B-STEP SEQUENCER

[Deleted User]

It's on the BUS:-)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/b-step-sequencer-2-pro/id854779961?mt=8

Also with an update....Great sequencer, up there with the best

Zetagy

Just downloaded and this seems to be a very nice update. Interface cleanup and customization, engine improvement, some sort of sharing/forum net hub. I'm looking forward to dusting it off and giving it a spin.

Edit: needs more scales...pentatonic minor? Only seeing 12 scales unless scroll isn't working

Trueyorky

Yes, nice update and shiny new interface with cool features.

JohnnyGoodyear

I'm enjoying it but also find it confusing, but I suspect that's because of lots of options rather than the opposite. Hooks up nicely with Thor which is enough to keep me going for a while.

N00b whine: Hate the font.

Will

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
N00b whine: Hate the font.

Been using it for a while and still don't like the font.

It's a great sequencer whose features become clearer after a while. The left sidebar is bizarre in that they aren't different settings but more and more settings. The labels remain confusing to me. The fixed note thing is where the sequencer shines (for me) but you can adjust the notes per step as needed.

JohnnyGoodyear

@syrupcore Reassuring, thanks. I hit the wall fairly early on with the sense of 'what, I can only have four channel/notes at a time?' which is obviously not the case, but my poor little head couldn't make sense of ALL THE CHOICES. I like my sequencers Stalinist. One kind of washing powder only people.

No. That's not true. I actually think (hey @Michael, ya listenin?) certain sorts of apps should only reveal the next level of their complexity when you've proven you've figured out the level you're on. I know, not practical (especially sales-wise maybe).

Funny thing is after I got a little tuckered out trying to break through with B-Step I turned to my 'Too Easy' folder for some respite and opened up EasyBeats3 which I haven't looked at in a long while, and between easily bringing in samples to that and slowing/slicing things so quickly in Audio-Stretch I got some of my confidence back And EasyBeats got itself out of the 'waiting for them to show me something more' folder. Because there WAS more there than the last clunkyheaded version of myself saw last time...

funjunkie27

Very tough to get aligned with for me, but I can see the potential...just got to spend the time.

Will

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
...but my poor little head couldn't make sense of ALL THE CHOICES.

... certain sorts of apps should only reveal the next level of their complexity when you've proven you've figured out the level you're on.

I like it. B-step would be a perfect candidate for ten 2-minute videos, each one building/revealing from the previous. Start with a simple 1 bar sequence and go from there.

I know I watched some big old video when I decided to buy it. It helped but bite-sized and building would be better here (so that you could bail after video #4 and make music for a while).

funjunkie27

+1 for chunks!

knewspeak

Was using this to drive my PC VST's via ad-hoc, network session, it was fairly responsive, but as far as pick up, intuitive, that it is not. Then I tried MidiSequencer, but couldn't find network session, in the output port, anybody used it via network session?

solador78

This comment was made in another thread and I'm replying here so that I don't hi-jack that discussion:

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
Found myself sequencing in TNR again last night after getting frustrated with the unintuitiveness of B-Step

What's your workflow like in B-Step? I would love to hear how other people are using it.

The first thing I do is tune it like a tenor guitar or another stringed instrument (ie. Open-E) and then transpose it to the 5 other chord slots and then modulate it to the other 4 chord sets.

This opens up the chordset knob for live playing, while keeping every chord in harmony, in any tuning (ie. turning the tuning knob to D for Open-D).

JohnnyGoodyear

@solador78 Yup. You are in the advanced conversational Italian class and I am staring at the cover of the beginner's textbook

Will

@JohnnyGoodyear He said "take a few minutes to set up yer notes first 'fore you bother wastin time mashin buttons".

solador78

LOL, I used ChordPolyPad and Wikipedia as references to set it all up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_guitar_tunings;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modulation_(music)

solador78

Another tip I have is to set the right half of the sequencer to SEQ#2 (and set a higher octave and/or a second bar chord). This gives you the "two hands playing a piano" effect.

JohnnyGoodyear

@solador78 said:
Another tip I have is to set the right half of the sequencer to SEQ#2 (and set a higher octave and/or a second bar chord). This gives you the "two hands playing a piano" effect.

This is about in my ballpark of understanding, will take a fiddle Vicar.

solador78

Ok great. For some ratcheting fun, make a sequence and go to REP1 and play with the "step repeats" knob. Then play with the other blue knobs.

JohnnyGoodyear

@solador78 Thanks for the suggestion, I will certainly have a stumble about.

CalCutta

I'll be the opposing voice here and say that I actually like the font a lot. I'm a sucker for Art Deco-type stuff like that.

As far as the sequencer...not a big fan of the interface (I find it counter-intuitive to how the iPad works, too much screen switching). It's fun for just kind of plugging and finding what random stuff comes out though. I mean, most sequencers are, but yeah, that's the best results I've had with this so far.