Patch Base 4+

Spent hours trying to get my head wrapped around this. Stalled during sysex transfer and crashed frequently. Thought it was user error. Found out by more hours of googling that an iOS update (14.2) wrecked it. Wrote the developer, and they got back to me quickly verifying that 14.2 was no bueno and suggested 14.3.

I grabbed the latest iOS, and my hopes were high. Random patch generator no longer crashed the software, and I was able to dump banks 1 and 2 and see the patches. Now we’re getting somewhere.

But, sadly, that’s about it. Can’t seem to push into the unit (yes, write protect is off) and the interface is confusing. Although I’m sure it makes sense to the developer. I usually pick things up quickly, but this is baffling to me.

Lastly, it can’t seem to midi assign ports correctly. I swear, it was working, and then it wasn’t. If I can pull sysex, midi out doesn’t work using the virtual keyboard. If I trigger notes by assigning a port, then I can’t pull data.

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe my unit is defective (although it plays, and midi quest trial was able to pull sysex. Midi spy also reports sysex data being pushed when dumped from keypad) . Lots of wasted time, left a bad taste in my mouth.

More online tutorials or videos sure would help.

Yamaha FB-01
iPad gen 5 running iOS 14.3
Griffin Studio connect with genuine Apple 30 pin to lightning adapter.

This app is amazing. Great for programming synths that are heavy on the menu diving, and great for patch management. It supports a ton of synths and more are added all the time. Plus the new pricing structure is much better, it's a no-brainer for anyone with a couple of these synths. Seems like the price was an issue for people before but it makes more sense now and is very much worth every penny in my opinion. I use it regularly with the Roland D-05 and Korg Volca FM, both of which are currently pretty common and very accessible to the masses (they're cheap). They're also both very powerful but notoriously difficult to program from the front panel. Even just simple tweaks on presets can be a pain on the D-05/50 but with this I can easily build wild patches from scratch/init. One more thing, I couldn't figure out why something wasn't working but they got back to me and it was simply that the midi channel was reset during an update, they were very helpful in troubleshooting and answered other questions I had as well. They're doing good work!

Ok so when I was a teen in the 90s, I got my 1st synth (Roland D-10) not really understanding techno gear and what was really making the music I loved. Later I figured it out but I the meantime did my best with that D-10. I may not have ever made a decent sounding acid tracks but what I did do was learn to appreciate machines like that, to get creative, and certainly use them in ways their designers probably didn't intend.

Since the first time I learned there was an iPad midi interface I've been waiting for someone to design an editor for some of these "ugly duckling" synths. Coffeeshopped has done it. These editors are amazing, cleverly designed and parameters thoughtfully arranged. So far every one I've tried works perfectly and immediately sent me down super fun new paths of sound design.

I've read a few reviews balking at the prices. I don't agree with that at all. I don't feel those reviewers really appreciate what these tools unlock. Maybe it's the few decades I spent menu diving and button pushing on a TX-802 that have me convinced. But to me the value is in the access these editors give you to solid, professional, real vintage gear that can be had for tiny fractions of what more sought after vintage gear goes for.

Thanks to Chadwick and I'm looking forward to more editors!