Koala is basically a jazzed up sp404/mpc2000 with hyper good ease of use and easy sample editing. For me its ultra fast to use compared to most hardware devices (and I have several). Its also hyper portable and battery powered, I can make beat on the train and at work on lunch, etc. It's a thing of beauty. If I was going to ask Marek to add one thing Id ask for a built in simple virtual analog synth.
I really enjoy Koala as stand-alone but at the end of the day I generally always start my projects by initially loading Koala as an AUv3 on AUM so that I can sample the stuff I want to use in such project directly from my other AUv3s. IMO, Koala (on iOS) became 100x better when it became an AUv3. PS: sort of on the same position as you (for example, I have an MPC), I just try to find “the best scenario” for each tool - honestly love working in different environments, both actually physical and also “musical / UI / Workflow”. IMO Koala is amazing but if you’re on iOS there’s definitely good alternatives to try. My favorite app is probably Drambo (Koala on steroids and for synth people: it’s a modular groove box) by the way. I still value Koala a lot and it comes down to the fact that Koala lets me get stuff done ASAP - whereas other workflows (including Drambo’s itself) are too “detailed” and therefore consume substantially more time whilst also not being as flexible on the whole “physical environment” aspect (as you said, doing beats anywhere is at the end of the day a very, VERY powerful habit): i.e.: The other day I made a synth out of a motorcycle passing by - sounds freaking dope and it took a sec.
Nah a built in synth would be nice but what I really want is just the ability to directly sample my other ios synth/music apps into Koala without having to go through AUM.
@@WHYZMAN_ now that would seriously be amazing ✌🏼. Btw - can Koala handle sending MIDI now? Last time I checked about that (that is, last time I tried to use Koala as part of a setup instead of as “the setup itself”) it couldn’t send midi out. This was a massive limitation to me (but I checked this when AUv3 support released so I’m not sure what the current status is - it’s been a while).
@@enriquepageperez1305 You can hook up midi controllers to control the pads but as far as sending MIDI out I'm actually not sure. The sequencer is definitely still not midi based
I have Koala Sampler on my smartphone and iPad (I have purchased all upgrades on both). I really love making beats in Koala Sampler and then sending the stems to Fl studio on the PC and continuing working there and mixing everything. I recently bought AUM and Loopy Pro for iPad (You can Extend Koalas mixer channels there), now I'm on vacation and learning how to use these apps. This also made me decide not to buy MPC live 2, I have Machine mk3 but I don't like the Machine 2 workflow, I only use it for Live Jam, or finger drumming. ps. The only thing missing in Koala is the undo and redo options so that they are visible on top all the time (and not only in the piano roll).
same here but if we hadn't been so frustrated by Maschine we probably wouldn't appreciate the subtle greatness of Koala's user interface so much. I just wish I could use the mk3 with iPad but instead I use a KORG since it works.
now days ios as everything you need to actually to finish a complete beat, basically ios apps can makes any ios device to a complete work station, you have daws, auv3 instruments and fx or processers (plugins), actually Koala Sampler is an auv3 (plugin) too which you can use with many ios daw, so yes ios now days is more then just sketch platform, i can actually be more powerful than any sampler machine or audio work station hardware, basically ios devices can be transformed into a complete mobile audio work station that you can have with you on your pocket, always ready for when that inspection and motivation strikes and capable for finishing a project without the need of a computer guarantee !!
Great content LH, you really hit a hot topic here! I am not sure what initially caused me to purchase Koala, (as you may or may not recall, i am a Maschine Mk3 owner and user) other than maybe, somehere along the line, someone mentioned that the Koala sampler was much like the Roland SP-404 , in terms of use and set-up, and i always wanted to try or buy an SP After i used the extremely intuive workflow of Koala, coupled with its very easy going compatibility with many platforms, (Garageband, Ableton, i even can sample NI Maschine sounds, loops, and samples into Koala on ipad!) I was very impressed and seems like i used Koala 90% of the time now, No where else is it SO easy to grab a youtube soul, funk, jazz or Lo Fi song and simply "import video" , and fast too, even the stem separation in Koala is powerful, for the price and all this fits RIGHT IN YOUR PALM OF YOUR HAND, so, if im working, taking a break from a walk, laying on thr couch or bed, BOOM, i get inspired or feel the creative "muse" is upon me, i can make a beat, bass line, melody, and bells & whistles in NO time , (This is a major factor, if you have a memory or attention span as bad as mine!) 😆🤔 I still love and use Maschine frequently, and i probably will always, but Koala is the way of the future, as are most things technology-wise, very soon you will be able to do most ANY thing on a whim on a smart-phone, its almost this way now, So i closing, you either bend with the times and the wind, or, you break , being stuck on the past .... Took an old fella like me a long time to see this, and im sure I'll have constructive criticisms or arguments, this is just my own .02 ¢ opinion, none of us are 💯 correct aboht everything, especially subjective topics like workflows, DAWs, and music software .... Why limit yourself (?) I say , try everything you can afford, you may be very surprised! I know i was
You are write that a normnal DAWs is not the best on iOS/iPadOS, but some more unique apps like Korg Gadget, Drambo, Loopy Pro, AUM, etc. provide some amazing music production and live improvisation possibilities using the touch screen.
Koala is just easy to use, inspiring, no menu diving, you have all the samples in your device, youtube or splice just by taping a couple of buttons, ive used it to perform live and is not glitchy, if you pair it with aum you can make a lot... now, it doesnt compare to any daw desktop, you are not going to master mix or produce a really complex stuff in a tablet, i mean you can do it but its not parctical... saying that, for the beatmaking culturre koala is the one of the best tools, because you have it with you all the time, is super affordable and the developer listen to the community, whan more can you ask?
It would be so cool if they teamed up with a sampler company to make their own hardware. Like Push 3, But something handheld. I wish they made a pocket operator, but a lot easier to use and better for finger drumming, like a gameboy but with sp404 pads. Like, a smaller sp404, but much simpler to get in too and less expensive, like, maybe $200.
now days ios as everything you need to actually to finish a complete beat, basically ios apps can makes any ios device to a complete work station, you have daws, auv3 instruments and fx or processers, actually Koala Sampler is an auv3 (plugin) which you can use with many ios daw, so yes ios now days is more then just sketch platform, i can actually be more powerful than any sampler machine or audio work station hardware, basically ios devices can be can be a complete audio work station that you can have with you on your pocket always ready for when that inspection and motivation strikes and where you can even finish the project without the need of a computer guarantee !!
@@SLPGroundSoundMusic Absolutely! It's about what's more comfortable for you. I just prefer my desktop computer with Ableton for longer, more involved sessions, it's more ergonomic.
@@noodlessoul8356 Idk, I'm not a heavy iPad user, so I'd probably get the most basic and cheapest one, which is also the only one with a headphone jack.
