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Learning bm3
So I bought bm3 and while it looks like it is very detailed indeed but it also looks like it will resemble a strict learning curve. What is the strong point with the app? Is it like more of a DAW? It will require some time to learn so I’m trying t decide if it is worthy of my time, will it replace cubasis as DAW? From looking at it , it resembles step recording which is not my thing with recording midi....I come from /ableton on the pc for 20 years....no my prefered way of recording is recording...recording a midi track and then using the piano roll to correct any timing mistake...does BeatMaker have that and for the sake of the topic does cubasis even have that ability or would I be better off with auria using that way of recording? Thank you in advance kind sir’s
Comments
BM3 has many strengths and is quite flexible. You will find that some people use it as a DAW and some use it almost entirely for its sampler which is deep and unique. You will find a lot of videos on YouTube covering various aspects of BM3 in use.
I prefer Cubasis for that workflow. I find BM3 convoluted and unintuitive for most tasks. It’s good for MPC pad style sampling. That said, I never use it.
You can record the midi and the edit using the step sequencer later.
For me BM3 sequencer is better than Cubasis'. But cubasis recording audio track workflow is more streamlined.
Interface/user experience-wise, BM3 is a bit intimidating indeed. in that matter, I liked BM2 more. There has been a topic these days where people recommended watching some beatmaker/producer's videos (Like Henny, Bolo, etc)
These guys are mostly hip-hop oriented, but that doesn't matter too much. The thing is to get a flow of their flow
The topic in question:
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/44659/beatmaker-3-bm3-tracking-editing-arranging-advice
Dean also has loads of videos:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX1L0U_AaeJrmRVr8JhCq0g
There are videos from Jakob and Audiodabbler too.
But to overflow you with recommendations, I think this video from Doug can help you, regarding what you want to do. At least to get started:
Also see:
https://wiki.audiob.us/doku.php?id=beatmaker_3
The page could use updating with links to more videos...there are tutorials out there that deserve to be on the page.
Nice one
Btw... I was rewatching this one, which is interesting because he shows how he records a guitar into an audio track
but then proceeds to drop beats by recording in BM3. For the hats he does that again, but inserting Thesys as a Midi FX.
Plenty of tutorials on YouTube. Mostly hip hop but there are a few non hip hop videos. The style of music shouldn’t really matter if you just want to learn the app
Yeah you can record midi performances and edit after the fact for sure. BM3 gives lots of ways to work, which is initially why it is confusing. You can record audio right on the linear timeline or as a sample. You can build your song as a bunch of loops/patterns which can then be dragged onto the linear timeline, on the timeline itself, or as scenes (collections of patterns) which can also be pasted on the timeline if you want. And you can do all of this simultaneously and in any order. For example I could have several patterns looping together while I work on them and also have all the other tracks playing what’s on the timeline. So while this is initially confusing, once you learn the system, it’s very helpful and efficient
It seems to me like for you the difficulty with BM3 would be that of all the DAWs on iOS, in some ways it's the least like what you're used to with Ableton. The whole approach setting up instruments on drum pads instead of tracks can throw some people off. And it has a decidedly different way of getting around the interface. It does have a clips and scenes mode similar to Ableton though. Also, you've mentioned you also use an iPhone. BM3 doesn't work on the phone, so not a good choice if you want to use both devices.
That said, it can do everything. Most importantly there are probably more quality YouTube videos to help you learn it than any other DAW on iOS. If you have the time and patience to learn BM3, you will probably never need anything else.
I've said it before but I highly recommend checking out Zenbeats. It's free to try (with some feature limitations). It's the most like Ableton Live of anything on iOS. It does what you say you need it to do. It works on both iPad and iPhone and is easy to transfer projects between them. If you try the free version and it doesn't look promising, you can just delete it.
In the end, any of the major DAWs is likely to have all you need. NS2 might be the exception if you need audio tracks. They're all going to require effort to learn, but none of them are too difficult. If you can manage Ableton Live, you can manage any of them.
Last thought: Have you even tried GarageBand? It's absolutely worth trying if you haven't. For some reason I never use it, but it is an excellent app, fairly easy to learn, free, and universal. Everyone should at least try it.
You’re right. There are limitations with any software, but GarageBand is an overlooked gem that just keeps getting better and better.
One of my most stubborn logical inconsistencies is why, why, why I just can't get myself to use it.
There's just no logical reason not to. It's a great app.
Truths etc. If there was even just a full featured Massive AU (200$? No problem) I would have been more than happy with BM3/NS2/Cubasis and saved $900 (err, I guess 900-200=700, whatever) not getting Maschine. Sure pads and knobs are nice but it would not have been enough to give me the full itch.
For more than a decade I used to record everything on Tascam 4-tracks (one I bought used from a guitarist who was willing to haggle over the price and the other I got from a big box music retailer), then computers became a part of my repertoire. I’ve never wanted to go back to tape (it’s so bizarre I have so many tape simulator apps though) and GarageBand has been my favorite software/app I’ve used. Until something approaching Apple’s own “Soundtrack” or Logic Pro comes to iPad, I’m sticking with GB.
Because when you want to export stems from it, it's a pain in the ass
Or you can't move midi clips from some types of instrument to another
At least those are my gripes regarding GB, although I still love it though.
One of the reasons I asked about bm3 was coming from ableton I’m used to importing my drum loops into a daw and then laying brown my synth/bass tracks and I wasn’t sure if I hold dig deep into BeatMaker,stay with cubasis or suck it and buy auria pro. For my type of workflow
While we’re on the subject of learning BM3, I’m running into an issue where I want to record to an audio track on the timeline, the audio of me switching back and forth between drum patterns in my drum bank. The issue is it stops recording as soon as I switch patterns, leaving me with only the first pattern recorded. As though it’s like “one pattern? Ok done”. But I would like it to record continually and stop when I say so. Is there a way around this or am I better off just recording to audioshare and reimporting?
All of those apps can support the kind of workflow you've described, so it comes down to which you gel with the best.
You've mentioned being intimidated by both Cubasis and BM3. I do not recommend Auria Pro if you're intimidated by Cubasis 3. Auria Pro is more powerful, but correspondingly more difficult to learn. It is struggling a bit from a support aspect correspondingly too as its developer is doing other work right now.
If Ableton Live is your reference, then in a few ways BM3 is closer because it has both timeline and a clip launcher modes like Live does. But, it introduces some other ideas (Banks/Pads, etc) that may trip you up.
IMO Cubasis 3 is the easiest to learn of those three. On the other hand, as I mentioned earlier, there are probably more videos covering BM3 on the internet than any other DAW on iOS.
I never really use Scenes (just song and pattern) but you can switch scenes and continue recording to an audio track, but it seems to retrigger playback of the scene when you switch so unless this can be overridden it may or may not work how you want.
Ah. Yes, the inability to use certain MIDI data between different instrument types is occasionally aggravating, however I believe I understand why this limitation exists. I think it has to do with Apple instrument specific performance data that is not compatible with MIDI, therefore this data cannot be randomly reassigned to another instrument. A little preplanning in advance helps me avoid this problem generally, but not always.
Makes sense. I started making ammends with it sort of in the same way... I mean, when I decided to commit stuff to audio
Once I learned how to really use BM3 I’ve concluded that whoever came up with it is a genius! Everything makes perfect sense and the workflow is so fast. At least to me anyways.
I've not used Zenbeats (until today when I DL'd at lunch to have a look)
It's free to get started so you cant go wrong really. It's going to be easier than BM3.
I started using BM3 about three weeks ago and I couldn't agree more with @Brad. It's so fast and intuitive, and so visually understated, that the app itself never seems like a distraction, only an enabler. The sampler is super powerful yet accessible and the way that BM3 presents and interacts with 3rd party plugins feels entirely organic.
There is definitely a learning curve, as there would be with any new DAW, but I pushed myself to learn something significant every day and it wasn't long before I could get things done pretty quickly. There are many helpful videos on YouTube. The tutorial series that helped me the most is by elbowMedia Studios. Highly recommended, even you're still deciding whether BM3 is right for you.
Good luck!
the only thing that doesn’t work for me is using midi to control BM3. for everything else it’s fantastic. I use it to record stems out of my OP-Z. for that, it’s better than Ableton.
The weekend Is finally here so now I can get to work and learn some of these apps. I went crazy buying these great apps that caught my attention thanks to Doug(thank you Doug)....you guys mentioned I should try this app or that app so let me tell you what apps that I currently have...have...
cubasis,BM3,Cyclop,zenbeats,beathawk,Samplr,tardigrain,filtron,launchpad,iSpark,Ruismaker,Ruismaker noir,Drambo,model 15,poison-202, Syntronik,Electribe wave, model D and gadget oh yea and launchpad
So I think that is enough to keep me busy for a while and of course I also have audiobus,AUM, AudioShare but those are the obvious apps....
I do have another question....my current setup is my iPad 8th gen with a m-audio m-track duo audio interface and my launchpad...and I also have an external powered usb hub, so will a thumb drive work with this? My thumb drive is filled with all my drum loops, can I access this on my iPad?
I have been watching tutorials on BM3 and i see a lot of information on step recording, I hope that is not its primary strength in the app because step recording s not my thing.I prefer toimport my drum loops and lay down a synth track and use the pian roll to fix any mistakes that my of made while recording....that is how I have done my recordings for over 20 years
Adding to what wim said: Auria is less like Ableton > @jdolecek49 said:
It also is good for realtime playing.
I would recommend waiting until you have seen several tutorials/demonstrations before digesting everything -- get a sense of what different people do with it perhaps before getting into the nuts and bolts.
It is a flexible app with lots of pathways -- and one might get a false impression from one person's way of using it about what it is good for/at.
I think BM3 will be fine. It’s just quirky in the beginning but then it makes sense. Shouldn’t take you more than a couple of vids.
I do agree with @wim Zenbeats doesn’t get enough love. It’s come a very long way and it’s quite powerful. Nanostudio is amazing but no audio file capabilities is a deal killer for many.
Personally, I think BM3 is a way better choice than Cubasis but Cubasis does have many fans! I find it to be the most boring, uninspiring and generally “blah” choice out of all that have been mentioned. You could always do like many of us and end up buying them all! LOL
@wim - Garage band has come a very long way. I thought it was dreadful at first but after a year or so, i checked it out again and it had changed a lot. Now it seems super simple and pretty intuitive other than a couple of things within the piano roll. You’d probably love the drum sequencer! Just sayin....
Oh no, I do fire it up regularly and every time am impressed. It just bugs me.
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