I've been an iPad enthusiast for several years now, to the point of using it pretty much exclusively in my home studio as a recorder, and for many other tasks, including electronic instruments and effects. The quality it brings to these tasks is astounding, and it just keeps getting better as time goes by. If you haven't gotten in the game with this yet, you should seriously consider it.
Moog got into the iPad app world early on, and their latest offering is an incredible accomplishment.
The Moog M15 precisely duplicates the form and function of their Model 15 modular system, a $10,000 synthesizer, and can be bought for the iPad for $29.95. All of the original modules are there, and they even threw in a few new ones, as well as a stereo digital delay. You can create and save your own patches (an incredible luxury) and every aspect of it performs just as you would expect the actual hardware to, including very realistic audio rate FM modulation (no mean feat!).
You never run out of patch cords (think about that for a moment...)
AND, this beast can play your patches back in 4 VOICE POLYPHONY!!!!
Let me tell you, the experience of a polyphonic Moog Modular is something you Don't Want To Miss!!!
I eagerly created a large personal library drawing on my years of work with my own synthesizers, and now Moog has made a choice set of patches available to others in a collection I call Mercurial Strategies (yes, a nod to Eno's Oblique Strategies card sets for creative unblocking decisions).
Here's the info on this latest update to a truly incredible app...
Moog has updated their already excellent Model 15 app, and along with substantial updates to the Audiobus capabilities, Midi and the built-in recorder they have included three new collections of presets available as IAPs, including a collection I designed specifically for this app called Mercurial Strategies.
I've created a demo for some of these sounds that can be auditioned here:
https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvwSQaX_3FcmF7u1kf_tE-i0YEDkDkaTU
These recordings were made by running the M15 played live via an Arturia Launchpad 25 keyboard through Audiobus and directly into Auria on an IPad pro.
No additional EQ, effects or apps were employed during the recording process.
This collection contains 75 presets from my personal library that I've created for this app, which are each carefully crafted to display a number of powerful capabilities and programming strategies that might normally be overlooked by other programmers. This is not a collection with multiple variations of the same basic patch routing (or "strategy"). Most of these presets utilize a unique realization of module arrangement to produce their sound and each is capable of providing many more useful variations of the example presented when a user explores the options represented in that particular "strategy".
These cover a wide range of offerings, from lush pads to cutting leads to surreal soundscapes and effects, and each has documentation embedded in the preset description discussing such things as unusual programming techniques involved, sound concept genesis, advantageous adjustments, and useful playing suggestions to get the most out of each patch.
In them, I explore interesting and unique ways to create velocity sensitivity, stereo manipulation, unusual and dynamic filtering, creative techniques for the built-in digital delay, controllable feedback networks, differential and phase modulation, alternative uses for the Mod Wheel, and many others. A number of these patches specifically utilize the incredible polyphonic capabilities of the app. This makes exploring each preset aurally interesting and gratifying, as well as serving as a handy tutorial for users to incorporate these useful and powerful concepts into their own work.
I'm a 30+ year owner of a Moog System 55 (as well as many other synthesizers by Moog, Sequential, Oberheim and others) and have developed a number of interesting patches for it both on my own, and through interactions over the years with the many fascinating and talented individuals I've had the good fortune of meeting and collaborating with. As you might expect, I've been able to scale and transfer some of these to the Model 15 platform, with what I think are very good results.
I hope that these patches will inspire you to create your own great electronic music!
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