Korg IMS-20 Tutorial 1A: Analog Powerhouse for $15 on the iPad
George Sanger, The Fat Man | 03/27
Introduction and Tutorial for Kicking Out Fast Product for the Korg IMS-20 virtual modular analog synth and step sequencer on the iPad.
Uh-oh! I said "Brilliant Interface" twice!! And yeah, "pattern 12" is an empty template pattern. But hey, other than that...and the Giant Fail...
Shortcut: This software costs fifteen bucks. Fif. Teen. Bucks.
Shortcut: The video tutorial shows an ultra-quick, low-effort, high-reward method of creating your own tune based on the demos that shipped with the software.
Big Picture: This is a “consumer item” that can be used in professional audio production in place of thousands and thousands of dollars worth of vintage stuff.
Big Picture: This video contains a nice overview of how step sequencers are and how they work, in case you didn’t know and/or were wondering.
The smartest fifteen bucks I’ve spent in years got me thousands of dollars worth of modular analog synth fun—and with it’s smart interface and that glowing tone typical of Korg, it’s way useful for professional audio productions. I feel like everything I do on it makes a sound I can use for a gig, and that is the sign of a good instrument.
Here’s what I cover:
--Open a template that you like
--Find where the sequenced note patterns in that template are
--Pick a sequenced note pattern you like
--Alter the specific notes of that pattern
--Alter the looping
--Alter the tempo
--Alter the mix
--Save the new version
OK, let’s do this thing.
--Open a Template That You Like
Click on “browse” in the upper left corner, under the word “session.”
The “Session Browser” window opens up. Click on any of the files and wait a second. They’ll start playing. SO...just click around and find something that’s more or less what you feel like messing with today. When you find it, click the blue “OK” square in the lower right. Your template of choice then opens up in the “synth” window and you’re ready to start editing.
--Find where the sequenced note patterns in that template are
At the top of the screen, you’ll find the heading “components.” Under that, you’ll see four buttons that bring up the four main virtual hardware components of the IMS-20. These are “synth,” “drums,” “song/ptn,” and “mixer.” You’ve got other neat virtual hardware, too, like keyboards, effects, and a pair of Kaos pads, but these are the four that make up the main four screens you’ll be using. You are in “synth” now--click on “song/ptn.”
--Pick a sequenced note pattern you like
OK, first click that white square at the top of the screen under “playback.”
Naturally, you hear sound, and you can click it again any time from any screen to stop it. Let’s hear it for smart design!
You now hear pattern 1 of the template you picked. Now see those big black squares?
The glowing one that says “pattern 1?” That shows you what pattern is currently playing. Try clicking on the other big squares and see what other patterns they sent you. When you find the one that calls your name, go to “components” at the top of the screen and click “synth.”
