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Why making music on mobile/tablet instead of Desktop ?
Hi all,
Seems like a silly question but what motivates you to make music on a Phone or Tablet instead of a Desktop computer?
Seems to me that you're more comfortable producing well sited in your chair, at a desk, with a desktop, mouse, keyboard, wide screen and studio monitors?
Is it because of Tactile screens? Is it because you feel the urge to create music anywhere?
Comments
Tactile is a big part. Also different headspace, i spend my whole day sat at a desktop so not keen to sit again in my free time. This is a really big deal, i did some comparisons and desktop software is really way more powerful, but still i come back to ipad
OK i see, yes. Which Apps are you using the most?
I've gone from desktop to laptop to hardware groove boxes to ipad in that order over the last 10 years. And now I'm exclusively iphone only.
For me, the closer I got to true portability the more creative i got, being tied to a desk setup is not productive for me. My best work was when I was just jamming having fun, then taking that to something like Cubasis to flesh out.
I do miss hardware buttons, having a matt paperlike screen protector helps. Also ios is the most packed music production os ever, so I feel like I can make and do anything on my phone, which is pretty amazing
Mate, it is my pleasure to introduce you to @tahiche , our resident Grand Master of Couch-based Music Making.
Adding my own two cents: I like and use both platforms for their own advantages. Nothing that I have ever used on the desktop comes anywhere near the tactile experience of an ifretless app (others would say swam etc.). More than that, even using normal plugins with a mouse feels just awkward when done immediately after playing around with an iPad. Finally, prices...
What do studio monitors have to do with it? I use professional studio monitors with my iPad/iPhone.
The tactile aspect is a huge advantage to me. I realize that many laptops can be touchscreen too but it’s not the same.
I don’t really like to use a keyboard and mouse to make music, because it feels like work at an office. With an iPad I feel as if I’m sitting in front of a mixing desk or console, the old-school way.
Mac/PC is much more cumbersome to set-up. iOS can easily be plug and play.
iPads don’t have fan noise and are dead quiet. This is a big deal when recording audio in your home studio, as microphones will pick up machinery noise of desktops.
I can put together a scratch track or arrange a song on my iPhone on the train. Try doing that with a desktop or laptop.
iOS apps are 1/10 of the cost of desktop software, if not less. There are plenty of apps that are ported over form desktop that are just as powerful (FabFilter, etc..). Yes desktop is more powerful and has many legit daws, but the power to cost ratio favors iOS, especially if what iOS offers is sufficient for one’s needs as a music maker.
Most iOS apps work standalone, on desktop you usually need a host.
A new iPad Pro can outperform a mediocre desktop.
Where iOS is lacking, compared to desktop, is file management, the lack of a legit DAW, processing speed, and stability (in some cases).
iOS is more fun.
The iPad with its tactile and portable form factor feels like a musical instrument as much as a music production platform.
The state of iOS music production today is much better and more powerful than it was even 2 years ago. The power and quality of iOS tools today is legit.
I see, yes! Seems like the opportunity to change environment, making music whenever the inspiration is coming, helped by the portability of the devices and tactile screens is great.
But are you then using the stuffs created on mobile for later arrangements in a more Pro environment to finish tracks or is it not even the main point? Just having pleasure playing around with fancy easy to use Apps at the very moment and forget about it?
🥹🤟
A nice couch is expensive, specially the pro versions, but, believe it or not, it has other uses besides hosting an iPad-holding-body.
One more cent here… the apps… or maybe this forum?. On my desktop I had pretty “boring” apps. The usual Waves, soundtoys, etc… I find iOS apps a lot more fun and creative. But it might be that such apps exist for desktop and I just didn’t know them. I learn about iOS apps through this forum, has made me a complete appaholic. Also devs are very involved, there’s a sense of community, bla bla.
Ok i see! Seems like iOS music making has been a long way and it became quite good in terms of quality and variety of offers!
Which Apps are you using the most btw?
What's your iOS music making setup?
You'll find great examples for both approaches in this forum, and then quite a few others with more excentric workflows I can't begin to understand. 😁
We also have multiple members who put out whole discographies using iOS devices alone.
True, the more creative/fun and instant sides of mobile music Apps seems very appealing to me as well!
What's your actual iOS music making setup?
I would be curious what set of apps are being used by those who have "put out whole discographies using iOS devices alone."
Definitely. I work on a computer all day. You can’t properly “switch” if for your leisure/hobby time you’re in the same position, posture, holding a mouse the same way… Head over to the sofa!
Interesting point. You’d probably achieve more “pro” results if finishing on a desktop. Specially since iOS daws are missing some functionality like precise editing, audio warping, etc… for fine mixing, editing, automation a desktop daw is nowadays ahead.
BUT I find that my mixes on the iPad sound more natural, I kind of like them better. On desktop, for the “pro” spirit mentioned above I tend to over-eq, over compress and overdo the mixes. Maybe it’s the chair… or the ipad that leads to a less “predictable” approach.
Currently most used is Drambo, Gadget 2, Koala, AUM and Cubasis 3.
Synth wise, there are many and I tend to move around. But currently both Bleass Omega and Alpha, TB Flowtones, DRC and Agonizer when I need some dirty
Drums my goto is Hammerhead or Digistix2.
Honourable mention, Beef and WOOTT effect plugins, always love the outcome when using these.
You're absolutely right. I can see why it is convenient! It has to do with the fact that the quality of the apps and computer power of the new devices has significantly increased lately right?
Nice, i've heard about those Apps Drambo, Gadget, Koala and Cubasis. I can see why you have them combined. You're using Cubasis to finish and arrange your tracks made of sequences/samples created in Drambo, Gadget and Koala? Is that your workflow?
Yes, that and also the tactile nature. I only got into iOS music making in 2019, so I only know of the good times!
If it's doing the job great for you then that's awesome!
What is your current favorite set of Apps?
So far, if i've had to make a synthesis of the different POVs.
iOS music making is superior over Desktop because of the following reasons:
. Portability
. Tactile screens
. Quality / Price ratio
. Apps more accessible, creative and fun
What else?
Pretty much, where I start varies but if it's something I want to develop more I move everything to Cubasis. For chord progressions and leads when on a phone Gadget is amazing, then just export the midi data to use with any synth. Koala is the only place I manage samples now days.
AUM mostly with various plugins (been trying to streamline by focusing on a few, working a lot now with DRC)
What's a computer?
What's missing the most in your Mobile music maker flow ?
Seems like you can actually combine so many different creative Apps that you do not even need a computer no more in order to create quality music. (despite having to make a Pro mastering maybe)
@LouisH what kind of music so you make?.
Recommendations will vary greatly if it’s mostly midi vs audio or traditional song structures vs ambient/droning stuff.
When trying out the iPad music making thing I’d go for:
Cubasis is great too but the reality is that iOS Daws are behind desktop counterparts so I’d go for the above first as they are I believe more representative of iOS music making.
For me it’s the portability and the easy access to music making. Basically all you need is the iPad and some good headphones. I very often take it with me when going somewhere. Making music in a café or at the lake. Although a good controller improves the workflow significantly you can already work quite comfortably with onscreen keys, buttons and knobs. But with my laptop I’m feeling lost without a controller.
Very often limitations are beneficial for creativity. iOS DAWs are less advanced that’s why they don’t dominate the platform. Many users are happy with the rather modular approach of AUM or Drambo. Because there isn’t so much screen estate I rather record and quantize than edit and that is refreshingly liberating. I also agree to tahiche that you are less likely “over producing” your tracks.
My usual suspects are Drambo , Gadget 2, AUM, LK and Cubasis 3 for mastering. There are many cool creative sequencer apps. My favorite plugins are from FAC, Bram Bos, Imaginando, Tone Boosters, Icegear and of course Moog. SynthMaster 2 is also great.
@tahiche , Thanks for the suggestions! That's amazing how the same Apps are being mentioned over and over again (Drambo/Koala/Cubasis) should give it a try then! What about FL Studio for DAW? or Remixlive as a Sampler/Looper/Mini Daw?
@krassmann i see, i guess having a tablet (iPad) could let the music making experience better, seems like a phone screen is a bit too small to feel comfy no?
Precise audio editing, warping, automation, and bussing are the reasons I still use Auria, which despite the well-documented bugs is the only iOS DAW capable of doing all this stuff. For example if you need to manually parse through a vocal and edit the plosives, Auria's audio editing is perfectly capable of doing this. It also has Elastique warping if you need to fix timing on a rhythm guitar part.
So personally I arrange and compose in a number of different hosts such as NS2 or GarageBand, but I always do the final mix in Auria, and bar just a couple of features such as comping and being able to re-order plugins it does most of what I need. Other's people's mileage will vary of course
(Disclaimer: I didn't read any of the replies yet. I figured to give a fresh answer first.)
One major reason I ditched the laptop/desktop environment completely IS in fact the tactile screens. With a mouse, a person can only move one control at a time (slider, knob, etc), whereas on the iPad screen, I can move multiple at once. And sure, I could technically purchase a MIDI controller to control multiple knobs and sliders on a laptop/desktop DAW, but with a large iPad Pro I can achieve basically the same thing with the touch of my fingers without the need to purchase extra hardware.
A laptop computer can definitely fill the need to create music anywhere, but it's a lot easier to just pull out an iPhone and sketch out a music idea, record interesting audio, live perform an Ambient piece, etc, especially if waiting at the DMV or waiting for a flight or even on a flight.
But those aren't the only reasons I've ditched the laptop/desktop environment. Another factor is the price of software. Sure these days, top quality music apps in the Appstore no longer cost $1.99 each like they did 10 years ago, lol, but they are still far more accessible to purchase than in the desktop environment. For instance, MiRack on iOS only costs $15, whereas the pricing for VCV 2 for desktop/laptop is per group of modules, some groups which START at the cost of $15 (with some bundles reaching triple digits!). A Fabfilter plugin on iPad will set you back maybe $40-$50, whereas on desktop the same plugins mostly cost in the triple digits. The Fabfilter bundle on desktop is $999, whereas the Pro Bundle in the appstore costs $119.99 and the creative bundle $59.99, so only $179.98.
Plus I don't have to deal with iLok on the iPad, especially in physical dongle form (although recently I think the dongles are all virtual now?).
(And in case you wonder, a dongle was/is a physical USB thumbdrive device one would be required to keep plugged into a USB port at all times in order to use the purchase software, and if you lost the device while on the move, kiss your software licenses goodbye.)
Well it seems that you're confirming the points that have been described above as :
. Portability
. Tactile screens
. Quality / Price ratio
. Apps more accessible, creative and fun
Do you mind sharing your current music making Apps setup ?