Fugue Machine : MIDI Sequencer 4+

Fugue Machine may very well be the finest, most inspiring music tool on my iPad when it comes to using the iPad to drive external hardware. I haven't used it much to sequence other apps on the iPad, but if you're looking to do something amazing with your outbound hardware synths, this is The One. The latest MIDI implementation is as flexible as you'd want it to be and rock solid (whether it's receiving clock or transmitting it). I'm sending out each track to a variety of MIDI channels, over USB out to a sync box, which passes on MIDI and/or CV/Gate to a 70s analog synth, a modular Eurorack setup, and to a popular keyboard controller. It would take a load of hardware to both handle the sequences and the interfacing, and I'm not really sure anything like this app could be assembled anyway. This is one of the few apps that make me want to buy another iPad, install nothing but Fugue Machine on it, and put it away in a bank vault, "just in case". It's made my collection of 40 years of hardware even more capable of incredible music. 5 stars! (April 3, 2017 Update - Keeps getting better! New system for Pattern Backup and Export works flawlessly... 6 stars!)

This is providing me a lot of wonderful music making during the quarantine lock-down and I am having so much fun sending the note data of the sounds to my synths. My requests for future updates would be for a way to go from pattern A to pattern B in a way that let’s the first pattern complete. So that you you can go from pattern to pattern on your phone without cuts to the flow. It would also be cool if there was a Swing feature available for the rhythm. Lastly it would be cool if you could unlock a single tape-head from the octave changes. Love this app tremendously. I’m trying to use it in a way that I can perform live with a drummer. The human I am quarantined with haha

This is a brilliant instrument. Yes it’s a sequencer, but I see it more as a instrument and a composing tool.

The only wish I have is the ability to see the notes names somewhere. It’s easy to get lost playing it and hit a less than pleasant combo. That would go away in part if we could see the notes names or the chords/scales someplace in the interface.

Another wish would be the ability to play patterns manually, as opposed to having to clutter the screen with not just a menu, but a submenu.

Having 4 to 8 buttons to assign patterns to would rock. Literally. Even if it means squeezing the interface a bit. Maybe an overlay? I am already doing this using the submenu, but it occluded the screen for any other work.

By the way, I have the most fun with it driving my computer midi over WiFi. There is something magical in holding an iPad in your hands and hear sound out of your speakers. Recording the patterns is pretty easy too and the results rival or better dedicated midi arpeggiators. This is simpler and more versatile.

Great job.