The competition - Akai

FL Studio, NI, Akai, Steinberg, Apple, Arturia, Korg all have apps.

Some of them are "lite" versions of their laptop/desktop counterparts, but they are out there. It's on the developers to make these apps closer to their "full" versions.

I travel quite a bit so having a mobile studio fits my needs, but physically using an iPad for music production with Beatmaker 2 has shown me how much more Akai and NI can be.

It's coming. Only a matter of time. The MPC Touch is more than proof that I'm right.

 

This is a bit off topic, but personally, what I would like to see is an independent/modular trackpad around the size of a mouse pad that acts like the Mac's Magic Mouse. That is, a glass like surface with touch capacity that remains horizontal next to my keyboard, that I can scroll around, touch, click, and use gestures such as expand etc.

Why do I want this?;
A) Because to me it would offer the best of both worlds: I can look at a screen in front of me, keeping my head straight...
B) ...and I can interact with the gui in an intuitive and tactile way with my hands in an optimal position for working for many hours at a stretch.
C) It could be a gateway or bridge into the world of Desktop touch computing.
D) It could serve as an easier touch surface to use with say a phone that has limited surface and screen space.
E) It keeps your fingers out of the way of your screen.

And if they would develop touch apps to go with it that could port to Desktop/Laptops as well as Tablets/Phones, I'd be thrilled.
Ironically, Microsoft is one up on Mac here in the sense that they've gone ahead and unified their operating systems.

I would like to be able to use touch software like the new Bitwig DAW, and stuff that doesn't exist but that I hope will come out (like app modules or extensions of Komplete) even if I don't own a touch screen. Having a large, advanced trackpad could solve that if either Mac or Microsoft got behind it and the app developers supported it. I'm pretty sure it would catch on.

In fact, why not just create an app that allows your tablet to act like this, when paired up to your desktop/screen? Or the existing Mac Trackpad?
That way you're using the full advantage of touch but with a screen of any size that is vertical?

 

AntonA1 I loved the magic mouse until I bought the glide pad, never looked back never touched a mouse again now with version 2 and force touch who knows what will happen.

 

Interesting.... this thing?:

http://www.apple.com/ca/magic-accessories/

 

Well that video says otherwise. The lag looks awful on that screen. The iPad has never had lag that bad where moving a slider is visually lagging behind where your finger is significantly. So they are either using some pre-production software for the vids or the they have never used an iPad.

 

I kind of hope your entire post was written with your tongue firmly in your cheek, but if not...

I take it you didn't have a look to see if this magical invention existed before posting. They exist and have done for years, they just haven't really caught on.

There are also loads of remote mouse apps, some of which work quite well. Intel have fairly recently brought out one of their own even.

 

http://www.slateproaudio.com/products/raven-mtx/

#TheFuture

 

AntonA1 yes but I have the old version this one is still to pricey for me to consider it yet.

 

Thanks Bertotti...I never tried one...but you've made me curious.

 

Love how this looks like an old Star Trek console whey they put them together

 

Naw...I was aware of them, but am always late to the party (i.e. never tried them myself)
I'm guessing they're mostly used by graphic designer types...but if music companies branded an interface and apps for them, who knows? Maybe they would take off? Like Bertotti said though, they're kind of overpriced (for now). Thanks for the tip about the remote mouse app. That's encouraging to know that they exist, and will check that for sure.

The main point I wanted to make was in regards to the possibilities it could open up if the devs and product managers from the music companies decided this would be worthwhile developing. They surely have their hands full just thinking about how to manage the new touch possibilities for their interfaces, and the last they want is another bridge device to have to code. But I figured I'd throw it out there, just in case.

 

here ya go, can't thank skiz enough.

https://www.native-instruments.com/forum/threads/ipad-coming-along-nicely.125502/

 

so true, I think they missed an opportunity with the iPad pro, not that it's not capable of producing music because it is, there are people making albums on first generation iPads lol but apple could have really done much much better...... not unlike someone else we all know. which brings us to the crux of the issue if you have the know how, and the ability then don't take 7 years to do what you know is right. do it for the music community at large, do it for your loyal customers who've stuck with you in the midst of your short comings, and if you can't do it for your customers then do it for Elvis... because when you don't , pepperidge farm remembers.

 

Yea, the future of Maschine is attach it to a tablet, also the future of cars is attach it to bikes, and the future of sofas is attach it to chairs.

 

Actually for me, it would make more sense to say: create a bike rack for the car (Maschine) that allows you to attach a bike (Tablet) so you can A) increase the type of terrain you can cover while travelling. B) choose when you want to use the bike and when you want to use the car.

In the case of Maschine, you'd be able to use your controller, PC, and tablet, in any configuration you chose.

That's my point of view...a lot of people on here would probably agree with you and say: screw the bike and concentrate on fixing the car!

 

people want any excuse to hate if NI came out with this device to replace maschine mikro (instead of squashing controls into a small foot print, using a touch screen) u would hail them for their innovation.

as mentioned in the vid its the combination of features the hardware tactile pads, knobs and buttons with the touch screen in one unit that makes it killer, so having a separate ipad app does not replicate that feel.

just as when maschine came out it was the combo of hardware groovebox controller with the software that made the workflow a killer combo; some people wanted to try and use the maschine software with a different non-ni controller but the effect was not the same.

 

Now that you said it, I think it would be natural evolution that the next Mikro version will have one of Studio's color screens on it.

 

if i was rich, of course i would buy the MPC Touch - but i am not rich.

to be honest, i prefer the idea of the iPad Pro in terms of spending money, and i still prefer the idea of an iPad App. i don't need more Pads, i really don't, but it would be nice to do step edits on a touch screen and edit samples on a touch screen, that is why i would be very happy for NI to bing out an App that works alongside my Maschine Controllers.

sowari

 

it make sense due to the small foot print of the mikro to add a touch screen.

because that small form factor makes things awkward to access from my limited time on a friends mikro.

so better to use the mikro to develop a maschine touch screen interface; where everything could be available in a more convenient and intuitive method from the screen.

or at the very least having a colour screen like studio and have knobs to navigate the menus instead of using all the awkward controls on the mikro to access simple functions.

Not to diss the mikro as im sure once u get used to it it is fine but it is not a intuitive as the larger units.

 

Noted. I don't want an iPad nor do I want a lite version of any app especially the MPC Software. A MackBook Pro and a small pad controller (Mpc Touch/Studio, Maschine MKII/ Mikro, Ableton Push, etc) are portable and don't require lite apps.