#1335

Obviously the iOS app sales are in full swing. I’ll refrain from putting up everything that’s reduced on here, but would like to highlight LK from Imaginando which appears to resolve my workflow issues at last.

I had previously thought that it was designed as an Ableton Live controller for the iPad (which isn’t something I especially need) but I realise that I’ve disregarded it unfairly and that it’s actually a far more capable AUM MIDI sequencer than I currently have at my disposal.

My current method of working within iOS is essentially centred around playing AUM like a mixing desk. This often involves MIDI and audio, combining the two using simple AUM file players to loop audio sequences I’ve rendered from elsewhere (e.g. Koala). I then have the controls of the channels mapped to an external controller (e.g. a Launchpad XL) which allows me to make changes to specific elements on each channel and essentially capture a performance in a style which is very much inspired by the likes of King Tubby (although it’s not remotely anything like Tubby’s output).

What I have always wanted to do is be able to cycle between different elements so that I could add variety (say, for example, a multitude of drum patterns, a variety of basslines etc) rather than being restricted to them essentially being either on or off.

Also, I’m thinking that I could maybe use something I already have to replace the file players (EG Pulse, for example, if that would allow me to load loops and latch them indefinitely until they are replaced by something else within the same choke group). In this setup the loops would then be controllable via MIDI, opening up the potential of utilising a MIDI control/sequencing functions.

Looking at the video above, it seems as though LK can help me achieve precisely this!

[Also, all Imaginando apps (and IAPs, as I understand it) are 50% off throughout November]

7 Likes
#1336

So for those using AUM as their main mixing hub, how are you handling multi-track recording? This the one main aspect of iOS I’m not sold on. I prefer working on the Mac for mixing, it feels cumbersome to mix on iOS. Thus far all I’ve been doing is recording a 2 track mix of my jams, which is fine in AUM, however I’d like to get back into multi tracking and overdubbing. Ideally I’d use Live or Logic as my Daw and route stuff through AUM to process on a few plugins but that doesn’t seem like an option without using two interfaces. I got my Mac to recognize my iPad as an interface through Audio Midi setup but I was bummed to see that you can only send audio from the iPad to the Mac, but not the other way around. I’d love to be able to send audio from a DAW to process through a few iPad plugins that have some tactile control, like Borderlands etc, but I don’t see a good way to do this without running audio out of my one interface back into the headphone jack of the iPad. That just seems silly to add another layer of D/A/D conversion. Any solutions to this?

#1337

You could use AUM to record all of the stems and then export/import them into either an iOS DAW or a desktop DAW for mixing mastering?

3 Likes
#1338

This is how I do it if I go down that route. Also I’ll occasionally use the quantum loop record function so that I generate loops of a specific length. To be honest, I’m more interested in sending my iPad tracks through my old Roland PA120 desk and dub mixing them live using the spring reverb and delay, only capturing a stereo master in my PC

1 Like
#1339

Hi Pete, I have recently come across a Roland PA150 8 channel mixer at our village hall which is no longer needed. I’ve been toying with the idea of trying to incorporate it into my music production but it’s a hell of a size. I did hear the spring reverb is excellent. How do you send your iPad tracks to the channels of yours? Tony

1 Like
#1340

Oh, wow - what an incredible find! Honestly, I know how hefty if is might make it off-putting but I wouldn’t be without mine for anything! It overdrives beautifully and the spring is absolutely beautiful.

I use mine in a couple of ways: firstly I send individual files from the ipad into my PC so that I can overdrive them etc and send them back; then I sequence them in AUM and group channels into 4 busses, sending each bus to a different output of my audio interface (it only has 2 stereo outputs so I use them as separate mono channels, each of which goes to a single channel in my desk).

Once they’re there I basically loop the audio channels in AUM and play the mixing desk, adding the spring as and when I want it along with an EHX Deluxe Memory Boy pedal which I’ve got on the echo send/return channel.

It’s outrageously enjoyable!

2 Likes
#1341

I’ve been trying to achieve an Ableton style clip launching setup within AUM for some time and I’ve finally got there thanks to an app I always thought was just for controlling Ableton!

This was the first proof-of-concept video:

(Sorry for quiet voiceover - I just used the iPad internal mic)

And this is the more fully realised version:

I’ll do a proper explainer video later this week once I’ve added everything I want to add, but hopefully these two demonstrate what I mean relatively effectively.

Worth mentioning perhaps that LK is a free download with IAPs to unlock full functionality which are a half price this week. For this you only really need the Matrix and perhaps Pads IAPs though (but others will be important once I add more features to the setup).

3 Likes
#1342

Can it record clips? Never worked for me.

1 Like
#1343

Bear with me - I haven’t got that far, I only got it on Sunday :slight_smile:

1 Like
#1344

Here’s a more complete tutorial for this aspect of what I’m doing. I’ve put templates within the description for anyone who wants to use this workflow.

3 Likes
#1345

You’ve got a good handle on it already though by the looks of it. Helps when you know what you want from an app - otherwise the wallet can take a bashing on iOS. Thanks for sharing your findings and templates.

1 Like
#1346

No problem & thanks! With this one it was a case of knowing exactly what I wanted it to do and then figuring out how to make it do it rather than my usual approach of figuring out what something does and then working out what I can do with that. I kind of reverse-engineered a solution, I suppose you could say. There’s so much more potential with this one too. I’m looking forward to connecting a controller to it and assigning functions to that as well as bringing effects into play. It’s a fun playground!

#1347

Hi, I have a question about ipad models. I’m currently using middle size 6th generation 13.7 (not sure of RAM). It’s crapping out on memory issues using AUM, DJDJ (especially playing long clips), Drambo, Borderlands and some Bleass, Audiodamage, Eventide and other delay/reverbs.
What’s the most current and robust ipad model WITH A HEADPHONE JACK
suited for music production? Super happy to buy used.

#1348

I’m not sure if it’s the most current but I have the 10.5" iPad Pro which has a headphone jack and it has handled everything I’ve thrown at it so far. If it would help I could attempt to emulate a usage scenario that would cause yours to struggle and see what the CPU was at on mine

#1349

Thanks! Primarily the issue has been DJDJ playing long (5-20 min), tempo locked “drum dubs” that I’ve created using modular or various drum machines live-mixed thru several consoles with hardware effects. Then I use Borderlands, Drambo or Samplr to create sample chops and mix in AUM. It’s gets crashy with DJDJ when I’m switching between the different apps. I’ve been in touch with AUM and DJDJ (never heard back from DJDJ), did a full device erase and reset, but the issue still persists pretty randomly. DJDJ is a perfect solution for what I want to do, great layout and a useful set of effects, plus it locks to Ableton Link.

#1350

I have to confess: I’ve never used DJDJ as I have no real use for such an app (although what you’re using it for sounds excellent and very intriguing!) I see there is a free version though so maybe that would be sufficient to test out CPU usage

#1351

So quoting myself here, I actually found a pretty decent solution to this, if anyone is interested. I just decided to use two interfaces. I have an old Motu 896 and a newer Focusrite Scarlett. I’m running the iPad setup as usual with the Scarlett and AUM, but I tried sending every output direct out from the Scarlett right into the Motu. So essentially I’m using AUM, iPad, Scarlett combo as my digital gain adjustment/ processor, and on the Mac, in Live with the Motu, the final mix and recording is happening. What I like about this is that iPad setup has almost no perceptible latency, I’m used to a bunch of iPad apps with tactile control, but I can do all of my mixing in Live with a mouse, and not have to waste any time transferring tracks. If I monitor the final mix on the Mac through Motu pre-computer routing there’s no latency there either. The other really great aspect is that Ableton Link works sooo great between Live and AUM oh the iPad, I can press play in my Mac and everything starts up on the iPad. If I decide to overdub something, I’m still in sync as well. It’s pretty nice.

5 Likes
#1352

That sounds like an excellent solution! I only take a two channel master output from my iPad at present and although I am going to break out my AUM busses to four individual outputs so that I can route them through my mixing desk I will still only capture a stereo master from there within my PC so I tend to just use Soundforge rather than Ableton. I like the idea of being able to pipe in individual channels if I wanted to though. That’s a very powerful option and makes me feel more justified about my small stockpile or audio interfaces!

1 Like
#1353

Yeah, I run one aux send from AUM through my delay pedal and record that delay return in Live, but if I had more outboard gear still I’d definitely send it through that before hitting the computer, that sounds like a nice solution!

The only bad thing is now I want another usb interface with more outs, lol.

1 Like
#1354

Lol - me too. I had to make a conscious decision to stick with 4 mono channels otherwise I’d have gone for at least 8…

1 Like