Tabletop Modular

[Locus M]

I bought it and it's modules at non-reduced priced and its a good concept. Fun but rather useless a this stage:

1. Only paste from pasteboard but no copy to pasteboard, thus you are dependent on iTunes and a PC for transfer to other apps.

2. You can not delete the songs you transfer, nor the samples you import to the "my sounds " folder. They will appear under documents in iTunes for transfer but not removal. Eventually you will fill your device's memory. So far you can only delete a file by virtue of iPhone explorer. Very inconvenient.

3. No EQ or Compressor modules. A strange priority, for obviously they want it to be a gathering master unit, since they only implemented paste and not copy, and it's also suggested in the manual, where they talk about transferring loops from reBirth to table top.

4. You can only import own samples to the drumpads, but not the (sample based) synth nor the sound matrix, which makes the sonic possibilities very limited.

I surely hope they will compensate for the cons in time. Otherwise it will remain one of my most expensive iPad toys and not a tool.

About odd siggs: Remember there is a workaround for this with a little use of math, though it is probably too inconvenient for you. For making odd signatures, you will have to use the song function.

Now we only have bars of 4/4 but want to play in 3/4? What to do: Multiply the bars with the sig you want to play in: 3 x 4 bars = 3 bars of 4/4 OR 4 bars of 3/4.

If you want 7/4: 7 bars of 4/4 which is the same as 4 bars of 7/4.


All the Best

[davide37]

I bought it and it's modules at non-reduced priced and its a good concept. Fun but rather useless a this stage:

1. Only paste from pasteboard but no copy to pasteboard, thus you are dependent on iTunes and a PC for transfer to other apps.

2. You can not delete the songs you transfer, nor the samples you import to the "my sounds " folder. They will appear under documents in iTunes for transfer but not removal. Eventually you will fill your device's memory. So far you can only delete a file by virtue of iPhone explorer. Very inconvenient.

3. No EQ or Compressor modules. A strange priority, for obviously they want it to be a gathering master unit, since they only implemented paste and not copy, and it's also suggested in the manual, where they talk about transferring loops from reBirth to table top.

4. You can only import own samples to the drumpads, but not the (sample based) synth nor the sound matrix, which makes the sonic possibilities very limited.

I surely hope they will compensate for the cons in time. Otherwise it will remain one of my most expensive iPad toys and not a tool.

About odd siggs: Remember there is a workaround for this with a little use of math, though it is probably too inconvenient for you. For making odd signatures, you will have to use the song function.

Now we only have bars of 4/4 but want to play in 3/4? What to do: Multiply the bars with the sig you want to play in: 3 x 4 bars = 3 bars of 4/4 OR 4 bars of 3/4.

If you want 7/4: 7 bars of 4/4 which is the same as 4 bars of 7/4.


All the Best

Here's my email to Rebekah at Retronyms (support@retronyms.com):

"I still think TableTop has too many limitations to be viable in the increasingly competitive music app marketplace. It's too simplistic, too expensive and too inefficient. If I can produce a track (multiple looped sequences playing samples through various FX) on NanoStudio that uses just 15% CPU and the same on TableTop causes the red LED to flash and glitches on an iPad2, there's clearly a problem with your coding. Your DJs and other 'artists' seem over-delighted by a 'studio in an iPad' that's limited by a 2-octave keyboard with ADSR only, limited presets, 4/4 sequencing with no multitrack visibility, poor quality FX and very limited mixing, and no coreMIDI. I paid £23.93 for TableTop plus all the in-app extras (the only way I could audition the demo songs) and I feel cheated. In fact, I've removed the app from my iPad2. It's extremely irritating that Apple don't offer a refund facility for situations like this, where a hyped app has turned out to be not fit for purpose. It's over to you for your response."

Perhaps others might want to make their grievances felt.

Best,
David

[Dewaine]

FYI: You can get a refund from Apple. Just email customer support with your problem and in many cases you can get "store credit" or a complete refund. People do it all the time.....

The following is from eHow:


• 1 To begin the process of requesting a refund from the iTunes store, you will need to first open iTunes.
• 2 Navigate to your purchase history by clicking "Store">"View My Account">>"Purchase History."
• 3 Inside your Purchase History page, select "Report a Problem."
• 4 In the window that opens up to report your problem, describe your reason for requesting a refund. Be very polite and very detailed as to why you are requesting a refund and what exactly it is for.
• 5 That's it! Apple customer service should usually respond to you within 48 hours and let you know if your request has been granted.
_______________________
I post this because I think that developers should not be rewarded for sloppy work, and misleading hype.

[davide37]

FYI: You can get a refund from Apple. Just email customer support with your problem and in many cases you can get "store credit" or a complete refund. People do it all the time.....

Thanks, that's interesting to know, but might be difficult as there were six purchases, i.e., the main app plus all the in app purchases. I'd really like to get a direct refund from Retronyms.

[revo11]

I agree with some of the critiques so far (particularly the file system issues), but rigidity in timing is not a problem - make sure quantization is off and play the parts with as much groove as you can manage to play...

The technology looks pretty hot but after watching the vid and reading the manual it looks like it basically does 4/4 16th note oompa loompa house patterns. No swing on the matrix sequencer, no odd time signatures. Kinda boring, really. Jasuto is a more interesting modular approach.

[~Pd~]

About odd siggs: Remember there is a workaround for this with a little use of math, though it is probably too inconvenient for you.

Yeah, I thought of that. When it comes to that point it's time to use a different app.

[~Pd~]

I agree with some of the critiques so far (particularly the file system issues), but rigidity in timing is not a problem - make sure quantization is off and play the parts with as much groove as you can manage to play...

That's true, I was thinking of the M8RX sequencer, which is just one of the devices available.

[mindnoise]

Here's my email to Rebekah at Retronyms (support@retronyms.com):

"I still think TableTop has too many limitations to be viable in the increasingly competitive music app marketplace. It's too simplistic, too expensive and too inefficient. If I can produce a track (multiple looped sequences playing samples through various FX) on NanoStudio that uses just 15% CPU and the same on TableTop causes the red LED to flash and glitches on an iPad2, there's clearly a problem with your coding. Your DJs and other 'artists' seem over-delighted by a 'studio in an iPad' that's limited by a 2-octave keyboard with ADSR only, limited presets, 4/4 sequencing with no multitrack visibility, poor quality FX and very limited mixing, and no coreMIDI. I paid £23.93 for TableTop plus all the in-app extras (the only way I could audition the demo songs) and I feel cheated. In fact, I've removed the app from my iPad2. It's extremely irritating that Apple don't offer a refund facility for situations like this, where a hyped app has turned out to be not fit for purpose. It's over to you for your response."

Perhaps others might want to make their grievances felt.

Best,
David

you are a tool.

You clearly have points but you spill it with a showcase of utter mindlessness.
like

I paid £23.93 for TableTop plus all the in-app extras (the only way I could audition the demo songs)

that is simply not true! you can open and audition the demos without buying the IAPs! You just cannot change the parameters.

get a grip

[Leslie]

Here's my email to Rebekah at Retronyms (support@retronyms.com):

"I still think TableTop has too many limitations to be viable in the increasingly competitive music app marketplace. It's too simplistic, too expensive and too inefficient. If I can produce a track (multiple looped sequences playing samples through various FX) on NanoStudio that uses just 15% CPU and the same on TableTop causes the red LED to flash and glitches on an iPad2, there's clearly a problem with your coding. Your DJs and other 'artists' seem over-delighted by a 'studio in an iPad' that's limited by a 2-octave keyboard with ADSR only, limited presets, 4/4 sequencing with no multitrack visibility, poor quality FX and very limited mixing, and no coreMIDI. I paid £23.93 for TableTop plus all the in-app extras (the only way I could audition the demo songs) and I feel cheated. In fact, I've removed the app from my iPad2. It's extremely irritating that Apple don't offer a refund facility for situations like this, where a hyped app has turned out to be not fit for purpose. It's over to you for your response."

Perhaps others might want to make their grievances felt.

Best,
David

I have to agree with everything you said and who on earth programmed these presets?!
I have purchased all add ons as well, what a waste of money...
It is interesting that even after 1 year NS still rules the world of music apps (even though it is sadly still not iPad native).
Maybe iSequence 3 will pull a rabbit out of the hat and make something that is a worthy successor to NS.
Judging by their brilliant Sunrizer app, they just might to achieve that, but when...?

BTW; Have you received reply to your email? I just wonder what they have to say in their defence...

[davide37]

Here's my email to Rebekah at Retronyms (support@retronyms.com):

"I still think TableTop has too many limitations to be viable in the increasingly competitive music app marketplace. It's too simplistic, too expensive and too inefficient. If I can produce a track (multiple looped sequences playing samples through various FX) on NanoStudio that uses just 15% CPU and the same on TableTop causes the red LED to flash and glitches on an iPad2, there's clearly a problem with your coding. Your DJs and other 'artists' seem over-delighted by a 'studio in an iPad' that's limited by a 2-octave keyboard with ADSR only, limited presets, 4/4 sequencing with no multitrack visibility, poor quality FX and very limited mixing, and no coreMIDI. I paid £23.93 for TableTop plus all the in-app extras (the only way I could audition the demo songs) and I feel cheated. In fact, I've removed the app from my iPad2. It's extremely irritating that Apple don't offer a refund facility for situations like this, where a hyped app has turned out to be not fit for purpose. It's over to you for your response."

Perhaps others might want to make their grievances felt.

Best,
David

I have to agree with everything you said and who on earth programmed these presets?!
I have purchased all add ons as well, what a waste of money...
It is interesting that even after 1 year NS still rules the world of music apps (even though it is sadly still not iPad native).
Maybe iSequence 3 will pull a rabbit out of the hat and make something that is a worthy successor to NS.
Judging by their brilliant Sunrizer app, they just might to achieve that, but when...?

BTW; Have you received reply to your email? I just wonder what they have to say in their defence...

Thanks. Having been described elsewhere in this thread as "a tool" - which I'm taking to mean "easily manipulated" (no surprise in the Apple world) - it's reassuring to find someone who doesn't tell me to "get a grip". Rebekah at Retronyms was nice enough in her response, but it was all a bit corporate, with much dodging of the issue, and there was no mention of a refund.