My brain is already thinking what I could do with this. Aum + MolliLooper on seperate channels. I sure hope they don’t abandon this.
Okay, I’m seeing some incredibly enthusiastic reactions to this announcement.
For those who don’t have an iPad, could someone explain concretely what you can do with it beyond recording separate tracks?
I’m very intrigued.
OK so I was there today and talked with the team extensively about this. I was not told to keep this silent, so I guess I can convey what I was told. I would also think so since it was available for everyone to see at Superbooth. Mods, Elektron. If I should not talk about any points I will list, please feel free to delete my post or let me know to amend it.
- This is definitelly an unusual approach to releasing something. I was told that this is not a given yet. They brought it to SB to get a feel if people might want something like this. And I was told the response has been very much a yes. I hope I conveyed my extreeme desire to have this well enough to the Elektron staff, but with this in mind, i believe we should all add our voice. I’ll consider making a poll in the OP.
- It is a very early version, they would not even call it an alpha. They are still figuring it out. What is there is very useful already (if you know your way around the iPad ecosystem). It’s a standalone app that acts as the Overbridge engine, with the OB controll panel, where you can see all the tracks in real time. They even had a Rytm, Digitone II, and Syntakt all connected at once through a hub. They do not know the limit at this time. The app is that + it streams all tracks as you would expect an audio interface would through driver kit, now here the first problem starts, which is one of those Apple things I hate…
- Only one interface can run at once on an iPad, so whatever is powerd on last should be the active device which can stream separate tracks as inputs in your choice of DAW. AUM only supports 32 ins, but loopy pro showed all 42 of them!
- It is done through driver kit, they have not found another way to do it, and Apple only allows M series procesors to utilize this. But having this in a phone or an iPad mini would really be cool so let’s see what apple comes up with in the future.
- Since it’s in such an early stage, everything is still on the table or out. In the end it might be limited to one device at a time, because of stupid Apple limitations. It is still awesome though. I saw all tracks from the DN II being recorded at once in logic pro for ipad. And there, monitoring could be done through the ipad speaker too.
- The plugin side of things - they are not even thinking about at this stage, but they will consider it at a later time including multitouch (if it materializes).
- Considering all this, I would not hope for a beta shortly, but I have to say it is awesome and I definitely want to see this materialize in any capacity that iPad OS allows for!
40 Likes
Thank you so much for sharing this additional information. Time will tell, but I am ready to register my enthusiasm for this project anytime, anywhere! 
2 Likes
Yeah one thing that annoys me about Apple and iPad is the only one audio interface thing. Wish they would allow more than 1. Especially with M chips.
I would definitely want it.
And would buy an iPad if it came out (post NGNY)
1 Like
This is really really great. Go Elektron.
1 Like
Chiming in to say this would be amazing.
In these situations I bribe my wife with my current perfectly functional iPad to allow me to upgrade for the one I “need.” This is how the upgrade cycle works in my house.
5 Likes
Heh. As much as i was for this idea for many years now, buying a new ipad is not something i would do while i have perfectly functional, but not Arm version, already. Kinda bummer.
Also i don’t see this coming anytime soon, so who knows, by the time it gets out i might have new ipad as well
1 Like
For the sake of balance, I feel obliged to mention that there are probably some other users like myself for whom this prospect holds no interest.
It’s not really a case of “just don’t use it then” if it doesn’t interest you … I think of it as more a token vote to advocate use of development time elsewhere (in more interesting areas)
The bus stop further down this line is Elektron in the cloud … !
6 Likes
i never buy products from apple, if it was android i would think about it.
For me the value is in the iOS FX. Instead of spending $400 on one chase bliss pedal, I can have every amazing fx in a super flexible package that can be stacked and reordered without cables on a per track basis. Yes, there is the expense of the iPad, but that also has a lot more utility than just music.
15 Likes
Simple but explains well all
1 Like
this is a dream come true for me. next dream - apple implementing aggregate audio devices on ios or elektron developing auv3 overbridge plugins
3 Likes
I would go even further and say OverBridge in general, for me, has no appeal. I miss the days when Elektron devices had multiple outs and software was just something to transfer samples and make backups.
But, I realize I’m old school and there are tons of people who love OB and use it every day.
Like you, I just want to timidly raise my hand and remind people there are still longtime Elektron heads who exist and miss the hardware-only approach. My 2 cents. 
Carry on. I will go back to quietly watching from the sidelines.
7 Likes
OB is great, just don’t like apple. Prefer android version.
1 Like
I am an old school Elektron head, too, but time passes, life changes, and so do needs. Sometimes convenience, portability, and efficiency outweigh the ideal of how we would like to work.
There are so many different ways to work, and I get your point. But it’s not just new schoolers would look forward to something like this. 
2 Likes
hear you, the 2 could co exist, multiple outs could be on the newer devices.
I like OB, I would also like multiple outs on my DTII
5 Likes
I get both sides of the argument, adding another platform to Overbridge would take up a considerable amount of development resources for sure.
Personally though I will argue 1.) that the iPad is much closer to the tactile nature of hardware because of it’s touchscreen interface. Mouse and keyboard is good for editing, but for any creative process it just sucks imo. 2.) apps, plugins are much cheaper than desktop counterparts + there are some inovative GUIs avaible which don’t work on the desktop. 3.) There are sampler apps on the iPad which I use much more to create something with, after I have recorded it. I mostly keep the iPad with me wherever I go, and leave my mac at home. Therefore, with free time being limited, it’s much easier to open an old project and just start messing around. That is in contrast to always recording on a computer, having it synced to a cloud, then downloading those files onto the ipad and importing them into an app to then listen through them. Recording into a desktop daw through the overbridge plugin adds another step of exporting everything first… you get the jist, it’s cumbersome and means it probably is less likely to be touched again.
In conclusion, I’d probably use the iPad Overbridge much more than the desktop.
5 Likes