Beat-making with MIDI performance effects

midiSequencer

@syrupcore - it's about 90% done at the moment, so hoping to see this released in July. I keep a blog of progress on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Midisequencer/558588387561014

Matt_Fletcher_2000

Watching with interest

RUST( i )K

@syrupcore said:
Step Poly Arp may have most of what you're looking for. Honestly, I've never tried it as a beat maker but it's been on my list. It has a few really nice features for making drum beats compared to other arpeggiators or step sequencers. First, it's polyphonic (you can actually 'fix' the notes so that it works like a step sequencer instead of an arpeggiator). Second, it's got a few basic grid controls missing from lots of other apps that you can do globally or per line/note. In particular, stuff like insert a blip ever 2/4/all steps, shift left and right, randomize, reverse as well as cut/copy/paste. Then it has fun stuff like ratcheting per step and probability. What it doesn't have is velocity per track or step. If you think of it as a classic drum machine's "accent" it should work out all right.

It doesn't specifically have a song mode but it does have pattern chaining. You can set a pattern to play from 1-8 loops before automatically moving on to the next pattern.

It also doesn't specifically have MIDI effects (other than ratcheting I suppose) but you can at least adjust the loop length in real time for stutter type effects. You could always bring the drum box back into the iPad and put it through Turnado or something for more of that sort of action.

Agree 100%

The finest drum lines I make are running STEP/POLY through the Alchemy drum kits in the Minimal library, Fierce.

RUST( i )K

@midiSequencer said:
thus - midiSequencer is polyphonic - but the polyphony currently comes with chords - so is geared more to keyboard than drum. You can have up to 128 notes playing in each step - each with their own length & velocity.

However..... I'm working on a 20 track version of MS that is based on the idea of clips (e.g. like Abelton Live).

Each clip can be linked to others by user defined logic (e.g. start another clip after 2 loops and 3 steps, transpose up a third and play another 6 loops before stopping). This is way more advanced than Live.

Each clip can have its own tempo division (e.g. 1/2 would play half speed of the main song tempo).

Clips can also be transposing sequences - so no midi note out, but modify another clip (including a transpose clip - so they can be chained) sequence by transposing it.

I'm also enabling clips to take over the clock trigger for other clips.

Each clip is a complete instance of midisequencer (including chords and fx) and can be routed to other clips and devices - so you could have clip 1 play animoog, clip 2 play magellan at x2 speed.

I intend to make this an IAP for MS to start with, but next will also be merging this with my piano-roll/grid editor which features midi file read/write, real-time record in a style similar to Gadget that many people prefer. So clips could be midifiles.

What do you mean " polyphony currently comes with chords"?

Are the chords pre programmed?

Is MIDI seq 1 channel/instrument per app at a time in using?

Thanks

RUST( i )K

@firejan82 said:
Genome MIDI Sequencer maybe but I don't know about the MIDI effects - there is a simple MIDI note repeater or something like that.

Genome is too short of a sequence area for me.

Can't get a groove going with such a limit of notes per grid program. In my opinion.

I have also had a shitload of latency issues with Genome. Very touchy, so I threw in towel, sticking with StepPolyArp and Thesys.

thus

@RustiK said:

Agree 100%

>

The finest drum lines I make are running STEP/POLY through the Alchemy drum kits in the Minimal library, Fierce.

My app store trigger finger is getting very itchy. Thanks for the tips, @RustiK and @syrupcore!

Matt_Fletcher_2000

@thus said:
My app store trigger finger is getting very itchy. Thanks for the tips, RustiK and syrupcore!

I already have this power... need to try it...

firejan82

@RustiK said:
Genome is too short of a sequence area for me.

Can't get a groove going with such a limit of notes per grid program. In my opinion.

You can zoom out to see almost 4 bars and you can increase the number of bars in a pattern/clip to 128. Maybe I just don't understand what you meant by that.

JohnnyGoodyear

I suspect Genome has a bigger reach than most of us understand....

Will

@RustiK said:
What do you mean " polyphony currently comes with chords"?
Are the chords pre programmed?

There's a Chords IAP (at least I think it was an IAP) and you can use that to send more than one note per step. I don't think I have a bad thing to say about the rather amazing midiSequencer but I couldn't honestly recommend it as a polyphonic drum sequencer. I mean, it could absolutely work for that but it's not exactly in it's intended purpose wheelhouse.

Though now that I'm saying that, of course, I want to try it to prove myself wrong!

One thing it does have that almost all other candidates are missing is many MIDI effects (including delay). It also has the ability to turn steps off which, spread across a few patterns, could make for many interesting stutter and fill effects. Plus probability, controllers, many available patterns... When you can run 20 at once, it's going to be a completely different story. Tony, let me know if you need my testflight account!

RUST( i )K

@syrupcore said:

How does IAP chord work?

You know how most synths have a "chord" feature with 1 note chord play.

Well as you also know - that doesn't work with most on a MIDI keyboard.

I am looking for a 1 finger chord play option. This might also be valuable in another way.

Does ChordPolyPad do what I am looking for?

I am probable gonna get this app for the reason the developer is active on the forum and gives 2 shits about his customers. I can spare a couple bucks next purchase and try this out. The chord IAP is intriguing.

Will

@RustiK Yes, ChordPolyPad does what you want. mS doesn't work that way (though it may be coaxed into it, not sure). The chords IAP is more about being able to enter more than one note per sequencer step.

RUST( i )K

@syrupcore said:
RustiK Yes, ChordPolyPad does what you want. mS doesn't work that way (though it may be coaxed into it, not sure). The chords IAP is more about being able to enter more than one note per sequencer step.

So, you confirmed ChordPoly for me.

And that is 1 finger MIDI keyboard = chord?

Is that mainly what it does?

Will

Yes. https://www.google.com/#q=ChordPolyPad

thus

@syrupcore said:

One thing [midiSequencer] does have that almost all other candidates are missing is many MIDI effects (including delay). It also has the ability to turn steps off which, spread across a few patterns, could make for many interesting stutter and fill effects. Plus probability, controllers, many available patterns [snip]

If you do decide to experiment using it for drums (or rhythms in general), please let us know how you fare!

Yeah, those MIDI effects look to be "class-leading" among the iOS step sequencers. Kudos, @midiSequencer.

I am currently trying to play around with Yamaha Mobile Music Sequencer's (YMMS) "Remix" options for these kinds of effects. If you have no interest in that app, you need not read any further.

I haven't had that "aha!" moment with YMMS yet. Underneath each of four Remix categories (Standard, Break, Roll, and Fill) is a list of numbered choices (16 under each category). You click through each one and listen for a bar or two to see if the result is something you like. When you've gone through all 64 (4 x 16), you can change "Type," which gives you another 64 choices. There are 16 Types, so that gives you 1,024 choices in all.

In experimenting with a very simple repeating pattern of triads across 8 bars, I found most of the choices rather unmusical. I spent a LOT of time clicking and listening before I got anything that sounded remotely good. Once you choose a remix, the part is labeled as a remix in the part grid.

I plan to give it a lot more time. YMMS is a very deep tool with a good concept of building parts into sequences, and sequences into songs. My experience so far is truly from a noob perspective.

I will say that setting YMMS up with non-Yamaha outboard gear has been painful. Almost no documentation and not very intuitive. I'm still not 100% with the MIDI configuration. For example, I'm not getting program changes to affect my StreetBoxx drum machine, even though I can do it easily in another app, MultitrackStudio. Program changes to the MicroKorg put the instrument in a funky state in which the controller knobs (for filter sweeps, etc.) don't function. Again, all working normally and easily in MultitrackStudio.

I'm sure it's my mistake, but YMMS's UI for the MIDI configuration is very sparse, unintuitive and poorly documented. But I digress...

midiSequencer

Yes, MidiSequencer polyphony must be pre-programmed - although you can play notes on the Chord keyboard in realtime.

MS is currently though heading firmly towards a DAW type app - think of Abelton Live clips, Acid Pro arrangements.....

RUST( i )K

@midiSequencer said:
Yes, MidiSequencer polyphony must be pre-programmed - although you can play notes on the Chord keyboard in realtime.

MS is currently though heading firmly towards a DAW type app - think of Abelton Live clips, Acid Pro arrangements.....

That is awesome. Acid is where my heart is.

Like that first kiss.

Or first line.

Either or. Memorable. ;-)