I just told someone the other day I didn't think background audio was feasible for music making apps because you aren't given much processing power in the background. I was under the impression it was intended more for things like Pandora, MLB, etc.
But... you're right, he has it working for Bassline. So I'll have to re-evaluate that
I found this out myself a few moments ago when I was trying out the external MIDI clock sync, which for some reason I'm having trouble getting to work with BassLine. I have it hooked up to a hardware Electribe drum machine, but the Electribe wasn't starting Bassline. So I quit Bassline and fired up FunkBox, since I know my Electribe works with that, to make sure all my connections were good.
FunkBox starts up... and its MIDI out triggers Bassline. So both FunkBox and Bassline are playing. I had to start and stop it to get the sync right, but then it worked. AWESOME!
This seems to work even without a camera connection kit. So if you have both apps you can try it out even without the hardware. Load up Bassline first, get a pattern you like, then load up FunkBox, make sure MIDI is on and its transmitting clock, and go.
I don't do background processing with FunkBox so you can't switch back and forth, unfortunately, you can just start and stop Bassline as you play with FunkBox. But needless to say I'll be tinkering with FunkBox code this weekend...
Oh, also note that FunkBox currently has a bug where it's only transmitting MIDI clock at half speed, so make sure the BassLine pattern is busy since it'll play half as fast as it should...
You can change BassLine's tempo from FunkBox, so it must be synthesized in real time in the background. I'm reading up on the background audio stuff right now to try to get FunkBox to do the same. It will also be interesting to try to put a MIDI sequencer app in the background and have it playing a synth app, or vice versa, that'd be great.
Just read his app description for MoDrum, this is exactly what he intended to be able to do. Props to him for getting CoreMIDI right, he completely nailed this.
I apologize for injecting my app in the discussion here earlier, I did so because that's how I (accidentally!) discovered this. Mine working with his is pretty much just a happy accident.
Playing with his two apps right now, MoDrum and BassLine, both can do background audio and both sync up via CoreMIDI. You can go back and forth between them and tweak each as you play. AWESOME.
Again, props to him for being the first to nail this. Buy both his apps and try this out, if you have been wanting multi-tasking audio apps on your iOS device... this is how it's going to work.
So I'm posting on palm sounds with my iPad 2, while listening / running MoDrum and Baseline simultaneous in the background while being synced together with CoreMidi API.
This is sick. All music apps need to implement this. IOS Beat Makers rejoice.
Got most of the midi enabled apps communicating with MoDrum and BassLine in background (Funkbox, iElectribe, Nanostudio, Xenon...), but some apps crash. For example, SynthX and Symphonix Evolution refuse to start unless MoDrum/BassLine are killed.
This ability to run several apps together opens some pretty exciting views for the future.
Yeah, SynthX sounds great when it works, and has tons of potential, but it really needs an update to iron out the kinks. I hope Way Out Ware is working on this as we speak!
16 comments:
Background playback is my favorite part. I wonder why the background audio API isn't implemented more often?
Anthony
I just told someone the other day I didn't think background audio was feasible for music making apps because you aren't given much processing power in the background. I was under the impression it was intended more for things like Pandora, MLB, etc.
But... you're right, he has it working for Bassline. So I'll have to re-evaluate that
I found this out myself a few moments ago when I was trying out the external MIDI clock sync, which for some reason I'm having trouble getting to work with BassLine. I have it hooked up to a hardware Electribe drum machine, but the Electribe wasn't starting Bassline. So I quit Bassline and fired up FunkBox, since I know my Electribe works with that, to make sure all my connections were good.
FunkBox starts up... and its MIDI out triggers Bassline. So both FunkBox and Bassline are playing. I had to start and stop it to get the sync right, but then it worked. AWESOME!
This seems to work even without a camera connection kit. So if you have both apps you can try it out even without the hardware. Load up Bassline first, get a pattern you like, then load up FunkBox, make sure MIDI is on and its transmitting clock, and go.
I don't do background processing with FunkBox so you can't switch back and forth, unfortunately, you can just start and stop Bassline as you play with FunkBox. But needless to say I'll be tinkering with FunkBox code this weekend...
Oh, also note that FunkBox currently has a bug where it's only transmitting MIDI clock at half speed, so make sure the BassLine pattern is busy since it'll play half as fast as it should...
Works on iPod Touch 4 also, since both apps are universal. Sorry for the repeated posts but this is pretty cool.
they sound nice together!
Thanks for the informative posts Art!
Out of curiousity, do you suspect the background audio in an app like Bassline is sampled/looped or still being synthesized?
Anthony
You can change BassLine's tempo from FunkBox, so it must be synthesized in real time in the background. I'm reading up on the background audio stuff right now to try to get FunkBox to do the same. It will also be interesting to try to put a MIDI sequencer app in the background and have it playing a synth app, or vice versa, that'd be great.
Woohoo! Sweet!
Just read his app description for MoDrum, this is exactly what he intended to be able to do. Props to him for getting CoreMIDI right, he completely nailed this.
I apologize for injecting my app in the discussion here earlier, I did so because that's how I (accidentally!) discovered this. Mine working with his is pretty much just a happy accident.
Playing with his two apps right now, MoDrum and BassLine, both can do background audio and both sync up via CoreMIDI. You can go back and forth between them and tweak each as you play. AWESOME.
Again, props to him for being the first to nail this. Buy both his apps and try this out, if you have been wanting multi-tasking audio apps on your iOS device... this is how it's going to work.
@Art
Great info here bro. I'm going to give this a try.
If all Music devs get on the same page with the tips and tricks to iOS, the beast would be unleashed. lol
So I'm posting on palm sounds with my iPad 2, while listening / running MoDrum and Baseline simultaneous in the background while being synced together with CoreMidi API.
This is sick. All music apps need to implement this. IOS Beat Makers rejoice.
On top of syncing the 2 together in the background, I was able to open up Wavesynth and play some keys over Modrum and Bassline. Sick!
Was not expecting this. Excellent!
Got most of the midi enabled apps communicating with MoDrum and BassLine in background (Funkbox, iElectribe, Nanostudio, Xenon...), but some apps crash. For example, SynthX and Symphonix Evolution refuse to start unless MoDrum/BassLine are killed.
This ability to run several apps together opens some pretty exciting views for the future.
Yeah I tried opening up Fairlight when MoDrum and Bassline were open and it crashed. It would not open till I closed MoDrum and BL
Nothing Major. Glad Nanostudio is working! I guess it's time to get a little compatibility list together.
Yeah, SynthX sounds great when it works, and has tons of potential, but it really needs an update to iron out the kinks. I hope Way Out Ware is working on this as we speak!
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