Do you have any occasional hardware treats?

AndyPlankton

I might buy some drawing pins, to put up all the pictures of kit I would buy if I could

AudioGus

@supadom said:
I keep pecking on hardware but let it go after a few minutes with it.

I got volca bass, didn't like it, sold it. Then 4 months later I got volca keys, didn't like all the setting up/sync fuff = sold it. I had a mental trip of a volca sitting amongst my controller with its shiny, flashy lights providing looped analog blips but that fantasy just hasn't materialised. Probably just not enough patience on my part but more likely no time for fuffing around.

I bought korg wavedrum v2 (on impaktor developer's recommendation) for a ridiculously low price but because of the lack of control/midi I let it go and happily use impaktor instead. Very disappointed.
,
I do indulge in buying second hand acoustic gear (ukes, kimbalas, guitars, banjos, accordions) but I have a feeling the OP didn't mean those.

For me the major factor is portability and accessibility. My mission is to recreate with iPad the experience one would have with a guitar. Turn on the amp, plug your lead in, turn the volume up and off you go. I don't wanna fuff with endless cables, settings etc. Also integration of IOS with other non-electronic musical means is high on the agenda. So yeah, I'm definitely not a tweaker in that sense of the word.

I find that hardware, rather than aiding my inspiration, it totally kills it. Emulations of this or other gear in the AppStore are enough to get me excited. Albeit i do understand THAT feeling one gets when getting a new piece of electronic gear, it's just it doesn't tickle me as much anymore.

Ever take a peck on a Novation Circuit? It totaly has that 'and off you go quality' in a major way. The sounds may or may not vibe with you but the workflow and zero setup is dreamy.

ghostly606

@AudioGus said:
...The sounds may or may not vibe with you...

If not, use the editor and change 'em of course!

french_custard

it seems like i approach ios quite differently from most of you, i mostly treat it like another piece of (very flexible) hardware and then again at the end to run a mix through some "mastering" apps. the ipad sits beside (when it's not being used to watch netflix) a moog mother 32, yamaha dx 200, dsi mopho + evolver, korg electribe esx, arturia microbrute and a few different cassette multitrackers. the ability to sync the ipad to my hardware has been an interesting evolution in my music making

AudioGus

@ghostly606 said:

@AudioGus said:
...The sounds may or may not vibe with you...

If not, use the editor and change 'em of course!

I gave this advice on another thread and was schooled in oscilators and limitations and etc. that I really don't understand. So it has become my standard disclaimer when promoting the circuit.

'Yah but the nova has yahyahyah and hoohaha and blahblah blah'

AndyPlankton

@AudioGus said:

'yahyahyah and hoohaha and blahblah blah'

That's some oscillator if it can produce those sounds hehehe

[Deleted User]

@AndyPlankton said:

@AudioGus said:

'yahyahyah and hoohaha and blahblah blah'

That's some oscillator if it can produce those sounds hehehe

Just send a vocal Osc through a cows butt....does the same sound....I used to watch James Herriot

oldschoolwillie

@syrupcore said:

@oldschoolwillie said:
EMU-Sp1200, AKAI MPC 60, AKAI S950 sampler

Woa. Talk about earning a username.

lieslavish

@TGiG said:
@lieslavish pushed me over the edge to finally get a second hand BeatStep. It's purdy

Thanks!

I got your back, hommes. Don't forget to download the Arturia MIDI Control Center to get it all configured with some presets. With the right presets, the BeatStep is more than equipped to replace a MIDI keyboard for quickly entering melodies. Also don't forget to update the firmware (done through the same MIDI Control Center software), since a lot of great features have been added, including transposition of note values as configured per-preset -- in other words, if you set up a preset where the 16 pads correspond to note events for 2 octaves of the C Major scale, you can transpose it to ANY major scale by turning the big knob as of the most recent update. This way, if you have different presets for different scales, you effectively have a 2-octave MIDI keyboard at your disposal. Another great feature added via firmware update is the ability to control the sequencer's global gate-time directly from the BeatStep, itself, at any time.

An issue that I ran into with using the new transposition feature to replace a MIDI keyboard, however, is that moving by octave is somewhat difficult, since notes can only be transposed a semi-tone at a time. Therefore, what I've done is set up presets (all of which can be loaded immediately, at any time) where the 16 pads represent the chromatic scale (and a bit more), and different presets cover different octaves. This allows allows the user to jump between octaves quickly to rapidly enter notes using the BeatStep.

I could go on forever about all of the ways that the BeatStep can be used; it's such a versatile piece of equipment. If I could only take one MIDI controller with me to a deserted island, it'd be a BeatStep, for sure.

Have fun, dude!

synthandson

@JohnnyGoodyear said:

@AudioGus said:
The TNR-i app is a great recreation of the hardware but doesnt support any virtual midi which is a shame, only core midi. It has somewhat weak IAA hosting which can be fun but is kind of useless except maybe for recording to another ipad or desktop. there are no ccs or automation, just notes. Also, the sounds are not very appealing these days I think. Well maybe some fx could spice it up, plus you can load your samples, which i have yet to do.

However, like I said it does support core midi and in that way can be quite cool. I use it on my ipad mini to sync/send midi to my ipad air, novation circuit, or pc daw which works great. Sequencing up to 16 channels of midi in one super simple interface can be quite cool, particulalrly in that you can vary pattern lengths and the 'random mode' and 'bounce mode' can be hypnotic. Great potential for polyrhythms. The way you can quickly change speed, transpose, change note length per channel etc and all on the fly makes it rather flexible and fun for jamming and sketching. Kind of Fugue Machine like in a way. I think ios people could enjoy it as a core midi note sender. If it had virtual midi and supported IAA sync, it could have been really great, but for me is pretty much core midi only in its uses.

Thanks for the good input. I spent a fair amount (for me) time with it a couple of years ago, but can't say I got out what I put in. It just felt as though it should be able to do what was in my head. I'm guessing at the end of the day it was very likely the sounds, very few of which got my motor running. Pity.

I agree that the internal sounds of the TNR-i aren't so great but it really can be fun if you run synth apps with it.

Tritonman

This looks kind of interesting to me.

ion677

Yamaha reface cp or dx both look tempting. The most appealing thing would be the ability to just play. No set up time, no wires, no headphones, power cords or amps. Just turn it on and start creating.

Will

@lieslavish said:

@TGiG said:
@lieslavish pushed me over the edge to finally get a second hand BeatStep. It's purdy

Thanks!

I got your back, hommes. Don't forget to download the Arturia MIDI Control Center to get it all configured with some presets. With the right presets, the BeatStep is more than equipped to replace a MIDI keyboard for quickly entering melodies. Also don't forget to update the firmware (done through the same MIDI Control Center software), since a lot of great features have been added, including transposition of note values as configured per-preset -- in other words, if you set up a preset where the 16 pads correspond to note events for 2 octaves of the C Major scale, you can transpose it to ANY major scale by turning the big knob as of the most recent update. This way, if you have different presets for different scales, you effectively have a 2-octave MIDI keyboard at your disposal. Another great feature added via firmware update is the ability to control the sequencer's global gate-time directly from the BeatStep, itself, at any time.

An issue that I ran into with using the new transposition feature to replace a MIDI keyboard, however, is that moving by octave is somewhat difficult, since notes can only be transposed a semi-tone at a time. Therefore, what I've done is set up presets (all of which can be loaded immediately, at any time) where the 16 pads represent the chromatic scale (and a bit more), and different presets cover different octaves. This allows allows the user to jump between octaves quickly to rapidly enter notes using the BeatStep.

I could go on forever about all of the ways that the BeatStep can be used; it's such a versatile piece of equipment. If I could only take one MIDI controller with me to a deserted island, it'd be a BeatStep, for sure.

Have fun, dude!

Totally agree. I have the BS and the BSP and use them constantly. For octaves, you can use MIDIFlow.

lieslavish

@syrupcore said:
Totally agree. I have the BS and the BSP and use them constantly. For octaves, you can use MIDIFlow.

Great suggestion! MIDIFlow so strong. B-)

Goozoon

guys, i can buy akai mpd32 in box, almost new for 110eur... would you buy it these days? new mpd232 is almost 300eur

sleepless

@Goozoon said:
guys, i can buy akai mpd32 in box, almost new for 110eur... would you buy it these days? new mpd232 is almost 300eur

No. The MPDs have awful pads, despite Akai's misleading and utterly incorrect assertion that they're "genuine MPC pads". I've no idea if the new type have been improved in this area. A lot of people prefer the Korg pads, although I must admit I didn't get along with those either.

Goozoon

ok, will not buy it then. And it is big thing, heavy
will live with my 8 padded MPK225, then

i had korg nanopad2 but i hated those pads, LPD8 were much better, softer

im missing sliders

sleepless

@Goozoon said:
ok, will not buy it then. And it is big thing, heavy
will live with my 8 padded MPK225, then

i had korg nanopad2 but i hated those pads, LPD8 were much better, softer

im missing sliders

I was thinking more the padKONTROL. But that too is missing sliders...

Goozoon

and what about MPD upgraded pads? from internet, not that bad

sleepless

@Goozoon said:
and what about MPD upgraded pads? from internet, not that bad

People do seem to like the pad upgrades. In the US those things are easy to come by. I'm in the UK and nobody deals with MPC add-ons here, really. I had an awful experience importing a SCSI CF drive for my MPC3000 from the US (MPC Stuff)....didn't work, shipped it back, they wouldn't accept it back, USPS lost it for 9 months, came back battered and meant I had to pay customs tax twice for something that didn't work.

Of course, pad upgrades are less likely to be broken than a SCSI drive, but I'd be wary of some of the vendors!

Goozoon

im still biased

Samu

Sometimes yes. The latest treat was the 'Electribe 2'.

Still getting used to how much 'noise' the unit makes when beating the pads...

For the love of **** the pads should be dampened because the hits echo in the room when using headphones
(To me this is a 'product design malfunction' that should not have been passed by the Q&A department).

Don't know what the next treat will be yet, but I do know i will get the new usb3 camera-adaptor that can power the device at the same time when it's available...

josefdavid

1993-95: looping other artist music in Windows sound recorder. Lots of tempo changing and layering.
1997: Korg EM 1, Korg ES1(es1broken beyond repair 2004),
Vastax pmc 06 pro.
1998: Korg kaosspad 1(broken 2005)
2005: Numark CDX(lemon)
2010: Denon 3700 (traded for bicycle)
2012: iPad 3gen(poop) Korg Kaossilator pro(sold2013)
Apps-ikaossilator-ielectribe-figure-
2014: iPad Air2, Technics 1200,
Arturia BeatStep, Korg nanokontrol, Novation launch control,
Apps-audiobus-boom808909-beatmaker2-FM4-sunrizer-
Launchpad-ninjajamm-MiMix-Midiflow-traktordj-SAMPLR(some apps in 2013)
2015: Apps-Gadget-midilinksync-imaschine2-DJDJ-ABremote-linktomidi-
2016: MOOG theremini
Gear and apps still in use unless stated. Plus there were a lot of apps that just didn't work for me in my live jams.

JiggyWig

Have indulged in some hardware (Volcas [Bass,Sample,Keys] & Novations [Circuit,Ultranova] and a microbrute), currently breathlessly awaiting delivery of the Volca FM to the UK. Have you seen that little beauty? Wow. I need it!!

Goozoon

I have got volca bass and beats, need to buy fm, keys and sample.. And another bass

AudioGus

@Goozoon said:
I have got volca bass and beats, need to buy fm, keys and sample.. And another bass

Wish I got on the Volca installment plan at the beginning.

jbvdb

@french_custard said:
it seems like i approach ios quite differently from most of you, i mostly treat it like another piece of (very flexible) hardware and then again at the end to run a mix through some "mastering" apps. the ipad sits beside (when it's not being used to watch netflix) a moog mother 32, yamaha dx 200, dsi mopho + evolver, korg electribe esx, arturia microbrute and a few different cassette multitrackers. the ability to sync the ipad to my hardware has been an interesting evolution in my music making

I actually use it similarly in a hybrid set up.
I use it as sample fodder for an MPC 1000 and along side a bass station 2 and ableton push, all going into a motu interface and ableton live.
Still working out the workflow but it's been lots of fun
I also run a lot of the hardware back into the iPad via an io dock 2 and mix it up with effects in AUM, kind of a 2 way street between the iPad and the mpc.
My next purchase is going to be a beatstep pro I want to be able to have a step sequencer for the iPad and to have a controller to bring with me when I travel.

Oh I just started syncing fugue machine, sequencing synth apps, with live via link and it's pretty awesome, excited to add drum ideas and use that work flow more, might even add the bass station to the sequencing mix!

Telstar5

For $600.00 the new Zoom ARQ looks pretty sweet

Telstar5

french_custard

@jbvdb said:

@french_custard said:
it seems like i approach ios quite differently from most of you, i mostly treat it like another piece of (very flexible) hardware and then again at the end to run a mix through some "mastering" apps. the ipad sits beside (when it's not being used to watch netflix) a moog mother 32, yamaha dx 200, dsi mopho + evolver, korg electribe esx, arturia microbrute and a few different cassette multitrackers. the ability to sync the ipad to my hardware has been an interesting evolution in my music making

I actually use it similarly in a hybrid set up.
I use it as sample fodder for an MPC 1000 and along side a bass station 2 and ableton push, all going into a motu interface and ableton live.
Still working out the workflow but it's been lots of fun
I also run a lot of the hardware back into the iPad via an io dock 2 and mix it up with effects in AUM, kind of a 2 way street between the iPad and the mpc.
My next purchase is going to be a beatstep pro I want to be able to have a step sequencer for the iPad and to have a controller to bring with me when I travel.

Oh I just started syncing fugue machine, sequencing synth apps, with live via link and it's pretty awesome, excited to add drum ideas and use that work flow more, might even add the bass station to the sequencing mix!

i haven't settled on a permanent set up with it, likely never will. i picked up a beatstep pro recently but due to an upcoming move never really got it fully integrated. once i get settled in my new digs i'm going to experiment with putting the hardware through some of the ipad fx apps. have you (or anyone else) messed about with the ipad in a "zero input" feedback kind of way? with the fx available it seems like some wild results could be possible