We used to talk about the home studio. Then the bedroom producer. Then laptop music. Now it’s more like the everywhere studio – and the computer may be nowhere to be seen.
Tools like Launchpad for iOS tend to exist in some sort of alternate dimension from the world of music tech writing, even when it comes to this site. But quietly, a lot of people are making music with them. (It doesn’t hurt that there are a lot of iPads and iPhones out there, or that the apps are often given away for free.)
But just because this is a category that’s friendly to newcomers doesn’t mean the music is any less serious.
This week, Novation is promoting its Launchpad with some heavy artist collaborations. Kicking off a new soundpack set are Machinedrum (Ninja Tune) and Lapalux (on Brainfeeder, the label most associated with Flying Lotus). I find these to be really nice choices. Vapor City is really one of my favorite electronic releases of recent years – and I will be the first to admit I’m completely biased by the fact that Travis Stewart (Machinedrum) is a lovely gentleman.
Let’s have a listen to the music:
The Ninja connection is interesting, too. As we noted last week, Ninja Tune – and co-founder Matt Black – are committed to this notion of remixes and sound packs as a different way for artists to reach fans, seen in their own iOS and Android remix app. Brainfeeder have likewise been innovative in looking at different ways of reaching fans, with attention to the ways the technology around music changes.
Now, it may sound like I’m “shilling” for Novation. (I saw that delightful term of endearment applied to me a few times this week in comments.) But you can only shill if you don’t disclose. Full disclosure: Novation brought me to their London office last week to work on a hackday on their Launchpad Pro. I had a lovely time and some pints with the Novation folks and the men and women working on their hardware, and am indeed left with warm, fuzzy feelings about them. One of the things in their London office is the team responsible for mobile apps. And to be perfectly frank, I was really curious – like, who is actually using these things? They seem cool, but a lot of us remain entirely in the Ableton Live / Novation hardware controller scheme and don’t pay them much mind.
So, who’s using the apps, and how?
Launchpad came to iPad just over two years ago, and iPhone last year in May. Now, Novation tells CDM, they’ve got roughly equal usage of iPad and iPhone users. There are 3.5 million users, they say – meaning this is one of the leading music-making mobile apps, full stop.
It’s nice to have these sounds, but you can bring in your own sounds, too. You can now use Audio Import to take sessions from laptops and work on them on the go – a good way to get away from your computer, finish stuff on the go (or reclining in bed, or whatever), or even adapt a session to live use.
More recently, performance effects open up other possibilities:
And so users are responding, making jams like this one:
— or doing iPad ‘cover’ versions, like this one of Madeon’s ‘Pop Culture’:
In short, there’s an obscene amount of activity. You can, if you so choose, make the Launchpad app the center of your workflow – and augment it with MIDI hardware (from Novation, or not from Novation). There’s a terrific Tumblr blog full of this stuff, with tutorials and videos and so on. It’s eye opening – I’m meant to be an expert, and I might now dig in to an app I’d otherwise ignored, now that I see this stuff. That’s sort of the way the Internet and YouTube feel these days – you’re kicking the a** of us ‘experts’ sometimes. And thank you for that, seriously!
http://launchpadforios.tumblr.com
Launchpad for iOS on App Store
CDM readers, anyone using this app? We’d love to hear how. Or maybe you’ve found something else that fits your needs better (especially on Android, which doesn’t have it)? We’d love to hear that, too.
That Machinedrum track is just sick as hell.
That Machinedrum track is just sick as hell.
That Machinedrum track is just sick as hell.
I have both the LP app and the Electribe app.
Also have a Launchcontrol XL and Korg nanoKontrol2.
Using a powered USB hub, I connect both at once and then sync the two apps by ear.
From there it’s just fun and games 😀
I have both the LP app and the Electribe app.
Also have a Launchcontrol XL and Korg nanoKontrol2.
Using a powered USB hub, I connect both at once and then sync the two apps by ear.
From there it’s just fun and games 😀
I have both the LP app and the Electribe app.
Also have a Launchcontrol XL and Korg nanoKontrol2.
Using a powered USB hub, I connect both at once and then sync the two apps by ear.
From there it’s just fun and games 😀
plug a guitar into it and start live looping?
no. because nowadays it’s all about using someone else’s prepackaged content. god forbid we should make our own sounds
plug a guitar into it and start live looping?
no. because nowadays it’s all about using someone else’s prepackaged content. god forbid we should make our own sounds
plug a guitar into it and start live looping?
no. because nowadays it’s all about using someone else’s prepackaged content. god forbid we should make our own sounds
Welcome to the future.
Welcome to the future.
Welcome to the future.
Launchpad has become my little scratchbook for “rapid prototyping” of stuff, often little video soundtracks. And it’s amazing how the team behind LP create more and more stunning packs where everything works together in a snap.
Launchpad has become my little scratchbook for “rapid prototyping” of stuff, often little video soundtracks. And it’s amazing how the team behind LP create more and more stunning packs where everything works together in a snap.
Launchpad has become my little scratchbook for “rapid prototyping” of stuff, often little video soundtracks. And it’s amazing how the team behind LP create more and more stunning packs where everything works together in a snap.
Yep, I use it in live situations complementing Ableton Live. I don’t plan my sets 100% so I use Launchpad, Samplr, Figure and a few others while something is loading in the computer.
Yep, I use it in live situations complementing Ableton Live. I don’t plan my sets 100% so I use Launchpad, Samplr, Figure and a few others while something is loading in the computer.
Yep, I use it in live situations complementing Ableton Live. I don’t plan my sets 100% so I use Launchpad, Samplr, Figure and a few others while something is loading in the computer.
Peter please ask Novation to put follow actions in the launchpad app, also there is no ability to record your performance in the app and edit it later, like abletons timeline. Pretty Please?
Peter please ask Novation to put follow actions in the launchpad app, also there is no ability to record your performance in the app and edit it later, like abletons timeline. Pretty Please?
Peter please ask Novation to put follow actions in the launchpad app, also there is no ability to record your performance in the app and edit it later, like abletons timeline. Pretty Please?
I would have literally killed for something like LP iOS when i was starting out. My 486 PC and AWE32 soundcard were so difficult to use. Great that new comers can take things like this to an advanced level of production for very little cost and create something both musically valid and sonically pleasing.
I would have literally killed for something like LP iOS when i was starting out. My 486 PC and AWE32 soundcard were so difficult to use. Great that new comers can take things like this to an advanced level of production for very little cost and create something both musically valid and sonically pleasing.
I would have literally killed for something like LP iOS when i was starting out. My 486 PC and AWE32 soundcard were so difficult to use. Great that new comers can take things like this to an advanced level of production for very little cost and create something both musically valid and sonically pleasing.
what amazes me is the people who program this stuff. they are the unsung heroes. where would so many of us electronic musicians be without the people who created the instruments we use? we need a CDM programmer appreciation day right?? buy a programmer a beer. I’m serious.
what amazes me is the people who program this stuff. they are the unsung heroes. where would so many of us electronic musicians be without the people who created the instruments we use? we need a CDM programmer appreciation day right?? buy a programmer a beer. I’m serious.
what amazes me is the people who program this stuff. they are the unsung heroes. where would so many of us electronic musicians be without the people who created the instruments we use? we need a CDM programmer appreciation day right?? buy a programmer a beer. I’m serious.
does this also record audio from an external input? that´d be great!
does this also record audio from an external input? that´d be great!
does this also record audio from an external input? that´d be great!
I’ve been using a combination of Launchpad for iOS, Launchpad Mini, and Launchkey 49 to play an entire set. I use Bitwig Studio to create audio clips of my own tracks, import them into Lauchpad via Dropbox, then build a set within Launchpad for iOS using the typical clip/scene launch approach. The iPad stereo audio out to the mixer is then provided by a PreSonus iTwo audio interface.
All of this is connected together by a powered USB port with the iPad set as the host. The iPad is essentially used as a tiny monitor and the performance made by use of the Novation control surfaces.
It’s a very convenient and flexible approach to live performance. As I’m writing this, I’m realizing I should create video and write something about how all of this is done so Peter K. can post it on the CDM website. 😉
I’ve been using a combination of Launchpad for iOS, Launchpad Mini, and Launchkey 49 to play an entire set. I use Bitwig Studio to create audio clips of my own tracks, import them into Lauchpad via Dropbox, then build a set within Launchpad for iOS using the typical clip/scene launch approach. The iPad stereo audio out to the mixer is then provided by a PreSonus iTwo audio interface.
All of this is connected together by a powered USB port with the iPad set as the host. The iPad is essentially used as a tiny monitor and the performance made by use of the Novation control surfaces.
It’s a very convenient and flexible approach to live performance. As I’m writing this, I’m realizing I should create video and write something about how all of this is done so Peter K. can post it on the CDM website. 😉
I’ve been using a combination of Launchpad for iOS, Launchpad Mini, and Launchkey 49 to play an entire set. I use Bitwig Studio to create audio clips of my own tracks, import them into Lauchpad via Dropbox, then build a set within Launchpad for iOS using the typical clip/scene launch approach. The iPad stereo audio out to the mixer is then provided by a PreSonus iTwo audio interface.
All of this is connected together by a powered USB port with the iPad set as the host. The iPad is essentially used as a tiny monitor and the performance made by use of the Novation control surfaces.
It’s a very convenient and flexible approach to live performance. As I’m writing this, I’m realizing I should create video and write something about how all of this is done so Peter K. can post it on the CDM website. 😉