Portable groovebox or workstation?

[Elek4]

No just me wishful thinking and shouting at Novation for over a decade.

[Bignill]

Novation Octatrack PRO

[tha_man]

@giraffe

What scares me the most about ipads is the the programmed aging, I don’t know how is it called but apple makes their things that after some years can’t be updated nor run the last version of logic, so that could be such a bad thing to happen

It’s a general computer thing - as software gets more powerful it also requires better CPU and more RAM to run. You still get exponentially more “updates” than on any hardware synth, even after Apple stops OS support. My 10 years old iPad mini still runs lots of software on a pretty old OS, but it’s up to each developer how old OS he chooses to support. I don’t like working with touch screen, but if I would, iPad/iPhone would be the ultimate portable music devices.

[winrow3745]

Oh. Me too. In a heartbeat.

I actually sent some brief ideas to Novation recently on a Circuit Pro. Which would be Launchpad pro size; combining both Tracks and Rhythm and with multi track audio via USB.

[giraffe]

Novation Engineering Op-8track with tracker features included

[giraffe]

That would be really nice, even the size idea you told them would be cool

[Elek4]

It’s funny you mentioned MPC as being a DAW. MPC software is kinda limited and so is the hardware. Take their newest MPC Key 37 for instance. It has only 1GB of usable RAM and you can only use 8 plugins maximum. These are just 2 of many things you’ll have to deal with and that will dictate your workflow. It’s not a ‘can I do it this way’ but more ‘you must do it this way’. The hardware inside is old PC tech as well with low specs which correct me if I’m wrong can’t be upgraded.

There are a few DAW’s on IOS now. Logic Pro for iPad (5,- per month) being one of them. It doesn’t do everything Logic on MacOS does but it does offer a lot and doesn’t have many of the limitations that MPC’s normally have to deal with plus you’re able to add plugins that offer what you’re might be missing.

[giraffe]

Didn’t know anything about this, what’s the point of getting that tho

[giraffe]

After all your replies the main ideas I have are
M8 tracker
iPad
5 moons + 201 pocket piano
Roland new small portable synths + something to record on iphone

[Starscream]

There is a thread on Cafe synth - might get some ideas over there.

Favourite Gear for Cafe?

If someone that looks like me was sitting in the corner of a cafe fiddling with two little black boxes and a bunch of cables, I reckon someone would be calling the bomb squad.

[Bignill]

On Iphone GarageBand is free and should be able to both record and sequence the Aira mini series over USB with use of the camera adapter.

[Leonsarmiento]

【KORG】volca drum

[Elek4]

I think it doesn’t have to be as big as the LPP though. The great thing about the first Circuit was its portability. Making it bigger loses that charm a bit I think.

Imo the biggest missing feature on the Circuit has always been the lack of a display. It made no sense putting a big synth behind 8 knobs of which you have absolutely no clue what they’ll do unless you program every sound the same way. (in the editor on a computer. blegh). Than they come out with Circuit Tracks and print a font on it like that makes sense. The only thing worse than that are the fanboys that claim to support such a missing feature. “yeah but dude, you get happy accidents and that’s so cool man”

[bibenu]

@Starscream

There is a thread on Cafe synth

There is much more mickey-taking than content over there … this one has a higher ratio of useful content.

Favourite gear for Couch, Sofa, Lap

I’ve seen this subject discussed elsewhere but never a dedicated thread (at least, I couldn’t find one, mods please merge if I’m wrong). QUESTION: If you only have your lap to place gear, e.g. on the sofa, perhaps in the park on a bench, what’s your favourite gear in that situation ? Asking because I’m looking for useful tools for that situation. E.g. if I hear something musical on TV that interests me, the first thing I turn to is the nearest instrument to the sofa, which is always an instrum…

[Bitsnbobs]

having read through this its obvious - op-z - ignore everything else

[GovernorSilver]

I’ve had ok productivity with IOS apps.

What I hate is when I turn a virtual knob and it goes in the opposite direction vs. my finger, or doesn’t respond. The touchscreens seem to be more or less responsive depending on the skin of the user. This why IOS device as my primary portable music workstation is a no-go for me.

Operations on M8 Tracker are fast once you learn how to use the buttons - and the behavior is responsive and consistent.

[96teeth]

torso and ipad combo can be essentially whatever you want it to be. i just acquired the torso a month ago and while i have enjoyed the ios/aum environment on occasion in tandem with digitakt, the torso really delivered the tactile control that completed the “instrument” for me. not to mention the torso has breathed new life into every neglected midi and cv capable synth i own.

[winrow3745]

I think that’s something we’ll have to agree to disagree on.

For me personally, having space to house something like scene rows, plus 8 patterns in one view would really help my live performance workflow, where I could access FX and change song parts at the same time. I’d also love mutes, solos along the bottom row and some sort of rudimentary vu meter shown on the pads in the mixer page. So a slightly larger device would be needed to accommodate that and let’s be honest a Launchpad is definitely still portable and with the newer devices having lithium ion batteries instead of AA, they are much lighter.

I thought originally that a screen would be needed, after having the Circuit OG for several years but after quite some time with the tracks and then rhythm, I wonder whether having a screen on the Circuit device might spoil the vibe. Although small screens under the encoders that can be used for labels would be useful and I don’t think that would be a distraction.

I also don’t mind Yamaha’s approach to the seqtrak by being able to use an app to give further functionality and Novation are almost there as it is with Components anyway.

But that’s just my opinion.

[Chreeb]

I second this. The developer was heavily influenced by the opz workflow. It’s a great Lil device. Can use samples too if the synths are too digital.

[giraffe]

I ended up going for the m8 tracker, will let you know. Thank you so much, amazing community