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Different Drummer (iPad)
Different Drummer is a new kind of drum machine that uses the innate rhythmic power of waves to control all aspects of drumming. Since waves are the primal source of all cyclical motion in the Universe, it makes sense to tap into them for musical purposes other than synthesizers. Not only can waves create sounds, they can play sounds too!
“Basically, we have discovered the “Fountain of Drumming” and we are sharing our discovery with the world! While this software is definitely fun to play with, real production can also be done by saving wave patterns and combining them into sequences. It can also be used to inspire new ideas for drum patterns or rhythmic ideas for songs because as you will find out, the variety of rhythms is nearly endless. If you are serious about your drum tracks, Different Drummer is a must-have tool!”
The Main Saved module of Different Drummer is the Wave Set which is a collection of up to 8 Drum Waves, each of those composed of 4 Control Waves:
- Note Wave: Allows you not just to have plain drums, but also drums that change pitch inside an assigned scale.
- Rest Wave: Lets you create gaps in the drum pattern based on complex wave patterns.
- Tie Wave: Lets you create rhythmic variations that tie drum notes together or break them apart based on waves.
- Dynamic Wave: Lets you control the loudness or velocity of drum strikes creating a very human feel.
Each of these component waves is composed of a Fundamental wave and 6 partials of that fundamental, making for an astronomical set of variables that allow you to dial in any rhythm imaginable and many more that are unimaginable—the whole point of Different Drummer. Nothing can replace a good live drummer, but Different Drummer will definitely inspire drummers to try new things and may even intimidate a few of them because it’s hard to compete with the beauty of waves and mathematics.
FEATURES:
- 8 Drum Tracks with 5-wave Cyclophone Controls
- Stereo audio recording. Export via Drop box or iTunes or AudioCopy or General Pasteboard (to GarageBand for example)
- Control drum pitches, rests, ties, dynamics and panning using complex waves
- Instant Capture in case you hear a killer beat you want saved
- Save Wave Sets to Wave Library
- String Wave Sets together in saved Sequences
- Export Wave Sets or Sequences as MIDI Files (via iTunes, DropBox or Email)
- Over 100 drum samples with more added every update
- Add your own samples via iTunes (WAV or CAF) or AudioPaste
- Over 70 musical scales to assign drums to as well as key
- Reverb effect and mixer
- Set Key, Tempo, Swing and Time Signature
- Automation for randomizing and morphing playback
- MIDI Sync Out
- Up to 8 Channels of MIDI Out
- Core MIDI lets you play other synthesizers and drum machines on your iPad such as Animoog and NLog Pro
- Audiobus support for audio out (as input source)
- Ability to run in background allows you to play on top of Different Drummer in other apps as well as control external recording
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Unique features that make for interesting drum beats, not to mention imported samples of rhythmic or tuned type. Though steep at its current $49.99 price there are many functional capabilities that meet my criteria for excellent teaching/learning tools for a wide range of ages.
Predictable algorithmic apps of this depth are hard to find. The idea of this type of app allows the already skilled to make predictable music whilst adding a dimension of unexpected (and easily tweakable change) when not quite what the engine genorates.
The in-app tutorial is basic and will get patient users up and running.
Places for improvement:
1. More data, both drum and especially instrumental samples.
2. Deeper MIDI implementation, though I hay have missed part of the entire app’s capability, using it for only a few days.
3. Tutorials that strongly focus on specific features, tying them together in a completed project. At this price point I expect deeper learning tools, be they print or video.
4. Optional purchases, but not by making function relied on in-app purchases…see Unity Synth for the wrong way going about it.
5. Consider a more functional GUI even though the existing one is pretty useful
If you had more pre-sales tools people would find $49.99 a reasonable price point considering what Different Drummer can do.
I still fail to see what this offers that DrumJam doesn’t!
Apart from significantly less cash in my wallet that is!
I actually bought it at $150, and I don’t regret the purchase. Check my short review:
http://www.purzelifyable.ch/?p=1
The developer keeps integrating new features and is very responsive to user suggestions.
Another “revolutionary” app…
They are growing like potatoes.
But for this price, i prefer potatoes :D
If they cut the price by two every month…it will take some months before i will even consider buying it.
Not a bug in the price. At first it was $299.99. The website indicated that the price was purposefully steep to discourage purchases (they wanted the app approved, I guess). The said the price will be lowered, although it’s unclear if that $150 is where they’re settling.
WOW! Now only $149!…. Seriously developers… Learn what not to do from this (hopefully) joke app!
Sounds intriguing, but the price point is quite an ice water bath to one’s curiosity…esp with NO means of examples. Seriously? No soundcloud link? No video?…
The price is right!! WTF?!! This one is going to sell well!!
They have a bug in their price. I’ll report it. Or maybe it’s a joke.
That is a steep price! I went to youtube to see if they had videos to no avail. It a 12 MB download that I cannot see/hear what it really does is really peculiar. I’ll pass anyway because for that amount of money I can buy many other things.
Its now on sale at $49.99
Move over Auria.. it’s time to get Different drummer