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Tabletop: Impressions



TableTop - Retronyms

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15 comments:

Edith Frost said...

So, they're showing Tabletop being used next to a singer… hey, I'm a singer too! But I haven't figured out whether the recorder module can accept live audio… am I correct that it can't? I.e. to create vocal samples to go along with the track you're making, but without leaving Tabletop. I think he's just jamming along with another sample…

Keith Pishnery said...

currently the recorder module can't record live audio. however, the Gridlok sampler can. a possible solution would be to record parts into individual pads on Gridlok.

the video was a performance with the music being a combination of previously recorded, triggered, and live sounds and the singer singing along.

Edith Frost said...

OH thank you so much! Huh. I just monkeyed around with it... really good to have, not really all I was hoping for but it's definitely one way to get something in without leaving the app. I would kill for a little multitracker module. I mean, I would pay $4.99 for that.

Icepulse said...

Also, the Goblin MX4-FX mixer will allow line-in. If you want to drop the additional $10.

Edith Frost said...

What what? What? Okay, I just bought the goblin, but the way to get line or mic in is not immediately obvious to me. But I hope this means you could fashion your own multitrack with a bunch of recorder modules connected to the big mixer? Like say one for a lead vocal, two instances for bax and one for guitar? That would be insanely great. I can't think of an app other than Garageband that lets you have both audio and MIDI tracks in the same place.

Icepulse said...

Whoa, lady. I don't work for the company!! I hope you didn't drop 10 bucks based on my post!

All I know is that the guide says it will allow a line-level input.

Edith Frost said...

Heh, don't worry, I knew I needed it (and the delay too, especially). I am sneaking around cross-posting the question to the retronyms blog… we'll see what they say but maybe you just can't do that yet. Someone else over there was asking basically the same thing with a different idea for a solution. One way or another we need to have peace & harmony between audio & midi.

Icepulse said...

I agree. I think you saw my post over there. It's a little frustrating the way that: A) Nanostudio and Beatmaker drag their heels w/ introducing audio tracks, and B) Apple is dragging their heels w/ making the GarageBand synths / drums more robust. I wish SOMEBODY would get it right.

kidBaltan said...

the Songcatcher app for the ipod/iphone has harmony with audio and midi I believe
combining audio and midi tracks together,
converting audio to midi, exporting them etc.

Expensive app, but big sales pretty often....

Edith Frost said...

Yeah I tried Songcatcher, it just wasn't for me. I really wanted to like it…!! Just felt dorky and awkward using it (sorry devs).

Sync said...

I have a sneaking suspicion that the goblin aux input of a line level device description in the devices guide means the 'line level' output of one of their virtual devices. Sometimes integrating virtual and real has conceptual problems as well as technical ones.

John-Paul said...

Great catch - indeed, the aux input on the 4 channel mixer is for routing another virtual device. For example, chaining two MX4's together. We'll be updating the User Guide on this.

Currently the only way to record using the iPad's line-in or mic is with the Gridlok

Edith Frost said...

The more I think about it, the more I don't know what you could do other than put a mic/line-in button on the current recorder module. I guess? But that'd be more for conceptual clarity than anything. The recording-to-pads method works fine... you make a mess of .wav files and you might need to be clever about making phrases fit within as few bars as possible, but it can totally be done. Whereas the idea of making audio tracks that *don't* lay strictly within the pattern recordings, that seems… um, like a hairy proposition for the devs and maybe too much to ask? I don't know, man.

kidBaltan said...

@ Edith, I agree its a shame songcatcher looks so bad with it's weird interface and graphix that make it look crappy,
because the midi/wav options are really great if you find them somewhere....

Sync said...

Getting to really like Tabletop. Liking the limitations of the base app for now. A decent subtractive synth synth would probably entice me into the in app shop. Some optimising and the standard amount of feature expansion and this will be a great idea factory for me.