Appaholics

[Deleted User]

i was thinking....it must get easier as time goes by.....

Air2 bought about 9 months ago. Currently has 224 music apps. Bought over 275 music apps. One app or iap purchase made on average for every day of ownership. Over 800 hours of music app use.

To all you guys and gals that have been using iOS for much longer, my questions are - does it get any easier? Does the above ring true for you? Do you buy less or more apps than you did from day one?

Lets hear your stories

BiancaNeve

Less - but only because I have most of them eeeeeeeeeek!

But at least most of them have been bought in sales with iTunes vouchers/credit bought at a discount - phew 

[Deleted User]

@BiancaNeve said:

Less - but only because I have most of them eeeeeeeeeek!

But at least most of them have been bought in sales with iTunes vouchers/credit bought at a discount - phew 

Hmm, was the second added comment appaholics denial per chance? Lol

[Deleted User]

I buy more, especially since I started visiting this place.

My first iPad2 was bought before Audiobus, so after a brief flurry of Korg etc. purchases I lost interest, and the iPad ended up on the shelf for a year or so. Then I heard about Audiobus and Gadget, both of which were game changers and so I dusted down the iPad,updated the iOS and had another splurge of app buying that continued apace when I got the Air 2 and could run even more stuff.

I'm getting to the stage now though that I have most of the main one's, and so apart from new releases and the odd sale I should see my buying going down a bit. Maybe.

One thing that has made me happy - when I first bought the iPad and iMS20 four years ago I thought it was all a bit of a flash in the pan, and the app and iPad would be abandoned for different platforms and hardware in a year or two. Instead the whole thing is growing, and I'm still using that iMS20 today. So despite spending loads of wonga on apps, they feel less like impulse/frivolous purchases and more like an investment in a cutting edge music making tools.

Coloobar

I've come to several realizations which led me to stop impulse-buying many types of music apps:

1.  Most iOS synths are eclipsed by VST/AU synths in overall sonic quality.

2.  Most drum machine apps out there do not give me the 'human' feel that I'm looking for, so I've turned instead to using midi drum loops like Groovemonkee.

3.  You only really need one DAW as long as it has all of the features that you need.

4.  Many effects apps are redundant with one another, so how many do you really need?

5.  Most sample-based apps take up too much space to keep on my iPad.

That said, I'm a big sucker for new midi generators and controllers, like Fugue Machine, Gestrument, etc.  They usually offer something totally unique in terms of new musical expression.

[Deleted User]

@monzo ;

yeah without doubt iOS music making has matured. Hopefully it will continue the way Computer music making has. I remember the pubic years of Computer synths and daws and look what is available now! Good times ahead me thinketh.

[Deleted User]

@Coloobar ;

I can see the distinct advantages the extra power of computers bring to the party. I will be re-entering that frey soon. The downside is, I don't have the funds to buy lots of computer music software as the higher prices make it harder to pass by my wife. So, my computer set up will be deliberately sparse and only as really needed.

The fun apps of iOS really get the creative juices flowing and mistakes cost less.

JohnnyGoodyear

AudioGus

@Fruitbat1919 said:

The fun apps of iOS really get the creative juices flowing and mistakes cost less.

Having done mostly PC DAW based stuff with a bit of hardware exploration for 25 years I find iOS is such a unique amazing place to explore and try and 'figure out'.  On the one hand there is 'less power', (however you define that) but on the other hand there are these huge vaccuums of creative opportunity (power) waiting to be explored.  The real exploration of the power of iOS is not so much trying to figure out how it can do anything and replace previous platforms/setups but in what it does unique to itself and how that integrates into the whole, which as you say is all about getting creative juices flowing.  I know people who just look at it as an inferior PC.  They tend to be more didactic than autodidactic.

AndyPlankton

You can control your spending somewhat if you give yourself a framework to work within.  As long as you have a tool to do a particular job, the only reason to buy another is because it has better sound quality or ease of use than your current one.  We all still need the same basics that were used way back when multi-track recording started.

• Something(s) to make the noises
• Something to record the noise(s)
• Something to mix the noises
• Something to record the mixed noises
• Something to make the recorded mixed noises ready for pressing onto a record

I think the exception is sound generators, but even this can be limited if you stick to one of each type.  Analogue Synth, FM Synth, WaveTable synth, Granular Synth, Sampler, Drum Machine (not strictly needed as this is just a sampler with sequencer),  same goes for effects, you do not need 20 different Reverb effect units,  just one that gives good sound quality and enough settings to be flexible.

I think it was from Graham at The Recording Revolution where I first heard that too many choices gets in the way of your workflow and creativity,  and it's right.  If you only have one compressor that you know very well you will get better results far quicker than if you have to first choose which compressor you are going to use, and then have to re-learn what settings work best on it because you have been using a different one for a while.

I know this is very idealistic,  but the basis of it is real and true. Unfortunately I'm sure that our genetic history is linked to that of the magpie.....Oooooh, what's that nice shiny thing over there !   

[Deleted User]

@AudioGus ;

Agreed iOS has its own power. I can play things on a touchscreen that are well beyond my hands on a keyboard. It's interface is a reward in many ways.

JohnnyGoodyear

@Fruitbat1919 said:

@AudioGus ;

Agreed iOS has its own power. I can play things on a touchscreen that are well beyond my hands on a keyboard. It's interface is a reward in many ways.

This is an excellent and understated point. 

[Deleted User]

@AndyPlankton ;

yes the the magpie is within me. I love a new shiny £7 app that gives me new ideas. As for the many fx apps I have, I'm in denial there....still working on that one.

JohnnyGoodyear

@Fruitbat1919 said:

@AndyPlankton ;

yes the the magpie is within me. I love a new shiny £7 app that gives me new ideas. As for the many fx apps I have, I'm in denial there....still working on that one.

My inner magpie is just kinda bummed that ten bucks seems to be the new five....

[Deleted User]

@JohnnyGoodyear ;

see her juices are flowing, she must have bought a new buzzy app!

[Deleted User]

@JohnnyGoodyear said:

@Fruitbat1919 said:

@AndyPlankton ;

yes the the magpie is within me. I love a new shiny £7 app that gives me new ideas. As for the many fx apps I have, I'm in denial there....still working on that one.

My inner magpie is just kinda bummed that ten bucks seems to be the new five....

Yep a definite steady price increase in iOS apps. Strangely, computer apps have been steadily falling in price (very steadily lol)

AndyPlankton

@Fruitbat1919 said:

@JohnnyGoodyear ;

see her juices are flowing, she must have bought a new buzzy app!

In this example also, too many choices get in the way of the workflow  

DeVlaeminck

Time to confess beeing an appaholic. OK.
Will also confess, that the term workflow does not apply, as I don't work with these apps.
I'm just playing with them. And buying new apps makes me feel good, at least until the bills arrive. Guess it's like any other hobby. And struggling to make all the devices, apps and programs play together is a part of the game. I guess you could call it playflow then...

High5denied

My name is Jayson, and I am an appaholic.  

Though, I do not wish to be intervened, or put through a treatment program, thank you.  

Rich303

I bought my iPad a year ago and most of the apps that I've wanted. So I've been buying less apps lately. But still on the lookout for new apps and sale prices every day. It's much cheaper than buying VSTs, AUs, and REs. So it's not too costly of an addiction.

[Deleted User]

@DeVlaeminck ;

Yep apps sure are great play things. I still laugh sometimes how serious some get over apps and what they have and don't have at £7. Still one of the cheapest hobbies I've ever had.

[Deleted User]

@High5denied ;

well ill you know where we are when you want help! Lol

[Deleted User]

@Rich303 ;

Low cost addiction....wanna buy some more? You know you want to!

RUST( i )K

One is too many and a thousand is never enough.

Igneous1

Apart from Flux FX play, I haven't bought any music apps for months. The only app I intend to buy in the near future is the Auria Pro upgrade.

My experience of iOS music making has been that while it's all very interesting, currently a lot of things don't fit very well with each other and the act of making music itself can be quite a frustrating task. I'm sure things will become more integrated and stable over time.

I found the frustration outweighed my sense of curiosity and exploration. Saying that, I've found a few select apps that I'm able to make music with and that's great.

funjunkie27

Buying much less lately, but unemployment has helped a lot in that.  

dwarman

I believe I was one of the first here to admit and say "hello, my name is David and I am an appoholic". Several years ago. I blame the increasing size of App space for that lasting so long. Basically, though, I am an engineering geek more than a musician (but I do aspire:).

On the topic of n Reverbs: I like to wash some sounds - Sax in particular - with reverb and a bit of delay. But so far iOS has not supported multipe instances. At least we have several excellent reverbs to choose from so I can multi-lane them in Audiobus. And yes, I have Auria so could use its excellent IAP reverbs, but they are above my wth price point so I have not (yet) gone there. The long awaited Auria Pro may change that.

AndyPlankton

@dwarman said:

At least we have several excellent reverbs to choose from so I can multi-lane them in Audiobus. 

This is a very good point.  

Crawlingwind

I have been a gear addict forever... I appreciate that with iOS, I can indulge my acquisition hunger without breaking the bank. As someone who comes from the hardware world, I am amused by the app pricing structures, and also amused by preoccupations with sale prices. I am, however, thankful for all of it.

audiblevideo

I have to say if it wasn't for audiobus id have half the number of apps that I have.

Without audiobus:
New effects unit - "how in the hell am I supposed to use this thing in my workflow? Copy and paste? iTunes? Browser?"

With audiobus:
Ahh. Now why can't I get anything to sync?! $&@!?

anickt

@Crawlingwind said:

I have been a gear addict forever... I appreciate that with iOS, I can indulge my acquisition hunger without breaking the bank. As someone who comes from the hardware world, I am amused by the app pricing structures, and also amused by preoccupations with sale prices. I am, however, thankful for all of it.

Same here...
And yes - I have way more music apps than I need or will ever use...