No, but Eden Synth (what's in nanostudio) is one of the better ios synthesizers. Regarding VSTs, the name escapes my mind right now...can someone tell me which PC program is the one that's a more or less dedicated VST shell? It's one of the big name music suites; but the name escapes me.
You have a MPC style sampler called Trg and a very versatile synth called Eden. Trg is your typical MPC sampler with 16 pads in which you can load wav files (and maybe other formats) or ready made Trg packs/presets. And you got all your typical sample edit functions (trim, cut, fades, apply fx etc). Eden is the syntheziser, but you can actually use it as a sampler too. Although not a multi sampler, so you can only load one sample into it. On the other hand you can mangle that sample with everything Eden synth is capable of. Eden itself is capable of everything from lush pads to nasty dubstep bases. Altho 1 synth and 1 MPC doesnt sound as much you can load as many instances of each unit as your idevice is capable of. So you'll get very far with Trg, Eden, the sequencer, all the effects and mixer. You transfer all your samples etc to Nanostudio with their PC/Mac program over wifi (download it free at their site). And you can obviously audio copy and paste from another audio app into Nanostudio. ------------------------------------------------ Edit: VST/VSTi are Steinberg technologies that pretty much all major DAWs use if that's what you meant? Oh and Auria kinda does. VST devs do need to get Aurias free SDK and convert their VSTs to Auria format. Apple doesn't make it easy for developers and users that wants a more open modular environment...
Back in the day I used VST Host, and Steinberg had V-Stack, but after I got Cubase I've hosted everything there. I also used whatever freebie host/sequencer came with Computer Music, but it's been since College so I'm sure their software has changed. They used to include a full sequencer/VST Host and a handful of basic VSTs on CD/DVD with every issue - highly recommended for musicians on a budget. Computer Music and Future Music (which is mostly gear porn) have both been great sources of royalty-free samples to me in the past.
Chris1a, do you have an example of nasty dubstep base made with NS? I own it, but that was the first ios DAW i've bought, and i've been disappointed with the IAPs, why dev doesn't include everything with a bigger price? That's not very important, but that's the reason why i bought beatmaker 2 and stop using nanostudio. It wasn't a good reason, after thinking about it a while. Auria include expensive IAP, and i'm still using it. Perhaps i should try again. I was afraid NS is a bit closed, like tabletop, but i've heard good reviews everywhere, since a year. Greyskull, i think you can use the DAW you like, cubase or Ableton per ex, to use your VST's, if it's what you want to know (perhaps i don't understand everything ) I think Reason is not able to run VST. Personnaly i prefer Ableton, i started with Reason but it's less fluid than ableton, IMO. And i use VST each times i use it, there are plenty of them, with astonishing sounds. For the moment i use razor, it's marvellous for dubstep sounds, even if i don't compose dubstep at all. I don't understand how Auria would be able to use VST's, it's so hard for ipad cpu without vst's, so with something like kontakt or massive... Perhaps it's a different kind of VST, especially made for Auria?
Pepelutin, nah I just saw some dude on YouTube showing some dubstep sounds done with Eden. And the only IAP are simply for more available tracks. The developer behind Nanostudio needed to get more income I guess. Remember that Nanostudio was developed by one person, who invested even his job into bringing a complete daw to iOS.
Err...the proggy I'm thinking of is made by a German company...yeah, that natrows it down quite a bit . It's essentially an instrument creator/editor...there are tons of free VST's available for it made by regular folks. I'm not thinking Reason, am I?
Oh yeah, I wanted to quickly add something and I have a quick question or 2. Nanostudio is, believe it or not, quite functional on an iphone. Yes, that includes the sequencer. The way the zoom works, along with the uncluttered interfaces of the various Nanostudio components makes it usable on a 3.5-4.0 inch screen. The keys on Eden are among the larger synth keys I've seen. Now the question...unlocking the 8 extra tracks costs 10 bucks, right? Am I better spending that on Meteor, Mulitack DAW, or a similar program? I'm thinking I can always sync 2 8-track recordings made in Nano in other, dedicated recording app, lessening the need to unlock those extra 8 tracks...plus I have other apps with sequencers that support 16+ tracks already. Also, since it's on sale...any opinions on Mixtiki? It looks like a pain to figure out, and there are a lot of iapps for instruments or sounds or whatever, some, judging from the appinfo, are copywrited. I don't have much interest in a music generator (which isn't a game) that uses other people's sounds exclusively. I prefer either instruments themselves (like a Korg synth) or apps which I can load in my own (or open source) sounds/samples. OK, last LAST question A lot of people dig Loopy HD. It looks interesting, the way the wavetables are displayed in circular patterns...but is it really a great loop tool? Can effects be applied to portions of a loop? what can it do that I can't do with a sequencer, set to...loop?
Oh yeah...keep in mind I've been having crashing issues due to low memory because of all the damn music apps I have installed, sending signals between each other. Too bad duct tape doesn't work.
Greyskull, the IAP is $4.99 for the extra tracks. But doing it the way you described it sounds good. Nanostudio doesn't do audiotracks, so if you make something in Nano but want to bring in stuff you've made in other synth/sampler apps you would need another app (like any of the ones you mentioned). Or use the Trg in Nanostudio, but that's really for drums or shorter samples and loops. Loopy is a looper. I do have it, but never really understood the point of loopers when you might as well use any audio multitrack capable app and just loop inside those. I'm sure someone can explain what I'm missing tho.
That was my point It seems to have a lot of fans, but what functionality does it provide over using the cue/loop functions in a halfway respectable recording/sequencing app? Anyone want to elaborate (I guess if you want to reuse a loop in multiple productions or more than one app)? Maybe for post processing purposes...I guess it might make it easier to create a loop, then feed it through Space Sampler, Remixer, LiveFX, etc. before taking the next step. Or, perhaps I could use short, compressed loops and load them into a virtual instrument/OSC like Impaktor (awesome app if ya don't have it) or Orphion, for example. Also...anyone use MixtikI 5?
Just snagged a promo code for Vio...looks interesting, I've been interested in vocaloids ever since I first heard Kraftwerk.
I'd say that Loopy is a lot of fun for 4 bucks (on sale) and that's coming from someone who is not usually a loop/sampler kinda guy. I wish I had our iPad here so I could shoot a small demo, you can do a lot very quickly in this app. Not sure about professional mixes, but it makes a great doodle/sketchpad, especially if you are going to vocalize. Workflow to me feels a lot like the Tenori-On, except instead of having 16 'synths' with a 16 step sequencer, you have 6 - 12 sample loops of arbitrary length. The first loop you make sets the reference for the others, which can be "multiplied" or "divided" (basically doubled or cut in half.) With simple taps/swipes you can copy/rotate/merge loops, you can import/export samples from audio copy/audiobus/soundcloud/email. Like Tenori-On, all this happens in real time - you can easily snatch sounds in play and make use of them immediatly, you can even 'scratch' loops by rotating them back and forth while they're being played. Sometimes I need to jot down music and I use sound recorder, this will totally replace that as I can record several layers and adjust easily. If I had two devices here to demo here's the steps for a quick loop: 1) Tap one loop, record vocal, let run so that vocal is about 1/4 of loop. 2) Two finger swipe loop to another to duplicate 3) Two finger rotate 2nd loop 1/4 turn 4) Drag 2nd loop back onto 1st 5) Tap to turn off 1st loop 6) Tap a loop, record a basic drum fill 7) Divide drum loop to 1/4 (now it plays 4 times while the vocal loop plays 1) 8) Tap a loop, record bass line 9) Divide bass loop if necessary 10) Record harmony loop 11) Turn off all loops except bass 12) Start recording, turn on/off loops as wanted to create a basic song! (Audiobus -> AudioShare works like a champ here!) 13) Imitate Stan Freberg imitating Lawrence Welk and say, "Thank you Larry Looper, for that wunderful-uh numberrr..." Not sure if I'd be using this to make final mixes, but it's great while you're in creative mode.
Yea I can see the workflow being a lot faster then traditional DAW recording, for scenarios like that.
