Ableton Forum

Just saw the announcement that Apple is putting out Logic PRO on iPadOS. This is incredible, but I can't help but wish Ableton will follow suit. I'm anti-subscriptions, but I'd do one for that.

Has anyone at Ableton every hinted at or mentioned this possibility?

Honestly, I was expecting something like this from Ableton first

I mean, Note is great and a step in the right direction, but iPad Pros are powerful. They can run a lot. This seems like a no-brainer.

Limitations would be not having multiple audio interfaces for one, but I wouldn’t mind TBH.

I’ll try the Logic demo at least, but I hevent been a logic user for years now.

Another thing that blew my mind is the new Pianoteq approach.

There’s been a tricky balance between plugins for computer and plugins as apps.

Initially, devs had released app versions of their plugins at a cheaper price with an understanding that people wouldn’t be able to use those cheaply purchased version on their pro computer setups. And there are some limitations in place under the hood where devs can decide if an app gets to be truly Universal.

I’ve seen some crossover lately, but for the most part, it’s either buy an app version that is exclusively AUV3, or buy the iOS app AND buy the plug-in on Mac. Sometimes they sweeten the deal by letting your presets and purchased presets crossover.

But Pianoteq did something different. They basically released the same plug-in, on iOS, and you can unlock it if you already own the plug-in on the computer. So, it comes out to be a pretty expensive ‘app’, but as a whole, it’s quite a fair price and gives you All the options.

I’m very happy with the direction Pianoteq is taking.

With regard to subscriptions. I feel better about subbing to things I use collections of, stream from, etc. but for artist tools it gets murky. I mostly don’t like it, as I’d rather ‘own’ my instrument. Adding content etc makes it possibly more ‘subscribable’. I feel like updates aren’t constant enough to make it subworthy though.

But a pretty big aspect where subscription might actually be a great option is for fair weather producers who perhaps only use the software a month here and a month there. As long as they keep renew OFF, they can sub when they decide to use it, and it’d be a heck of a lot cheaper, with auto upgrades, than paying for the whole package.

Ableton's timing with Note was great, if they had released it after or close to Apple's own app it would have been buried under Apple's hype machine.

And that iOS version of Logic is yet another endorsement of the greatness of Live's design, they had already copied Session View and 9.5 Simpler, now they copied Live's Device Chain.

exper wrote: ↑

Wed May 10, 2023 9:00 pm

This is incredible

How do you know this?

exper wrote: ↑

Wed May 10, 2023 9:09 pm

I’ll try the Logic demo at least

since you haven't tried it yet?

While this may sounds like a cool thing, this might be something not fun/comfortable to use on a tablet, just something gimmicky.
I'm just questioning, I didn't try it, but I never clicked with music apps on the iPad. I might be already too old, but touchscreens don't speak to me, probably mostly because you can't do anything without looking at the screen, and because I feel like simple mouse/trackpad and keyboard/shortcuts are miles away in term of haptics.

[jur] wrote: ↑

Thu May 11, 2023 2:08 am

exper wrote: ↑

Wed May 10, 2023 9:00 pm

This is incredible

How do you know this?

exper wrote: ↑

Wed May 10, 2023 9:09 pm

I’ll try the Logic demo at least

since you haven't tried it yet?

erm. Simply the idea of Logic Pro on an iPad? One can look at the preliminary specs and features and get excited about it...

But yes, it is challenging to just use a touch screen, I agree. But with iPads now, you can use a trackpad, keyboard, and MIDI controllers. So there's a lot of hands-on control that is possible.

For me it comes down to portability. Quick open and close. They already do have GarageBand on iOS. I think that might be a clue as to the experience (and that being said, I’m less excited about Logic on the iPad than I am about the ‘idea’ of running Logic and the precedent it sets). They also already have Cubasis which should give Logic a run for the money, especially since it’s already pretty stacked in features and isn’t subscription based.

Hopefully the improvements Logic will have over GarageBand will be more in-depth editing (clips audio, midi, automation), broader support for plugins, and much much needed routing options.

I don’t use GB because of its limited routing and the lack of Link.

How do I personally use my iPad (or actually, mostly the iPhone) ? I use it more like a mega groove box than an actual DAW. With regard to possibilities with synthesis and fx, it is more versatile than most standalone things out there.

[jur] wrote: ↑

Thu May 11, 2023 2:08 am

I never clicked with music apps on the iPad. I might be already too old, but touchscreens don't speak to me, probably mostly because you can't do anything without looking at the screen, and because I feel like simple mouse/trackpad and keyboard/shortcuts are miles away in term of haptics.

The one iPad/iPhone music app (that I know of) that truly provides capabilities you can only do with a touchscreen is TC-11: http://www.bitshapesoftware.com/instruments/tc-11/.

But yeah, I pretty much gave up on the iPad for music years ago because of Apple’s draconian app sandbox. You only get to play if you play by their rules, and I find their rules too limiting.

If you do not already have an iPad and travel a lot and this makes no sense. Macbook Air is cheaper which you get perpetual Logic licence and access to all 3rd party plugins. But one way or another this was going to happen and I am sure other DAWs will follow. It all depends on how wide will be 3rd party plugin support.

I think it’s pretty interesting myself, that’s a lot of power and content potentially in a very portable device. But I’m also heavily into iOS music making too.

ONE WORD : SUBSCRIPTION. F*ck that noise (white or pink!). Don’t give the Abe’s any ideas!

circuitslave wrote: ↑

Fri May 12, 2023 2:56 am

ONE WORD : SUBSCRIPTION. F*ck that noise (white or pink!). Don’t give the Abe’s any ideas!

Don't worry, Ableton doesn't like stupid ideas

For posterity's sake, seems this thing WAS NOT EVEN RELEASED YET and we already get threads like this, people saying Ableton should copy it based on their NON-EXISTENT user experience.

Again, great timing by Ableton with Note, it was the 1st music app to reach 1st place in the rankings, no one can't claim that anymore, not even Apple's own Logic.

(Yes, I just discovered now that it was not released, I thought all the hype was about something people actually used, I guess that is too much to ask from people nowadays.)

pottering wrote: ↑

Sun May 14, 2023 12:28 am

For posterity's sake, seems this thing WAS NOT EVEN RELEASED YET

You clearly missed the first sentence if the first post..

Again, great timing by Ableton with Note, it was the 1st music app to reach 1st place in the rankings, no one can't claim that anymore, not even Apple's own Logic

Who cares. It's not a pissing contest. I use the apps that suits me best.

I thought all the hype was about something people actually used, I guess that is too much to ask from people nowadays.)

That's not the concept of an hype. Many things get hyped before release, based on information that is already published or leaked.
Also nothing wrong with people getting excited based on this kind of information.