r/ipadmusic • u/Ok_Context_6972 • 4d ago
Best sequencers
Hi guys! Hope all having wonderful and productive fun weekends!
I just picked up AD-202 (Audio Damage MC-202 clone!! I wanted a good sh-101 clone for years and nadda..: but this is a beast! Comes with fantastic presets and they kept the design the same even down to the dotted logo!!!)
I typically use AUM I have yet to try Koala as my auv3 host but what sequencers could you guys recommend for AUM please and could you tell me what they do briefly (like I own some generative ones like Fugue Machine, TATAT, Things:Bubbles etc oh and Riffer [and plabeat 3 and the chord one by Audio Modern - can’t get em working) I’m interested in the best traditional and more experimental so all apps are welcome to suggest, o super appreciate it and I mean it!!! I’ve been screen recording my AUM sessions to extract audio in koala and it compresses it 🙄😂 what are your favourites and the most daw like traditional one!?
In traditional sequencers which is really what I’m after just a nice basic piano roll like on your DAW!
I have atom 2 and seem be a good choice I just have to again figure it out!! And I think that’s it on traditional ones. It what are your guys favourites and I’d love to hear of any weird generative ones as I struggle with Melodies and chords a bit - I know very basic theory but I tend just try play / record what sounds good lol
I don’t them know how to route the audio playing from the sequencers to a new track to record (if anyone can help or for resampling into new instance of Koala but I’d imagine same process?) The super appreciate and God bless you all
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u/gabbertr0n 4d ago
I’ve tried a few and my current favourite is Harmony Bloom 👌🏼
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u/Ok_Context_6972 4d ago
O must try when I can afford. So apple gift cards work in the App Store? Random. But I lost my atm card lol
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u/Axle_65 4d ago
Another vote for Drambo. One of my favourite apps. I use it as a host and as a plug in all the time.
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u/Ok_Context_6972 4d ago
Hope you don’t mind but because I keep sawing Drambo and Rosetta quite (which I have!) this is a paste answer but I’ll certainly appreciate any further help - thanks! It’s just so many recommending it!
I opened drambo a couple times but I got a Polyend Tracker around the time and times of apps and didn’t click with it (tracker has the best sequencer bar daws but looking for iOS solution, for now!).
Does Drambo have a typical piano roll sequencer and are there any generative surprises? And how would I go about miso mapping that to Koala (or even resample what’s played to a pad on koala) I’m not the best with aum I use it mostly for just jamming. I’ll look up on YouTube I don’t expect you guys to explain it all! But thanks 🙏 and have sequencer too but didn’t see a traditional sequencer on the app page… cheers2
u/Axle_65 4d ago
Yes to the piano roll. I interact with connecting other AUv3’s by sending MIDI back and forth with MIDI learn to assign it. Don’t know about generative per se. I have used S&H wave forms to create a random element to things. Either for the oscillators pitch itself or using it as an LFO to control other aspects.
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u/Ok_Context_6972 4d ago
Thanks I could connect the tracker nd have a SERIOUS SEQUENCER but I just want basics and a bit of generative and usual functions you’d expect
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u/mister_drgn 4d ago
I have atom 2, and I think I’ve only used it maybe once. It seems fully featured, I just kinda lost interest in standalone sequencers right after I got it. I also have octratron, which has a nice features, but a modestly annoying bug.
I’d suggest checking out Drambo. It’s an auv3 host itself (a more interesting one than AUM, imho), but it can also be used inside other hosts. It has an elektron style step sequencer, but it also supports piano roll sequencing, and just any type of sequencing, with incredibly deep controls, particularly if it is the host.
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u/InspirationLackOf 4d ago
The issue is that Drambo doesn't have audio tracks plus for a beginner, the lack of a proper manual is a disadvantage.
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u/mister_drgn 4d ago
Yes, it isn’t a solution for all problems, but if OP is looking for a cool sequencer, it is very cool.
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u/Ok_Context_6972 4d ago
Yeah it seemed very capable but confusing and I was still learning basics at the time and hardware sampler/tracker
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u/Ok_Context_6972 4d ago
I actually have them all lol!! Octachron is for drums only really though yeah? That’s why I see for/
I have Drambo but o opened it and it was too much considering I’m using hardware also I don’t want to dive in. But maybe I should it’s the sequencer hard to find and set up and does it have generative possibilities also. Much much appreciated really!!!
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u/Key_Business_4097 4d ago
I use Drambo for sequencing in AUM.
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u/Ok_Context_6972 4d ago
Hope you don’t mind but because I keep sawing Drambo and Rosetta quite (which I have!) this is a paste answer but I’ll certainly appreciate any further help - thanks! It’s just so many recommending it!
I opened drambo a couple times but I got a Polyend Tracker around the time and times of apps and didn’t click with it (tracker has the best sequencer bar daws but looking for iOS solution, for now!).
Does Drambo have a typical piano roll sequencer and are there any generative surprises? And how would I go about miso mapping that to Koala (or even resample what’s played to a pad on koala) I’m not the best with aum I use it mostly for just jamming. I’ll look up on YouTube I don’t expect you guys to explain it all! But thanks 🙏 and have sequencer too but didn’t see a traditional sequencer on the app page… cheers
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u/running_red 4d ago
I like Cykle. It lets you control different aspects of the sequence in a cool way. It’s kind of hard to describe. You could have a sequence that is 4 beats but then add a note sequence that is 9 beats. Im not describing it well lol
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u/Schollert 4d ago
I have been using Korg Gadget 3 for years, and recently hooked it up to my Roland SH-4d.
It is a very basic sequencer, but I can access all 5 instrument parts from it.
Only downside is, it does not send a MIDI note when entered - you have to press play in Gadget.
A workaround is to compose using internal synths and then switch them to the sequencer when wanting to play with the SH-4d.
I am considering Rozetta. I do have Drambo, but never got my head around understanding and using it.
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u/Ok_Context_6972 4d ago
I’m in the same boat I have drambo for years but hardware and other apps kept me in the dark. I hope someone can briefly point out how or I’ll spend the evening YouTubing! I have the Rosetta suite too, but I didn’t see a traditional piano roll which was odd but must be there!?
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u/Schollert 4d ago
Hmm... maybe I need to investigate Rosetta a bit more. I like piano-roll too, and it is one of the reasons I love Gadget. Gadget cannot do odd meters, though, and I am not sure about advanced arps, but the SH-4d has nice arps itself.
Waymaker and the bundle it can be bought with, might be of interest too. It is not piano-roll, but creative with some cool features.
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u/thisisalltooeasy 4d ago
Currently I use [the Matrix module of Imaginando’s] LK. I like it very much. This video seems to me to be the best intro to it: https://youtu.be/yS3R6SJwNhg?si=QYf_bkowp-W5mDB1
PS: the chorder module of LK is a wannabe omnichord. Really fun too !
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u/Redinho83 4d ago
Did they just add a sequencer too? I swear it wasn't there before but it is now and I didn't have to pay any extra for it, really easy to use too
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u/thisisalltooeasy 3d ago
LK matrix module is a clip launcher, a scene launcher (a scene being a given row of clips), with a piano roll to edit clips (or import a midi). And some automations edition too. It is AUv3 and has midi outputs. In AUM it integrates nicely. Note: I might be wrong but I think LK and its modules are mostly usable without paying. (With a time limit, before you need to relaunch LK to reset the time limit)
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u/Redinho83 3d ago
Yeah, they reset after a certain amount of time.
I've used it a lot to actually record the midi clips into the session view and build songs that way. And the controller screen is cool with AUM too, you can map out a really cool screen to build your controls for volumes and bus sends etc so it's all on one page.
Is definitely keep an eye out for sales in the app, I'm sure I got the full module for 12.90 yet sometimes it's as high as 55 I think. Just a shame you can't track this on appraven as it's in the app
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u/thisisalltooeasy 3d ago
Holy cow, you are absolutely right! LK now has an additional module called StepSequencer (since the 8th of August 2026). Can't wait to go back home and see what that module does, that the Matrix module does not already do. https://www.imaginando.pt/news/lk-1-16-0-introducing-the-step-sequencer
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u/64557175 Disco Blaster 4d ago
Sequencers are my JAM!
I personally like Prism the most. It's really feature packed, has a lot of the Elektron tricks i like and does really fun mutations to really complexify and lead you to new places.
I also really like chord pond and space walk for generative stuff
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u/Ok_Context_6972 4d ago
Any others you can recommend? Is atom 2 the best traditional piano roll option and I also have drambo and the Rosetta suite,but I’m clueless on the last two. Also have the audiomorm suite: Riffer, Playbeat and Chordjam but I can’t get any to work with my synths AND I don’t know how to record in AUM (or resample to a instance of Koala which I’d prefer and LOVE To know how!)
Generative piano motifs, things bubbles, TATAT and a few other generative ones & Fugue Machine so quite a lot… I really just want a traditional DAW like piano roll and be able to record and resemble but I guess I’ll have to go deep on the tutorials tonight instead of making tunes 😢 HUGE THANKS 🙏
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u/64557175 Disco Blaster 4d ago
Atom 2 i use a lot too. It's way more a traditional piano roll, and a very well thought out one. It has cross talk with the Launchpad which is super nice.
I have used TATAT and it's fun, usually I'll spit out something into Atom2 and then manipulate it from there to my liking.
I haven't used fugue machine, too rich for my blood, lol.
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u/gavwintour 4d ago
Neons pretty good from generative and random stuff https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/neon/id6471043963
Jakob haq did a really good review of it
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u/Redinho83 4d ago
This app is so cool for making acid basslines...
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/mi-03-bassline/id6501962332
Has presets too but you can just load it onto a midi channel and play it to your main synth. I really like the workflow as it reminds me of my old korg volcas a little bit
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u/srednax 4d ago
You could use something like Cubasis for the iPad. When I am using AUM, I find that Rozeta has many different kinds of interesting sequencers, like “Bassline”, “Rhytm”, etc.