ModStep For iPad Video Overview

AppBC shared several new videos for Modstep, its new iPad MIDI sequencer.

The first video, below, is an overview that looks at using Modstep with ‘all of your stuff’ – whether it’s a new iPad, an old iPad 1, software synths, your samples, your computer or your hardware gear:

The second video takes a look at Modstep’s built-in sampler:

Features:

  • MIDI sequencer with Step Sequencer and Piano Roll
  • Unlimited MIDI tracks
  • Audio and MIDI streaming directly via charger cable to Mac and PC using studiomux technology
  • Up to 128 MIDI CCs per Track can be modulated
  • Built-in drum sampler with filter, delay and reverb, fully modulateable
  • Built-in synthesizer with filter, delay and reverb, fully modulateable
  • Templates to control external MIDI hardware
  • Template editor to create your own templates for IAA Apps, desktop Apps and external MIDI devices
  • Supports all MIDI interfaces for the iPad
  • Core functionality controllable via external MIDI controllers
  • Works on all iPads (iPad 1 restricted to MIDI only)
  • Trigger out
  • Integrated IAA mixer
  • Step Sequencer with active steps
  • Use third party IAAs as instruments and effects within one app

Requirements:

  • iOS 8 or later
  • for audio and MIDI streaming to a Mac or PC, the studiomux server software is required (free download)

Modstep is available now for US $19.99.

If you’ve used Modstep, leave a comment and share your thoughts!

21 thoughts on “ModStep For iPad Video Overview

  1. very unintuitive.
    bought it a couple of weeks ago and didnt use it as the gui is really cryptic, there are no proper tutoprials and for me they just tried to put too much inside.
    if this is intended for semiprofessional or professional use the sampler is completely useless but adds complexity.
    fo me also the icons are completely cryptic and i have no idea what those are meant to be.
    sorry guys

  2. but… I don’t get it, how hard is to implement a very basic song mode which simply cycles through all the scenes? no change scene automation (even as basic as a big loop) means you have to constantly follow and interact with the sequencer, which kills half of the fun.
    Instead of adding synths and drums (i.e.: genome) leave a midi sequencer for what it is and make it really usable as a sequencer

  3. Developers, Please!!
    Basic. Beginners. Walkthrough. Tutorial. Videos.
    I waited for it for a long time, then got it a few weeks ago and couldn’t wait to get started. and after breaking my head for hours with the GUI I put it aside.
    Inside help (question marks) not helping me with workflow.
    Manual not for me for workflow.
    I would be sooooo grateful for a few real basic workflow tutorials

  4. Maybe because I was already a Touchable user, I didn’t find it that hard to figure out. At least the basic stuff. I like this kind of synthetic and redundant approach to the user interface. It may look confusing at first sight, but once you get it, it saves you for navigating menus and really improves your workflow. As complicated as it may look it is infinitely more simple than any computer DAW.

    The first version was really a mess, but that was fixed quite soon.

    Anyway, if you want a simpler approach to this style of sequencing, then get Pro Midi, or, even simpler but still really enjoyable, Auxy.

  5. I also had tons of problems with the GUI, sometimes I’d get things working and then forget how the hell I had gotten it working. The interface has issues that need to be addressed.

  6. Love modstep, sure it’s not the easiest UI, but it’s a IAA/hardware sequencer that has LINK ! The piano roll is very smooth, and with AUM release that’s the only thing that matters

  7. Been using midi sequencers basically since that was a term. Hardware, Amiga, Dos, windows, mac… and I have to agree with the consensus of this thread: ModStep is really unintuitive. There’s a ton of power in there but I hope they’ll stop now to sort out the UI/UX and then start adding more features.

  8. ok so whats the deal ? is it cool or not?
    i got a spare ipad mini 1 and wanted to use it as a portable “sequencer module” for modular

    for now i use steppolyarp, but this “seems” to be more intuitive.

    but like every single user says its not.

    so did they change stuff to make it better ?

    1. Well, not every single user. At least two of us don’t find it that hard…But yes, it is not intuitive, there’s a stepped learning curve, and you will need several sessions to get it -and still get confused by some detail…But it has so many great features!. I think is the best Ableton-style MIDI sequencer for iOS without any doubt, and I’ve tried them all.

      I’m no longer gonna use Ableton’s own sequencer for to build up a song. I hate using the mouse (and I’m terrible for rhythmic playing). Using Auxy or ModStep to create patterns is so much fun and inspiring. Auxy is all about immediacy-within clear limits-, but I also feel totally rewarded for the hours spent with ModStep for creating more extensive and complicated stuff. The integration of step sequencer and piano roll works great for me.

      I love Steppolyarp, it’s so damn clever and well designed. I’ve made full songs with it (by just entering a single chord or even a single note and then setting transpositions and rhythm variations for different instruments/MIDI channels). Is one of those alternative and brilliant sequencers for iOS, along with, to name my other favorites, Fugue Machine, Different Drummer and MidiSteps.

      But the real alternatives to ModStep are Auxy (free, intuitive, simple), Genome, Pro Midi (somewhere in between) and Yamaha’s Mobile Sequencer (which people seem to always forget but has some pretty unique and cool features, linear song mode included).

      1. Good stuff. For external hardware sequencing, ModStep beats the alternatives with one key feature (among several): it’s the only one that allows port and channel addressing per track. Most other iOS sequencers allow you to select a port in the config and then each track is channel only.

        1. what about “thesys” ?

          the channel per track is very useful for sure, especially when sequencing inside ios.
          I got turned off by the voiceover of the two videos completely, so never found out what its about from a video with no sound haha

          anyway i just bought it, seems nice, but while googling for it i found Thesys from sugar bytes, and concerning their other ios app, i assume its perfect.

  9. Sorry this voice over actor is just horrible. Cant you just tell me what its about instead of trying to tell me a kids good night story with dragons and stuff?
    anyway just bought it 🙂

  10. well..I could not find the way to route app like Xynthetizr to the internal or other apps ..and I own studiomux too, Sector does not Sync tempo ( others app does ) and the manual is pretty..pretty basic and not much help on such issues. I’ll give it another round or will go for refund, tried also to route to Live but so far nothing happening..it looks like a mini Live and probably it’s good for external hardware control..but frankly if I try to set Eleastic Drums and Animoog on my Ipad Mini 2 ( A7) I get horrible latency crackling..due perhaps to the fact that ED is very CPU demanding..can’t say..so far disappointed but I’ll give another go…

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