a clear size difference in the windows. But neither of us have working resize (I assume you also can't resize the upper window?). I thought clicking the 'X' button on the sampler might allow full-screen automation editing, but it just quits that entire editing page.

    Still find it strange that it doesn't work the same as on iPad, which would make so much more sense given the space limits.

Sign In or Register to comment.