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Need recommendations for a drum sequencer with customization to use with BeatHawk
There are a number of drum construction kits (as they are called) in BeatHawk in a couple factory packs and some IAP's, and they sound pretty nice. I want to create some drum presets for BeatHawk and share them out as a pack. Right off the bat, though I'm running into difficulties, so I would be very thankful for some advice.
Here's where I'm at so far: I tried using Octachron, which would work nicely as a candidate, but it does not appear to allow creating of custom drum mappings, and that's one of my requirements. I looked at Digistix 2 next, and it's really nice, and does custom pad names, allows custom drum kits, and all sorts of other cool stuff, but I'm not a big fan of the song mode. Playbeat 3 is another great one, but doesn't allow naming the lanes and also doesn't have song mode at all (you can use the quick presets along the bottom, but that's not the same). Logic Pro has the pattern tracks, and I could create a template for BeatHawk, but again, the lanes in the pattern track don't have customizable names, just note names, (Correction: The lanes can be renames and assigned predefined icons) and the interface is not super friendly for editing drum tracks, although the customization is very extensive. So, everything that I've tried and have looked at so far is not meeting the mark for me in some key way.
Here's my wish list of what I would like to have:
*Custom names on the drum track (Kick, Snare, Buzz, Sizzle, etc.)
* Import/Export of the drum kit mappings - probably at least one for each BeatHawk soundset
* Song mode with some visual aid to show what's in the sequence and some control over the patterns - follow actions, repeats, etc.
* Control per step over repeats, velocity, flam
* Different play rates for different lanes
* At least 12 lanes for kit pieces
Nice to have would be:
*Randomization with some control over the range and variance
* Mute groups
* CC values per step and per lane
* Swing control, 16ths and 8ths
I realize that a lot of options such as pitch, pan, and other stuff like that may not be possible when using MIDI out from a sequencer to trigger samples in BeatHawk, although some may be possible with CC values, since BeatHawk does accept those and process them.
This project may not be limited to BeatHawk either - I'm interested in bringing in percussion samples into SoundBox, and I may end up pulling a lot of stuff over there if BeatHawk starts to have issues - it hasn't been updated in 2 years. There are a lot of really nice sounds in some of those packs - it's just that it can be very tedious building selecting out the samples that you want and then mapping them out. If I could cut that down to a handful of drum preset packs, it would open up quick access to a lot of those drumkit sounds. I've already made some pretty good progress doing just that with Octachron (which I gave up on) just using two or three different drum mappings across the EDM, Urban Factory (built-in), and 90's and 2K's hip hop kits among others, and it works pretty well - you just pick your preset, load up one of the construction kits, try another one, and just keep going.
Edit - 1/16/26: Corrected a statement about Logic Pro above. The Pattern Editor allows customizing lane names and assigning icons. It's starting to look more viable. I'm still interested in other alternatives on iPad outside of Logic Pro. Apps that can work in AUM, Loopy Pro, EG Nodes, or other host is desirable, because that will be a wider use case. I'm not against creating a set of presets for Logic Pro and then another set for other AUv3 hosts combined with a drum sequencer.
Comments
I’d look into Prism midi Sequencer .. I have not used it with Beathawk but can’t think of why it wouldn’t work .. Prism is my go-to drum and tone sequencer ..
Prism midi sequencer
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/prism-midi-sequencer/id6502302630
I know I’m leaving a bunch out .. haven’t even talked about the tone sequencer part of it .. definitely check the loooooong list of specs in the App Store description that I linked above.
** Also, disclaimer, I’m on the beta for Prism so I am not totally sure what features have made it to the store version yet but a song mode is on the roadmap ..
Octachron does let you create custom mappings and track names.
You are correct🥇. I got the custom mappings in the tracks as you show, but, after looking more closely, prompted by your reply, I realized that I missed the option within MIDI Mapping to create a custom MIDI Mapping. Plus it's shareable as a file. Fantastic! Thanks for your thorough reading of my post and very helpful reply. 🙏
Based on that new understanding, Octachron is looking pretty good - at least it meet the basic requirements, but if anyone has other suggestions on what might work better, I'm all ears.
Interesting! I've used Prism and I really like it, although I never considered using it as a drum sequencer. I'm pretty comfortable with Prism (at a basic level) now, so I'm going to give it a spin and see how it works. Thanks much 🙏
Edit: It looks worth checking out but I see that the drum pad names are limited to three characters in the current version, which is fine, but longer names would be helpful, maybe up to 7 or 8.
Interesting, never heard of, must have been released whilst I was away.
Just as a check-point question: does this mean Prism handles other meters than 4/4? And that you can have several but different meters in the same song? Why is it limited to 16 tracks? The appstore description seems to use the term "tracks", "patterns" and "sequencers" slightly differently than I'm used to, making me unsure of what we are talking about. Example:
"- 16 tracks with unique drum and tone sequencing features" make me think it handles 16 different instruments, each with their own lane of midi notes/cc etc.
"- 512-steps per sequencer with specialized navigation for detailed control" - there are more than one sequencer? Or is that 512 per lane/track? Is the lane sequence a sequencer?
"- 8 patterns per track, with individual pattern lengths up to 16 bars" make me think there is some weird, and much too low, limitation on how many patterns/variations I can have for an instrument track. I like lots of variation, with just 8 patterns I wouldn't reach the first chorus, then again, if a pattern is 16 bars, is it even "just" a pattern (that's like a section of a song).
"- 16 independent Prism sequencers per drum track" - Oh. Hang on...so for each track (in my world "instrument") I can have 16 different full versions of the...umm...entire app? How does that even work? The maths is beautiful though, as that literally would mean unlimited (close enough)...well, everything...this could be the trigger to creating a black hole!
Not much of the above makes sense in combination so...I guess I'll have to get it to figure it out. I've also only had one coffee this morning just yet, so might be clearer if I read it all again, later. But the main killer for most sequencers in my home is if they can't handle odd meters, and I am thinking that is a quite quick and easy question to save $15, if the answer is "lol...no."
You cannot mix time signatures on Prism
Thanks. Laid that to rest then.
You might want to have a look to this post explaining how to use DPP with BeatHawk.
https://forum.loopypro.com/discussion/19346/drumperfect-pro-now-updated-with-midi-out-how-to-start-using-it
and listen the result here:
Xequence?
Track and Instrument can be used interchangeably in Prism, if that helps ..
Put another way ..
In a Prism project , you have 16 Track/Instrument slots available to you
Thanks. It is a bit clearer. Still sounds intriguing. Such a shame it doesn't handle more than one time signature, then I'd definitely check it out. Right now though it'd be blowing $15 for the app-archive, which already has way too many no-longer-used apps in my case.
Good question. I've considered it. I'm a big fan of Xequence, but after trying it out the editing, the layout and the workflow doesn't lend itself (for me) to efficient drum sequencing. The kit pieces can be placed per track and viewing the piano roll and notes is fine, but it's pretty small, and editing a track opens up a brand new window, which has to be exited to return to the track arranger, and other stuff too. If you or anyone else has any example or demo of a good setup for Xequence drum sequencing, I would be happy to find out that I missed something.
You might also wanna check out mKer sequencer .. cool, flexible sequencer. iPad only though ..
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mker/id1635296839
Xequence 2 is superb, but I don't think is a fit based on your OP.
The developer, @A_Mortal_Mage did a comprehensive series of videos. They'd take some time to get through, but would probably answer all your questions. https://www.youtube.com/@A_Mortal_Mage.
While the interface is-what-it-is in that people either like it or don't - It's possible that Patterning (3) may do what you want. I don't own it, so can't say for sure but maybe someone else can comment?
Thanks, will check it out!