Moog Animoog iPad App
Recently Moog released it’s latest IOS app, the Animoog. Moog bills this app as “the first professional polyphonic synthesizer designed for the iPad”. A bold claim from a company with the legacy to back it up. Afterall Moog Music was founded by Bob Moog, the father of the synthesizer. At any rate, please believe the hype. The Animoog is a monsta.
It just so happened that the Animoog was released a week or so after I purchased my new iPad 2. Being that I am all about technology and beat-making I downloaded it the moment it was released on iTunes App Store. No, really the very moment it was released I purchased it. At a 30 day debut / introduction price of $.99 it was a must buy considering the regular price is $30.
Moog
After plugging in my headphones and tooling around on the Animoog interface complete with xy pad, knobs, delay, filter and keys, I knew I had not heard any app like this before. The pads were warm, rich and expressive, the leads screamed, the bass was thick and the spacey sounds were trippy. I have Korg’s iMS20 & iElectribe and a host of lesser known synth apps on the iPad but none of them can hold a candle to the mighty Animoog. As a matter of fact, I’m willing to bet that the Animoog will be the standard by which other iOS App-ware synths are judged.
According to Moog Music the Animoog was created using a technology 6 years in the making. They call it ASE, “Anisotropic Synth Engine (ASE) - An exciting new Moog technology that allows the user to move dynamically through an X/Y space of unique timbres to create an expressive and constantly evolving sound-scape.” My question is, what was the original target for ASE? iPads are only in their 2nd year of existence as of the writing of this article. Anyway whatever the original target I’m glad Moog dropped it on us for a mere $.99 for the iPad.
Alesis IO Dock
Not only did I instantly purchase the app sight unseen but after hearing it I immediately jumped online and bought the Alesis IO Dock. Yes, its that serious. There is no way that I could go without incorporating this sound into my rig. The Alesis IO Dock was perfect because of it’s midi in/out, 1/4″ audio out, video out, audio inputs, usb midi. When the IO dock arrived I wasted no time dropping the AniPad (Animoog + iPad) into it and connecting it via its midi in connection to the infamous Bumble Bee mpc 5000… audio out of IO dock and I was in business.
Unfortunately I was too caught up with the ill combo that I’d rigged up here to actually video the moment (my bad) but I assure you this is one combo that wins. playing on the ipad touchscreen while recording a sequence is nuts. So expressive. I was bugging as I reached for the keys of my MPK 49 (also connected to my MPC 5000 as a controller). dialed in the midi channel and boom (bap) I was playing chords straight from the AniPad into the 5000. I was up all night tweaking and sampling sounds from my new AniPad.
So eventually I ended up making a little quick video of some #beatmaking with the Animoog and 5000. I didn’t get too much into the nuts and bolts of how the Animoog works but if you are a boom bap loving beat-maker like me you may appreciate the use of tools like these in a context that resonates with those of us who bang out beats. Also I uploaded a few beats to my soundcloud page (www.soundcloud.com/phashara) where I used the above mentioned tools. Take a listen and a look. Enjoy.
Here’s whats so great about Moog Music. They always treat their customers and loyal Moogsters to little extras along the way. As I stalked Moog’s website and FB page on Halloween I found that Moog dropped some fresh new presets thematically designed and programmed with Halloween in mind. Yes sir. On the double. Again I downloaded the pack right away. It was easy to load the sounds via itunes into my iPad. Again, I was up all night addicted to the expresiveness of the Animoog. Play, Sample, Chop.
Most recently on 11/11/11 Moog dropped the 1.0.1 (clever use of zeros and ones Moog) update. The biggest treat about this update for me was the “random” feature that creates random presets for you. Endless creative inspiration here. The 1.0.1 update (http://moogmusic.com/news/animoog-version-101) for Animoog contains the following updates, additions and/or fixes…
New functionality:
• Background audio support
• Record module now has a 4 beat count-in with optional beep (configured on Setup page)
• Also on Setup page, a new Random Preset button (warning: dangerously addictive)
• Timbres page: ‘Preview’ button, select timbres silently or select & preview them audibly
• Multi-mode knobs are now easier to adjust
• Network MIDI session now enabled by default.
Bugs fixed:
• Memory leak on switching page views was causing crashes
• MIDI Clock Sync much smoother
• MIDI note to KB display mapping is now correct
• Handles MIDI NoteOn w/ velocity 0 as a NoteOff.
Wow… additional sound presets, new functionality & bug fixes all within the first 30 days at the introductory price of $.99. Moog you a fool for that. I love it.
In closing I can honestly say that the Animoog is the reason I bought the IO Dock and together they will be an integral part of my beat-making rig going forward.
Animoog & MPC 5000 by Phashara
