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.

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

Should I get Korg Gadget now it's on sale?

I recently bought Korg Module pro and nearly all the IAP's. It's a fabulous sounding app and now Gadget is on sale should I get it?

I already have IMS20, Imonopoly, Odyssey, electribe wave and Wavestation so would gadget give me something worth having. I take it, it's still not AUV3?

I'm still interested though as a lot of the patches in the module pro are stunning but come with basic adjustable parameters and it's always the ones that I don't want to change on certain patches. I wish there was way more control.

Am I right in thinking Gadget gives you more freedom to experiment with patches and that you can take module pro patches insert them into gadget change what you want and then send them back to module pro and use them in AUM?

Cheers

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Comments

  • Am I right in thinking Gadget gives you more freedom to experiment with patches and that you can take module pro patches insert them into gadget change what you want and then send them back to module pro and use them in AUM?

    Nope. Owning Module only enables a set of additional 'gadgets' within Gadget, each one specialising in a subset of Module sounds (e.g. Salzburg gadget does piano, Glasgow has the various orchestral ones, etc). Exactly the same sounds with the same controls, no export facilities. Same is true for other synths, e.g. owning iMonoPoly (one of my favourites!) enables the 'Montpellier' gadget - same sounds, same controls (slightly different UI).

    As for whether it's worth buying Gadget, it depends on whether you want to use Gadget. Since there is no AUv3 support, you should get it if you want to use it to make music by itself. Personally i think it's really good, since I'm more of a hobbyist it gives you a really nice balance of features without being too complicated, with an ableton-like workflow (and ableton project export). But if you are not interested in that, then there's no need.

  • I think Gadget still offers the best “all in one” experience on iOS. Depending on your genre, it could be enough for full production - most sounds / fx covered.
    Being closed is its strength and its weakness - quick, easy, straightforward, but not the best choice for experimentation. You will get the same depth from Gadget Module and AU Module.
    You basically get a stable environment/seq for all Korg instruments.

    I think there is a good chance we’ll see some movement on the AU front, so it can be a good investment.

  • @0tolerance4silence said:
    I think Gadget still offers the best “all in one” experience on iOS. Depending on your genre, it could be enough for full production - most sounds / fx covered.

    Is Gadget a good environment for creating ambient, contemplative, drone, soundscapes? I'm particularly interested to layer pianos, cello, over background washes of organic and ambient sounds.

    One question. Can I import samples or recordings (field recordings for example) into Gadget Pro, or do I need to do that in Ableton or another DAW later?

  • @andowrites said:

    @0tolerance4silence said:
    I think Gadget still offers the best “all in one” experience on iOS. Depending on your genre, it could be enough for full production - most sounds / fx covered.

    Is Gadget a good environment for creating ambient, contemplative, drone, soundscapes? I'm particularly interested to layer pianos, cello, over background washes of organic and ambient sounds.

    One question. Can I import samples or recordings (field recordings for example) into Gadget Pro, or do I need to do that in Ableton or another DAW later?

    You can import samples. There is a fairly good browser/file management in place.
    I wouldn’t recommend Gadget for ambient/free floating music. It’s a pattern based sequencer. You can work around it probably, but it’s not the best suited environment. Also with ambient I would definitely want to use some of the excellent external stuff available (AU reverbs etc.) as the built in fx options are optimised for efficiency not quality. Would be nice to have at least separate IAA outputs... but probably something is coming to open Gadget further up.

  • @0tolerance4silence said:

    @andowrites said:

    @0tolerance4silence said:
    I think Gadget still offers the best “all in one” experience on iOS. Depending on your genre, it could be enough for full production - most sounds / fx covered.

    Is Gadget a good environment for creating ambient, contemplative, drone, soundscapes? I'm particularly interested to layer pianos, cello, over background washes of organic and ambient sounds.

    One question. Can I import samples or recordings (field recordings for example) into Gadget Pro, or do I need to do that in Ableton or another DAW later?

    You can import samples. There is a fairly good browser/file management in place.
    I wouldn’t recommend Gadget for ambient/free floating music. It’s a pattern based sequencer. You can work around it probably, but it’s not the best suited environment. Also with ambient I would definitely want to use some of the excellent external stuff available (AU reverbs etc.) as the built in fx options are optimised for efficiency not quality. Would be nice to have at least separate IAA outputs... but probably something is coming to open Gadget further up.

    Thank you, that's so helpful. Yes, I would love to use Gadget but import it into AUM. There are a few synth sounds I'd love to use. That would be so helpful, and would make it an instant buy. If only Korg would deliver that.

  • i make downtempo, ambient, chilled out stuff...
    i love gadget to work in..
    but... as mentioned it is a bit more restrictive than something like aum, and every ios daw is missing something that you want anyway, gadget is no different...
    you can set the length of each pattern and all the usual freedoms you would expect, but you won’t be able to load in your blackhole / shimmer reverbs to each instrument, i think the gadget regular reverb is weak and for doing large shimmer stuff, and their actual shimmer is terrible , that’s just my opinion tho.
    i just load gadget in aum and slap a reverb on the whole project, works great if you don’t plan on using drums or bass you don’t want reverbed in gadget, i use drum computer along side it to get my drums going if i chose to use an external reverb... but i do a lot just inside gadget, export and season later..
    i use gadget all the time tho, having multiple instances of your korg synths that aren’t auv3 work really great there, light on cpu and so quick to sequence, and add modulation.
    most the songs that i actually finish are from gadget tho since it’s fast and easy to come back to a project, everything stays how you left it.

    my opinion, get it. even works great on a smaller phone since it’s so well organized, it’s essential to me and very fun and productive

  • @reasOne said:
    i make downtempo, ambient, chilled out stuff...
    i love gadget to work in..
    but... as mentioned it is a bit more restrictive than something like aum, and every ios daw is missing something that you want anyway, gadget is no different...
    you can set the length of each pattern and all the usual freedoms you would expect, but you won’t be able to load in your blackhole / shimmer reverbs to each instrument, i think the gadget regular reverb is weak and for doing large shimmer stuff, and their actual shimmer is terrible , that’s just my opinion tho.
    i just load gadget in aum and slap a reverb on the whole project, works great if you don’t plan on using drums or bass you don’t want reverbed in gadget, i use drum computer along side it to get my drums going if i chose to use an external reverb... but i do a lot just inside gadget, export and season later..
    i use gadget all the time tho, having multiple instances of your korg synths that aren’t auv3 work really great there, light on cpu and so quick to sequence, and add modulation.
    most the songs that i actually finish are from gadget tho since it’s fast and easy to come back to a project, everything stays how you left it.

    my opinion, get it. even works great on a smaller phone since it’s so well organized, it’s essential to me and very fun and productive

    I'm so happy you said this, because I feel like it's a good way to go. I also have a Korg Nanokey Studio and the integration is perfect for me for a mobile setup. I also like the fun aspect, and that I can run it on the phone. I'm going to go for it. Thanks again.

  • My two cents

    No. It’s 2020 iOS made a huge leap and we have wonderful alternatives

  • The guys already gave some nice responses @andowrites, but I consider Gadget intersting for ambient. The grid may be an issue depending on your workflow, but I think i'ts manageable (and I already saw people doing ambient soundscapes on grooveboxes like the Electribes or MC-303, so no problem there)

    And some of the gadgets like Helsinki, Kiev, Chiang Mai and others sound really great as soundscapes.

    oh... btw, just recalled this proof of concept I did when I saw someone dissing the chiptuney gadgets as useless for non-chiptunes:
    (I used Kamata, Tokyo and Kingston)

  • I'd say for $20 it's a no brainer. Since you already have a lot of Korg synths, what Gadget will give you is multiple instances which you can currently only have with KEW and Module as AUv3s.

    On top of that, Gadget is CPU friendly. On my 2017 iPad I can easily run more than 16 synth channels with a bunch of insert effects, while in AUM, with AUv3s, the CPU maxes out much earlier.

    I love using AUM and creating loops which I then import into Gadget for arranging.

    Keep in mind that, while you have audio tracks in Gadget, if you want to import your own samples you'll need an IAP. Gadget has 3 types of samplers - Bilbao (drum sampler - 16 samples), Abu Dhabi (slicer - single sample) and Vancouver (chromatic - two layered samples). All IAPs are currently on sale at around $10 each.

  • @andowrites said:

    @reasOne said:
    i make downtempo, ambient, chilled out stuff...
    i love gadget to work in..
    but... as mentioned it is a bit more restrictive than something like aum, and every ios daw is missing something that you want anyway, gadget is no different...
    you can set the length of each pattern and all the usual freedoms you would expect, but you won’t be able to load in your blackhole / shimmer reverbs to each instrument, i think the gadget regular reverb is weak and for doing large shimmer stuff, and their actual shimmer is terrible , that’s just my opinion tho.
    i just load gadget in aum and slap a reverb on the whole project, works great if you don’t plan on using drums or bass you don’t want reverbed in gadget, i use drum computer along side it to get my drums going if i chose to use an external reverb... but i do a lot just inside gadget, export and season later..
    i use gadget all the time tho, having multiple instances of your korg synths that aren’t auv3 work really great there, light on cpu and so quick to sequence, and add modulation.
    most the songs that i actually finish are from gadget tho since it’s fast and easy to come back to a project, everything stays how you left it.

    my opinion, get it. even works great on a smaller phone since it’s so well organized, it’s essential to me and very fun and productive

    I'm so happy you said this, because I feel like it's a good way to go. I also have a Korg Nanokey Studio and the integration is perfect for me for a mobile setup. I also like the fun aspect, and that I can run it on the phone. I'm going to go for it. Thanks again.

    ya man, it’sa great mobile environment, i pull gadget up so often and create stuff in minutes that would take a lot more other ways. not a bad tool in the kit and korg stuff sounds spectacular!

  • What I would say is that I get more songs done in Gadget, I find it a very productive environment, very easy to get an idea down and then expand on it. And all of the synths sound good as you would expect from Korg.

  • @branis said:
    Keep in mind that, while you have audio tracks in Gadget, if you want to import your own samples you'll need an IAP. Gadget has 3 types of samplers - Bilbao (drum sampler - 16 samples), Abu Dhabi (slicer - single sample) and Vancouver (chromatic - two layered samples). All IAPs are currently on sale at around $10 each.

    I thought you could use Zurich for that. I never bothered, because I prefer exporting gadget audio to BM3 or Cubasis 2 anyways :tongue:

  • You can use Zurich to load audio files, but you can't trigger them with midi notes, they always starts at the beginning of the part.

  • @branis said:

    Keep in mind that, while you have audio tracks in Gadget, if you want to import your own samples you'll need an IAP. Gadget has 3 types of samplers - Bilbao (drum sampler - 16 samples), Abu Dhabi (slicer - single sample) and Vancouver (chromatic - two layered samples). All IAPs are currently on sale at around $10 each.

    Thanks @branis. What would be the pros and cons of choosing between Abu Dhabi and Vancouver, from an ambient music perspective?

  • Thanks, @branis... makes sense using the others (which I think are great)

    @andowrites I still don't have Vancouver (maybe i'll get it now on sale :lol:), but I recall videos mentioning it using only short wave lengths

    but it seems good as an instrument to use for ambient anyways

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  • @andowrites said:

    @branis said:

    Keep in mind that, while you have audio tracks in Gadget, if you want to import your own samples you'll need an IAP. Gadget has 3 types of samplers - Bilbao (drum sampler - 16 samples), Abu Dhabi (slicer - single sample) and Vancouver (chromatic - two layered samples). All IAPs are currently on sale at around $10 each.

    Thanks @branis. What would be the pros and cons of choosing between Abu Dhabi and Vancouver, from an ambient music perspective?

    I don't make ambient so I'm probably not the best person to answer, but I'll give my best to answer :)

    Technically, the difference is that in Abu Dhabi you can load one sample and set 16 slices that you can individually trigger with MIDI. You can also set volume, panning, fx level, pitch and more for every individual slice.

    In Vancouver you can load two samples layered on top of each other. You can set sample start, end and loop points. You can also individually set tune, level, attack and release. Samples are spread out to the entire MIDI range so you can play melodies.

    For example you could load a sample and play it several octaves lower to get some interesting drones. In Bilbao and Abu Dhabi you can pitch samples max +- 2 octaves.

    Maximum individual sample length is 5 sec I believe. I think that's an iOS limitation due to RAM management.

  • These two albums of mine are entirely Gadget (+ vocals). File under ‘pop’.

    https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ianktindale/emfN
    https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ianktindale/art--crime--magic

    Majority of the music was made on the tube on the way to and from work every day, mostly on iPhone, sometimes on iPad. Gadget is superb for that, no worrying about hooking stuff up in the software and apps realm.
    First one was vocal capture and mastered in Logic Pro, second one vocal capture and mastered in Auria. (Sorry for plugging my product again, but, y’know, …Gadget).

  • @david_2017 said:
    My two cents

    No. It’s 2020 iOS made a huge leap and we have wonderful alternatives

    So perhaps you can name some of those alternatives? Just because something has been around for a couple of years doesn't mean it's not worth it a few years later on.

    I'm a huge fan of gadget; It's a very complete environment which allows for extreme fast song ideas sketching/creating. It's very easy to use, sounds good, so I don't see why it's not a good option in 2020?

  • I feel really caged inside Gadget. If you are OK with the locked in system and you are liking it, go for it.
    For any synth or FX I have a choice of different tools to pick from in any other host (AUv3).

    I said my 2 cents. Who cares? I didn’t meant to offend anyone ;)
    Gadget is not my workflow.

    @Andrik said:

    @david_2017 said:
    My two cents

    No. It’s 2020 iOS made a huge leap and we have wonderful alternatives

    So perhaps you can name some of those alternatives? Just because something has been around for a couple of years doesn't mean it's not worth it a few years later on.

    I'm a huge fan of gadget; It's a very complete environment which allows for extreme fast song ideas sketching/creating. It's very easy to use, sounds good, so I don't see why it's not a good option in 2020?

  • edited November 2020

    @mangecoeur said:

    Am I right in thinking Gadget gives you more freedom to experiment with patches and that you can take module pro patches insert them into gadget change what you want and then send them back to module pro and use them in AUM?

    Nope. Owning Module only enables a set of additional 'gadgets' within Gadget, each one specialising in a subset of Module sounds (e.g. Salzburg gadget does piano, Glasgow has the various orchestral ones, etc). Exactly the same sounds with the same controls, no export facilities. Same is true for other synths, e.g. owning iMonoPoly (one of my favourites!) enables the 'Montpellier' gadget - same sounds, same controls (slightly different UI).

    As for whether it's worth buying Gadget, it depends on whether you want to use Gadget. Since there is no AUv3 support, you should get it if you want to use it to make music by itself. Personally i think it's really good, since I'm more of a hobbyist it gives you a really nice balance of features without being too complicated, with an ableton-like workflow (and ableton project export). But if you are not interested in that, then there's no need.

    Thank you!

    That's a real shame. So basically the same limited editing as Module Pro?

    Also is there audio recording for vocals, guitar or is it sample import rather than real time audio recording?

  • It’s an absolute must...honestly who cares if it’s not an AUV3, the things u can do within the environment are astounding in my opinion...it’s the first thing I ever purchased (I have thousands of dollars worth of music apps now), and it’s still the thing I use the most...for the price of a pizza even if u hated it, nothing is lost...u get soooo much for so little.

  • edited November 2020
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • @BCKeys said:
    https://soundcloud.com/booh-yahh/antibodies

    I'm not used to sharing what I do but this is a cover in progress, for a friend who gives guitar lessons and who will use it for a next concert with his students. Well, for the moment, confinement, no lessons and no concert in sight...
    In short, it's not mixed, not finished, needs a lot of adjustments and humanization for drums, well in the state of a model and the guitar part is disastrous (hey I’m not a real guitarist ! 😃)
    But the idea is here, just to show that we can make something else than ambient with Gadget 😉

    And again, to me covering is really a good way to progress because it forces ear training to notes, sounds, mix, mastering etc love it !

    Edit : the original is here https://youtu.be/F2t_jIhQLjE

    I tried clicking on the soundcloud link and it says item is not there or been removed.

  • Speaking of Korg Gadget, when you buy the bundle, do you get Montpellier or Pompei? What is the difference between Montpellier, Pompei and Polysix? If I get Montpellier, is this the same exact app that the KORG Polysix that I can buy on the AppStore? Thank you

  • Not my go to daw but definitely worth having if you like the clip launch workflow, especially if it’s half off. First of all, all the Korg synths you listed that you already have will open as Gadgets, 2nd, it has excellent export options. I rarely finish entire songs mix wise in Gadget, because either I’m exporting them as Ableton projects and mixing them there or adding plugins or other desktop plugin synths in Ableton and exporting stems to ProTools and mixing them, or just exporting audio stems and using any daw I want, either desktop or IOS/iPad,
    Or use it to make a bunch of clips/loops for Blocs Wave. You can also just export midi, though I rarely do that.
    At the end of the day I never feel boxed in with Gadget because what you do doesn’t have to stay in Gadget, plus there’s a Gadget to sequence external synths and apps outside of Gadget. Someone more than likely mentioned that in the other comments but I’m too lazy to read all of them lol.
    But also, you can always download Gadget LE just to check out the workflow, but it’s EXTREMELY limited, only 3 instruments and 3 tracks, and you can’t use the effects, but you can take the sequencer for a spin. 🤷🏽‍♂️

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  • Btw, you can use Gadget as a synth rack and send midi to it from the sequencer of your choice.

  • @BCKeys said:

    @Sandstorm said:

    @BCKeys said:
    https://soundcloud.com/booh-yahh/antibodies

    I'm not used to sharing what I do but this is a cover in progress, for a friend who gives guitar lessons and who will use it for a next concert with his students. Well, for the moment, confinement, no lessons and no concert in sight...
    In short, it's not mixed, not finished, needs a lot of adjustments and humanization for drums, well in the state of a model and the guitar part is disastrous (hey I’m not a real guitarist ! 😃)
    But the idea is here, just to show that we can make something else than ambient with Gadget 😉

    And again, to me covering is really a good way to progress because it forces ear training to notes, sounds, mix, mastering etc love it !

    Edit : the original is here https://youtu.be/F2t_jIhQLjE

    I tried clicking on the soundcloud link and it says item is not there or been removed.

    @Sandstorm said:

    @BCKeys said:
    https://soundcloud.com/booh-yahh/antibodies

    I'm not used to sharing what I do but this is a cover in progress, for a friend who gives guitar lessons and who will use it for a next concert with his students. Well, for the moment, confinement, no lessons and no concert in sight...
    In short, it's not mixed, not finished, needs a lot of adjustments and humanization for drums, well in the state of a model and the guitar part is disastrous (hey I’m not a real guitarist ! 😃)
    But the idea is here, just to show that we can make something else than ambient with Gadget 😉

    And again, to me covering is really a good way to progress because it forces ear training to notes, sounds, mix, mastering etc love it !

    Edit : the original is here https://youtu.be/F2t_jIhQLjE

    I tried clicking on the soundcloud link and it says item is not there or been removed.

    Oh sorry, it was my first try on SoundCloud, now it should be ok .. I hope 😋

    That was really cool! I think your selling yourself short here. I really enjoyed your cover and the original.

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