Camel Audio Releases Alchemy Mobile v2 for iOS

[shanecgriffo]

I think I worked out what is happening.. I loaded a new empty song and the problem seems to have gone away, maybe a demo song was loaded and it wants to re-render the track when I change presets?

[ZenPunkHippy]

> The Pro Upgrade file, which was updated over the weekend, should include 8
> extra demo songs. I'll double check that is working properly.

I tried on two iPads and I do not seem to get the demo projects. I do get the Pro sounds I think (or maybe it was the Bonus sounds).

Unfortunately this was my fault for making a mistake when creating the Pro Upgrade content file. It is now fixed, there is an update ready to download. It's the largest of the files (~190 MB) but it will download in the background while the app is running.

Sorry about that!

Hopefully we can add some kind of "patch update" functionality in the future, so that smaller updates can be released.

On both iPads, all of my mobile sound libraries have an 'update' text on them and when I go into that library

The reason I asked about the beta is because this was happening to me as well, but not after installing the update. However, I've since deleted / reinstalled the app several times so it's difficult to say what's going on.

AFAIK, regular users have not reported this problem, and as already mentioned those sound libs have not been updated. If anyone else notices this please let us know.

Peace,
Andy.

[ZenPunkHippy]

Well. It's actually useless as it is now. Clicks and pops changing tracks and browsing presets

I'm sorry to hear you are disappointed. The vast majority of our users have been over the moon with this update, so far I think we have 1 or 2 complaints out of 1000's of downloads.

The rendering process I've described is the only way we could fit 4 Alchemy tracks in to the app, so that is a hard design decision. More generally, the app is not intended to be used for what you are attempting to do i.e. have four simultaneous tracks running live and changing tracks during a live / recording session.

The work flow is to build up the individual tracks, record automation to add movement, and then export the performances to other apps. The Audiobus side, which is where I assume the clicking would be most annoying when recording to other apps, can be worked around by preparing the song before recording, and playing / tweaking one live part.

Personally, I think that is an acceptable workaround / design decision and should provide plenty of scope for creating amazing beats / soundscapes / songs.

And I just had a song crash over and over, when the song ends and are about to loop back.

This might be due to a known bug. Does the song / current track contain any loops? Changing the BPM while a loop track is selected, rendering after 1 loop and then changing tracks is the specific bug I"m referring to and will be fixed in the first point update.

We let this last minute bug through for the official release because most users will be working with the drum presets rather than loops. It is also important to set the tempo to the original loop for best sound quality, so that's another reason.

Otherwise, AFAIK, this is not being reported by other users. If you can grab a copy of the project folder from iCloud or using Diskaid and send a zip to support [at] camelaudio [dot] com with steps to reproduce and we'll check it out. Thanks.

Peace,
Andy.

[ZenPunkHippy]

If I wanted to add some drum loops I have in .wav format, would the easiest way be to make a single zip file with them and "add custom sounds"? If so, will they show up as the name of the zip file, with an arrow to the right that would then let me select individual loops?

To do this you will need to create the following folder structure:

Code: Select all

Samples/Factory/Drums/DrumLoopsMobile

This will put your loops in "Factory". You can choose a different name if you prefer.

Place the .wav loops in the DrumLoopsMobile folder. It is recommended that the loops are cut precisely to the number of audio samples for the target BPM.

Zip the "Samples" folder and name it "AlchemyMyLoops.CamelSounds" (or similar name). See the next bit for instructions to install.

In addition, am I correct that if I wanted to add all of my Alchemy libraries that do not have mobile versions yet (such as Analogica or Himalaya Pads), all I have to do is drag the .CamelSounds versions of these to my iTunes File Sharing section for Alchemy Mobile and sync?

We have instructions in our FAQ section for adding custom sounds or desktop sound libraries:

http://bit.ly/H430Sd

As noted: make sure you download the Player version of the samples file, and the individual presets file for the sound library (not All Presets, otherwise you'll end up with lots of sound library folders that don't work due to missing samples ..).

Let us know if you need help.

Peace,
Andy.

[ZenPunkHippy]

I think I worked out what is happening.. I loaded a new empty song and the problem seems to have gone away, maybe a demo song was loaded and it wants to re-render the track when I change presets?

Thanks for the updated info. Rendering the current track is a continual process until the user interrupts with a gesture e.g. to change preset, move the remix pad. This changes the sound, so the app will begin rendering in the background until one full loop has completed, and this process is continual (edit, render, edit render etc.).

None of this should interfere with playback, but it's possible Virtual MIDI might cause some unspecified behaviour, I'll test that out ASAP.

Which sequencer app are you using?

Peace,
Andy.

[shanecgriffo]

I think I worked out what is happening.. I loaded a new empty song and the problem seems to have gone away, maybe a demo song was loaded and it wants to re-render the track when I change presets?

Thanks for the updated info. Rendering the current track is a continual process until the user interrupts with a gesture e.g. to change preset, move the remix pad. This changes the sound, so the app will begin rendering in the background until one full loop has completed, and this process is continual (edit, render, edit render etc.).

None of this should interfere with playback, but it's possible Virtual MIDI might cause some unspecified behaviour, I'll test that out ASAP.

Which sequencer app are you using?

Peace,
Andy.

i'm just playing midi into it via 'midi guitar' app.. so using it as a guitarsynth sound source..
i'm also wondering, as space is getting pretty tight on my ipad3,- all these rendered files that are being created, are they automatically deleted when i go out of the app, if i dont save anything? i like to jam around with sequences on the fly, but dont want to fill my remaining free drive space with these rendered files.. i've had apps where files are created and cant be deleted unless you uninstall/reinstall the whole app, so i.m just wondering as a bit of drive space seemed to disappear after i played with it last night but not sure, it could have just been facebook chewing it up or something else.. i was curious about the file handling to do with that tho if you have any answers.. thanks..

[bobsled]

On both iPads, all of my mobile sound libraries have an 'update' text on them and when I go into that library

The reason I asked about the beta is because this was happening to me as well, but not after installing the update. However, I've since deleted / reinstalled the app several times so it's difficult to say what's going on.

AFAIK, regular users have not reported this problem, and as already mentioned those sound libs have not been updated. If anyone else notices this please let us know.

Peace,
Andy.

I also see the update text. Latest iPad, latest iPod touch.

Pretty fantastic release for Alchemy. Great job and thanks, ya'll!

[BMoore]

The rendering, saying "Loading" when you're saving, clicks, pops, performance issues, etc. etc...

This. App. Isn't. Finished.

[BMoore]

Well. It's actually useless as it is now. Clicks and pops changing tracks and browsing presets

I'm sorry to hear you are disappointed. The vast majority of our users have been over the moon with this update, so far I think we have 1 or 2 complaints out of 1000's of downloads.

The rendering process I've described is the only way we could fit 4 Alchemy tracks in to the app, so that is a hard design decision. More generally, the app is not intended to be used for what you are attempting to do i.e. have four simultaneous tracks running live and changing tracks during a live / recording session.

The work flow is to build up the individual tracks, record automation to add movement, and then export the performances to other apps. The Audiobus side, which is where I assume the clicking would be most annoying when recording to other apps, can be worked around by preparing the song before recording, and playing / tweaking one live part.

Personally, I think that is an acceptable workaround / design decision and should provide plenty of scope for creating amazing beats / soundscapes / songs.

And I just had a song crash over and over, when the song ends and are about to loop back.

This might be due to a known bug. Does the song / current track contain any loops? Changing the BPM while a loop track is selected, rendering after 1 loop and then changing tracks is the specific bug I"m referring to and will be fixed in the first point update.

We let this last minute bug through for the official release because most users will be working with the drum presets rather than loops. It is also important to set the tempo to the original loop for best sound quality, so that's another reason.

Otherwise, AFAIK, this is not being reported by other users. If you can grab a copy of the project folder from iCloud or using Diskaid and send a zip to support [at] camelaudio [dot] com with steps to reproduce and we'll check it out. Thanks.

Peace,
Andy.

I'm sorry, but this is the most stupid "explanation" I've ever seen.
We're not supposed to change track when playing or making a song???
I'm not even talking about changing preset.
And the included four track sequencer isn't able to do four tracks?! Holy crap...

Ad no, the song that keeps crashing does not contain any loops.
Your loops are useless as it is implemented right now, so I guess it's lucky that most of your users are drum pattern people
And as you say, God forbid if we use any of the included loops you provide.
But maybe Alchemy isn't intended for loops either.

"Thousands of downloads for a free app, and only one or two complaints".
Is it hard to keep track of if it's one, or two, complaints?
I'm sure people doesn't complain about a free app they're not using it to ist's full potential, and will just go "meh", and delete it or never touch it again.

This is the first app I will ask for a refund for, and never ever again be involved with anything Camel Audio.

Peace out.

[BMoore]

And when did you intend to inform you customers about the intended use, limitations, and the calculated bug in an integral part of the app?

[shanecgriffo]

i haven't had the above problem yet , but i guess you have to understand that it isn't really a 4 track sequencer in the DAW sense, there is only i instance of alchemy ever, not 4 , so to be able to have 4 tracks available, 3 of them have to be a rendered audio file, so if you switch tracks you are interrupting a playing audio file and replacing it with live playing while at the same time the track you were on must be rendered so i guess there are limitations involved..

[BMoore]

Yes. Fantastic. And why should I, or anyone else, understand that?!

And there are several other apps that does a ton of tracks without problems.

[bharris22]

To do this you will need to create the following folder structure:

Code: Select all

Samples/Factory/Drums/DrumLoopsMobile

This will put your loops in "Factory". You can choose a different name if you prefer.

Place the .wav loops in the DrumLoopsMobile folder. It is recommended that the loops are cut precisely to the number of audio samples for the target BPM.

Zip the "Samples" folder and name it "AlchemyMyLoops.CamelSounds" (or similar name). See the next bit for instructions to install.


Let us know if you need help.

Thank you so much for this information, Andy. Sorry to be so dense, but do I create the DrumLoopsMobile folder you describe in the ProgramData/Camel Audio folder on my desktop computer? If I only want the loops available on Alchemy Mobile, and not on my desktop version of Alchemy, do I still need to do this step? Thanks again!

[samsam]

Just playing with the free version - pretty awesome, sounds great.

Regarding the Pro, is there any chance of more libraries being added? None of my libraries are currently available for iOS version - I know I can buy other libs but part of the fun was hoping to download my current Alchemy libraries for free

Cheers

[bharris22]

Regarding the Pro, is there any chance of more libraries being added? None of my libraries are currently available for iOS version - I know I can buy other libs but part of the fun was hoping to download my current Alchemy libraries for free

Cheers

@Samsam - you can download and use the Alchemy Player version of your desktop Alchemy libraries (even those that are not yet available as Mobile libraries) in the Pro version - see Andy's response and link in his post to me above.