MIDI Pattern Squencer -- at least sweet mystery of life, I've found you!

[DrApostropheX]

I have been waiting almost a year (ever since I got my iPad) for an app like this.

http://msequencer.blogspot.com/

I picked it up yesterday (took the chance and spent the $15) and I already love it. It makes it really easy to sequence multiple apps (and probably hardware, too, but I'm only using it to sequence virtual MIDI apps). Within a few minutes I had a simple tune put together sequencing DrumJam, ThumbJam, SampleTank (2 channels), and Magellan. Magellan didn't play well with SampleTank (I think Magellan is too CPU intensive) so I had to close Magellan.

But what I love about this app is that it makes sequencing super easy (no weird pinching or swiping motions like you need to use in Genome and no bizaree project/pattern hierarchy where you -- or at least I, because I'm slow -- can't figure out what you're editing or saving) but still has enough features in terms of note, pattern, and song editing to be useful. All editing is done through single taps and the interface is super clean and easy to figure out.

It only supports 4/4 time and 16th-note divisions and there's no MIDI file export, but if you can live without those for the time being and if you can't really get into Genome (as powerful as it is) definitely pick this up. It's especially handy paired up with AudioBus synths as it'll drive as many as your device can support. It'll do 90% of what you need a MIDI sequencer for -- and with probably the most robust, cleanest, and easiest implementation of MIDI routing I've seen on iOS -- and the interface is just so clean.

[Jesse J]

Thanks for the review. I will be linking to this post from the iPad Audio/Music group on Facebook, as we have been discussing this App there.

Hope you'll join us in the group for insight:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/313781651056/

[gdog]

Thanks for the info & linkage

I really hope there's a demo/lite version to try, I took a punt on Genome, & rarely use it. Also, the video on the page u linked, shows the guy having to press twice to get drum hits down, once on the sequencer, then somewhere lower on the display - even with video editing - it seemed to take ages!

Again I can't really be sure until I've tried it - it does look v.interesting.. <3

[DrApostropheX]

I think that's correct: once you have your pattern set up to use your Drum app (or hardware module) as the sound source -- which takes about 10 seconds: you just click on settings, select that app as the output for that track, and then copy that across the other 7 parts in the pattern -- you click once on where you want the hit to go, and then at the bottom is the keyboard/drum pad where you click which hit you want to play in that cell. It wouldn't take forever, unless you were to program like 16-bar drum loops all at once.

[balasco]

It sounds like it would be quicker to use a reverse method of note/drum input e.g. say I wanted to have a row of 16 hi-hats, I'd tap the hi-hat part first to select that drum part, then tap 1 through 16 on the cells. A total of 17 taps, whereas right now, correct me if I'm wrong, it would take 32.

[DrApostropheX]

There is a way of copying and pasting and I have to confirm the tap-order behavior.... I'll look into that tonight but either way, I don't think anyone will be at risk of getting blisters on their fingers from doing a little extra tapping, especially since it's a LOT more precise to edit in this app than in many others I've tried

[Meffy]

You've been thanked for the info. I thank you for the Madeline Kahn impression.

[DrApostropheX]

You've been thanked for the info. I thank you for the Madeline Kahn impression.

Yay! Another Mel Brooks fan!

[J.C]

Thanks for the review Doc! I feel exactly the same about Genome, I recognise it's a very powerful and stable tool but it's just not the right workflow for me.
Maybe this one will be the right one.

[audiojunkie]

It sounds like it would be quicker to use a reverse method of note/drum input e.g. say I wanted to have a row of 16 hi-hats, I'd tap the hi-hat part first to select that drum part, then tap 1 through 16 on the cells. A total of 17 taps, whereas right now, correct me if I'm wrong, it would take 32.

This was my thinking too. What I'd like to know, is if there is a drum machine that you can create patterns on, and then trigger the entire pattern by pressing a single key on a keyboard. This way, I could manually play/record the midi drum parts, and then save all of the tapping.

--Sean

[DrApostropheX]

Yeah! That would be something like the old Phrase/Pattern Sequencer I had on my old Roland GrooveSynth. There's probably an App For That (can Genome do this?) but I don't think MIDI Pattern Sequencer can do it.

On the other hand, I left feedback on the developer's homepage (link here) and got a reply a few hours later that the the developer is reading this KVR thread and taking the comments about drum pattern entry into consideration. So the dev seems pretty engaged and willing to add features to the app... while hopefully still keeping it streamlined and free-of-bloat, which is one of the things I like so much about it.

[audiojunkie]

Yeah! That would be something like the old Phrase/Pattern Sequencer I had on my old Roland GrooveSynth. There's probably an App For That (can Genome do this?) but I don't think MIDI Pattern Sequencer can do it.

On the other hand, I left feedback on the developer's homepage (link here) and got a reply a few hours later that the the developer is reading this KVR thread and taking the comments about drum pattern entry into consideration. So the dev seems pretty engaged and willing to add features to the app... while hopefully still keeping it streamlined and free-of-bloat, which is one of the things I like so much about it.

It doesn't seem to me to be an issue with the sequencer as much as it would be an issue for the drum machine. After all, the sequencer's job would just be to trigger a key note. The drum machine's job would be to trigger the sequence/pattern when the key note is pressed. Any sequencer should be able to easily do this. The question remains if any of the drum machines that have their own built-in sequencers play when the pattern is triggered by a particular keyboard note.

I haven't played enough with the various drum machines to know if this would work, but it is obvious that of the drum machines available, the only ones that might work would be those with built-in sequencers ie DM1, Molten, iElectribe, etc. If any of these drum machines stores multiple patterns that can then trigger each pattern from a different midi keyboard note, then everything in theory should work.

I'd much rather program my drums in the drum app, trigger the pattern in the sequencer, and leave the sequencer mainly for musical sequences and to tie everything together.

As for the Midi sequencer:

Part of the problem, is that the documentation is very scarce. There are a few screen shots that shows some of the functionality, a video or two that shows it in action, and a general description of the functionality. I feel like I can almost grasp what is going on, but I don't want to pay for the app just to try to see if it will do what I want it to do--I want to understand things better.

I know that there is a way to set up drum pads, but in one of the screen shots, it looked like there is also a built-in keyboard that may be used to play in parts live without an external keyboard--this interests me, but there is no information about it. Also, what about editing recorded midi sequences. There doesn't appear to be a piano roll on this app, so does that mean that everything has to be recorded live? I'm not sure, because I can't find out--no manual.

Now, I don't want to be misunderstood--I'm interested in this app, and I would like to know if it will serve me better than what I currently have and use. It may be great, and I really hope it is! It's just that I need more information.



--Sean

[audiojunkie]

I've gone back and done some reviewing and comparing, and I think I will be happier with Genome Midi Sequencer, which I currently have. I'm glad that there are options though, so that everyone can use what works best for them.

--Sean

[DrApostropheX]

Very cool! I have Genome and I'm sure I would love it if I'd put in an hour or two to train my fingers how to get around it. With this MIDI Pattern Sequencer, what you see is definitely what you get: it does what the screenshots show and no more or less. For me, that's a boon because it combines ease of use with the simplicity of the old hardware sequencers, which is great for quickly putting together patterns.

But I also love the sequencer in iSequence HD, so there you go

[zzzwiw]

Video with new version of MIDI Pattern Sequencer 1.1 here:



Added new features, improve existing operations.