ATTENTION - MODSTEP does not integrate well with AUM. I’m presenting it as an alternative that is rather use then to try to do this stuff in AUM. Just want that to be clear. 😅

Helium by 4 pockets is the silver bullet 🙏

Interesting! See I feel like you are looking at it the wrong way Jakob. Having all these midi controllers/sequencers running *inside* AUM is a bit of a horror, but that is why I use Xequence2. I just switch between the two apps and so get full use of the screen in each. The best way to describe it is that AUM is where I control the sound, and X2 is where I control the composition. And it works incredibly well, too, with full automation and even additional features like simple octave shifting or melody inversions etc. To me AUM + X2 is a near-perfect combination. (Pro tip: love that you can also route the output from Rozeta plugins like Arpeggio into X2 to record them and then tweak them here and there)

Another option: running Korg’s gadget with the midi out gadget and route all the midi into AUM - works well and offers a lot of flexibility

Xequence is an Inter-App only app worth looking into that's meant to serve a a 'midi sequencing arrangement hub' like the traditional multitrack daw view. The beta for the 2nd version has MPE support. It also has a cool advanced auto-sequence generator part to it

I’ll add a vote for Helium by 4Pockets. Helium includes file management, which takes it to another level.

Hey Jakob, happy new year and very interesting video. Thank you very much for mentioning our MIDI Drum Sequencer Octachron on 6:25. We are planning to release another free update this month with improved song mode and some other new features. And we would of course love to get more feedback from you and everybody! Also suggestions for improvements and feature wishes from are very much welcome! (Of course also concerning the current version) Thank you very much and keep up the good work! :)

Hey, I appreciate your channel. 2-3 years later and still no midi sequencing built into AUM.. I personally don't find AUM useful. The best way I found is to use it to host instruments and sequence them with an external sequencer like a conventional DAW or I'm sure a MPC would work etc.. I hope it clicks one day.

No love for Xequence 2? It seems to be the champ, no? Hands down the best I’ve seen. 💪🏽🤘🏽

Could also add that ATOM has a huge update coming with lots of new midi tool features. Looks/sounds super sweet from what the developer has shared so far on Audiobus forums. Hopefully before end of year.

LK is much better in AUM, Jakob. Multiple tracks AND segments (intos, verses & choruses all possible) automation lanes... very nice. More fun than Xequencer. ModeStep is dead. LK does a nicer job in AUM. Atom works well ( it even shows other Atom lines in the interface) but it doesn’t run long enough.

I love Riffer to sequence drums in an unstable way with a lot of changes over time. Riffer + fractal bits for example

Your list seriously need LK for live/clip workflow and xequence 2 for linear based production

AUM is a playground, a groovebox, a modular DAW, a modular synth. For MIDI sequencing, I use a lot of stuff, but not all at once. Use what suits the project or just seems fun. LK is my new goto since it has Ableton like clip launching. But also Fugue Machine, the Rozeta Suite, and a few others. I use various drum machines - Pure Acid, GR-16 (AUv3 coming!), Beathawk, and EG Pulse to name a few - to sequence drums, or I use a MIDI sequencer (like LK) to sequence one of these drum machines but allowing for complex song creation. If I make something I like, I can load it into Cubasis or my desktop to flesh it our more. AUM is a creative tool. Like Reason Figure, but with a lot more depth. AUM can be as simple as Reason, or as complex as a huge modular synth. That is why the workflow in AUM is worth considering.

I can only second the many LK suggestions. I've used it a lot lately, in AUM, and it really takes away all those extras this video is about. Of course you get a like anyway as you never do bad video presentations. :D

As always, Jakob answers the questions I have that I hadn't even completely figured out how to ask yet, or wasn't yet quite clear on what I didn't know. Jakob = ultimate iOS music production guru.

I use 2 iPads with MIDIfire running on both. MIDIfire can send midi via Bluetooth to an instance on another iDevice. You can use an iPhone too.Then i run sequencers on one iPAD that sends midi to AUM running on the other iPad. I like using Korg gadget for the sequencers with a bunch of Taipei gadgets running. Once it's set up, it's great. I keep the iPads side by side. Sone other good sequencers are Genome, Quantum, Xequence and infinite looper. Infinite looper deserves recognition. It's really a well designed app that is lonely with not much recognition.

I use Xequence 2 for my workflow, midi recording, sequencing and "midi automation". Xequence 2 can not be hosted by AUM as an AUV3 midi source. So the option is to host Xequence2 inside Audiobus3 as a midi source and then later use Audiobus3 as a midi source into AUM. Once you open AudioBus3, you select Xequence2 as MIDI , and select AUM as audio destination. Then inside AUM you select Audiobus Source (virtual) as a midi input to any of your instruments you want. You save your session in Audiobus3 (and AUM also). Then you can reload your complete session opening Audiobus3, and it will also reload your complete AUM session. This workflow is like a having "midi DAW" , with complete midi recording and automation. Of course you can easily navigate AUM and Audiobus3 easily with the pop up side menus. Hope it helps you folks.

Fascinating video. Having got back into ipad audio about 3-4 months ago and buying every midi sequencer / suite I could find I still don't have a steady workflow for anything but generative music. For me though, this is fine. I'm actually using the ipad specifically for quicker generative/evolving sounds. For this I'm finding for sequencers, the easiest 'out of the box' have been riffer, octachron, rozeta suite & fugue machine. For someone like myself with no real midi mapping experience these were the smoothest to set up. For those of you with that knowledge already, and also familiarity with AUM and various audio apps, the older but more powerful apps just have some great advanced sequencers & interfaces, such as; Quantum, midi from Xynthesizr, Touchscaper (the ui on this one is cool!) Again this is more for generative stuff, I do use a desktop daw generally for a more standard song arrangement, and may bring some elements from the ipad into them. At most I'm getting a controller for the ipad so I can maybe switch key easier in the sequencer apps to build some kind of progression. Hope this helps someone!

DON'T FORGET: Fugue Machine is an interesting sequencer too ;)

I have to agree on this. I tried to reproduce a song originally done in Zenbeats with AUM, lots of tracks, drops, automation, etc......and what a complete clusterfuck! I only used Drambo as my sequencer but it was still a complete confusing mess. I tried using LK also but no luck. Never had so many notes for a single project ever. AUM is just not a linear daw. But hey if it works for someone else I sure don’t care, has nothing to do with my art lol.

I'm surprised how greatly overlooked LK is. It runs in AUM and has developed beyond a Ableton controller and is now an AUV3 multichannel midi sequencer with ableton style clip launching. Also, Drambo will run as AUV3 and will sequence midi, capable of a full arrangement. Personally I use AUM to make my loops and arrange in Akai Force.. but.. yeah LK or Drambo are ready to roll in AUM right now.

I also use Riffer, Autony, and Fugue Machine.

Im quite new to ios music making, but the most intuitive, logical and "screen clutter" free has been using Drambo as a main all-in-one app, but as a main track with other instruments connected via AUM. For example- all sampling and live performance tweaking in drambo, but bassline from audiokit synth one- every sequencing and tweaking can be set up and done in drambo, but the sound is also from external source. And I can perform whole songs without leaving the drambo window :)

Hi Jakob! Thanks for the video. As many people saying in the comments, why not try LK's Matrix as a clip launching and piano roll? I'm curious what you will say about it. Also, there's a feature in AUM: you can assign any AU's window opening to a key or pad of your hardware MIDI controller, and even the AUM itself could be brought to the front by some MIDI command. Also, LK's power is full support of several chosen hardware MIDI controllers, using it you can (possibly) feel very ableton-like workflow on iOS. Cheers!

Here’s a performance in AUM. Everything is sequenced within AUM but the kick, which is coming from Patterning 2; and some percussion stuff coming from Seek Beats. Happy to explain anything in more detail. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n75mdLCYnL-0o30.html

For Step Sequencing i also like using StepPolyArp Unit, Thesys and Drambo. All 3 apps offers randomization and probability features. To have fun with with StepPolyArp and Thesys a Pencil should be used. The easiest way to use a Piano Roll Editor is Atom. I‘m excited about the update that will come. LK is good for using Piano Roll Editors in an ableton-like muli-Track Environment with some nice randomization features and lot more. For random notes Riffer is good and with less features but easy workflow Autony does a good job. I also like to spice up generated notes with Arpeggio- and Midi-FX-Apps...

Killer Little Groove you had going on “Pure Acid” …..even just 5seconds worth.

Hi and thank you for your work. You are a sweet genius. Don’t stop. That’s your way, don’t care about thumbs down because the music that you make is absolutely insane and Magic. I subscribed to your channel because my son (11 years) was falling in love for your contagious energy. Sounds good! Ciao e grazie amico!

Jakob, can you make interview and collab with Perplex On? You both have good experience and very different workflow, so this would be awesome discussion to listen and learn some tips about mobile music apps. Thanks for these new names, i was looking for a few more midi helpers 🙌🏼

Great video, and super helpful. I’m relatively new to AUM and have been trying to figure out a workflow and you’re echoing some things I’ve recently discovered. I also record audio inputs but also use MIDI. I’ve done more recording and of MIDI instruments using Enso or L7 and more recently learned about some of these sequencer options. I’ll record a sequence and load it with file player or use the file options in the looper apps. It hasn’t exactly been the best approach I know. At the very least AUM has been excellent for me figuring out sound and song ideas. Thanks again!

I use Rozeta Suite for everything. Bassline works pretty good for melodic stuff and drums. Of course I could use X0X for drums, but coming from Fractal Bits as drum supply and a linear beats workflow I find it easier with Bassline. I simply combine some of them to a whole beat and treat them like sub groups. Atom Piano Roll is actually kind of cool, but it’s a pain when creating patterns longer than two bars, at least for me, because there is no way to zoom in or out horizontally while leaving the vertical axis as is. And I couldn’t figure out how to remotely start recording, which makes it useless in live situations. But that’s a whole different story.

When iPadOS 16 was available for my iPad 7th Gen, I immediately became aware that all the scare stories about IAA apps disappearing from the App Store were a load of nonsense. As one very well-known iOS musician has told me, IAA isn't going anywhere anytime soon. At that point, I felt like a fool for having bought into AUv3 apps as a replacement for my IAAs. So far, unless I decide to "upgrade" to a newer iPad (why?!), I have no reason to stop using IAA apps at all!

DigiKeys is a decent option for multichannel sequencing too. Add 4Pockets multitrack for audio and it works quite well.

I only wait for atom 2 update....I think I will change a lot, as you can control it with external controller like ableton live. This will be great! And together with the new 4pockets AUM mixer it could be a real option for producing in AUM.

You missed the best one: LK! This great plugin brings you Ableton live workflow to AUM! So Sequencing inside AUM make‘s a lot of sense now. Xequence for Arrangement fit’s perfect. There even is Ableton Live export (which works) and support for Novation Launchpad.

I use AUM with the opz and it's a killer combination

AUM is fun for live stuff but for production I still work in Cubasis.

The most fun thing is still just to use AUM and do a performance session of 3-5 minutes, have it record the individual channels and then import these into Cubasis or any other DAW where you can refine, add, cut, polish, mix, master. Easy beasy 🤙

I’m pretty much a traditional DAW guy because I learned Cubase on Atari ST in a studio back in the day and used it over other DAWs ever since. Cubasis to me, just makes sense. I do enjoy pissypanting about with AUM though. With Digikeys and Multi-Track I have a pretty good DAW going. I’ve been looking at getting the Rozetta suite to improve on this but I find myself wondering if it isn’t just better to do some things the way I’m used to. I like experimenting though so, sooner or later I probably will do this.

I only can confirm what you say. For me is Korg Gadget the Fusion Jazz Funk iPad Beast. Hey, the End Tune is Funky Fresh, hihi go kid go

Jakob, try Lk in AUM! It’s also free to try and auv3

Interesting subject. I’m working the way you are discribing in the video. It is working but I totally agree that it is not optimal. What i need is a midi clip launcher and LK should be providing just that. However it seems to use a LOT of CPU. I have an ipad pro 2018 and i’m getting a lot of red cpu spikes and crackling even in small simple sessions. So I had to go back to use multible sequencers and map the “show plug-in” to a bottun on my controller for quick access. Another option is to map pattern change to the bottuns on the midi-controller. I have made some Mozaic-scripts for that purpose. The reason why mozaic is handy i because all the parameters in Mozaic can be mapped inside AUM. I’m NOT a mozaic-expert or programmer so it was quite a struggle to make the scrips 😅

Good video Jakob👍 I just won agonizer today from Ed can't wait to give it a go later on. Thanks Ed Thanks Jakob 🙏

Thanks. Great tips.

Couldnt agree more! Considering an outboard hardware sequencer to use with aum. High hopes for korg sq64

I use AUM for live jamming. Then I sequence in NanoStudio 2 and then I export that into ProTools to record hardware and vocals and finally mix.

Excellent sequencer options class!

Only use modstep for MIDI, not for musical IAA or AU Apps!

I purchased AUM last black friday but still have logged more hours in standalone apps like Drambo, GR-16 and Nanostudio2. Try AUM on an Iphone5, you would need a microscope and a stylus to make anything. thanks for the vid.

Atom is hard to re-edit even with an ipen... especially gating midi steps... Rozeta seems cool for experimenting still learning what I could do with it.... what I do for unconventional midi step sequencing is connect synths to drum machines

We have Sampletank for iOS.. Now we have mixbox and Fab filter for effects. We really need a super sequencer for iOS. Xequence is ok except for the fact that you can’t mix time signatures .

By the way I do not get the point spending lot of money for an IPad with a touchinterface and then connecting a hardware midi controller to it. LOL, why that? It is just money thrown (like throwing the sausage, after the ham ) out the window in my opinion and in this case you can just use a small M1 MacBook with much more benefits..you could even consider just using a mini mac with a screen and your hardwar midi interface. Why bother about a touchscreen, if you do not really use it?

I'm using iPad only for making ideas, sketches of a track. And i use AUM for that. This way i dont have any problem with midi routing some sequencers into AUv3 plugins. Even i love the fact that i can use different sequencers inside it and not have to stick to one. I have the Rosetta Suite, Atom and Fugue Machine. Even sometimes i use MiRack for midi sequencing. The only thing i hate all about this above is that i cannot export midi. So when i want to export everything i have inside an AUM project to work on my desktop pc and finish a track i have to stick to audio only. Would love that if there was a way to record midi too. I hope it helps someone :)

Modstep was great but confusing as hell, the UI not intuitive at all. LK, functionality wise, is a stripped down Modstep to be used as an auv3 plugin in AUM or AudioBus. Very capable and the only feasible to make songs (with parts) in AUM in a unified form. Except audio clips... that’s something that needs to be addressed in iOS music, there’s no solid way to handle audio record/loop/trigger. Im talking multiple clips and parts, just like LK does for midi. Hope the new Loopy fills that gap.

I wouldn’t say ModStep is dead. Here’s a track made completely in ModStep. It’s an insanely powerful midi workstation. soundcloud.app.goo.gl/NJW8haP25TMWVQeL9 you can see all the apps I used within it for this track. Most apps will work in there. All it needs is an update PLEASE!

Ive used Digistix in the past but drambo can do a lot with midi it does take time to setup but you save as templates after

I go with flip sampler, sequencing samples is just cool! The app keeps crashing when messing around with the piano roll, but updates will come (I hope)

Nice! I mainly only use AUM for live stuff. Haven’t used it since March. 🥺

Jakob, are you moving into Cuckoo’s “hairitory”?

Hi Jacob, thank you always for your great videos! Is there an auv3 App like Modstep which can also launch audio clips ...? Like Ableton Live ...? Thanks

Good video! Thanks!

Hello Jakob - thank you for all the videos you put out. They really helped me with my iOS video production throughout the COVID months. I would like to find an app that can import a midi file (.mid) within AUM ... and then route that midi file to a synth within AUM. Apparently the Atom Piano Roll does not import a .mid. I've been using Photon AU ... and it works fine. Do you know of any other iOS apps that can load / import a .mid file? - Thank you - Ruben

I’m really waiting for a audio clip launcher for AUM. That would be AWESOME 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Xequence 2 feeding any and all Apps and plugins?

Is 4pockets “Mixer for AUM” good and is it worth it. Is a good thing to have for AUM

What is the best iOS app to ssend PC to a digitakt or a digitone ? in order to have a convenent external mode song that thé dt/digitone dont have

What's the alternative to "I do NOT do this"?

not for Mac computer and DAWS?

Great topic. What are your favorite non AUM sequencing apps? Getting into eurorack, and I want to do a lot of midi sequencing with my iPad.

nice haircut

Forgive my extreme laziness in not looking this possibility up, but it seems like AUM would be great for creating a sound and effects stack preset and then loading that in a DAW app. Is that possible?

How do you record midi in AUM ?

Everything falls back to Garageband, Cubasis, or Auria... Even though I like AUM

No comments about the hair???

Meh! Screw iOS and my old commute! I’m a Maschine man now.

steppolyarp

Why would anyone want to do “ DRUM sequencing with a specific drum sequencer when a piano roll can be used to it. Just use the piano roll and and be done!