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How has your app use changed since AU?
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I'm finding I rarely use anything beyond Gadget and AU sound sources these days. Yes, I've not managed to delete all the other sound sources I rarely use. SynthMaster, SampleTank and even greats like Galileo are just languishing unused. All my non Gadget and non AU sound sources are just wasting away, as they no longer fit into my setup.
IAA has pretty much shown itself to be let's say, 'less than dependable'. I rarely load an IAA sound source beyond using it as a standalone app. Even my vast collection of FX apps have become ignored if they do not have an AU extension.
Has AU changed your setup? Are you still using IAA? Like myself, do you dream of the day when greats like Model 15 and Animoog get AU extensions, even if just cut down 'player' versions?
Comments
I am partially ashamed to say that I have never used AU (I am not even sure what it is and how it works
) I have been quite happy sending sounds (mainly Gadget or from an external Roland TB-3) through a range of effects into Audioshare - before sending the results into blocswave for clip selection- before sending to launchpad or Cubasis. Am I missing out on something that I should really give my attention to? I sometimes wonder if I am alone in this? I have always assumed that it will not really do anything that Audiobus wouldn't take care of- so haven't been moved to fully explore it all.
Never liked IAA so i've always avoided it as much as possible
I love AU but on my air 1, i find the cpu usage to be fairly high even with just 4 AU synths running at the same time so recently i've switched almost exclusively to all in one solutions. Caustic, Gadget pre update (drains battery way too fast for my liking after the update), FLMS or Cubasis with the excellent micrologue
If i had a newer ipad i'm pretty sure i'd use AU whenever possible
AU made modular software setups a bit more stable and workable.
Yep.
I'm a LINK guy
So far AU didn't really matter to me , could change though in the (near) future
shrug I love IAA. I never have a problem with the apps I use, so it's great. Love AU too, but the only really high quality ones are the brambos stuff. None of the Blamsoft effects please me, and I have trouble with the Klevgrand ones glitching up in Auria. The Apesoft ones are good, but I only use them for extreme purposes. Plus the only great synths are Phase/Troublemaker. I prefer the full versions of the PPG apps and iSEM, and Enkl as mentioned fails too often.
AB, however, has become obsolete in my book (til Thursday or whenever 3 is out, when I'll at least give it a spin again).
Same here (although not partially, not even ashamed). AU couldn't work on my iPad 2, and since I moved over to a Pro, I've hardly changed the way I do anything.
It's making it closer to the desktop experience for me. As soon as an app has an AUv3 version I'll use that 95% of the time unless I need functions it only has in the full version for some reason. I'll save different setups with AUs in as templates in AUM as Mix busses. Less app jumping between screens makes you more focused imo.
AU changed everything. It's the only way I will use a synth. However I keep the non-AU synths on my iPad just so I can be notified when they finally go AU.
Animoog and Model 15 would be dream AU's but since last year Moog told me that there were technical problems that prevent this.
There's hope for Synthmaster though.
Nothing has changed for me, I still use what I know works and don't use what I know doesn't. I am still making throw away tunes / jams which is probably why I haven't noticed any real change.
I am also still an idiot
, and still wish making music was my day job.
I'm experimenting with AUs and think they have great potential. Looking forward to more DAW support for AU automation. IAA is still my mainstay with occasional AB usage. It's great to have so many choices.
I'm using the iPad since 2012 and I'm baffled that it's still such a PITA to connect apps. No matter if it's IAA or AU, it all still feels half-baked and cumbersome.
I tend to use all-in-one apps like Gadget or Garageband. This is where iOS really shines, IMHO.
That's not to say that I don't use other apps - but mostly as sampling source or jamming tool. And defintely not in an iOS production environment.
Is there a document somewhere that basically says "the doorway in for AU, for the appreciation and the usage of" in effect? Or, should someone wish to give birth to such a document? I've stayed away from AU, as I say, because my iPad 2 didn't do them, and it all passed me by to the extent that it's now a big complicated club of its own now, and I'm outside. Should I ask the bouncers what it is like in there?
This is my new setup:
I use AUM to record any snippets of audio or loops.
I tidy them up in AudioShare.
I send them to BlocsWave to generate ideas from the bits and pieces I'm collecting in there.
When I have something, I export the project to AudioShare for use in Gadget as audio clips.
I have Gadget linked to AUM via Audiobus to play live sounds over the backing track made in Gadget. If it sounds decent, I will record it.
If I ever get something worth taking beyond this simple backing track / live sound stage, I will export it all to Auria Pro for taking it to the next level.
The only thing I'm really missing is a way to make song notes within Gadget. I think I've finally found a way that suits.
The reason I use AU's more, is that while changing live sound sets within AUM to play along to my Gadget tracks, I've found they are much more stable!
Your not alone. I take ideas from Figure and AudioCopy them to Gadget/Bilbao to expand on. Then I AudioCopy the tracks into Auria for mixing & mastering.
Not sure about such a document. It would depend on which AU Host you're using. The manual for your favorite AU HOST is good place to start. @brambos is the most knowledgeable and helpful resource for AU questions.
Here's my latest AU compatibility list:
2017.03.23 iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3)
AU HOST
Audio Evolution Mobile Studio (Davy Wenzler) *instruments & effects •iPad only
Auria (WaveMachine Labs, Inc.) *instruments & effects •iPad only
Auria LE (WaveMachine Labs, Inc.) *instruments & effects •iPad only
Auria Pro (WaveMachine Labs, Inc.) *instruments & effects •iPad only
AUM (Kymatica) *instruments & effects •universal
Cubasis (Steinberg) *instruments & effects •iPad only
Cubasis 2 (Steinberg) *instruments & effects •iPad only
Ferrite Recording Studio (Wooji Juice Ltd) *effects only •universal
GarageBand (Apple) *instruments & effects •universal
Helio Workstation (Peter Rudenko) *instruments & effects •iPad only
midiSTEPs (Arthur Kerns) *instruments & effects •iPad only
modstep (AppBC) *instruments & effects •iPad only
MultiTrackStudio (Giel Bremmers) *instruments & effects •iPad only
n-Track Studio MultiTrack Recorder (n-Track) *instruments & effects •universal
Orsilus (Jamaine Obeng) *instruments & effects •iPad only
TIZE (Tize Music, Inc.) *effects only •universal
Twisted Wave Audio Editor (Twisted Wave) *effects only •universal
Twisted Wave Recorder (Twisted Wave) *effects only •universal
zMors Modular (mobile only) *instruments & effects •universal
INSTRUMENT PLUGINS
Addictive Pro (VirSyn) •iPad only
Baervaag - FM Synthesizer (Klevgränd produkter AB) •universal
BASSalicious (MIDIculous LLC) •iPad only
BeatHawk (UVItouch) •universal
Colossus Piano (Christian Shoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte) •universal
CMP Grand Piano (Christian Shoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte) •universal
Enkl monophonic synth (Klevgränd produkter AB) •iPad only
FM Essentials (Yamaha) •universal
Heavy Brass (Crudebyte) •iPad only
iCathedral Organ (Christian Shoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte) •iPad only
iDensity (apeSoft) •universal
iSEM (Arturia) •iPad only
iSymphonic Orchestra (Christian Shoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte)•universal
iVCS3 (apeSoft) •universal
Jussi - Vocal Synthesizer (Klevgränd produkter AB) •universal
KQ MiniSynth (Ryouta Kira) •universal
NS1 (Nikolozi Pty Ltd) •iPad only
Oriental Strings (Christian Shoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte) •universal
Pads - Lush Pad Synth (Klevgränd produkter AB) •universal
Phasemaker (Bram Bros) •universal
Phonem (Wolfgang Palm PPG) •iPad only
Poison-202 Vintage MIDI Synthesizer (Dmitrij Pavlov) •universal
ReSlice (VirSyn) •universal
Ruismaker (Bram Bros) •universal
Ruismaker FM (Bram Bros) •universal
Sensual Sax (Embertone) •universal
SwarPlug (Swar Systems) •iPad only
Tines (Klevgränd produkter AB) •universal
Troublemaker (Bram Bros) •universal
Turbosounds for Accordian (Reinhard Rieder) •universal
Viking Synth (Blamsoft, Inc.) •universal
WaveGenerator (Wolfgang Palm PPG) •iPad only
WaveMapper (Wolfgang Palm PPG) •iPad only
EFFECT PLUGINS
6144 equalizer by DDMF (Christian Siedschlag) •universal
apeDelay (apeSoft) •universal
apeFilter (apeSoft) •universal
AudioEffX (VirSyn) •universal
AudioMaster Pro (Future Moments) •universal
AudioVerb (VirSyn) •universal
BandShift (VirSyn) •universal
Buttercup Bitcrush (Flora Creative Ltd.) •universal
Dahlia Delay (Flora Creative Ltd.) •universal
DC-9 Overdrive (Blamsoft, Inc.) •universal
Envelope AU Reverb by DDMF (Christian Siedschlag) •universal
Esspresso de-esser (Klevgränd produkter AB) •iPad only
F-16 Filter (Blamsoft, Inc.) •universal
frekvens (Erik Sigth) •universal
FuxEQ (mattoncino software) •universal
Haaze- Stereo Tool (Klevgränd produkter AB) •universal
Harmonizer audio effect (Aleksander Mlazev) •universal
iDensity (apeSoft) •universal
iVCS3 (apeSoft) •universal
Korvpressor - smart dynamic hotdog device (Klevgränd Produktion AB) •iPad only
Limiter - Audio Processor (Amazing Noises) •universal
Lofionic Duplicat Delay (Chris Rivers) •iPad only
Lofionic Mani Chorus (Chris Rivers) •iPad only
MicSwap: Microphone Emulator & Recorder (Future Moments) •universal
MicSwap Pro: Microphone Emulator & Recorder (Future Moments) •universal
NoLimits Audio Unit Limiter by DDMF (Christian Siedschlag) •universal
Phlox Phaser (Flora Creative Ltd.) •universal
PressIt multiband compressor (Klevgränd produkter AB) •iPad only
Remaster (Audioforge Labs Inc.) •universal
Resampler (Blamsoft, Inc.) •universal
Reverb - Feedback Delay Network (Amazing Noises) •universal
RF-1 (Kai Aras) •universal
RP-1 (Kai Aras) •universal
Saffron Saturator (Flora Creative Ltd.) •universal
SquashIt (Klevgränd produkter AB) •universal
Svep phaser, flanger, chorus (Klevgränd produkter AB) •iPad only
Tiger-lily Tremelo (Flora Creative Ltd.) •universal
ToneBridge Guitar Effects (Ultimate Guitar) •universal
Voice Rack: FX (TC-Helicon) •universal
Zero Chorus (Blamsoft, Inc.) •universal
Zero Reverb (Blamsoft, Inc.) •universal
zMors EQ (mobile only) •universal
Audio Unit extension requires iPad Mini 2, iPad 4, iPad Pro, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 6 or newer model and iOS 9 or 10.
Did I miss anything?
I'm certainly not an authority on AU but for me the main selling points are
I would add reliability when changing apps often. Love the fact that it does not open a new screen, because I often rely on a visual indication of how the bar is progressing for timing while playing. AUM gives me this and AU's let me keep AUM open along with some controls for the AU being played. IAA's often take my screen away from where I want it to be. Often this is essential if using minimal equipment when it's not possible to take lots of midi controllers.
For me the main selling point of AU is multiple instances. This is why any AU fx app is almost an instant buy. For generators, I find having to use task manager to switch to MIDI apps to sequence/control the AU generator negates any value of having not having to switch to the generator. I almost always prefer the IAA version for the built in sequencers and rarely need two of the same generator (though it's awesome to have that option (Brambros, Poison, etc).
Yeah that's why I would like to see more hosts with better midi devices built in. Imagine AUM with the Troublemaker sequencer as an option. Imagine having built in keyboards that make great use of touch as an input. Imagine mix and matching drum sounds from different apps because the host has a well thought out drum machine input device.
The future is AU if the hosts come with intelligent and creative input devices and midi control. Not there yet though.
I have used a number of synth and effect AU apps. I continue to use IAA apps. Some IAA apps have become even more useful such as Patterning, Different Drummer, and Genome for their ability to send out multiple MIDI streams and/or audio. AU has really opened up some parallel processing setups which I've enjoyed using.
Even complex synths like WaveGenerator or Beathawk are great to use in this way as I can use the standalone or IAA versions to create presets or songs and then use instances of the app in an AU setup. Even one instance of an AU in a setup is useful as it allows for state saving in an app like AUM whereas before it was exclusive to Audiobus.
The biggest disappointment with AU so far is that few AU app hosts fully implement all aspects of AU, particularly MIDI control of AU app parameters (will be super disappointed if Audiobus 3 does not support this upon release).
Audiobus 3 will definitely fill a void by providing AU type functionality for MIDI apps. In addition, I look forward to more MIDI sequencers which address the modular possibilities facilitated by AU apps.
It would also be nice if OSC were able to be implemented more frequently as its ability to route more data and connections than the MIDI standard would be welcome. I could envision a system where connections between parameters and their controllers could be created in a very visual and logical way beyond that offered by Audiobus 3. Perhaps the purchase of the Workflow app by Apple could be a step towards creating these sorts of connections and automation? This approach could also leverage network resources and connections.
While I have not found IAA stability to be a significant factor in the current and previous version of iOS, I have found it tedious to write extensive notes for non-AU or non-state saving Audiobus apps in order to recreate setups. I also find myself wishing some apps would get the AU option so I can use more than one instance of them as well.
Automatic AU host sync including transport controls is very much appreciated and IAA host sync with transport control is too rare and not always fully implemented.
With respect to the future, I reallly hope an app like KRFT becomes an AU host where you can automatically load up AU synths and FX into your setup and after that you'd just use the AU host app GUI to control them all so that you have the benefits of stability, flexibility, customization, setup recall, and to connect with a playable GUI to improve your playing. ZMors Modular has some of these characteristics; however, it's easier to play from another MIDI controller and doesn't support full AU MIDI parameter automation.
All in one solutions have never appealed to me as different developers have created intriguing tools I enjoy using. In addition, all in one solutions tend to have a lot of overhead and constraints due to their trying to be all things all of the time. I will use all in one apps although I don't limit my activities to them exclusively and will combine them with other apps.
I am definitely not a big fan of bloating AU hosts like AUM with a bunch of MIDI controllers. I'd prefer an Audiobus 3 approach or an app that is an elegant GUI focused on control like KRFT where the AU apps are hidden and the user focuses on the GUI. For me, a modular approach is much better as it allows talented developers to express themselves in ways that display their strengths rather than having several different functionalities the developer has to address resulting in a lowest common denominator bottle neck for the overall quality of the setup. Using an a la carte approach allows me to pick and choose how I create and control a setup rather than having to conform to someone else's conception of how to do so.
Yes, I like the idea of a modular approach. I like the idea of creative control over design of the controllers we use and even the host UI itself. I use AUM as an example, because I like much about its UI already, although much more could be added with a more modular approach.
I tested something along these lines a while back. I have no idea if it ever became a fully functioning app as I deleted the iOS test app a time back. It was a DJ app that was modular and you could design your control pages to some degree.
I suppose it comes down to that fine balance between immediate ease of use and full control of UI choice. While I can see that if iOS does indeed continue into the musical future, there are some incredible possibilities. I'm sure we all here have many ideas.
Maybe we could use this space to imagine some more.
At the moment I image a host that can have AU extensions place in any order we want. Say I have two AU synths as sound sources. I add to them some AU OSCs and have them routed through an AU filter to some AU FX. All of the AU can appear in their own AU window, but the host then lets me design another window full of controllers that can control any midi aspect of the AU apps.
The host gives me full design control of this wrapper that can control any aspect of not just the AU, but midi control devices of my own making. These can all be saved and fast switched between. I may make one for controlling pitch and expression. One for controlling sequences of midi or audio clips, one for controlling mixing of different channels of sound or midi information.
Every screen to be just one button push away. All the screen wrappers can be shared over the internet. All the setups can be saved at Project / Wrapper / AU level and shared easily. So I can create a wrapper for using two instances of Poison 202 through an FX. This can be shared as an empty Wrapper to put your own AU into, or shared with the full links complete to Poisons (and the FX) CC controls. If another person has the host and all AU apps needed, they can use it just the same.
The host can be made to be as simple as one lane of AudioBus to a mixer setup like AUM, all the way to a fully fledged DAW. Yes, some limitations would have to be in place to remain within the limitations of the hardware, but think of the possibilities!
Never used it. i can see the appeal. But I don't like having a bunch of windows open no matter how small and i hear you guys complain about issues you have with saving all the settings and what not and it sounds like a pain. And I got into iOS music to avoid that type of setup management.
@philowerx
zMors EQ is universal
Phlox and Saffron can be updated with the new label (Flora Creative Ltd.)
AUs are a welcome addition, but hasn't really changed anything for me.
I don't know how my app collection compares to most, but I'm guessing it's far more than average, but less than many AB forum regulars. Presently, I have 5 instruments and 8 effects that are AU compatible.
If I were forced to make a song using only AU instruments and effects, it would have been nearly impossible for me up until the recent release of BeatHawk 2, as the other 4 instruments are all synths.
IAA is cool, AB is cool, AU is cool, Link is cool, AUM is cool. With every new thing we get I just happily add it to the toolkit.
I am REALLY looking forward to AU automation in Cubasis... if and when that happens it will increase my AU usage a ton.
It sort of sounds like you're describing something like TB MIDI Stuff controlling AU, by way of AUM? This is something I have been moving toward in my own workflow, but I have so little time on my hands to work on music, that most of the time I'd just prefer to spend that time working on music. There are community templates for TB MIDI Stuff, I believe, but frankly the graphics available aren't very inspiring, either. I don't like how they "feel".
Something like KRFT (which I've only seen in videos) would be great for this.
What I wish is that we could dump MIDI altogether and use something like app APIs to assign controls. I envision about an app similar to yours. Maybe you load an AU, then link a controller module to it -- and there doesn't even need to be a GUI for that AU -- just a sound engine -- but you can hard-press a control element to bring up a list of all of the controls available for that app and just assign it on the fly. Dealing with MIDI routing, port numbers, and all that... it's not so bad, but it takes awhile to setup and generally requires either a foolproof system or good note-taking. I've lost a few projects trying to use Aleph Looper with AUM, AB, Loopy... too many moving parts and I didn't do a good job of taking notes. I still have the raw MIDI data, but the inspiration is lost for those projects.
I'm looking at KRFT and thinking: What if I could load, say, Phasemaker into it, choose from several different types of sequencers (step, tracker-style, piano roll), create different controls for each parameter (slider, knob, on/off toggle, x/y), then swipe over and do another AU synth, add a built-in looper for a wav sample, then either use AUM as a mixer, or even load an AU mixer in and control it the same way with whatever UI elements appeal the most? Swipe back and forth or even drag elements onto the same page.
Performance and monitoring would also be key for me. Being able to perform while seeing some kind of graphical representation of the song is something I miss with my current method (flipping around between disjointed apps).
Yes monitoring the performance visually is a must. At the moment iOS split modular apps approach leaves a lot to be desired, but I would really like better and more simple communication between two or more iPads really to give more screen real estate
Thanks @srcer !