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Live performance recommendations?
This forum has been great so far in helping me put together a live setup for my wife using an iPad Air 2 with a Casio PX-160 and M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 keyboards as controllers. So far I had set her up with iM1 in multi-mode with a few patches pre-configured for each of the two controllers and then she can mute the ones she wasn't using.
The only drawbacks to the setup so far are:
1.) iM1 is great for ambient/pad sounds but it's grand piano or any of its piano sounds for that matter are not very convincing
2.) Ability to control the app is a bit challenging in a live situation, even if it's just muting and unmuting the patches.
I think I can address #1 with Korg Module and the Ivory IAP which should be an improvement over iM1. The problem is how do we use pad sounds from iM1 and still use the piano from Module at the same time? I was thinking of AUM but is this the best solution? It also seems that AUM could help with issue #2 especially if I wanted to invested in some type of controller with knobs. Unfortunately the two keyboards we have right now do not have fader knobs. From watching the AUM demo, its interface seems like it would be easier to control than an app like iM1 when playing live even without hardware knobs.
Overall I'd just like to hear your input on what's working for you in a live performance situation. What apps are you using? How are you managing them? I know this question has been asked many times as I've done a few searches on it, but I figured I'd ask again since things seem to change so quick in the iOS world. 
Comments
Audiobus, AUM, Audiobus Remote, Patterning, Samplr, Modstep are my core apps. I use lots more than this including Sector and WOW/Turnado being usual suspects, along with loads of AUs such as Viking synths, Ruismakers and other various effects.
You could get nearly infinite mileage out of that selection.
if you're using M1 and Module, Why aren't you using Gadget? With Gadget you'll have unlimited channels to use M1 and the Piano, along with any other of the built in instruments. It's perfect for live performances because it uses a vertical scene based arranger, like Ableton. Switching scenes is tempo synced meaning you can switch scenes with the touch of a finger and not lose a beat.
Big fan of AUM here. I do find though that using any of my AU apps instead of IAA apps seems to be just a tad more reliable. This may just be one persons findings though. The main reason I think is when changing saved setups, many IAAs remain as ghost apps.
The main problem with my setup is changing sounds due to my liking for using one reverb sound for all the different instruments on its own channel. I've had to make new presets with any inbuilt reverbs turned off.
The other thing I do is have an AU EQ on each channel along with limiter after the channel reverb to avoid any problem spiky sounds.
I can use mutes and solos quite easily. Yeah it's not the ultimate set up, but it does keep things pretty simple.
Only problem is I don't yet have an AU piano in my arsenal
Thanks for your feedback! I had given Gadget a thought but wasn't certain cause I thought it was more geared toward music production than live performance. Also with AUM I could make use of any of the korg sounds not just the ones in Gadget but I am opening to hearing more. I'd rather make a decsison before the 50% off sale korg apps ends.
AUM will work perfectly for what you want to accomplish if you have a second ipad or iphone you can use that to control the parameters on iM1 and whatever piano app you get if you don't want to spend more on the another controller.
@Fruitbat1919 thanks for your reply. I had actually gotten the idea to use aum in your reply to me in the iwavestaion thread. Do you think the korg apps will present reliability issues with aum since they are IAA? I certainly don't want something crashing when she is on stage lol -- I know this is always a possibility with software but I don't want to make matters worse if there's known issues.
Module sometimes is buggy with background audio and switching apps from AUM... but the best chance IMO.
Also check GTL approach even you are working towards studio since it has reverb delay for "each recorded loop" and maybe could improve your workflow...
Simplify bus routing in AUM could be useful too and don't forget about garageband neither
If you use AUM you can map the mute controls (as well as solo or faders) to a midi device, I do this with a Korg NanoKontrol2 (but you could use any midi controller with momentary switches), this works really well...something you cannot do with Gadget unless you get the NanoKontrol Studio, the difference in price between the 2 devices is over £100.
That being said, if you do use gadget instead and have it in SIMPLE MIDI mode, then all you need do is select the track that has the instrument you want to play on it as in this mode MIDI is only received by the selected channel. But as you already know, you can only use Gadget sounds if you do it this way. That may or may not be a bad thing, there are a ton of sounds to be had from Gadget.
Thanks guys, looks like its down to Gadget vs AUM. Sounds like AUM is more versatile but Gadget could be better from a stability standpoint if I'm just using Korg apps and can live with the limited preset selection
Gadget does seem a viable option for sure. You can always roll your own presets. The Gadget instruments have an awful lot more tweakability than may be first apparent.
Can Gadget support two keyboards simultaneously? Can I have one keyboard mapped to an iM1 instrument and another keyboard mapped to another iM1 or Module instrument ? I assume I'd have to use separate MIDI channels for each keyboard as I'm currently doing within Multi mode on iM1.
EDIT: I just read that Gadget doesn't save MIDI states. So if i get a few gadget's setup how I want them with various MIDI channels configured, it doesn't save when you close out of the app? That's kinda annoying and could be a deal breaker. I don't want to have to reconfigure this every week.
I can't imagine any other route than AB/AUM with Audiobus Remote device
i'm currently working out a live setup only using gadget. seems to me it would be the most stable, relying on only one program, almost any type of sound i would want, plus letting me setup up backing tracks (either sparse or as complicated as i want). also permits me to loop a current section if i want to keep a groove that is working for longer.
do you need to control two sounds at once? because if it's just switching sounds that is pretty easy with simple midi, just touch the channel/sound you want.
Get both. AUM is cheap. Gadget isn't but you already have Darwin and maybe Module. With Gadget your wife will have the added benefit of having a performance tool and a songwriting sketch pad as well. Ivory IAP isn't the best piano on the market in terms of sample quality but you get the stability, support and ease of use of a Korg product. If you've got enough cash you can get Sampletank but you'll need a separate Ipad with a lot of storage because you'll want to get the Grand and Ielectric and Miroslav etc etc. Problem with those apps though is they can crash on a lower end device. Definitely get AUM. It is quite stable and useful in a variety of ways.
I don't know if an Ipad can handle two midi inputs. Maybe you can get a midi hub from Novation. There are midi apps on the store intended for such configurations also. I honestly don't know. Assigning midi on the fly is easy enough. The other thing you might want to consider is another Ipad. If she's using two synths for a performance she will have the benefit of two screens to see what's going on. Ipad music apps use a protocol called Ableton Link that allow numerous Ipads and a computer to sync in time through a wifi network, such as a portable hotspot.
Fun to see a screenshot full of apps I don't own (other than phasemaker).
Thanks for all the feedback everybody! I took the plunge and bought Gadget. I figured with it being on sale for $20 it's probably worth it and it hooks into module and iM1 perfectly. It does allow control for both keyboards assigned to two different midi channels. I figure the number one concern is stability and Gadget should provide that. Plus unless she (more like if I) decides to want to use something besides korg apps Gadget should be more than enough right now. I can always pick up aum later if need be.
@AndyPlankton you mentioned about nanokontrolatudio, does Gadget not have midi learn that can be used to map to faders in a standard midi keyboard? I hadn't checked into it before purchase as none of my controllers have faders but it would be nice to know if it was an option.
Congrats! You won't be disappointed.
FYI there is a Midi Learn
If you haven't got the PPG apps, just buy them! Just finished making my 100th WaveMaker preset yesterday
They are perennially on the list but I seem to waver between "I need no more synths!" and being occasionally overcome with desire for the new hotness.
My new found poverty is working for me - no new apps anymore now
The Midi learn does not work for faders and mute/solo buttons in Gadget right? Unless I get Nanokontrol Studio?
It'd be nice to get something cheap like a Nanokontrol2 just to have a hardware surface for this. I saw from Andy's post above that Gadget does not support all these functions on a generic midi controller.
Correct...Well sort of....the mixer functions only work when in Korg Native Mode and not via standard MIDI....HUI mode in there would be nice then I could use my LaunchControlXL...
Agreed
Well it depends on the controller. You could map faders to the output levels of each gadget. If you wanted to do something like a mute you'd have to map the output volume to an on off type of controller like a button.
GDget has two midi types: easy and advanced. With easy turned on all you do is activate the channel you want to control and start playing or automating. That's what the MIDI buttons on the mixer do. With advand mode those buttons become assignable midi channels to the midi inputs.
I don't know if gadget remembers midi configurations or not. I'd be interested to find out how it works for you. I use Gadget with NanoKey Studio for production. It's not perfect but it suits my. needs for on the fly songwriting.
Another app you might be interested in is Modstep. With Modstep you can set up numerous midi tracks and assign them to gadget channels. Modstep does support MIDI mute meaning muting the track prevents the notes from playing while not affecting the audio (not chopping off a reverb tail for example) and it is MiDI assignable and it will remember the midi state. You can do all kinds of advanced things like set the size of the grid from 4/4 so it's nice and big or 16/16 so it looks like Launchpad. It uses clips like Ableton. Luckily they recently added a bunch of MIDI mappings so your controller may already be mapped with Modstep. You can route your controller through one channel into the separate gadget channels, which also have new MIDI mappings. Between Gadget and Modstep and a controller you've got a staggering amount of control. But I would advise learning one app at a time.
Thanks @LucidMusicInc and @AndyPlankton
I setup Gadget in advanced MIDI mode yesterday so that I could assign a few instruments to one channel for the PX-160 keyboard and then other instruments on a separate channel for the keystation mini keyboard. This seems to work fine. The keystation mini actually has a volume knob on it that appears to control the output level of the instruments running on that channel, but I don't see the faders in Gadget changing. I'm assuming this is just due to how MIDI is controlling the volume in this setup?
The ideal scenario is if I could find a way to setup a small controller like the nanokontrol2 that would allow for output levels to be controlled as well as muted. I have a four port powered USB hub that is running both keyboards into the CCK so adding another device wouldn't be a big deal if there was value in doing so.
Open the gadget screen as you adjust the volume. Youll see it's the rotary volume knob that is changing. Maybe in a future update we'll see the mixer get midi implementation as well. Right now it's an either or solution. You can either map the volume to a fader or an on off button, meaning volume would be at either 0 or 100%.
Thanks @LucidMusicInc I just got home and checked this out. Adjusting the volume knob on the keystation is adjusting the volume on the output within the gadget just as you said it would. So I could map an on/off toggle or up/down adjustment on the output volume but not both. Makes sense, well not really, but I get what you're saying
Here's my next question. If I was to get a hardware controller with buttons on it, could I map a button to each gadget individually to kinda get a mute on/off type function? I noticed the keystation knob was adjusting the output volume on both gadgets using that same midi channel. Is there any way to get around that?
Sometimes the simplistic solution is the best one. Control the volume with a controller and control mutes with the onscreen mixer or vice versa.
Mixer faders can be automated. Ableton live used a concept called dummy clips. basically clips dedicated to midi automation. This can be don in gadget also. Create blank scenes, record various mixer automations like mutes and play those clips.
AFAIK the problem at hand is korg hasn't developed the mixer functions to be midi mapped as of yet. Volume faders can be midi controlled because their CCs are shown in the list of automation parameters. Output volume is the gadget and mixer level is the mixer. No learn function has been listed for the mixer... yet.
There is a controller called NanoKontrol built for gadget, that's the one you should look into getting if you can find a vendor.
The other workaround is sequencing with modstep sending midi to gadget.
Hi all, I know this is an OLD thread, but I'm here now facing a similar question.
Can I reactivate this thread with this question, or should I start new?
The question: I'm using the air2 with Korg Module, Garage Band, and Set List Maker. I need something that can make all these work together seamlessly. Will AUM do it? I don't really know how to phrase my question, but my end result is I need Set List Maker to send program changes through that would activate either the Garage Band or the Korg Module, tell it what program to load, and mute the other sound source. Similarly, having SLM operate both in a split or layered fashion would also be optimal.
If I add more sound module apps it would be the same question just adding in another app.
Right now (from what I can gather) SLM with the MIDI add-on cannot control Korg Module or Garage Band like I'm trying to, which leads me to believe I need something like AB3 or AUM.
Any help would be appreciated --
Alanon
AB3 with Midiflow plugins or AUM with Midiflow app.