Neon is a powerful new MIDI sequencer app for iOS and macOS with an impressive arsenal of generative tools to add depth to your sequences.
The iPad is an extremely versatile music production tool. Apple’s App Store is full of great synthesizers for little money. There are also high-quality effects, including those from Eventide and FabFiliter. In addition, the DAWs are at a very high level with Logic Pro for iPad, Cubasis or Auria Pro.
iOS can also transmit MIDI data from one application to another or to external equipment. Ideal with iOS sequencers. My favorites so far are the all-time classic Fugue Machine or Atom 2 for the more complex stuff. I need to expand this list with a new app. Developer Aaron Meyers has released an inspiring new MIDI sequencer packed with generative extras.
Neon
Neon is a new sequencer app that can sequence notes in a classic way, but also flip them completely. Basically, you notice that the application is not a classic 8, 16 or 32 step sequencer.
Neon’s main section consists of eight steps, also called patterns, each with three controls: pitch (2 octaves), pulse count, and a 4-option gate mode. The pulse function can be compared to the brilliant function of the RYK M185 sequencer.
Modifiers
Then the fun begins with Neon’s impressive built-in modifier system, which transforms your creation into complex sequences. A modifier is an independently executed sequence that modifies an aspect of the main sequence. Like the main sequence, modifiers have up to 8 steps or stages.
The application has an impressive list of modifiers, including the most classic and the most experimental:
- octave, transpose, velocity and MIDI CC
- number of pulses, pulse pattern, gate mode and gate length
- ratchet
- division: add or subtract a clock division from sequences
- order
Additionally, you can change how edits progress through stages. There is an advanced mode, giving you two additional driving options: note and ratchet adjustment. In the latter case, modifiers will advance for all notes, including ratchets.
In addition to this, you can work with a step mask function that allows you to specify which steps the modifier will apply to. It also provides trigger conditions, allowing you to set the probability for each step that the modifier will or will not have an effect.
Additionally, Neon also hosts a meta-sequencer, with which you can chain steps together to create super complex sequences. A wide selection of built-in scales are also integrated.
If you want to know more about all the details, I recommend the complete video guide by Jakob haQ attaQ. It has a brilliant video on it.
First impression
Many iOS sequencers follow a classic pattern: note sequencing and a few additional features like ratchet or probability. Neon goes a lot further here, which I really like. The modifiers are what make the app so special. I like the fact that you can quickly transform a simple sequence into a very complex and evolving sequence.
For fans of iOS sequencers, this app is hard to miss. At €5.99, you can try it and I think you won’t regret it.
The Neon MIDI sequencer is available now for €5.99. It works on Apple Vision Pro, iPad and macOS (Apple Silicon only) standalone and as a MIDI AUv3 plugin.
More information here: AppStore
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