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Which of the Korg stuff do you recommend, Gadget or individual apps?
I was wondering about ipolysix and ims-20, already have bought a few synth apps in the sales so feel like i've got it covered but i'm looking at ims20 for the modular stuff and drums and the modulation system in ipolysix looks pretty slick. I'm familiar with their desktop counterparts but not with the extra features that Korg added to the ios versions...
So what would anyone recommend of the Korg stuff? I already bought ielectribe and was considering ikaossilator and ims20 but i could buy Gadget outright for the same money but i'm happy with my current workflow of recording into Auria and the apps are to use as sound modules with Live once i get my iconnectmidi setup.
So what about Gadget, do the gadgets hold up sonically to Tera, Thor and Alchemy or does it come down to workflow when getting tracks together? I'm quite happy using Live for my sequencing and integrating the iPad and for mobile use recording and editing with Auria. I'm thinking if i bought Gadget i'd probably want to add one of the IAPs to get samples in so it's a fair investment and i know a lot of people here love the Gadget. 
Cheers!
Comments
Gadget for me works as collection of elements, bound together in a nice sequencer. I don't reach for Gadget if I need to add just synth to a GarageBand track though, they're not flexible enough compared to standalones.
I've had a hardware MS20 for years, and can confidently say they've made an absolutely cracking job of capturing the original sound, and the added xy pads and sequencer are the icing on the cake. Problem is the onscreen knobs are very fiddly, and have a habit of resetting when I'm twiddling them.
I've got both, probably don't use them as much as I thought I would, but I still love em.
I was wondering a similar thing not too long ago. I bought Gadget (on one of its sales this summer) and have NEVER regretting the money spent on that one. It's just a terrific music production app through and through - not really a full "DAW", but they've opened it up even further with the Ableton stuff and now Gadget by Gadget loop exporting.
But that got me thinking..."Wait, if the sounds in Gadget are this good, does that mean ALL of the KORG stuff sounds that good?"
The answer is "yes". And "no". First, it should be noted that some of these apps are pretty old. Just out of curiosity, I looked up the release dates for the major KORG apps:
iElectribe (Sept 2010)
iMS-20 (Nov 2010)
iElectribe Gorillaz (Apr 2011)
iKaossilator (Oct 2011)
iPolySix (Nov 2012)
Gadget (Jan 2014)
Module (Nov 2014)
So a good chunk of their lineup was (a) designed with older devices in mind; (b) predated AudioBus; and (c) debuted at a time when there were FAR fewer alternatives than there are now for synths and drum machines.
That does not mean that the apps are "bad" at all, but they at times do show their age in terms of interface, features, etc. To be fair, the same company put out Gadget, which is almost universally renowned for being one of the more beautiful and functional music apps on the market.
I just bought iMS-20 yesterday. I bought iPolySix in September. I think both of them sound very nice. But there is a disappointing amount of preset content for iPolySix in particular. iPolySix is polyphonic, so I read a lot of people who prefer it over iMS-20, which is a modular synth. But I actually like the presets in iMS-20 better, and it's also part sequencer, part drum machine, and has Kaoss Pads. And it does thick analog bass sounds as well as any app I have besides, I dunno, maybe Arturia iSEM.
But that's kind of my point - there are plenty of apps that do what the non-Gadget KORG apps do now. You may even have some of them already. But there's a KORG "flavor" to iElectribe and iMS-20 (in particular) that makes them still very interesting, especially at the sale prices, which bring them more in line with what you would pay for other apps.
What they said. No single gadget will stand up to Thor (heh) but the point of Gadget is as an integrated electronic music production environment. If you want to make electronic music, get gadget. If you want another kick ass synth, get iMS-20.
Got ims20, must have imho, later got Gadget, no regret
The sound of an MS20 is unique, I've never heard another app or hardware synth that has that filter sound.
I think presets are missing the point with an iMS20, it's a twiddlers synth. Only problem is the knobs are fiddly, but I don't regret buying it for one second, in fact I bought an iPad just so I could run this app.
Yep. What everyone else said.
Only thing I'd add is...
Gadgets good for quick authoring / sketching of parts, phrases etc. And trying them together quickly.
So even though you might use Auria / Live as your DAW to put complete tracks together, Gadget could be useful as a very quick Sketchpad for ideas.
But if you just want the best synths / sounds you're probably better spending the money on a couple of 'big synths' (I like Z3ta, Thor, Tera, iMini etc...)
Same for me - MS20 for its sound even with missing midi features and Gadget. I easily skip electribes and polisix. Kaossilator might be fun to play because of its interface.
Everything but Gorillaz.
Got Gadget, Module, iPolysix and iKaossilator, liking every one.
For me it would have to be Gadget. IPolySix only has a single oscilator per voice, and unless you are into a particular vintage sound, there are better modern alternatives. Ims20 has more going for it, but again I think there are more modern synths that give you more. Gadget has a surprising amount of depth and some great sounds, as well as an easy to use sequencing environment.
Gadget is a Mistress, perhaps a number of them. IMS-20 is a dominatrix.
@JohnnyGoodyear said:
This!
Does anyone know if iMS-20 and iPolysix presets are compatible with there desktop counterparts?
@knewspeak said:
I searched for presets and I don't think I saw anyone doing that successfully. But maybe it is possible, I dunno.
BTW, the KORG sale seems to be extended until 12/31! If I can spread it out some more, I may pick up iKaossilator to "complete the set" (well, except for Module and Gorillaz)
You can get along just fine with Gadget, and I think the synths hold up. Difference is the individual gadgets don't have the same depth or variety of sound as the synth apps. But I think all the gadgets as a whole, along with the effects and automation, raise the level of depth and variety to a comparable level.
However, if you really like synths and creating your own patches and everything, the synth apps are probably the way to go.
Thanks for the brilliant responses, this place rocks!
Kinda confirms what i could discern from watching videos and listening to demos. I'm using apps like Egoist, Oscilab and Figure to sketch out ideas, this works for me so @Matt_Fletcher_2000 i was thinking of iKaossilator in a similar role, tracking out into Auria, AS or Loopy and ims-20 for the gnarley bass. Re ims-20 even though it's monophonic can't you stack the timbres to build layered sounds?
@StormJH1 i read in the BF thread that you can download ims20 presets from SC which is great but @knewspeak i don't think you can load vst presets. I knew what i was getting into with ielectribe, have had a few electribes in the past and it's a great emulation tho' limited.
@syrupcore i want to do both but i work best on a DAW, i'd buy gadget if i was on the road or was just using an iPad.
@monzo and Peanutcram i'll bet ims20 sounds great run through an analog filter or something like U-He satin.
Still a few days to decide, looking likely i'll get ims-20 and maybe iKaossilator. This is stuff i can use live as well which i'm hoping to start doing soon, the iPad was bought with that and these kinda apps in mind so it makes sense to get them then get gadget later if i need it.
@musikmachine you can accomplish quite a lot of what is possible in gadget using Caustic or Nanostudio. They're just not as streamlined or good looking!
So which other apps do you all think are a better choice than iPolysix?
iMS20 and 10-15 non Korg synth apps.
I should probably note: I actually owned a hardware polysix for a few years and didn't really like it all that much. To me, the app sounds remarkably similar.
@Accent said:
I guess Thor or Z3ta+ are better synths, you get more mileage out of them. iPolysix is worth getting while it's on sale if you're into a particular kind of sound. But if you like the 80's, iPolysix has it all. I bought it a few days ago and I'm returning to it very often.
Thanks @StormJH1, I've searched too, with no luck, it's because I'm tempted to pick up the desktop Legacy Bundle, upgrade from M1LE is $50, a great deal as you get the MS20, Polysix, M1, Wavestaion, MonoPoly and FX plugins, of these I would love to see Korg bring over to iOS the MonoPoly and Wavestation. BTW anybody who's interested you get M1LE with the Korg Nano Series Controllers, upgrade offer on until 31 December.
@musikmachine if you're watching the pennies then Gadget includes a synth that sounds pretty close to the iMS20 - though with a lot less features, but yes the filters are great - I sometimes route my electric guitar through my hardware MS20, effecting it with the Korg filters and modulation.
I'm also tempted by the iPolysix as I haven't got that one. Not a fan of 80's synth sounds but the sequencer looks pretty tasty. Maybe I'll pick it up if Santa brings me some AppStore vouchers...
Get Thor, for sure.. it is 5USD now
@musikmachine Gadget just has the best iOS sequencer by far, IMO. I use it with Auria, and if additional synth tracks are needed, then I can break out any of my zillion synth apps and sequence the old-fashioned (read: inferior) way as needed. Hope that helps!
As @Goozoon said, Thor is an example of a great synthesizer with TONS of preset content - it's probably every bit as good as the "objective quality" of the Korg products, and is currently $5. That being said, it does struggle a bit on some older devices.
I revisited iPolySix last night (very briefly), and it was a bit deeper than I recalled. One thing I hadn't appreciated immediately (and is true of ALL Korg apps) is the quality of the effects. Even if you have a limited number of sounds as starting points, you can obviously create your own, and the array of distortions, modulations, delays, etc. is outstanding.
I don't know if this important to you but Gadget doesn't sync well with other DAWs. I always have to use copy and paste.
Lots of latency for me with Gadget on an iPad 2, but apart from a couple of presets Thor runs like a dream.
I love Thor, probably my favourite synth.
I've been getting into gadget of late bought the abu dhabi iap, one thing about it I didn't like, which is why I stopped using it, is my old ipad 3 maxes out around the five gadget mark, no fault of korgs tho. Love the sound and workflow, editing varies between each gadget, would like to see the fx section expanded and some more aux channels, fantastic for starting tracks I'm finding.
I like both ipolysix and ims20, if you like tweeking go for ims20 really opens up when you get the hang of it, old skool sequencer threw me at first, used to use both ielectribes loads, but hardly touch them now, first ielectribe was what tempted me to get an ipad, I prefer the original over the gorrillaz version. The ikaossilator is fantastic for young kids, my nephews love it, used it for a while but find myself playing with it more than being productive, I've used figure more to get ideas for tracks, but I do like recording drum beats into logic with ikaossilator, because of the variations.
No love for the Gorillaz Electribe? I like it. One bad thing I've heard is that you can't use it in a song because the sounds are copyrighted. Is that true? It doesn't make sense.
From the app store description: