I'm a damn idiot. i kept mentioning Alchemy (which I DO have installed), when I meant to say I've bought Addictive Synth. Polysix is great, though it does have knobs... don't mind though since it is essentially a VST; a virtual replica of a real-life hardware device. Like iMS-20, you also get x-y pads, a decent drum machine/sample tank and a sequencer built in. wha annoys me with the knobs in Auria is that it isn't to my knowledge a replica of existing hardware...and while knobs work great in a physical 3 dimensional world, they just don't make sense on a touchscreen. Yeah, I know, it makes it easier to learn if you're used to pro-level hardware mixers, but at some point in time habits have to die. Photoshop had me baffled for a while even though I DID do image editing/photography the old way; with chemicals, light tables, and exacto knives. Then I realised it was attempting to replicate the real-world experience on a digital platform and ever since it's been a cinch. But I would have much rather gone straight to a GUI/workspace designed for the computer screen from the ground up.
What would you rather have then knobs and sliders? Most apps let you set up how you wanna use the knobs (like using rotating gesture or linear). Auria is no different then any other music app or any of the other iOS DAWs out there with its knobs.
I've tried replying twice but this damn app is a pain. I'll try later from my PC. Just because something is done a certain way doesn't mean there isn't a different, better way. And a lot of people consider the very idea of using an ios DAW to be a joke in and of itself. It has yet to mature. Just as the idea of recording to a PC at all, instead of through a physical DAW onto DAT was considered a joke not so long ago.
Those are the same people that goes "VSTis can not sound as good as hardware, the real deal mr! yada yada yada blabbity blabbidy blah!". I wouldn't pay any attention whatsoever to them. People are just scared of new things, right. As long as you know the limits of the hardware you use it works just fine. Yes, Auria is breaking new ground, but I really don't see any negatives anywhere in that. Tablets, macs, PCs, digital mixer/recording tables, 8 track tapes Whatever it's all the same. Well the tapes might be of a more analog nature.
Not if it's a DAT tape, which was long the industry standard (I know you were kidding, I just HAD to reply). I've recorded via portable 4 track to cassette, 64 track studio to DAT, and the most overlooked format - direct to Minidisc. The problem with Knobs on a tablet is (aside from being really tiny on my ipad mini, and not feelind intuitive) the deficulty in hitting the exact value you want quickly. On a "real" knob, you can make very small adjustments easily and always know the value it's set at. It's also a heck of a lot easier to turn multiple knobs at once. You can close your eyes and know when you've rotated a physical knob 180 degrees; impossible with just an animated picture of a knob. Touchscreen knobs, IMO, defeat the usefullness of a knob, since you can't FEEL how far you've turned one. On the other hand, x-y pads work GREAT on touch screens. They take up more screen real-estate but give much more precise control, since it isn't that different from using a touchpad. I think I've reached the limit on using the word knob in a non-sexual context for one day
...or you can just buy a peripheral with knobs, which I just might do. Stupid lightning connector took away the USB camera kit hack though. I wonder if it still works with a lightning jack...I'll have to check.
I didn't think about that, and i was about to change. It would be really annoying with my alesis i/o dock! I'm pretty sure there are some adapters, if not it would be a suicide for apple Apple is so bad with connectors, it's incredible. Anyway, i agree with your thoughts about knobs. It's a real problem, i've some friends who can't make music because of that, and i understand. They prefer hardware, and since a month me too, because of bad knobs emulation. I use a bcf 2000 (berhinger) and i always configure midi cc's before making a song. Ipolysix is entirely transposed on my keyboard, all knobs, and i really prefer playing it like that.
Was going to reply to this with a picture of the Moog "Nice Knobs" advert, but it doesn't appear to be anywhere online! Next time I have a chance to rifle through my stack of old Keyboard magazines, I'll have to fix that.
