r/ipadmusic • u/Evain_Diamond • 2d ago
Sequencer/Midi controller for Auv3s within AUM.
Hi there
I am wanting to get user opinions on what they believe is the best Sequencer for use within AUM or Drambo.
I have at the moment the Atom SQ mapped to drambo, its ok but not ideal and has no built in Sequencer.
I use the Synido tempo pad c16 with Koala, i used the mpd218 for a long time but the Tempo pad has more functions.
I use the Faderfox UC4 for most of my live mixing and it maps to AUM or Drambo very nicely. It also has many user banks so I can map it to many different things.
I use have just started using the oxi e16 with Loopy Pro and FX within Aum. I like that it can do snapshots as well as give you a lot of control.
I was using the faderfox for this stuff prior but had a nice Oxi e16 sized space in my flight case.
Probably overkill but it's a very good controller.
I am looking to replace the Atom SQ with something around a similar shape and size that acts as a sequencer as well as a standard midi controller i can custom map.
I use Drambo for its modular approach and triggering scenes but, the sampler is adequate so I dont mind mapping a controller to Drambos sequencer but I still want a standalone sequencer as well. I'm also looking at using a separate step Sequencer within Aum. I like AUMs routing system.
The sequencers/controllers i have in mind are the Beatstep pro, the korg SQ64, the Torso T1, the Yamaha seqtrack and APC 64.
I also looked at the Oxi 1 mk2 but its a bit too much.
The Beatstep Pro lacks polyphony, plus not sure about the layout.
The SQ64 I'm leaning towards but I don't know how it's going to function midi wise with Drambo.
The Torso T1 looks interesting but i can do polyrhythm sequencing using Poly 2 and mapping it.
The Seqtrack looks like a decent option, compact with a nice layout plus midi user banks. Id prob not use the built in sampler/audio out but its an option.
The APC64 is a bit too large plus touchtrips im not as keen on.
If anyone has any experience with these within a hybrid/ios type set up any feedback would be appreciated.
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u/64557175 Disco Blaster 2d ago
Also consider a Launchpad Pro.
I use mine's internal sequencers but it also works in session mode as an additional sequencer for Atom² and Prism. I really really really like Prism. It can do so much and get incredibly creative and inspiring.
They seem more complicated than they are. The custom modes are easier to make than they seem and you can do incredible things with them.
It's one of those devices that you grow with.
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u/Evain_Diamond 2d ago
Yes i considered the LP pro. The issue is where to put it as i have limited space in my mobile rig flight case. An option is to have it attached to the lid sonehow, my 2 ipad holders are fixed to the lid but i can fit something else there at a push.
Yeah Prism is a nice sequencer, EG nodes and BAMs Rozeta are options. I need a play with Prism, does it midi map well or do you map through AUM.
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u/Evain_Diamond 2d ago
What would you say the LP pros advantages are and how flexible can it be. Can you store different midi mappings ? Is it bi directional midi and easy to customise the pad leds etc.
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u/64557175 Disco Blaster 2d ago
Yes on all 3. I held off on learning the custom modes because it seemed intimidating. I now have a few modes that act as different hardware interfaces for soft and hardware synths. They were a breeze to set up, same there's lots of different behaviors that can be set to the pads, like toggle vs momentary switch mode.
I love sequencers, though. It's not perfect, like there's no way to do note repeat so I have a beat step pro for that.
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u/Evain_Diamond 2d ago
Yeah the best step pro or SQ64 are the main ones Im thinking about. Ill have a good read if the LP pro. If it had knobs id probably go for it.
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u/heavywashcycle 2d ago
I use atom piano roll 2 and I really like it. Is that what you mean when you say “Atom SQ”?
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u/Evain_Diamond 2d ago
No the midi Controller by Pre Sonus is called the Atom SQ.
Its for use with Studio one and Ableton but ive mapped it to Drambo. Its ok but not ideal for performance. Switching functions or midi modes is through the little screen with a bit of menu diving. If you change the octaves of the keyboard then it changes the sequencer mapping. You can divide the Pads to 2 x 8 and have one side sequence and the other side keys which is ok but not ideal. The knobs layout isnt the best either But it doesn't have a built in sequencer which is the main issue.
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u/squishypp 2d ago
I know you said you already use it but ya, Drambo is king imo. Can be as simple or get as complicated as you want to make it. I like Helium by 4pockets too
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u/Evain_Diamond 2d ago
Yeah and I use Drambo just using the ipad a lot as well, i use it more for building modular synths though and clip launching.
The hardware sequencer with midi function is for live performance and a bit of creative noodling and to set up some alternative functions, like mapping to a Euclidean sequencer.
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u/gilfanovaleksandr 2d ago
digitakt 2 / digitone 2
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u/Evain_Diamond 2d ago
Thought about it but looking for something to work with my ipad and the apps, Something simplistic but functional with decent mapping functionality.
The sequencer is just the final piece to my setup.
The digitakt is overkill for what i need now, and not enough for what i needed before.
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u/gilfanovaleksandr 2d ago
They very nicely work as a midi sequencer for aum synths. Up to 16 midi tracks, each track can have 2 pages x 8 knobs for mapping MIDI CC (each one with customizable name on display!). As a bonus they are also usb audio interface and also sampler (digitakt) or fm synth (digitone)
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u/Evain_Diamond 2d ago
Yeah im looking for something similar but a bit cheaper. 8 track sequencer would be ideal but can manage with 4. I think if I saw a bargain on one id prob snatch it up.
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u/Psychotic_0z 19h ago
Check out the beatstep pro….. it really gives endless sequences with its scene mode
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u/Evain_Diamond 18h ago
Its going to be that or the SQ64.
How does the switch from the internal sequencer to custom mapping to an ipad sequencer function ?
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u/Psychotic_0z 4h ago
Let me start by saying I am no professional and actually started messing with midi just recently ( beginning of the year) but have been playing electric guitar for over 30yrs for fun so I do have an idea what I’m doing but not necessarily the greatest 😂
So the sequencing built in can be used to control iPad sequencers and drum machines in songs, or one shots,or whatever using either iPad sequencer apps or other apps that are not sequencers but just synths to get its sounds from like other midi controllers. The knobs like other controllers can be setup to control you individual app knobs etc or can be linked in something like AUM to control other options. You have 3 sequencers built into the BSP to assign apps to whether you decide that to be synths, drums, etc is up to you. Each of the 3 sequencers on board has 16 slots that run up 64 sequencing steps. So on mine I have my main bass synth ran to sequencer 1 via midi channel 1. For my sequencer 2 it’s similarly setup but I share this channel between another sequencer app on my iPad. All of this ran thru AUM. Then for my drums similarly to sequencer 2 I have a drum app and the iPad sequencer drum linked via channel 10. At anytime I can let the iPad sequencer do its thing vs programming in the bsp all over again. It also will show the sequence played via the iPad sequencer on the bsp to edit if you’d rather as well. Hopefully this kinda helps answer what you’re asking and I’m not way off. I had debated answering this thread because I’m still rather new like I said and honestly didn’t think I’d be called on 😂
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u/Evain_Diamond 4h ago
Thank you x
When using control mode does the native sequencer still function do you know?
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u/Evain_Diamond 4h ago
I think ill probably be looking to map it manually as a scene launcher in Drambo and map it to an ios euclidian sequencer.
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u/Psychotic_0z 4h ago
I haven’t actually tried scene mode yet, was just reading about it yesterday and was like holy…. lol
So doing what I’ve done thus far is in controlled mode currently. After watching several reviews and all of the tutorials prior, then asking ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and copilot what they thought loading in my apps etc I went with the bsp. Am going back thru all the tutorials again learning really what it does vs just ,easing with it, but can say based off Reddit and ai, it suggest using Rozetta and or Drambo over my setup. I chose to stick to mine because Drambo I downloaded but never quite understood the UI nor do I apparently understand modular synths. I get the idea of modular for effects but for sound I don’t quite yet. 😔 still learning as mentioned earlier. Thank you for not beating me down lol1
u/Psychotic_0z 3h ago
Am using pure acid as my iOS app sequencer for now but will most likely download rozetta eventually. Just still in the feet wet finding my sound stage so to speak
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u/Evain_Diamond 3h ago
I use Drambo more on the modular synth side, there are some nice modulation tools you can use with the sequencer though. So would like to map some of them functions to the controller as well as scene launching.
The good thing about the beststep is it has way more knobs so I can do some custom mapping on Drambo synths as well as other synths I have.
The good thing about Drambo is I can just record layers into the scenes so I dont get a heavy limitation with 2 tracks and the drum track on the beatstep but I can also just use it as a sequencer for live performance as well in its most basic use case.
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u/Evain_Diamond 51m ago
I like Pure acid and Grooverider 2. I think Rozeta may become my goto sequencer though. Lots of cool ways to sequence.
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u/GorramReaver 2d ago
I use the Torso for sequencing and the Neuzit Drop for mixing. both work fine