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Recommendations for newcomers to the world of Auv3 - app gift packs
Hi folks, there’s a bit of a game I play and I wonder if anyone might like to play along or riff off it…
I design in my head custom gift packs of Auv3s for any of my friends and family with an iOS device and the slightest interest in sound or music.
There’s a few key apps and developers that consistently come up on my lists, and then a few that vary depending on the instruments, styles, genres and work/play flows that the person enjoys, and is not likely to be intimidated by.
I think nearly all of my packages would include AUM and Koala.
Here’s some thoughts on other apps that will likely be included:
(Apologies; my attempt at a little post became a long ramble. The central point was meant to be, hey, if you have special apps you recommend or gift to many people to share the love, what are they?, and perhaps what “types” of friend/client/musicians/producers/students would you give/recommend them too? ) I start off on host apps and then wander through some other stuff.
HOSTS:
Of the Auv3 hosts that are not AUM, I am enjoying EG Nodes a lot, and am finding I can learn to drive it more quickly than Loopy Pro.
I reckon Loopy Pro is magnificent, btw, - I have just been surprised at how long it is taking me to become comfortable and familiar with its timing and patching options and methods. I have owned Drambo for way less time, but get to fun musician or sound designer spaces more quickly, and reproducibly, than in Loopy. This is even though what Loopy does is way closer to my “sorta thing” - as more of a delay-loving improvising musician than a modular synth people.
(I reckon my breakthough with Loopy - where it becomes more my friend more than an appealing but frustrating acquaintance, is just around the corner 😉. I may even be becoming a Modular people too. Thanks to Drambo, Solderbox, Modal, and Model 15. 🙏🏼
Sand may be worth a look for those who want to use Auv3s in a clip-based, Korg Gadget like workflow (without the blue background!) - (Oh, can you change that blue, btw? I would use Gadget more if I could change the colour.)
LK in AUM would be my way to play with that sort of workflow.
Sessions has some potential, but it looks to me like it may need to have a few updates before it can really play with the big kids.
Check out the current public beta.
Logic for iPad is very good, and getting better. One day it might be great. I just have way more fun in AUM.
I use Logic because of the integration with Logic on Mac and would recommend it as an iPad DAW to any Logic user who has some sort of space in their life and head and bank account to deal with subscription pricing (it is very reasonable subscription pricing for a professional product, it’s just still a subscription model).
It will be very interesting to see what the next release of Scaler for iPad is like, as it is also an amazing app, and the current desktop version is showing a lot of great development in the hosting space.
For most people wanting a more conventional DAW experience I would recommend Cubase - so many happy users, lots of clear learning resources, and no subscription model pricing.
For those wanting to make AUM more DAW-like, the Auv3 gift-packs would likely get Atom 3 or Helium to handle the piano roll sequencing, and then maybe an audio recorder, or maybe just AudioShare and an explanation of how to record bussed subgroups for nice, re-mixable, multi-track stems.
There’s at least one BLEASS app that should bring a smile to even the most jaded sound-engineers face. Same applies to the Bram Bos catalogue.
Some people will take like a duck to water to an app from AudioModern.
GeoShred and a decent set of headphones could help transform a long distance a long bus or plane journey into a real pleasure for many people.
Some people will fall in love with the almost whimsical and poetic interfaces of a Humbletune app, or could easily be enchanted by the timbre, tone and sonic quality of practically anything from Klevgrand.
There would likely be more than one 4pockets app in every gift pack.
(Layers would be in for anyone with a MIDI keyboard. DigiStix 2 would be in a lot of packs (Though for many people I woud choose OneShot, FAC Drummer, or Hammerhead instead. Plenty of good quality instruments and effects to choose from.)
Whilst in the area of drums I would have to say that for anyone into Auv3 rhythm production, I would probably be very likely to get them my favourite silent, almost invisible, but still invaluable invaluable plugin - Midigates Probability. (Must quietly shout-out my thanks to Gavinski’s channel for putting me on to that quiet gem of an app. And of course midiLFOs - great for those wanting to expand some textural movement in effects units and many sound-modules and synths.)
Oh gosh, and then there’s the beautiful array of synthsiser options available to iOS users! And ranging from the price of well free actually, then stepping up to somewhere from 1 to 5 cups of coffee… amazing!
Where to start with synths? - it’s so individual and use-case dependent, but there are some versatile rich and deep ones that can cover many basses, and some quirky beauties that may just be someone’s gateway app into the world of synthesis because they are so much fun to use. (Aparillo, Tardigrain, FRMS, Copperhead, Synthmaster 2, Agonizer, King of Bass, Dagger are currently my personal favourites - also having more fun than I expected in NerdSynth)
For folk who do some music on their computer and would be interested in linking streams of midi data from iPad to computer, I would include definitely include LK. If folk are DAW/audio production literate, I’d also be likely to introduce them to something from FabFilter, Eventide, FAC, or another quality developer that makes makes a number of pro-level apps that are also available as VST/AUs - maybe with an app that opens up a bundle deal (one that actually makes it cheaper than buying the apps individually would be good 
)
If I sense a friend has modular leanings, and maybe likes cryptic crossword puzzles, I would get them Drambo. Also for those who lean in the modular synth way I would consider maybe Solderbox, or Agonizer or Moog Model 15.
(That’s almost a topic for another discussion; - “How can you tell if your friend has modular synthesis leanings? Is the condition serious? Is it treatable? Do support groups help? 😉 )
For people dipping their toes into the wonderful world of Auv3 I would be very likely to be pointing them in the direction of some Rob Jackson apps. (Though they are such good value, I reckon I would just give them a taster, or a link, and buy an app that might be considered a bit more expensive if you are just a casual dabbler. 
)
Whilst mentioning good value in the world of iOS audio production, I have to give many so thanks to Misters Haq, Gavinski, Woods, Mallendar, 4pocketsPaul, Nu-Trix, Starr, Dean, Vortex, Leo, Ben, Jack, Inby, and a growing list of others who help make app learning, and purchase decisions, fun, easy, and accessible.
I haven’t even begun on the world of audio effects (my addiction began with Boss guitar pedals when I was about 13 … I think I have 7 delay pedals. Aube 2 tells me I have 87 time-based effects … current favourite is EchoFlower. I waited too long to get that because I already had terrific delays (Timeless 3, K7D, DubStation 2) but EchoFlower just works for me, in so many situations. A love at first byte app. As for me are Weeping Wall and Ridgewalk.
Who/What would be your key apps, and or developers if you were trying to share you love of iOS music making or audio editing with others?
The gift pack would ideally contain links to the documentation and some YouTube gems.
So, yeah, I think I’m an iOS audio addict , and I’m looking for further recommendations for gateway apps to best share my favourite and healthiest addiction. 😊
Apologies again for the long ramble.
Any app-gifting stories and suggestions welcome.
Cheers,
Sim
Comments
Don’t sell GarageBand short as a full time DAW for a musician who wants to concentrate on the music and not get too bogged down in technical details. And most plugins work in GB also.
Cool. I will remember to remember that GarageBand does work well for some people.
I quite liked early versions on Mac, but never enjoyed it on iPad and uninstalled it to make space for stuff I enjoyed more.
I've used GarageBand from its very first iteration on Mac, then iPad, then back to Mac again. It has had its share of problems in the past, but I think it's quite robust in its current form. And even though I have been focusing on using Logic Pro on desktop for the last several years, I still consider GarageBand first if I'm trying to get an idea recorded quickly and without spending too much time setting up the project.
Something along these lines have crossed my mind before when my youngest son sent me a track he made in GarageBand on his iPhone. I was SO proud! Turns out I was a lot more excited than he was about it, after recommending a few different apps that I thought he might benefit from.
Nevertheless @RiverbendSim, I think the world needs more friends like you!
It depends. Some new comers just want to play and record music. They are not interested in the technical stuff. For them I’d say GarageBand is sufficient to start with. Once they hit limitations I’ll send them to Logic Pro and/or Cubasis.
Others might be more interested in the tech and hooking things up together. For them I’d say AUM is essential. I’d also introduce them to some fun apps like Ampify’s Launchpad for some immediate gratification and show them the possibilities.
Also if they have no prior experience with music production, before starting with any app, it’s crucial for them to understand a few concepts first. Main ones that come to mind are:
Once they become more comfortable then I would show them Loopy Pro and Koala. Following these is Groove Rider 2. And once they are a little more advanced I will unleash Drambo on them. 🙂
As someone that’s relatively new to the iOS music space, I eagerly await the day that I am ready to take on drambo. Currently messing around w mela to get used to “thinking modularly”, so I’m on my way! Haha
Drambo will either become your go to…or it will kill you. 🤣
I’d say focus on just learning drambo itself especially the grid and the piano roll with built in sounds or synth AUs. The modular side of Drambo is a whole other world. People seem to focus on the modular things in Drambo which is hard to get your head around if you are new to the modular world. That is what has made Drambo scary to many people, IMHO.
Once I understood Drambo itself, then it became my go to. The flexibility and feature/functionality and dare I say, it’s simplicity is top of the list in the mobile production world. But that is just my personal preference. YMMV
100% this.
The sequencer and the things you can do are a whole world onto itself before you even start worrying about synthesis or advanced techniques.
The tutorials in Drambo are really helpful too, as well as the (admittedly sparse) manual within the app, there’s a couple of basics in there that really help.
First app was Koala 2022, used sparingly compared to how much I use music apps now, then I bought Drambo in 2023 I think… on 420. Wonder what I was doing 😵💫
Took about year to really get into it and while I don’t believe in holding onto regrets in a creative journey, I would have preferred I got into it earlier than I did.
Good response @reezygle - invaluable info.
Thank you @offbrands. I also really like Leo’s (SoundForMore) Drambo tutorial series and highly recommend it. That’s where I learned more about Drambo than any place else. I watched all of them. They cover everything from beginner to advanced.
Everything Drambo playlist:
More specific to Drambo V2:
What I'd show people would generally be highly tailored to my assessment of their mental wiring and skill level. There are a few apps I'd recommend to anyone and everyone:
For anyone coming from desktop DAW experience I'd recommend Cubasis, with the caveat that it's not as powerful as the desktop DAWs they're used to, but does the best job of compromising to work within the constraints of the platform. I'd also recommend they try the free trial of Logic Pro with the caveat that I'm personally not interested in it, but they have nothing to lose.
Beyond that, I know I might want to recommend a synth, a host, and possibly something for drums in addition to Koala. But as soon as I try to think of any generic answer for those I get lost in the weeds. People are too different. I'd have to tailor the recommendations for each person.
Gift everyone Ringotron, it's absolutely Sabine value for the price. It's super powerful, sounds incredible and is just an incredible piece of music synthesis. It's easily a $20 app for under $5 bucks.
Cem's sequencers are always a go to for anyone interested in music making with an iPhone. Cool because u don't need AUM
Yep. Also Other Desert Cities.
Two of the most bang for bucks apps I've seen.
Gadget can be a great introduction to iOS music making.
They have their own minds, we can ever follow along 😅
Other Desert Cities is a beautiful little gem.
That's definitely a gateway fx plugin.
Ringotron is still on my waiting list, but probably won't be for long...
I can certainly see it's appeal,
A good variety of sounds and once you have a basic workflow it can be satisfying to piece together complete backing tracks and beats pretty quickly.
I find I can't spent too long in the app because of the colour scheme.
Korg Module is also good; some quality piano, choir and orchestra sounds available, amongst others.
Leo makes some very useful video series. Thanks Leo!
Ben Richards videos have also helped open Drambo up to me:
And I think "The Man Who Shouldn't Speak" has a way of presenting Drambo that also number of people wanting to learn Drambo will appreciate:
Cheers,
Cheers. Some good points. Without some basic concepts being understood, apps are likely to gather digital dust.
And yes, I reckon Groove Rider 2 certainly looks like an audio environment that could really be a fun place to hang out in. If time and cash flow and the demands of my other apps let me, I would love to take Groover Rider 2 on a proper long test ride.
This is a very cool idea.
I’m gonna go with AUM, Koala, DM-10, and Trooper Synth.
AUM for a host and to learn plugins
Koala because it’s so flexible. I’d insist they get the IAPs - that opens up a lot of possibility with fx, samples, and toys. Very good learning environment.
DM-10 is great for getting ideas down. The drums offered are vast and the synth and bass are so no frills. Love the aesthetic and tape deck vibe. Great for sequencing and I love playing the pads. Love using it standalone or as a plugin
Trooper synth - just put it on the Some Butter preset to understand how pretty and clean a synth can sound. It’s worth it to have that preset alone.
Early in my AUv3 app hunting I saw a recommendation for Other Desert Cities with Black Hole Reverb as a strong combo and they were right. PB&J levels of a pairing. Haven’t heard of Ringotron I’ll take a look
Gadget came to mind as well. AUM + Gadget gives you both a traditional DAW experience and a handful of AUv3s to play around with for signal routing. I feel like some multi-fx unit should be included to get a feel for AUv3 effect in AUM.
I think the OG Fugue Machine is a good introductory sequencer. It’s pretty straight forward working with a single playhead and then you have three more to mess with once you get a handle on things.
tl;dr:
AUM + Koala + DM-10 + Trooper Synth
AUM + Gadget + Koala FX + Fugue Machine
Black hole Reverb + Other Desert Cities
1. Not everybody likes sampling. Give me synths and romplers any day.
2. Sequencing is both cumbersome and limited compared to Drambo.
I have Koala with both IAPs on my phone (not much choice on Android), good for making a short loop or two for shits and giggles, never felt inspired to make a track with it. Bought it on the iPad for some reason, but with Drambo I have zero reasons to open it.
It's a brilliant app, the price rocks, the interface is mostly great. But it's absolutely not for everyone, and definitely not for me.
And Drambo isn't for everyone either.
I bought it based on recommendations here and I've never used it in any projects. I just don't like the workflow and have no interest in it. The only way people will come to know what they like, in terms of music production, is to spend some money and discover on their own what they prefer. It can be costly, but thanks to the free GarageBand on iOS/iPadOS/macOS, they can learn some basics and get used to the process. THEN spend some cash getting plugins.
I should have phrased that "what's not to like for a beginner".
But I also meant that I think anyone can have some fun with it.
Except maybe a hard core Drambo person.😉
Koala has a pretty fun little synth now, btw.
I think it's safe to say that more people starting off with mobile music would enjoy Koala than Drambo. I think the question was more about that than what the ultimate music apps are.
I use Drambo far more than I do Koala, but how many years have I been doing this stuff?? I can't even remember. If I knew anyone else personally that I thought would be able to grasp Drambo, they'd probably already have it.
I picture handing Drambo off to anyone I know, then trying to explain it all to them. omg. I don't even want to think about it. I think most would grasp Koala and have some fun with it right off. Possibly GarageBand too, though I can never get myself to keep using it.
For an extra little sprinkling of magic, a pretty interface at a bargain price....got to add Rymdigare....
Drambo is the perfect app to get beginner to quit.
Or Sunvox.
Excellent suggestions for the thread thanks @FizzyLizzy27 .
It's hard to 'control', but for anyone who may want to add a little poetic whimsy into their audio production Rymdigare is a lovely ride.
I reckon people who like that interface are quite likely to enjoy something from humbletune, like Elsa or Tardigrain.
I don't know if it is but it sure is the hardest on the eyes 👀
Thanks.
I am starting to get some airdropped little Koal projects from a friend I gifted Koala to. I then plug them into something bigger and we have an immediate collaboration.
It's heaps of fun.
As was seeing the gleam in my nephew's eye when he discovered how much fun it can be to "tick" and "toc" into an open microphone with a rhythmic delay on it. 😊 priceless 😍. 🎶🔊❤️
Yea it’s one of the first iOS workstations that I got into on iOS and it made me realize ios was a plausible option for music making. as you said it has a variety of synths, drums, but also included is the audio/vocal gadget, guitar and bass amp gadgets, tons of fx. it’s fairly easy to use, not overly complex, you can make a whole track, it has the controller panels for playing parts, arps/scales/chords on keyboard, and it sounds pretty good. It can be an entire workstation for someone newer to iOS music production. A nice window into what’s possible if you will. Especially when it’s 50% off!
Yea Korg module is great but it might be better suited for someone who plays piano/midi keyboard, or someone already into this world. Or in tandem with gadget, just a thought.
I think gadget can be a great jumping off point for people to get introduced to iOS music. It’s not my current main workflow, but I still use it sometimes, and I use the AU’s regularly.
Or as many mentioned GarageBand, and the plethora of free au’s.