If Elektron were to release an app (or apps for specific machines), would you buy it/them?
The talk of a Neuron-like device has me excited over even the slightest possibility of a well integrated midi system for my Elektrons. There are a few different Lemur templates out there (tho none for the MNM, which probably would benefit the most from a more performance based control set), but from what I can tell the offerings are sparse. As much as I would be inclined to buy a hardware mixing/arranger/sequencer/FX etc. device done Elektron style, I’d be pretty content with expanded options for their existing equipment that doesn’t require a computer, and the iPad (or other tablets) seem like a good medium for this.
I’ve seen some killer ideas thrown around with regards to the Neuron/master control idea, but I wonder if it would be a nightmare to design (too specific to their own products and it is too niche; too general and devoted customers lose interest), and can’t help but wonder if they could satisfy a lot of people without having to design a new product from the ground up. I like physical controls as much as the next guy, but I’d benefit more from a well integrated workflow. It is what has drawn me to Elektron from the beginning, and I’d be interested in any continued strides they make in that direction.
My computer is a tablet. Does that count? I have created a pretty fantastic interface for my hardware devices with Usine www.sensomusic.com.
One of these days ill try and make a video to show but the rough summary is a visual interface that allows mutes per pattern, selection of scenes per pattern, semi automated control of specific custom pattern changes between machines, track names per pattern, soft fx parameters recall and midi manipulations and mappings available per pattern, (ie: OT crossfader controlling midi “scenes”, realtime complex audio routing per pattern etc etc all designed to not need any manual computer interaction while playing except perhaps glancing at my playlist or track names. It took me a long time to design but so worth it!
So yea I do totally support this concept, and am fully aware of how much it can open up these machines for live use (primarily two octatracks and one A4 in my case) Cant say I personally would get into an ipad but would most definately keep an interested eye on the project.
edit: just ñoticed this was a supposed Elektron app. Not too likely imo
Although Lemur is great, one can have bi-directional midi/sysex with iOS App TB MIDI STUFF with ability to create your own Templates or build upon ones already created for an instrument. Have one for Pulse 2, DSI Tetra, and Blofeld.
However, does not look possible with Analog 4 due to hardware’s more or less one way midi communication. Anyway, there’s indeed great amount of control and integration with Apps available these days and would really depend on whether Elektron would want to commit to making Audiobus and AudioCopy capable Apps and support/update them regularly.
Would be cool if Elektron were to release an iOS App that’s really it’s own machine. Waldorf did that wonderfully with Nave, my very reason to buy an iPad recently–had no ‘need nor want’ before that App came to be and it could be a “gateway app” for people to want to get into Elektron’s hardware/machines that perhaps would not have been reached otherwise…kind of what they are doing with Analog Keys…some of us are ‘keyboard players’, thus appealing rather than need to be slaving to a box.
how much would you guys pay for an App that gives you a MIDI sequencer for the A4?
i.e., running synced to A4, and “parroting” the current A4 pattern, sending MIDI notes, with full support for the arp etc., and “extra” MIDI CC destinations for all envelopes & LFOs?
what i mean is, i cannot make this a 0.99$ app, it’s too niche. extremely niche for an iOS app in fact! so i can’t expect it to be bought by a lot of people. how many “copies” will be sold? 50? 500?
a problem is that people in general don’t like to pay for their mobile apps (“3 dollars??!? gimme a break!!”), so my fear is that I’ll get flak for asking something like 50$ for it, even though potential users have upwards of 2000$ of equipment on their desk already.
so i’d rather have 50 people buy it for 50$, where i could easily offer 1on1 support, than 500 people buying it for 5$, I think, but haven’t made up my mind about this yet…
btw the sequencer already works, just needs GUI work.
(I really don’t know if AF/AK will get an internal MIDI sequencer eventually, but even if that’s the case, my app has a pretty darn good sequencer now, and it could be expanded to support other playback modes (pingpong/backwards/whathaveyou), or get more tracks, trivially, while still being compatible with A4.)
Hi I’m not sure exactly what you are proposing here? do you mean the ipad sequencer is locked to the A4 so when the pattern is changed on the A4 the pattern is changed on the iPad?
If so would it mirror the A4 interface, ie; work in the same way, look the same, 16x4 mono?
If that’s the case I would be interested in it, for $50 it would have to be pretty much exactly what I’m looking for.
But yeah, the app knows how AF patterns work, can read them and track all relevant events in a pattern, while being synced to the AF, including polyrhythms, microtiming and everything. It then generates MIDI note & controller events based on that. switching/chaining patterns works too of course.
There are a few caveats right now regarding how to get the patterns into the app (have to use the sysex dump menu), but this will get a lot better with future AF OSes.
It is Analog Four MIDI sequencing, and it’s the most utilitarian feature I could think of.
Of course access to AF userdata allows for more freaked out features to be developed too.
I think a reasonable price for a specialist app such as this is in the £5-£20 range, I have bought quite a few apps in this price range, when apps are over £20 if there is not a demo I tend to avoid them, simply because some of the apps I have paid for I never use, often because of the interface. A lot of people really like Nanostudio, and on paper it is a great app, capable of great results, but I bought it, tried it many times, but now never use it, simply because I don’t get on with it.
If you decide to pitch it above £25 it would probably be wise to have a free or cheap lite/demo version.
the app will be free. but you can purchase “trigs” inside the app. there will be packs of 128 trigs, 1024 tigs etc. the more u use the app, the more trigs you gotta buy. run out of trigs, no more MIDI sequencing. naturally, you get a starter pack of trigs for free. there will be a way to “farm” trigs by sharing stuff on facebook, twitter etc. there will also be an option to buy hats of various styles & colors, which have no purpose but ohhh do they loook nice (first hat is also free but it’s just a basic hat from H&M).
I should also say that I don’t think $50 is too much for a specialist app such as this. And people that whinge over $3 apps, well quite frankly fuck 'em
Nothing pisses me off more than those people who whinge about products prices, like they are some kind of authority, or even have a clue about how much work goes into creating something. Ironically they are probably also the same people who whinge about their job, and how they’d do a much better job than their boss etc.
Oh IAP - yeah, don’t like them. I know you were joking BTW.
Tell you what you might consider, a single track version for an entry level price, then a full version with all the bells and whistles for the full price? With the option to upgrade to the full version in the single track version.
yeah something like this might be the way to go. a useful, but strongly limited free version which lets users make up their mind about it. in the App Store there’s also no way to charge for upgrades to things like 2.0 versions etc., so it’s either IAP or entirely new app… this seems to be a strong trend.
time limited demos too, ftr, and OAP discounts for elderly original ipads
if i were you i’d not let it get complicated, a very clear demo from an older ipad should give an accurate portrayal, then there’ll be user fbk here and so on, if that doesn’t work then use the other routes
i like apps which are straight from beginning - this is the price, it won’t be free at xmas, so buy it now with peace of mind - it’s a specialist app, but it’s not in the MIRA/Lemur sphere dollar wise esp if you want to get the tempted too !
