MultiTrackStudio *Best on iPad?* 🔥🤯 - Walkthrough Tutorial & Review!

ipadbeatmaking

I’ve found MultiTrackStudio for iPad to be a real 💎 and one of the most unmentioned, yet capable DAWs on iPad. It’s given me a great fusion of things I love about desktop DAWs such as full keyboard and mouse support, great piano roll editor, the ability to use a QWERTY keyboard (magic keyboard case here) as a midi keyboard and so much more! Join us doing a walkthrough and review of the midi side of this app, from the basics to making a beat!

If you’ve used MTS Studio, what are your thoughts on it?

MisplacedDevelopment

Always been my favourite DAW on iOS. It is a near enough direct port of the desktop version and so has a lot of features that have been on the wishlist of other iOS DAWs for many years. There are so many great little features it has and so you will be discovering new things it can do months after you start using it.

ipadbeatmaking

@MisplacedDevelopment said:
Always been my favourite DAW on iOS. It is a near enough direct port of the desktop version and so has a lot of features that have been on the wishlist of other iOS DAWs for many years. There are so many great little features it has and so you will be discovering new things it can do months after you start using it.

I’m loving it so far! It’s got so many possible workflows that allow me to create how I want. Will desktop files open on iPad and vice versa?

MisplacedDevelopment

Yeah, projects work both ways. If you have an M1 Mac then a number of AUs will also automatically load in both directions as well. So, for example, a project with Model 15 on iOS will open in both directions with the AU settings preserved.

MisplacedDevelopment

The MIDI effect taking up an effects slot that you mentioned looks like a bug (or design choice) introduced with the facelift. I’m pretty sure it used to add an extra slot for the MIDI fx rather than using up an existing one.

cian

Ah cool. Like I said on the other thread its biggest limitations are the number of buses and FX slots. But it does a lot of other things pretty well.

MisplacedDevelopment

@ipadbeatmaking Some good ideas in there for using different MIDI AUs which I had not considered before.

ipadbeatmaking

@cian said:
Ah cool. Like I said on the other thread its biggest limitations are the number of buses and FX slots. But it does a lot of other things pretty well.

8 aren’t enough? What # would be ideal in your opinion? The FX slot limitations are a killer, especially if you use an AU midifx in the chain, you’re then only left with 1 effect slot 😳

ipadbeatmaking

@MisplacedDevelopment said:
Yeah, projects work both ways. If you have an M1 Mac then a number of AUs will also automatically load in both directions as well. So, for example, a project with Model 15 on iOS will open in both directions with the AU settings preserved.

OMG this is incredible! Are you doing audio tracking/editing in it also? I haven’t gotten that far yet, but what do you think of it for song recording? Suitable or look elsewhere?

ipadbeatmaking

@MisplacedDevelopment said:
The MIDI effect taking up an effects slot that you mentioned looks like a bug (or design choice) introduced with the facelift. I’m pretty sure it used to add an extra slot for the MIDI fx rather than using up an existing one.

Ya it’s a killer, I’d like to see a popup menu or something where we can stash more effects. The limits really kill some people’s preferred workflow. With groups can they route to another group or they have to go to the master?

ipadbeatmaking

@MisplacedDevelopment said:
@ipadbeatmaking Some good ideas in there for using different MIDI AUs which I had not considered before.

Glad you found them useful! It’s the first DAW I’ve ever used that made AU Midi instruments make sense to me, and very happy that I bought a bunch along the way. This is a perfect example of how all iOS Daws should allow their keyboard section to work. And @SevenSystems Xequence AU | Apps have been among my favorites to use so far. They seem like a perfect fit for my workflows.

MisplacedDevelopment

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@MisplacedDevelopment said:
Yeah, projects work both ways. If you have an M1 Mac then a number of AUs will also automatically load in both directions as well. So, for example, a project with Model 15 on iOS will open in both directions with the AU settings preserved.

OMG this is incredible! Are you doing audio tracking/editing in it also? I haven’t gotten that far yet, but what do you think of it for song recording? Suitable or look elsewhere?

I found the audio editing to be good but the audio is represented as one continuous waveform and there are no “patterns”/clips on the audio side which may or may be limiting. You can however do cool stuff with audio such as time stretching (uses licensed Zynaptiq algorithms). You can also record audio directly from any practice mode track which can be useful. Also, try copying and pasting (edit: not dragging) some MIDI to an audio track and some audio to a MIDI track!

Littlewoodg

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@MisplacedDevelopment said:
The MIDI effect taking up an effects slot that you mentioned looks like a bug (or design choice) introduced with the facelift. I’m pretty sure it used to add an extra slot for the MIDI fx rather than using up an existing one.

Ya it’s a killer, I’d like to see a popup menu or something where we can stash more effects. The limits really kill some people’s preferred workflow. With groups can they route to another group or they have to go to the master?

Worth trying the forum to make requests. He’s often made big changes based on user requests

https://www.multitrackstudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4

It’s a fantastic app, a favorite, full of features that are platform exclusives. The audio and midi editors are top notch. Workflows are extremely flexible and accommodate a lot of the quirks of the platform (Practice tracks for example can be used several ways and allow a lot of inapp fun, including with IAA instruments, and those that don’t render to audio.
The audio track editor with the Matrix sampler and Files drag and drop, ultra fun, slick.
Lots of stuff behind stuff. I’ve been using it since it first dropped, and had many of my requested features implemented. Also love it as a touch DAW on Windows SP3 as well. I have it installed on a Windows XP tower as well, for use with a Scope build, and move those projects onto the iPad and the SP3.

ipadbeatmaking

@Littlewoodg said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@MisplacedDevelopment said:
The MIDI effect taking up an effects slot that you mentioned looks like a bug (or design choice) introduced with the facelift. I’m pretty sure it used to add an extra slot for the MIDI fx rather than using up an existing one.

Ya it’s a killer, I’d like to see a popup menu or something where we can stash more effects. The limits really kill some people’s preferred workflow. With groups can they route to another group or they have to go to the master?

Worth trying the forum to make requests. He’s often made big changes based on user requests

https://www.multitrackstudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4

I’m definitely gonna get my list together…

-96k on iPad
-Let the keyboard area AU midi also load presets
-A dedicated ‘count in’
-Selecting a specific color (track) midi only in the Multi-Midi Editor
To start lol 😂

It’s a fantastic app, a favorite, full of features that are platform exclusives. Tons of hidden stuff. I’ve been using it since it first dropped, and had many of my requested features implemented. Also love it as a touch DAW on Windows SP3 as well. I have it installed on a Windows XP tower as well, for use with a Scope build, and move those projects onto the iPad and the SP3.

💯 It’s really special and capable, especially if you aren’t fully committed to another apps internal format like NS2 obsidian/slate or BM3 kits and can do your thing with AU’s, there’s lots of 💎

ipadbeatmaking

@MisplacedDevelopment said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@MisplacedDevelopment said:
Yeah, projects work both ways. If you have an M1 Mac then a number of AUs will also automatically load in both directions as well. So, for example, a project with Model 15 on iOS will open in both directions with the AU settings preserved.

OMG this is incredible! Are you doing audio tracking/editing in it also? I haven’t gotten that far yet, but what do you think of it for song recording? Suitable or look elsewhere?

I found the audio editing to be good but the audio is represented as one continuous waveform and there are no “patterns”/clips on the audio side which may or may be limiting. You can however do cool stuff with audio such as time stretching (uses licensed Zynaptiq algorithms). You can also record audio directly from any practice mode track which can be useful.

Interesting, So if i wanted to lay a song vocally, with multiple layers, takes, comps, punch-ins etc do you think it’d do ok?

Also, try copying and pasting (edit: not dragging) some MIDI to an audio track and some audio to a MIDI track!

Will do! Sounds like 🪄 will happen

Telstar5

@ipadbeatmaking ;Thanks for this post. When you talk, I listen.

ipadbeatmaking

@Telstar5 said:
@ipadbeatmaking ;Thanks for this post. When you talk, I listen.

I appreciate the vote of confidence 🙏 😊 Hopefully this video gives you some useful info! Have you used MTS?

Littlewoodg

@ipadbeatmaking said: @Littlewoodg said:
-Selecting a specific color (track) midi only in the Multi-Midi Editor

This is one I think you can do…

ipadbeatmaking

@Littlewoodg said:

@ipadbeatmaking said: @Littlewoodg said:
-Selecting a specific color (track) midi only in the Multi-Midi Editor

This is one I think you can do…

That’d be great! How?

Jumpercollins

I notice it’s MPE capable anyone tried using a MPE keyboard in the AU midi slot thinking Animoog or KB1 in MPE mode ? I notice it’s got a MPE tick box under devices.

@MisplacedDevelopment Have you tried the Visual Swift TX/ RX AU audio / midi modules in this DAW would that help get round the effects slot limitation by utilising between tracks I know it works in AUM. Not sure if these modules are still in the Visual Swift app or beta did they get included in the public build. Just a thought. Either that or use Mixbox for some extra effects.

Littlewoodg

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@Littlewoodg said:

@ipadbeatmaking said: @Littlewoodg said:
-Selecting a specific color (track) midi only in the Multi-Midi Editor

This is one I think you can do…

That’d be great! How?

The second underline is the method used to select which track you’re editing in the “all MIDI tracks” selection on this menu:

When you select a single track color in this view, the notes wont be colored the same as the track, they’ll be the color midi notes appear in the main editors.

cian

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@cian said:
Ah cool. Like I said on the other thread its biggest limitations are the number of buses and FX slots. But it does a lot of other things pretty well.

8 aren’t enough? What # would be ideal in your opinion? The FX slot limitations are a killer, especially if you use an AU midifx in the chain, you’re then only left with 1 effect slot 😳

Isn't there only one return? I need to dig this out again. The ideal number is as many as I need obviously... I use Reaper on the desktop so I'm kind of spoiled by that.

cian

Looking forward to watching the video btw.

MisplacedDevelopment

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@MisplacedDevelopment said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@MisplacedDevelopment said:
Yeah, projects work both ways. If you have an M1 Mac then a number of AUs will also automatically load in both directions as well. So, for example, a project with Model 15 on iOS will open in both directions with the AU settings preserved.

OMG this is incredible! Are you doing audio tracking/editing in it also? I haven’t gotten that far yet, but what do you think of it for song recording? Suitable or look elsewhere?

I found the audio editing to be good but the audio is represented as one continuous waveform and there are no “patterns”/clips on the audio side which may or may be limiting. You can however do cool stuff with audio such as time stretching (uses licensed Zynaptiq algorithms). You can also record audio directly from any practice mode track which can be useful.

Interesting, So if i wanted to lay a song vocally, with multiple layers, takes, comps, punch-ins etc do you think it’d do ok?

No comping or overdub on audio I am afraid. Punch-in works well though. Being able to record practice tracks directly to an audio track is good, letting you record the live audio from a MIDI instrument track.

Although AU multi-out is not officially part of the feature list, you can do it like this: https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/45360/au-multi-out-e-g-digistix-in-multitrackstudio (note, I have not tested this for some time so I do not know if it still works).

I mainly use MTS for arranging synths using the score interface as it is really smooth for moving musical notes around.

MisplacedDevelopment

@Jumpercollins said:
I notice it’s MPE capable anyone tried using a MPE keyboard in the AU midi slot thinking Animoog or KB1 in MPE mode ? I notice it’s got a MPE tick box under devices.

@MisplacedDevelopment Have you tried the Visual Swift TX/ RX AU audio / midi modules in this DAW would that help get round the effects slot limitation by utilising between tracks I know it works in AUM. Not sure if these modules are still in the Visual Swift app or beta did they get included in the public build. Just a thought. Either that or use Mixbox for some extra effects.

MPE recording is there and you can also edit the MPE data. For Animoog you are looking at the same recording limitations as other iOS MIDI recorders (apart from Geert Bevin's excellent MIDI Recorder).

I do recall doing some tests with the Visual Swift modules in MTS but like many other DAWs, MTS does not record the wet signal on an audio track so you can't just drop the audio sender into an audio track FX slot and hit record. You can select Audiobus as an audio input so adding the Visual Swift receiver before MTS in Audiobus would probably work. I would however say that MTS is not happy in general with apps which route audio and MIDI like this and you would be better off using one of the supported options.

jrjulius

@cian said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@cian said:
Ah cool. Like I said on the other thread its biggest limitations are the number of buses and FX slots. But it does a lot of other things pretty well.

8 aren’t enough? What # would be ideal in your opinion? The FX slot limitations are a killer, especially if you use an AU midifx in the chain, you’re then only left with 1 effect slot 😳

Isn't there only one return? I need to dig this out again. The ideal number is as many as I need obviously... I use Reaper on the desktop so I'm kind of spoiled by that.

You can add a second return in the Song Properties menu, but it disables multi-out and Groups. The Group function provides 1-8 parallel busses that you can set as a track’s output destination, but there’s no send amount.

It seems like an arbitrary limitation but I’ve never actually had an issue with it — I usually have a reverb send, one group for summing/compressing percussion, and my master effects.

ipadbeatmaking

@jrjulius said:

@cian said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@cian said:
Ah cool. Like I said on the other thread its biggest limitations are the number of buses and FX slots. But it does a lot of other things pretty well.

8 aren’t enough? What # would be ideal in your opinion? The FX slot limitations are a killer, especially if you use an AU midifx in the chain, you’re then only left with 1 effect slot 😳

Isn't there only one return? I need to dig this out again. The ideal number is as many as I need obviously... I use Reaper on the desktop so I'm kind of spoiled by that.

You can add a second return in the Song Properties menu, but it disables multi-out and Groups. The Group function provides 1-8 parallel busses that you can set as a track’s output destination, but there’s no send amount.

It seems like an arbitrary limitation but I’ve never actually had an issue with it — I usually have a reverb send, one group for summing/compressing percussion, and my master effects.

I’m actually able to add 3 returns + 8 groups.

Adding a 4th return disables the groups

jrjulius

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@jrjulius said:

@cian said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@cian said:
Ah cool. Like I said on the other thread its biggest limitations are the number of buses and FX slots. But it does a lot of other things pretty well.

8 aren’t enough? What # would be ideal in your opinion? The FX slot limitations are a killer, especially if you use an AU midifx in the chain, you’re then only left with 1 effect slot 😳

Isn't there only one return? I need to dig this out again. The ideal number is as many as I need obviously... I use Reaper on the desktop so I'm kind of spoiled by that.

You can add a second return in the Song Properties menu, but it disables multi-out and Groups. The Group function provides 1-8 parallel busses that you can set as a track’s output destination, but there’s no send amount.

It seems like an arbitrary limitation but I’ve never actually had an issue with it — I usually have a reverb send, one group for summing/compressing percussion, and my master effects.

I’m actually able to add 3 returns + 8 groups.

Adding a 4th return disables the groups

Wild! Are you using an iPad Pro? I’m using an Air 3 so there’s probably some limitations.

ipadbeatmaking

@jrjulius said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@jrjulius said:

@cian said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@cian said:
Ah cool. Like I said on the other thread its biggest limitations are the number of buses and FX slots. But it does a lot of other things pretty well.

8 aren’t enough? What # would be ideal in your opinion? The FX slot limitations are a killer, especially if you use an AU midifx in the chain, you’re then only left with 1 effect slot 😳

Isn't there only one return? I need to dig this out again. The ideal number is as many as I need obviously... I use Reaper on the desktop so I'm kind of spoiled by that.

You can add a second return in the Song Properties menu, but it disables multi-out and Groups. The Group function provides 1-8 parallel busses that you can set as a track’s output destination, but there’s no send amount.

It seems like an arbitrary limitation but I’ve never actually had an issue with it — I usually have a reverb send, one group for summing/compressing percussion, and my master effects.

I’m actually able to add 3 returns + 8 groups.

Adding a 4th return disables the groups

Wild! Are you using an iPad Pro? I’m using an Air 3 so there’s probably some limitations.

Yes, Pro 12.9 M1. I just tried the same on an 11” Pro and ran into the same limitation as your original post! These limits are baffling 😳

Littlewoodg

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@jrjulius said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@jrjulius said:

@cian said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@cian said:
Ah cool. Like I said on the other thread its biggest limitations are the number of buses and FX slots. But it does a lot of other things pretty well.

8 aren’t enough? What # would be ideal in your opinion? The FX slot limitations are a killer, especially if you use an AU midifx in the chain, you’re then only left with 1 effect slot 😳

Isn't there only one return? I need to dig this out again. The ideal number is as many as I need obviously... I use Reaper on the desktop so I'm kind of spoiled by that.

You can add a second return in the Song Properties menu, but it disables multi-out and Groups. The Group function provides 1-8 parallel busses that you can set as a track’s output destination, but there’s no send amount.

It seems like an arbitrary limitation but I’ve never actually had an issue with it — I usually have a reverb send, one group for summing/compressing percussion, and my master effects.

I’m actually able to add 3 returns + 8 groups.

Adding a 4th return disables the groups

Wild! Are you using an iPad Pro? I’m using an Air 3 so there’s probably some limitations.

Yes, Pro 12.9 M1. I just tried the same on an 11” Pro and ran into the same limitation as your original post! These limits are baffling 😳

The Dev has been convinced in the past, via the forum to make iPad Pro features available for all iPads…

Worth a try…

Here’s that forum link again

https://www.multitrackstudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4

I’m going to post a request, might be worth piling on/triangulating.

EDIT: Just made the request (2nd FX related request today, see the my MTS 4.4 update thread)

Maybe if y’all jump on we can talk dude into it…

ipadbeatmaking

@Littlewoodg said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@jrjulius said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@jrjulius said:

@cian said:

@ipadbeatmaking said:

@cian said:
Ah cool. Like I said on the other thread its biggest limitations are the number of buses and FX slots. But it does a lot of other things pretty well.

8 aren’t enough? What # would be ideal in your opinion? The FX slot limitations are a killer, especially if you use an AU midifx in the chain, you’re then only left with 1 effect slot 😳

Isn't there only one return? I need to dig this out again. The ideal number is as many as I need obviously... I use Reaper on the desktop so I'm kind of spoiled by that.

You can add a second return in the Song Properties menu, but it disables multi-out and Groups. The Group function provides 1-8 parallel busses that you can set as a track’s output destination, but there’s no send amount.

It seems like an arbitrary limitation but I’ve never actually had an issue with it — I usually have a reverb send, one group for summing/compressing percussion, and my master effects.

I’m actually able to add 3 returns + 8 groups.

Adding a 4th return disables the groups

Wild! Are you using an iPad Pro? I’m using an Air 3 so there’s probably some limitations.

Yes, Pro 12.9 M1. I just tried the same on an 11” Pro and ran into the same limitation as your original post! These limits are baffling 😳

The Dev has been convinced in the past, via the forum to make iPad Pro features available for all iPads…

Worth a try…

Here’s that forum link again

https://www.multitrackstudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4

I’m going to post a request, might be worth piling on/triangulating.

EDIT: Just made the request (2nd FX related request today, see the my MTS 4.4 update thread)

Maybe if y’all jump on we can talk dude into it…

Looks like you’re getting some traction on getting the midi au fx, to not take an AU slot, with the dev. Do you feel 3 total (including the AU instrument) is enough?