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Computer DAW and IOS Workflow
I’m really mad I wrote this already but accidently closed the page lol. I’m really curious so I’m writing it again!
I’ve been trying to sell my Ableton license for what seems like an eternity. I just decided to keep it again. I took a 4 month break from using it so I could focus on music production on the iPad/I was tired of looking at my laptop for hours on end. Ironically now I’m looking at my iPad for hours but it’s arguably more fun.
When I was using Ableton consistently, I was connecting with the iConnect midi 2 and it worked seamlessly. I was basically using the iPad as a sound module. I would record my apps to audio as a clip in Ableton and build from there.
I recently upgraded to an iPhone 6 after my 4 broke down (RIP) and I’ve been thinking of integrating that into my set up too. Just downloaded Audiomux/Midimux to test out over the weekend and see how it goes. Same creator as touchable I believe so I’m confident it will be worth my while.
I’m really interested to hear how people are integrating IOS into their DAW (doesn’t matter which one). What’s your work flow like? How are you connecting? What are your go to apps. Please open the doors to your studios and share your story lol
Cheers
Mike
Comments
musicIO is of course great for this, as is an iconnectmidi. i load audio into samplr, record actions in samplr, then i record the audio output into ableton. for drums i use the "export as ableton live project" in korg gadget.
however, i only use ableton for arrangement/mixing so far. i have not used it to actually perform a song and i'm not sure i want to, as i can do that with just the ipad and a controller attached to the ipad.
Thanks for the info @blanksmaiden
I don't use Samplr enough! It's one of those apps I use every now and then and always reminds me how amazing it is.
I haven't used the export to Ableton function in Gadget yet. I was just using Gadget by itself but now that I'm back on Ableton I think it would make a lot of sense to lay down some ideas on my work lunch break and export later!
I think using Ableton for arranging is probably going to be the most popular way to compose. At least for several years until something new comes along.
@martygras I completely agree. I haven't found a replacement app for Ableton. Granted, I think the strength of IOS is using combinations of apps to do what you need to do but the Ableton clip launching functionality is still unbeatable for me.
I've been hoping for years that Ableton would create an app but haven't heard of anything in the works.
For the most part I just dump everything as audio to Samplitude on the PC and do editing and some overdubs/fx there. It is becoming way more arranged and thought out on ipad nowadays using Cubasis. I too way more enjoy time on the ipads than on the PC as I look at a PC at work all day. Umm, haven't thought much about the difference but it feels more chill and quick on ipad. Anyway I make long jams of around an hour with a few overdubs in cubasis with as many synths and apps as I can throw out of it. I am really looking forward to trying Auria Pro as Auria claims to export AAF which can import into Samplitude and maintain tracks / clips (I assume).
Next time I dump a bunch of tunes to PC I may give Music IO a shot to see what it can do. Maybe I will process PC Daw tracks on ipad with midi etc.
@audiogus I work on a computer all day for work as well. So sometimes its hard to sit down again for hours and try to maintain my sanity.
I like your work flow of making long jams. I've never actually tried that before.I think that would make sense for me and just edit everything on my computer. I tend to work in microloops like 4/8/ and test out different combinations. Really excited for Auria Pro too. Interested to see what they do.
I have my fingers crossed that Auria Pro will have pitch shifting per clip as well as the new time stretching. If that is the case it may possibly reduce my PC daw use by a ton. When I tried Auria I found the basic editing and navigation was fantastic. I could not believe how much better it was than cubasis but alas I had to go with cubasis in the end.
As for the long jams edited down it works well. I use a hardware Tenori-On to control about six apps in cubasis, running a couple IAA instruments as well. Still amazed at how I can simultaneously record eight tracks of 24 bit audio for well over an hour on something the size of a comic book. It doesn't feel real sometimes. But yah this method enables you to really make it work in realtime, trusting your ears, handling all the 'automation' yourself, flipping through different patches and experimenting, not as a solid performance but as an exploration. Sometimes it will turn to complete ass for a bit and sound like so much mud but a couple minutes later gold pops up again so just let the reels run and record everything. Kind of like how a lot of movies are shot nowadays on digital or how big budget classic jazz albums like Bitches Brew were recorded.
It feels like making a track in slow motion over time (like Quicksilver from the X-Men (heh) and then editing it down to a tenth the size is like time lapse when it all speeds up, all the ideas or beter yet, happy accidents compress together and sounds like intentional gold. so fun!!
Oh and another tip, if you have two ios devices you can run the Tenori-On app as a midi controller if you have a hardware interface for both as the app does support midi with hardware. I don't know of any other flexible multi channel midi jam apps out there but if there are any i would love to know about them.
I use midimux with Reason to make my white midi keys play certain scales via ThumbJams midi-through or just playing with the touchscreen. I also use the Gadget and iKaossilator Ableton export and I think it's great. I am relatively new to Reason and Ableton and I'm already a fan of both these DAWs but it did not make me love iOS any less.
@audiogus
That's the same thing I thought of auria as well. I love the editing capabilities. Thought the same I wish Cubasis had it like that as well but I went for Cubasis cause of the midi and synths available. I still have Auria on my iPad though, waiting out the storm and hoping i will be able to use my computer less.
I also use IMPC a lot now cause I'm just use to that drum machine type workflow. Even though I know they support interapp audio I would love to see them on the bus. That's the only thing I don't like about it
I will definitely try making longer mixes. I'm sure I will be able to keep some happy accidents to work on other tracks.
@firejan82
What are your thoughts on midimux? Is it stable?
I played around with Ableton again yesterday and realized how much I missed it. I think I'm going to have a blast this weekend testing out different combinations
I want Ableton but alas I only have the lite 9 version. Which is fine to muck around with I just do not do enough to justify purchasing the full version. I do have protools, Logic Pro and MainStage 3.
I know you can but I just have not tried hard enough to get musicIO or Audiomux inside of protools. Audiomux works great for me as a plugin inside of Logic.
Midimux is my favorite though. I am working on a live setup for MainStage and my iPad. Ideally it would be mostly MainStage sounds with the ability to play some iOS synths and stuff. But more so using one of the many Midi Sequencers to control MainStage. Sequence some drums, a few synths parts just to add some extra flavor to a performance.
Sample My IPad via MusicIO into my Maschine Studio and use them as sound sources in Omnisphere 2.
Yes it was stable for me so far although I'm not a power user. Definitely a great thing to have if you have some cool iOS midi controllers and a desktop daw. I also used Audiomux once or twice but only on a Macbook with Reason. I don't think that would work on my windows laptop or at least it wouldn't be as easy to set up.
Anyone reading this knows if Lemur can work via Midimux? I'm interested but not if I have to do the ad-hoc.
Happy with 'soundcard mixer pc ipads iphones all in one setup' esp. when in bybass mode:) finding myself often (with a mini kaoss pad in parallel and the cck) without the laptop on:)
You've already got some solid programs so maybe you don't need ableton.
I first bought ableton and push cause I thought it would be good for live performances but thats never how I ended up using it. I've been thinking the iPad would be better suited for that. So much more options!
Niceee. Maschine is how I started with music production 4 years ago! I love the workflow. I was hoping that NI would update imaschine to get a timeline type editor and just beef it up overall with more features. It's definitely one of my go to apps but i think ill be using it for drums to record into Ableton.
@firejan82
I sold all of my midi controllers. I just use my ipad to control everything now. I also have the Kontrol S8 for when I take breaks and want to put a mix together.
I've had my eye on a kaoss pad for so long but im trying to limit my gear (I have problems lol)
Problems galore;), besides the kp mini is low price and good for everything. That said, integrated with ableton lite and the usb connections or wireless - fine, good, super - already and for the coming time.
I'm sure you can setup Lemur without ad-hoc but you'd probably still have to run it through daemon. It's too confusing for me deal with.
Midi Designer Pro and TB Midi Stuff, on the other hand, work perfectly in an instant!
I tried Ableton on PC when it first came out- and did not click with it- I never could get into the whole DAW workflow- I always just record performances and then bring the recordings into an audio editor to mix/merge -and master - the only DAW I ever got on with is FLS because it let you use it like hardware- never used the audio tracks or sequencer- I used vst audio players and vst step sequencers - now I use Hokusai on my iPad to assemble songs-
iTrack Dock lets me add the iPad as an extremely versatile tool into my studio. I'm running Cubase 8 Pro, two keyboard synths, a rack bass synth and a rack drum machine along with a few basic VST Instruments (the stock ones that come with Cubase, Z3TA 2, freebies from Computer Music Magazine etc). I run the HW through an analogue mixer and have an external Delay/Reverb and an external dual channel compressor. The mixer feeds an 18 in 8 out audio interface - the iTrack Dock goes direct into the interface. The inputs on the iTrack take a condenser mic and the line-in from my electro/acoustic guitar, which lets me record two separate guitar channels into Cubase, the clean acoustic from the mic and the pick-up. I can also route a stereo output from Cubase into the iTrack if I want to add some iOS fx to the HW or for direct sampling into the iPad, but not so much with my current set up as I am using that feed to drive the delay/reverb fx unit.
I also run Cubase IC Pro so I have a nice touch surface to hand which I mainly use for Cubase key commands to speed up workflow. Generally including at least one iOS synth in tracks I produce within the studio. Away from the studio I use the iPad to sketch out ideas which end up in Cubasis before being transferred to Cubase using Steinberg's Cubasis project importer (which is a great tool).
I connect it all up using a 8 in 8 out MIDI interface and this puts each HW synth on its own pair with 16 channels, sends MIDI clock from Cubase to the Delay fx and connects to the iPad via the iTrack so I can sequence synths direct from Cubase. This lets me run synths through Audiobus into Auria before taking the audio back into Cubase via Cubasis as described above.
Currently in the middle of sorting the studio acoustics, new monitor speakers arrived this week and I'm now working out where to best position the acoustic tiles. This was how it looked earlier after I'd remodelled my racks to make shelves for the monitors before I started rewiring.
Right now what I'm trying to build in the studio is basically a modular system with three iPads. I love FLUX: FX but it's a hog on my iPad 4 so the iCM2+ was awesome. I have an iPad 1 and an Alesis Dock that sends audio through a tube preamp into an Apogee Duet v1. I just bought an iPad 2 and another Alesis Dock that's also connected to the Duet through a tube preamp. The docks can also both MIDI and I can route audio through Ableton from the Apogee to the iCM2+. I've splurged a little recently to make this work, but my birthday's next week and I have a MIDI controller, synthesizer and multi-FX chain controllable via touchscreens. I know I'm supposed to make music with them, but sometimes it's a lot of fun to just make some noise.
Thanks @TGiG
iCM2+ as interface, my DAW is Cubase 8 Pro. Apps:
Firo for sketches, Genome Midi for adavanced sequencing (with Channel filtering in Cubase)
Controller: Lemur Templates (as Radial Seq, CCSequencer8 for step sequencing quick controls, ABreakpoint2 for Omnisphere Multich Textures) and my customized TB Midi Stuff for modulation work and scale performing in Kaoss pad manner.
I'm using iConnect Audio 4. Also I'm using a free program called MIDI Patchbay to route my keyboard controller that is plugged into my Mac through the iConnect to the iPad. I can record MIDI and audio from the iPad at the same time.
Holy shit lol that’s a pretty crazy set-up. I definitely wouldn’t be able to handle it. You set up looks beautiful though! I like how everything is clean and has its own place. I’m the same way, even if a paper clip is in the wrong spot I have to fix it or I just can’t think properly lol
I love it. I've never seen a 3 iPad set before. Sometimes it is really funny to make noise. Just make sure to record it and save it for later. Sometimes I find good stuff from stuff I did ages ago that I can pull into a new tune
I have genome app as well but truthfully I haven’t used it yet. I bought it months ago as a nice to have but I just haven’t found a purpose. I also have lemur but havent really explored it yet. I found it a bit complicated and was initially going to use it to control Ableton but I found touchable much more suitable for that purpose.
Thanks for sharing!
Nice. Looks like the iconnect is also pretty popular here. I'm glad I bought it. Also seems like everyone uses their tools pretty differently. Nice to get some perspective on what other people are doing.