Sugar Bytes has released DrumComputer, previously for MacOS & Window, as a virtual instrument for iPad.
DrumComputer is virtual instrument designed for creating synthetic drums, combining classic and modern synthesis with flexible modulations and sequencing.
Features:
- 8 Sound Engines, each one layering a Resonator, Wavetable/Analogue Oscillator and Resynth/Sampler
- Filter, Compressor, Overdrive and 2 kinds of Send Reverbs: Room and Hall
- 2x Env/LFO, plus Synth-Engine-Modulators, Sequencer-Modulators, ModMatrix
- Intelligent Randomizers for endless Drum Sounds
- 16 Step Sequencer and Pattern Generator, Probability, Rolls, +/- Step Delay, Swing, Humanize
- Auto- und Manual Remixing/Fills
- Easy Keyboard Mapping for Patterns, Mutes and Engine Triggers
- Keyzones for Rolls, Pitch and Modulation
- MIDI File Drag & Drop
- Multiple Audio/MIDI Outputs
Audio Demos:
Pricing and Availability:
DrumComputer is available now for iPad as a free download. Unlocking the full version is a $26.99 USD In-App purchase.
It’s a feature-packed drum machine with a versatile & powerful sound engine, flexible sequencer, a lovely GUI, and nice tutorial videos.
There are only 16 patterns per preset, and only 16 slots/bars (with no repeats) in the chain. Those two things are pretty serious limitations to an otherwise pretty flexible app.
Each of 8 tracks can be 1-16 steps in length with forward or bi-directional looping, and each track has it’s own step rate with binary note values and triplets thereof.
Randomize & probability slider per step so you can get quite a bit of variety in the patterns.
Provides nice options for MIDI i/o.
I’ve been playing with the free version that works ok on my iPad gen 6. Minor odd behaviors, but is generally stable.
Others are reporting serious problems even on recent iOS versions.
Though it is a VERY impressive app, the controls are kind of tiny and fiddly, and I didn’t really enjoy working with it. I’m glad I got to try the free version first. I think some people will really love it.
It sounds good! “I have spoken”.
Do I wish it was $9.99 or even maybe $19.99 lol well of course. Got the free version yesterday. The chain functions could be a bit more creative, but I bought the full version today. For my drum needs stuff like this just makes my live drumming stuff even more fun when combined with my iPad and beatbox stuff. Maybe off topic, but I also support Sugarbytes beacause Nadine was so kind when my Mac had issues with Egoist when it first came out so I am definitely loyal customer. JMO
Yeah, price is up there, $19.99 would make sense. But I thought id get the free version and sample the drums, but it does so much more with other ipad apps, im not even sure what the limitations are, might just buy it anyway for support. Hard to find a good IOS drum synth that makes good sounds, not just arturia drumbrute sounds, we know how well that works out for expanding your drum sound capabilities.
I want to check out the resynthesis bit; that’s one of my favorite features.
Of course all of your old software won’t run, Apple loves obsoleting things.
Perhaps you meant to post this in the Apple Silicon article thread.
We are nearly in 2021, is it still news to you that this is what happens with “computers” and software? this is one of the reasons non-software instruments can hold their value. Getting a fully featured drum synth/machine for $30 will have some compromises.
Perfect for my new hit song “ACB is coming”!!!!
Sugar-Bytes very quickly released an update that addresses an issue with iOS 14.2.
It really is a powerhouse both with sounds and with sequence editing.
There is a horizontal pane with sliders to adjust various parameters for steps. It politely shows the value as you slide the slider– yup, the value is right there under your finger. You’ll have to take my word for it.
That’s a very minor gripe. Other than that, it’s a monster.
seems like awesome app, but I personally can’t justify that price.
If 30,- is already too much should you have bought an iPad in the first place?
I just don’t make that much music with drums, that’s all. Plus I have Drambo and plenty of other apps. So I’m already at the point of “enough is enough”.
Just install the free version. You get most of the functionality for zero dollars and with zero nags. It the IAP is politely tucked in a corner somewhere.
I don’t disagree that they might sell more for a lower price. However, we often discuss the “cost of support” which roughly means if the app has a bunch of entry-level users, devs have to respond to lots of support requests for people who just don’t understand the app– which is costly. The higher price weeds out less-serious users. Unfortunately, it also weeds out serious-but-broke users.
One thought experiment I sometimes do is to ask “If I walked into a music store, and this app was available as a hardware device– with the same beautiful GUI– what would I happily pay for such a device?” Then you work out what percentage of that would you pay for the app version. 10%? 20%?
Wow, that’s a really good point re subjective software v hardware valuing. Thanks for sharing your thought experiment, I’ll definitely try to rationalise pricing like that from now on.
I really like the app. I wonder what would be the perfect midi controller for it. do you have any ideas?
A MIDI(/USB) keyboard controller would be ideal, as you can trigger up to 16 patterns from keys, and control other parameters from keys, as well. The sound engines do have a tap & hold (learn) to assign MIDI CC’s so something with some knobs or sliders would be useful. Choose something that you can confirm will work with an iPad (Class Compliant USB, or with a known-working MIDI i/o interface).
It’s cool that Drumcomputer switches patterns right away, (mid cycle) when you switch patterns. Though I haven’t tested what would happen if you switch patterns with different step-rates and pattern-lengths. For example, if your are on step 15 of an 16 step loop, and switch to a loop with only 12 steps in it? Might be a cluster-F.
Would someone please list what is included with the $27 IAP? 500 presets, what else? I bought it, and it did show it during purchase, but I failed to pay attention.
All patterns share the same step-rates per track. I.e., if you set track 1 to 1/4, its set for all the other patterns in that preset.
Switching partway through, DC seems to do some kind of clever ‘half-pattern’ swap to make it somewhat smooth. So no cluster-F, they clearly thought of that scenario.