Groovebox // A New Beats & Synth Music Studio for iPad & iPhone

pink_sky

Gotta love some of the iOS "musician" entitlement... The devs are communicating, committed to future updates, and even the free version of the app is capable of really nice sounds and exporting. Don't spend a dime if you aren't happy with the current feature set? You still have a free quality app that you've literally done nothing to deserve.

mannix

@db909 said:
I can't stress this enough: parameter automation. We want to turn those knobs and have the turning played back. Am I the only one? This feature would make it a killer app. Because everything else is there for the groovebox angle, beautiful interface. But automation knocks it out of the park

second that!

djjuniirpops

@AmpifyxNovation how about a special price for those users wishing to buy the three IAP for the instruments.

slaq

Looks pretty neat incredible sounds, It's fun...bought all synth IAP.

realdavidai

@pink_sky said:

Synth engines sound very nice to my ears, my one huge complaint about Gadget is that is sounds so rompler-esque and I spend more time mixing/EQing/cycling through Gadgets than I do making music. Groovebox strikes a nice balance between Auxy and Gadget: deep, but not too deep, with a beautiful UI and a lot of tools to get ideas going quickly. Grooveboxes are, after all, about making music quickly and intuitively. I think some people are missing the point.

Overall, I think it's a great app that's only going to get better.

exactly my feelings

AndyPlankton

@gonekrazy3000 said:
To be honest this thing is pretty underwhelming if you already own gadget. Or a bunch of Aux with modstep, Aum etc. Sure. You can use it to feed stuff into blocs and launchpad. But gadget already has audioshare export. Which means you can already feed it into those 2 apps. Now if there was native export like how blocs feeds into launchpad it would be great. But as it is now all it has is cell export.

When exporting Project files to audioshare...the audio files are named such that when you pull them into wave...the properties are already populated for you...so the process is pretty simple, and quicker than with ModStep and Gadget....I have extensively used both Gadget and ModStep to do this exact thing....and Groovebox is by far the quickest and easiest.

If blocs wave is anything to go by, then this process will just get easier and easier

gonekrazy3000

@djjuniirpops said:
@AmpifyxNovation how about a special price for those users wishing to buy the three IAP for the instruments.

I second this. A bundle IAP would be more incentive to some of us.

kobamoto

@AmpifyxNovation said:
Hey guys, just to allay some fears from the other thread, don’t worry if v1 doesn’t have all the features you wanted, we will continue to support all of our apps with more features. For example Groovebox will be getting things like Swing, MIDI Input and Sections, so please let us know what you’d like to see.

And of course Launchpad and Blocs Wave will continue to get updates, including things like User Library improvements etc.

// Cain (Matt is currently on a plane to Sonar)

thanks for that assurance and please include midi out, sample slicing, editing, and mangling, and parameter automation.

gonekrazy3000

@AndyPlankton said:

@gonekrazy3000 said:
To be honest this thing is pretty underwhelming if you already own gadget. Or a bunch of Aux with modstep, Aum etc. Sure. You can use it to feed stuff into blocs and launchpad. But gadget already has audioshare export. Which means you can already feed it into those 2 apps. Now if there was native export like how blocs feeds into launchpad it would be great. But as it is now all it has is cell export.

When exporting Project files to audioshare...the audio files are named such that when you pull them into wave...the properties are already populated for you...so the process is pretty simple, and quicker than with ModStep and Gadget....I have extensively used both Gadget and ModStep to do this exact thing....and Groovebox is by far the quickest and easiest.

If blocs wave is anything to go by, then this process will just get easier and easier

You have a valid point regarding the import. Let's see. I'm still a bit on the fence. Might warm up more after a few more improvements. Was actually jamming with Ripplemaker and Groovebox earlier. The random variations being in the key you select is pretty useful. It's almost as good as Ripplemakers idea generator in that regard. But the piano roll needs a lot of improvements. Moving between bars Just doesn't feel right yet.

[Deleted User]

Yes, this app is positioned just right as like Figure on steroids, without the irritating social media, and with the potential to grow into a Gadget rival. Gadget is a great app, as we all know, but it does suffer from a generic sound in many though not all of its gadgets.

As Groovebox evolves, we can hopefully get the guys to add most of the features being requested, and see some integration with Blocs Wave and Launchpad, such as use of previously purchased sound packs.

[Deleted User]

@gonekrazy3000 said:
I second this. A bundle IAP would be more incentive to some of us.

>

Yes, an all in one activation would be desirable.

FWIW, the current IAP soundpacks are one that is basically more of what you get for free, including a few really good sounds without tweaking, and the analogue sounds which I absolutely loved. Reminded me of what you get in Gadget with Gladstone and Madrid.

AudioGus

@lukesleepwalker said:

@AudioGus said:

@lukesleepwalker said:
Yo, this is a v1, y'all. And recall how far they went between V1 of Blocs Wave and where it is now...

This app is not for me, so I don't really have any dog in the fight. But it's free and it's a V1!

To me v1 Blocs to now... wasn't that far, aside from sending me to Launchpad... although maybe my foggy entitled memory serves my begging/pleading. haha

Hahaha. V1 of Blocs was bare bones compared to the features that exist today. Whether any of those features were useful is a whole nuther story...

Hmmm, now that I think about it I may have come late to the party. hah! Still, I want FX and more pitch control dammit etc nerd rage etc

AudioGus

@pink_sky said:
Gotta love some of the iOS "musician" entitlement... The devs are communicating, committed to future updates, and even the free version of the app is capable of really nice sounds and exporting. Don't spend a dime if you aren't happy with the current feature set? You still have a free quality app that you've literally done nothing to deserve.

Well, I did support the dev with Blocs IAP... I am entitled to my pennies of IAP support! I mean how much do devs expect to make anyway? A living!? PFAFF!

dave_delongchamp

Regarding MIDI in: when this feature is implemented, could you please add simple MIDI learn function as well as support for controllers that aren't Novation products?

RubenDari

@AmpifyxNovation

1.make it play nice with a launchpad pro (with note feedback going both ways AND transport control from the launchpad
2. midi export options (in ableton)
3. add a metronome to blocks! (pls)

AndyPlankton

Just to make sure my requests are on the list, you've already said that swing and MIDI In are on the list so i left them off

Swing (I LIED )
MIDI IN (I LIED AGAIN )
Automation
User Drum kits
User presets for synths
User patterns
Sections with Key per section
MIDI CLOCK OUT (for syncing ARP's/LFO's/Delays on external synths and External sequencers)
MIDI OUT
Project merge with blocs wave (make a BW project from loops in both GB and BW)
Bar navigation buttons
Transpose up/down 1 octave

Now its back to making stuff

AudioGus

To be honest if the price of everything were simply double what it is and there was automation and midi export I would be a happy lil clamster.

db909

@AudioGus said:
To be honest if the price of everything were simply double what it is and there was automation and midi export I would be a happy lil clamster.

I can get behind this

TozBourne

This runs well, and sounds pretty darn good on my iPad 4, iOS 10.3. What you get for free is great; plus I discovered 4 more free drum kits including an acoustic one that I like. Beyond the $4.99 upgrade per instrument, there are also preset packs for the bass Synth and the Poly8 at $1.99 each. I haven't bought any IAPs; mostly because I got no money, also I want to see how this app evolves before making the (small) investment.

I like the export options: full mixdown or zipped file of individual tracks both going straight into Audioshare. And it worked well inside AB3 recording into AS.

I really want to use my Launchkey Mini keyboard with this app...so @AmpifyxNovation since you are listening to us here, there's my #1 request (at least midi in)...and #1B is for MIDI out.

I think this is a quality app and I'm looking forward to seeing where they take it.

[Deleted User]

Oh, and while I remember, if there is room in the future to add other modules, a really good guitar suite would be wonderful. And Midi out, which also does the trick.

AndyPlankton

@gonekrazy3000 said:

@AndyPlankton said:

@gonekrazy3000 said:
To be honest this thing is pretty underwhelming if you already own gadget. Or a bunch of Aux with modstep, Aum etc. Sure. You can use it to feed stuff into blocs and launchpad. But gadget already has audioshare export. Which means you can already feed it into those 2 apps. Now if there was native export like how blocs feeds into launchpad it would be great. But as it is now all it has is cell export.

When exporting Project files to audioshare...the audio files are named such that when you pull them into wave...the properties are already populated for you...so the process is pretty simple, and quicker than with ModStep and Gadget....I have extensively used both Gadget and ModStep to do this exact thing....and Groovebox is by far the quickest and easiest.

If blocs wave is anything to go by, then this process will just get easier and easier

You have a valid point regarding the import. Let's see. I'm still a bit on the fence. Might warm up more after a few more improvements. Was actually jamming with Ripplemaker and Groovebox earlier. The random variations being in the key you select is pretty useful. It's almost as good as Ripplemakers idea generator in that regard. But the piano roll needs a lot of improvements. Moving between bars Just doesn't feel right yet.

Yes I agree with the bars, I'd like to be able to step forwards/backwards or select a specific bar using buttons.
It seems to be one of those apps that when you first open it you want all sorts of stuff, but when you start using it more, the wants seem less important.

You're ahead of me on the ripplemaker front...not gotten hold of that yet

Aud_iOS

I've decided to just wait 2 years, and then get this. I don't want to go through another cycle of expanding features. Rather wait until it's polished, plunk down for the IAP's and discover it for the first time fully-formed.

ExAsperis99

@AndyPlankton said:

@gonekrazy3000 said:
To be honest this thing is pretty underwhelming if you already own gadget. Or a bunch of Aux with modstep, Aum etc. Sure. You can use it to feed stuff into blocs and launchpad. But gadget already has audioshare export. Which means you can already feed it into those 2 apps. Now if there was native export like how blocs feeds into launchpad it would be great. But as it is now all it has is cell export.

When exporting Project files to audioshare...the audio files are named such that when you pull them into wave...the properties are already populated for you...so the process is pretty simple, and quicker than with ModStep and Gadget....I have extensively used both Gadget and ModStep to do this exact thing....and Groovebox is by far the quickest and easiest.

If blocs wave is anything to go by, then this process will just get easier and easier

Excellent insight.
The naming and renaming and categorizing of loops and sounds is just soul-crushing....

ExAsperis99

@Aud_iOS said:
I've decided to just wait 2 years, and then get this. I don't want to go through another cycle of expanding features. Rather wait until it's polished, plunk down for the IAP's and discover it for the first time fully-formed.

This is either sarcasm of the highest order...or incipient dementia. And oddly it has made me want to buy it now!

Gaia.Tree

I would pay for global tuning IAP guys. I love the workflow of the app

Purpan

Errrrr .... pitch bend (2 semitones or adjustable) - I'm an old fart.....

eddielovesyou

• MIDI out (don't be scared; the internal synths are good enough that you'll still get lots of IAPs).
• More granular loop length/different time signatures (I see this as likely very low on your list, but it's a killer feature for a lot of us)
• "Everything" IAP option
• Landscape mode for piano roll on iPhone

Loving this app

[Deleted User]

@AmpifyxNovation

Patch / preset saving and init patch are essential for the polysynth....

It's a great app and I hope you add more instruments and features..you could turn this into a full modular studio you know...like retronyms tabletop but better

[Deleted User]

No one should be on the fence about the iap...grab them and the devs will work faster to bring updates

The polysynth unlocked is great...

db909

@Love3quency said:
@AmpifyxNovation

Patch / preset saving and init patch are essential for the polysynth....

It's a great app and I hope you add more instruments and features..you could turn this into a full modular studio you know...like retronyms tabletop but better

Now thats a great idea