The preamble
Producing music on desktop computers and or mobile devices, is a lot of fun with a vast scope for creativity but it can be utterly bewildering. I want to help point you in the direction of useful tools, some useful resources for each, together with my own content and tutorials.
The guide will be divided into separate mini-guides, such as this one for AUV3 plugins, based on the ones that I own, maybe not all that are available on the market and I will eventually catch up on new ones or the older ones I've not yet got my hands on.
How can I afford all of these things? AUV3 plugins compared to VSTs tend to be much cheaper but nonetheless, it does add up, which is why I use HIVE/HBD nowadays to pay for some of them.
This index will be update frequently and a link to it will always be included in new articles/posts.
What are AUV3s
AUV3s are audio unit extensions for iOS devices that allow users to integrate third-party audio effects and instruments directly into compatible music production apps. These plugins offer a wide range of creative possibilities, from shaping sounds with unique effects to expanding the virtual instrument collection available on your device. By exploring different AUV3 plugins, you can enhance your music production workflow and unlock new sonic potentials in your compositions.
Hosts
AUV3 host apps include popular music production apps like GarageBand, Cubasis, AUM, and BeatMaker 3. These host apps provide the platform for integrating AUV3 plugins seamlessly into your music-making process. With a user-friendly interface and versatile features, these host apps empower you to experiment with different plugins, layer sounds, and craft intricate musical arrangements with ease. Whether you are a beginner exploring the world of music production or a seasoned musician looking to expand your sonic palette, AUV3 plugins and host apps offer a dynamic ecosystem for unleashing your creativity and producing professional-quality music on your iOS device.
iPad recommendations
A number of these apps are also supported on iPhone too but most iPads released since 2019 support audio units. I couldn't find the compatibility details but my late 2019 11-inch iPad Pro supports most of these apps, even if some do strain it a little bit. I will do my best to point out where performance might be an issue.
So here we go, the index (many of these won't be links straight away, as I am curating the other articles as we speak and will change links as I progress):
Hosts
- AUM
- Logic Pro - An example, a more detailed deep dive article will be published in the future!
- Cubasis
- Beatmaker 3
- Loopy Pro
- BAM
- Beathawk
- Drambo
- Samplr
I will split these out into Instruments, Midi and FX later on
and yes...... this is going to be a labour of love and a lot of time!
Instrument Plugins
- Abu Dhabi (Korg)
- Amsterdam (Korg)
- Animoog Z
- Aparillo
- Async Sampler - coming soon
- Audulus 4
- auGen
- Axon 2 (version 3 has just come out)
- Beatsurfing
- Berlin
- Bilbao
- BLEASS Alpha
- BLEASS Megalit
- BLEASS Omega
- Borderlands
- Borsta
- Brussels
- BA-16i
- Buttersynth
- Chiangmai
- Chicago
- Copperhead
- Dagger
- DigiStix
- DigiStix 2
- Digitalism
- DRC
- Drumcomputer
- Dublin
- Ebina
- Enkl
- FAC Drumkit
- Fluss
- Fractal Bits
- Geoshred
- Gladstone
- Glitchscaper
- GR-16
- Hammerhead - Drum machine
- Helsinki
- Hilda
- House Mark 1
- ID700
- ISEM
- Kamata
- Kiev
- King of Bass
- King of FM
- Kingston
- Koala Sampler
- KQ Sampei
- Lagrange
- Lisbon
- London
- Madrid
- Mariana (Moog)
- Marseille
- Mela 5
- Miami
- miRack
- Model D
- Nambu
- Neon (Editor)
- Neon (Sequencer)
- Noise Drums
- Noise Melody
- Otorii
- Pegboard
- Phoenix
- Pianoteq 8
- Playbeat
- Poly 2
- Polywave
- Progressions
- Pure Piano
- Recife
- Ruismaker
- Scaler 2
- SDS x
- Shape Synth
- Slammer
- SpaceCraft
- Speldosa
- Stockholm
- Strokes
- Strummer FX
- Suggester
- Sunrizer
- SunVox
- Sydney
- Synthmaster
- Tardigrain
- Tera Pro
- Teraverse
- Thump One
- Ting
- Tokyo
- Tomofon
- Trooper
- Troublemaker
- Twin 3
- Vancouver
- VAPoly 16
- VHS Synth
- VS
- Wavecloud
- Wolfsburg
- World Piano
- Zeeon
Audio FX
- Blackhole
- Animoog Z Effect
- Artifacts - LoFi Processor
- AudioScope
- AudioScope MIDI
- Flux
- Neon
- NuRackFX
- Wavecloud
- Audulus 4 FX
- AudScope
- Blackhole
- BLEASS Delay
- Brusfri
- Cascade
- CHOWTapeModel
- Crystalline
- Enso
- Eos 2
- Other Desert Cities
- Replicant 3
- FAC Maxima
- Filterstep
- GateStep
- Fluss
- Gauss
- Hilda FX
- Scatterbrain
- FlyTape 2
- Lo-Fly Dirt
- GlitchCore
- GlitchScaper
- Kajita
- Yukawa
- Koala Sampler
- Looperator
- Loopy Pro
- Mela 5
- MiRack
- MolliLooper
- Many plugins!
- Spacecraft
- Stratosphere Cloud Reverb
- Visual Synth
MIDI FX
- Atom
- Beat Scholar
- Binarhythmic
- Bouncebud
- Brainbud
- Chordbud
- GlitchStep
- MelodyBud
- MIDIStep
- MuseBud
- PolyBud
- ShiftBud
- SnakeBud
- StepBud
- Textquencer
- Chord Pad
- Circle of Fifths
- Grand Staff
- Chord Roulette
- Chordjam
- Riffer
- ChordPolyPad
- StepPolyArp
- Cykle
- Polybeat
- Drambo (MIDI FX)
- Drumcomputer (MIDI FX)
- EG Nodes
- Euclidean
- Helium
- MidiMixer
- Progressions
- Strummer FX
- Fugue Machine
- GeoShred
- Hilda MIDI
- Rozeta Arpeggio
- Rozeta Bassline
- Rozeta Cells
- Rozeta Collider
- Rozeta LFO
- Rozeta Particles
- Rozeta Rythym
- Rozeta Scaler
- Rozeta XOX
- Rozeta XY
- KB-1
- MIDIspy
- Octachron
- Loopy Pro AU
- Mela 5
- mfxStrip
- MiRack MIDI FX
- OODA
- Zoa
- Piano Motifs
- Poly 2 MIDI
- ScalerControl 2
- Senode MIDI
- Suggester MIDI only
- Tatat
- Xequence AU - Keys
- Xequence AU - Pads
That's a lot!
Thanks to Audiobus for being a great resource outside of Hive.
I love this! I haven't messed with the plugins in some time since I left Apple. I am a Logic Pro X certified trainer and engineer, but I think that is about to be obsolete with Logic Pro 11.
I’m currently playing with the iPad version of Logic and looking to get Logic 11, though my devices are all non M types, hmmmm.
Yeah, that's a pre-req, lol. Apple gave me all the ProApps when I worked for them and it still carries on today, which is great considering I put in way more than I got out of them. BUT... That's a whole other story, lol.
I was offered a contract job with Apple in London, to work on their web solutions etc. The day rate was a lot less than I expected, way less than my own standard rate. The recruiter admitted it was disappointing but hey, you’d have Apple on your CV.
I told them where to go! Politely!
Yeah, the pay for their employees was lacking to be desired too. Got the same kind of thing... But guess what? Having nearly 10 years with them on my resume hasn't helped me get anything since then.
That just goes to show really that other employers don’t really care all that much, they’re only ever looking for people who fit their needs. I’ve got some good ones on my CV from when I was contracting Virgin Media, Sky, Transport for London etc but none of it actually matters one iota.
The iPad is such an underrated music production and performance tool. I use it for live DJing and production with scratch over work on a portable turntable... which can also be plugged into an iPad and be used as a DVS control system.
Currently the app of choice is Novation Launchpad.
That’s brilliant and I absolutely love using it in conjunction with my SP404 now too. Thanks for stopping by.
Nice! Roland has some great gear. I had and old SP808 EX back in the day. That was a beast of a machine for it's time.
It’s an amazing piece of gear! I saw one of the older ones at an event in went to recently.
🔝🔝🔝
Thanks 😀
Just found this post from a comment you made on another post by Taskmaster.
Brilliant I love that!
Yeah thanks for spreading Knowledge on music production. I found this post after the payout window, I figured I could still upvote your comments :)
Thank you very much. I’ll be doing more of these fairly soon
Hi @nicklewis,
Thank you for participating in the #teamuk curated tag. We have upvoted your quality content.
For more information visit our discord https://discord.gg/8CVx2Am
Thanks @alex-rourke for the tip!