Groove Awakening - Helium Multitrack Recorder AUM creation workflow video + added MidiMixer tutorial

Janosax

Hi all!! 😎

I’ve wanted to share this with you.

I’ve spent some time on DAWLESS approach lately. New iPad Pro M1 helps with its power and memory, but mostly this is thanks to Helium, Multitrack Recorder, AUM and other apps. Their devs make so much for iPadOS music making. In fact, I’ve spent dozens of hours customizing templates which helps me to start with. This is my advice: set everything in amount of creation, especially routings and remote things. The approach is not for everyone. But I find it inspiring. This is my own modular tool!! I try to choose only apps which are stable enough, and with responsive devs for fast fixing. At this stage, I find this setup almost more stable and reliable than current iPadOS DAWS.

Here is the (speechless) workflow video, full simple song made in less than 10 mn with AUV3’s, Nanokey Studio and real saxophone:

Edit ✍️ : Here is an added 4Pockets Midi Mixer tutorial, showing how to automate this full song with snapshots and stamp features. It’s in English, I’m French and it’s not my native language, so let me know if it’s worth it.

NeuM

I keep thinking of the Helium crypto when I see this...

By the way, nice sax work. Are you open to collaborating on some tracks at some point (just for fun, not for profit)?

royor

Great Sax! Diggin’ the FX on it too.. 👍
This setup makes it look easy.. we all know the hours it would take to imagine + then build.. tweaking details to get to this point.. A lot of work.. BUT the payoff is huge.. It’s your own DAW laid out in the most sensible way for your workflow.. Who wouldn’t want that?
That was a great demo of the possibilities if you just put your mind to it.. I particularly liked the way you were using Xequence Pads to control so many different things.. app windows popping in + out, record + mute triggers, loops in Helium.. that really sparked my “hey, I want to do that too”..😁 Thanks for sharing.. 🙏

Janosax

Thanks to both of you ☺️

@NeuM I’m not too much in collaborations for now, missing some time for this.

@royor there are hours of setup but also good amount of practice just to become at ease with everything in that workflow. But that’s not that different here than with any DAW, except it’s perhaps a bit longer to really learn even basic things. Once done, it’s very fluent like you can see on video.

This is a demo, so those apps are on foreground. But the usual game here is to start with typical AUM noodling and just sequencing and arranging when time is coming with all those tools hidden in the customized template.

What we all like I think in AUM is non linear and modular approach. I just love « round nodes » and just mixing sounds. « Square parts » come with Helium and MTR but only when I want them to enter in the flow and I can keep them hidden if I want. Midi mixer app is also very nice for all automations, stamps to timeline and ramp up between snapshots. I can also use all of this with AUV3 controllers only without any external midi controller, it become that way a perfect autonomous mobile creation workstation.

AUM is the most stable iOS app ever for music production. 4pockets apps become better and better (honestly I think there are now less bugs in them than in Cubasis, even GB has bugs). That setup also has latency compensation where CB3 has not. And AUM is just so capable and versatile. BTW M1 iPad Pro allowed me to do that demo at 64 buffers 48 KHz without a single crackle, I could have used even more apps without issues.

Everybody can do this with dedicated time and will, setup can use any apps like LK or Loopy Pro. I have more live oriented versions with GroupTheLoop. I like the way we can make those tools ours thanks to modularity nature of iPadOS music making.

BTW, here is a more complex song made with Helium MTR AUM workflow a few months ago:

Edward_Alexander

Nice work! Love the groove in both pieces!

You’re right, come to think of it; “AUM IS the most stable app”! I cannot recall a single crash using it.. ever!

Keep ‘em coming!

Janosax

@Edward_Alexander said:
Nice work! Love the groove in both pieces!

You’re right, come to think of it; “AUM IS the most stable app”! I cannot recall a single crash using it.. ever!

Keep ‘em coming!

Thanks 😊

Here is an added 4Pockets Midi Mixer tutorial, showing how to automate this full song with snapshots and stamp features. It’s in English, I’m French and it’s not my native language, so let me know if it’s worth it.

LinearLineman

It’s great to hear that natural sax sound with the electronics. Your playing, as always, is inventive and full of feeling. Loved the second track. Hope you’re feeling well these days,

Janosax

@LinearLineman said:
It’s great to hear that natural sax sound with the electronics. Your playing, as always, is inventive and full of feeling. Loved the second track. Hope you’re feeling well these days,

Thanks ☺️ I like to make more minimalistic instrumental parts, this leaves more space to fill with sax sounds 🎷