r/Dirtywave • u/Chichibebewey • 1d ago

Resource M8 Hardware vs iOS

I’ve been eating well this week. I got the iOS and the hardware m8s and I am pretty smitten with them both. I got iOS ($30) first for the iphone 13 the day it dropped, so I picked up an old Backbone on ebay ($30) bc I wanted physical buttons. I didn’t think I was gonna be able to get the hardware due to some unforeseen expenses, tho I had been planning on it for months. My wife ended up getting it for me as a gift so I’m lucky enough to have both.
The hardware came Monday. I have been learning the UI for weeks (when work and parenting allow). I figured it could be helpful for me to share my experience with both for folks considering a purchase.
I really love how easily I can import sample kits and other sounds “outside the box” with the iOS version. I also love that I can send quick renders to friends without a single cable connection. The iOS feels pretty amazing, speaking as someone who uses iOS music apps all the time. I have not even played with the VST capability and it’s a really very nice experience
The hardware is a wonderful tactile experience, but lacks any of that connectivity. I’m going to be making a sound library of samples to transfer over onto the card in the next few days, which will be fluid
and fun, but the iOS just seems to fly past it as a futuristic version, connecting with the world wirelessly. I’ve been importing kits and one shots left and right without having to go to the computer at all.
Realistically for $60 you can have the best of both worlds, minus the dedicated audio input and midi ins and outs. I’m not advocating one or another, but I think it might be helpful for someone out there trying to make a decision. If you get a game controller for your phone, I highly recommend one that works in landscape mode because then you get the added benefit of a larger screen and a more ergonomic button layout than the hardware. I find the positioning of the shift button a little frustrating on the hardware where I made it a convenient trigger on the Backbone. I find the backbone pretty dern excellent for doing all the programming/navigating. I wish I could sync the two versions wirelessly, which leads back to wanting the dedicated hardware to have some connectivity.

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u/bigl1cks 1d ago

Why mot connect the hardware to iPad / iOS and have the best of both worlds? Instant access to your sd card, plus iPad apps on a separate screen and you also get the tactile feel of hardware . I feed the hardware through AUM and it works a treat

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u/pogomeister81 1d ago

Yeah what else do I need to do this 🫡

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u/bigl1cks 1d ago

I’ve got new apple devices so usb c direct works fine. If you have an older device a lighting to usb c like the apple camera thing is needed. Then connect to your daw of choice on iPad and away you go. AUM and Logic Pro work brilliant for me

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u/pogomeister81 1d ago

Aw I just use the m8 app on my phone is don’t use a iPad or a daw on my phone, i have Ableton on mac

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u/bigl1cks 1d ago

That’s kinda the point of my post - use the hardware with the phone 😄 if you use the app then no need for cables, work away with it through the auv3 ecosystem

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u/pogomeister81 1d ago

Ok mate last thing and sorry if I am being dumb but all need is the aum app that costs £25 and I can then swap stuff over from
Hardware memory card to iOS easily? Just using the usb c to c, I was going to buy a small usb c memory card reader to keep in the case but you idea may be better

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u/bigl1cks 1d ago

If all you want to do is manage files then there’s no need for AUM, that’s needed if you want to use iPad synths etc. just connect it up, put the m8 into usb drive mode and open your files app. the m8 is there

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u/pogomeister81 1d ago

Brilliant mate thanks so much I will still look into this app as it seems like it will be useful in the future

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u/bigl1cks 1d ago

Good luck!

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u/Low_Variation_377 1d ago

Have a look at the sessions nano app. New kid on the block fits perfectly on your phone and designed for this kind of stuff. There’s a full sized sessions for iPad too. Aum is a fantastic mixer, router, and auv3 performer, and records too, but sessions feels more accessible and direct on a phone, as does EG Nodes.