PalmSounds

a personal journey in mobile music

Category: iOS

Recollections of PalmSounds: The Gestrument team (and a something more …)

Posted by on in iOS, iPad2 Comments
It is somewhat overwhelming to get all of these comments from such a wide range of people the the mobile music world. They’re all very lovely, but here is not just a very kind thought from the Gestrument and ScaleGen team, but also a very early look at what’s coming!
“PalmSounds turns 10 years – and the Gestrument and ScaleGen team want to participate in the celebration of one of the most important sites around for mobile music. For me coming from the contemporary classical scene it was through sites like PalmSounds and Discchord that I discovered the world of mobile music apps.
After making Gestrument in 2012 and ScaleGen in 2014 we are in the middle of re-making our entire vision of how to play music on iOS and together with the amazing Jonatan Liljedahl (Kymatica) we are now developing Gestrument2 which is a completely new app that will be released later this year. As our present to PalmSounds we here give you the first public preview of our work so far. As you see there are now customisable sliders and x/y grids as well as multiple touch points (up to eight touch points, controlling up to sixteen instruments), but that is the least of the new features and possibilities! Stay tuned for more.
/Jesper Nordin“
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Now that looks like it’s going to be amazing …

Audulus 3.1 arrives for Windows and Linux too!

Posted by on in iOS, iPad, iPod / iPhone, Modular, Other Platforms1 Comment
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Audulus gets just about as cross platform as you can get! Now with Audulus 3.1, Audulus is now available for Windows and Linux too, in addition to Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

“It’s not easy to be multi-platform, but I take pride in offering Audulus on as many platforms as possible,” says Audulus developer Taylor Holliday.

The Windows and Linux versions of Audulus have all the features of the Mac stand-alone version. Audulus for Windows also includes a VST plugin version.

Trial versions of Audulus for Mac, Windows, and Linux are also available. These trial versions have no time limit and can load any patch. To save patches, purchase the full version of Audulus.

Audulus for iOS has also been refined. A new context menu does not require a long-press gesture, making the Audulus UI easier to learn and quicker to use. Support for iCloud Drive makes it easier to share patches.

Audulus is a minimalist modular software synthesizer and effects processor. With Audulus, users can build synthesizers, design new sounds, or process audio. All with low latency real-time processing suitable for live performance.

Audulus for iOS can be used as a stand-alone instrument or in conjunction with Audulus for Mac, for a round-trip workflow between platforms. Begin a patch on the bus ride home and then bring it up on your laptop at band practice later that night – with iCloud functionality, moving between platforms couldn’t be easier.

Audulus 3.1 for iPad/iPhone is available on the App Store for $29.99.
Audulus 3.1 for Mac is available on the Mac App Store for $39.99.

Audulus 3.1 for Windows/Linux is available directly from audulus.com for $39.99. Purchase a single license for both versions.

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Are modulars getting smaller, and is it important?

A question about modular synths and whether or not they are getting smaller or not

by PalmSounds

Audulus 3(.3) arrives with goodies

Audulus is one of the best modular music apps around right now, and modular, in all its forms is big, let’s face it. Audulus goes from strength to strength adding and developing, and, most importantly, responding to what its own community is asking for. Version 3.3 is a case in point. Here’s what’s new: New…

Read More Audulus 3(.3) arrives with goodies

by PalmSounds

Video: Audulus + Gristleizer + Minimoog VCF + AD4096 + Ampex ATR-102

Video description: “In this video, I set up a simple 2 oscillator output from Audulus (no filters, no effects) – the majority of what you see on the iPad is the sequencer, clock, and the LFOs that are modulating various parameters. The oscillators from Audulus are sent into the Endangered Audio Research Gristleizer, and then…

Read More Video: Audulus + Gristleizer + Minimoog VCF + AD4096 + Ampex ATR-102

by PalmSounds

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El Capitan and iOS9 users need to check this out, it is amazing!

Posted by on in desktop, iOS1 Comment

If you’re an OSX (El Capitan) user, and an iOS9 user, then you need to look at this. It is absolutely amazing. iOXAudio install a little tray bar application into your desktop on El Capitan so that you can quickly enable you iOS Devices to be used as audio inputs of your DAW of choice.

If that wasn’t enough, it’s free and open source. You can download it here and find the source here.

I think that this is pretty big, pretty amazing stuff, so go check it out.

A nice piece on why you should make music with an iPad

Posted by on in iOSLeave a comment

I liked this piece by iOSONIK about why you should make music with an iPad. Of course, for anyone reading PalmSounds it is a bit of a no brainer, but the piece is worth sharing with those who are perhaps a little more skeptical about it.

So please do share this link.

Thinking a bit more about older apps

Posted by on in desktop, iOS2 Comments

Something about Jakob’s video started me thinking about older apps, apps that haven’t been updated for a while and that we, as a community might think are abandoned (although that’s a different debate really), and what we do with them.

Often I think that the mobile music community is overly obsessed with the ‘new’. New apps, new devices, new ways of connecting things (i.e. AU). But that we don’t spend enough time thinking about how we use existing apps. Perhaps it is simply because I spend a lot of time talking about and posting about what’s new and that my view is somewhat skewed as a result, but I think that there’s a lesson here about using what’s good for what you want to do, and also about getting the best out of a piece of software and using it for what it is.

There are a bunch of apps that I go back to regularly because they simply fit my workflow. Some get updates, on occasion. Others, not so much. Some I suspect will never be updated. But that’s ok. Just because something doesn’t move forward doesn’t mean that it’s no good. Developers stop updating things for a host of reasons. Many of which we will never get to know about, but what they made in the first place is worth celebrating. Bhajis Loops is a good example. Palm OS is long gone, but Bhajis is still one of those things that works really well and does some amazing things and is never going to be updated, moved to another platform, or anything else. But it’s still great.

So, what am I saying here? I guess I’m saying that it is perhaps important to focus on what something does rather than what it could do but hasn’t been updated to do (possibly as yet), and work with what you have. Older doesn’t mean bad. It just means older.

Food for thought? Possibly, but probably just time for a few revisits. That’s my take anyway.

Yamaha announces their Wireless MIDI Adaptor MD-BT01 and UD-BT01

Posted by on in External Hardware, iOS, MIDILeave a comment

This looks like a nice solution from Yamaha, and what’s more they’ve updated their Mobile Music Sequencer, Synth Arp & Drum Pad, Performance Editor Essential, Faders, Voice Editor Essential, Multi Editor Essential, and reface capture apps to work with it too.

Nice move.

Intermorphic turned 9 years old and I missed it!

Posted by on in iOSLeave a comment

So obviously I need to make up for that right! I just can’t let that pass. If you don’t know who Intermorphic are, they make the awesome Wotja, Mixtikl, and Noatikl apps for iOS (there’s Mixtikl and Noatikl for Mac too).

If you’re interested in what they have to say about being 9 years in the generative music business, then read their blog post.

I seriously think that this is worth celebrating today. So watch out for a little bit more about Intermorphic today.

Group the Loop arrives

Posted by on in iOS, Looper, New AppLeave a comment

Group the Loop brings intelligent audio looping to the iPad. Record, loop, overdub, add effects and much more! The must have music creation tool for performers, song writers and beat boxers.

Create entire songs with complex verse, bridge and chorus structures then switch between them in real time.

Build intricate layers and construct brilliant textured soundscapes with limitless overdubbing and perfectly synchronised loops.

Jam along with ‘Drummer’, a realistic drum machine with a comprehensive collection of styles and beats to choose from.

Full features:

  • Record and loop your voice or instrument.
  • Group together loops and create multiple sections (e.g. Verse, Bridge, Chorus).
  • Record and switch between groups in real time.
  • ‘Master group’ for loops that play throughout your song. Great for drums and percussion.
  • Realtime effects including reverb, delay and audio filters.
  • Add effects to any loop or the audio input.
  • COUNT IN – Keep your hands free and let Group the Loop count you in to record.
  • Drummer – Jam along to a comprehensive collection of grooves and beats.
  • Audiobus compatible – Stream to and from other audio apps via Audiobus.
  • AudioShare compatible – Import and export loops via AudioShare. (IOS 8.1 or higher only)
  • Limitless overdubbing.
  • Undo / redo overdub layers.
  • Fully customisable metronome.
  • Adjust volume and pan for each loop or group.
  • Label loops.
  • Record in multiples of your first loop or the session clock.
  • Headphone monitoring. Monitor your instrument through your headphones.
  • CUE – Automatically start and stop recording loops.
  • No CUE – Instant and continuous recording whilst still keeping your loops in perfect sync.
  • Record your song/performance in real time then share it with the world.
  • Move loops between groups.
  • Merge two loops and free up space.
  • Sample accurate recording to keep your loops in perfect sync.
  • High resolution waveform display for every loop.
  • Plug in an audio interface and connect directly to a PA or amplifier.
  • Plug in a MIDI foot pedal and control Group the Loop with your feet.

 

Group the loop on the app store:

CHAiOS SYNTH 2 has arrived

Posted by on in iOS, iPad, SynthLeave a comment

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Another new synth for your iPad (your iOS 9.1 as a minimum iPad) actually. Here’s all the details …

The CHAiOS SYNTH 2 is a further development of the free and easy-to-use CHAiOS SYNTH, which was formerly developed at the University of Applied Sciences Duesseldorf. The new version is beefed up by a number of new features and improvements. Now the CHAiOS SYNTH 2 has become a full professional synthesizer while staying as intuitive and uncomplicated as its predecessor.

With support for Inter-App Audio and Audiobus the CHAiOS SYNTH 2 can be used together with other audio apps on iPad.

Main features:

  • 16 Step melody generator with unique random algorithm
  • Wavetable oscillator with three different waveforms
  • VA lowpass filter with variable resonance and cutoff frequency
  • Delay- and reverb-effects
  • ADSR envelopes for controlling amp and filter frequency
  • Support for Audiobus and Inter-App Audio
  • Improvements to CHAiOS Synth 1
    • New bandlimited wavetable oscillator
    • New „virtual analog“ 4-pole lowpass filter
    • Additional ADSR-envelope for the filter frequency
    • 3 modes for filter resonance
    • 16 step /3 track drum-sequencer
    • More parameters for reverb and delay
    • Adjustable oscillator volume
    • Improved, streamlined design

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Workflow:
By placing your finger on the X/Y-pad a looped melody is generated by a random algorithm, the finger position determines how many notes are used.
If a melody sounds good to you, it can be looped and the sound can be tweaked by a number of parameters and effects.
The options to modify the sound are carefully selected to work well together and provide a creative and fun workflow.

The old, free version of CHAiOS SYNTH is still available at the App Store FOR FREE, but will not be developed or maintained any further. Check it out to get the idea of the CHAiOS Engine!

Follow CHAiOS SYNTH on twitter:
https://twitter.com/chaios_synth

And Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ChaiosSynth

Or listen to audio examples and demo tracks on soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/chaios-synth

The world of Link gets bigger

Posted by on in iOS, MIDILeave a comment

I’ve posted about Ableton’s Link before, and I doubt very much that this post will be the last time. In fact it was number 1 on my list of things to expect in 2016. As I said in that post, Link is going to get bigger and bigger and will become a standard in the not too distant future.

But what of MIDI? Well Coding Cod (makers of the excellent LoopTree)are bringing their MIDI Link Sync app soon. In fact, they’ve just announced their BETA programme:

But ahead of that Link to MIDI has arrived, and it’s free.

People are starting to do some interesting things with Link.

It won’t stop there either. Link is set to grow and grow. Other developers already have it in their sites so expect it to come to your favourite apps very soon.

In order to make it a little simpler to find out which apps have it so far, I’m going to put up a page which will list all the Link enabled apps to date, and I’ll be updating it more or less daily.

Let me know what you think, and let me know what you’re doing with Link too.

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