(Almost!) Everything You Need to Know about AUM iOS Music Production: Detailed Walkthrough Tutorial

This video is a walkthrough tutorial for this wonderful iOS app for iPad/iPhone, teaching you how to do all the AUM basics such as loading apps, connecting and routing midi, loading and saving files etc. It is also full of intermediate tips on things like reorganising your fx chain, how to create audio busses and how to set up lfos.

AUM ‘audio mixer’ for iOS is the host of choice for many experienced iOS music makers / producers. When you first start collecting apps in iOS, you need a space where you can use those apps together. For iOS newbies it is often GarageBand but after some time, many people look for an alternative to GarageBand. For some, AUM is their main workspace, for others a place to jam & experiment, for others a place to record audio to then take to a DAW to finish songs. There is a lot to like about it. Like any host / DAW it has a detailed manual and takes time to learn. This walkthrough tutorial will teach you all you need to know to get started, and may even have some useful tips for intermediate users. If you are new to AUM you will benefit from repeated views, perhaps watching this on one device while copying what I do on AUM on a second device. Remember also that you can use the Youtube settings menu to speed up or slow down as necessary. The timestamps below will show you all that is covered and help you find the most relevant sections. AUM is my main iOS music workspace, so if you are not a subscriber I strongly recommend subscribing, as you will see me using AUM in basically every single video I make. If you find this useful, please do give it a thumbs-up. Feel free to ask questions in the comment section too.

Timestamps:
00:00 intro & giveaway details, how to find out if you won
03;25 opening instruments
04:32 AU vs IAA apps
06:30 routing the keyboard to an instrument or more than one instrument
07:55 midi routing page
09:30 adding fx apps, making fx chains, reordering fx
13:13 AUM internal instrument menu
13:57 the 'transport', opening midi, using arps, routing midi, changing bpm, clock options, metronome etc
19:11 keyboard settings
20:00 more about midi
21:15 setting up an lfo, sending midi CC messages to AU parameters
25:48 how to record (please note - if you want to trigger more than one channel, just press R on all the ones you want to record), opening old recordings
29:12 opening/saving/naming files, clearing a session, making notes on a setting
30:40 connectingamd routing a Bluetooth keyboard
32:39 using AUM's internal fx/processing/dynamics etc
34:06 using busses to group channels
And for send fx
36:36 playing audio files
37:47 importing channels from other AUM sessions, duplicating & removing channels, outro

AUM is the flexible audio mixer, recorder, and connection hub for your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Connect hardware inputs and outputs, Audio Unit extensions, Inter-App Audio apps, Audiobus, soundfile players, built-in signal processing and filters, in any configuration you want.

Route anything to anywhere with mix-busses, effect sends, audiobus ports, and external multi-channel audio interfaces.

Play hosted synths and instruments using the built-in keyboard or external MIDI controllers, or sequence them with AU MIDI plugins or from other apps using Virtual MIDI.

Record mixes, individual tracks, or both, straight into the storage space of AudioShare (no copying of files needed), with synchronized start and end for perfect loops.

Play back recordings, soundfiles and loops as channel sources in the mixer for backing tracks, further processing or mixing. Soundfiles can be opened from anywhere, including USB drives on iOS 13.

Route MIDI in any way you like using the MIDI matrix.

Synchronize everything with the transport clock and play in time with other apps or devices using Ableton Link, a new technology that synchronizes beat, phase and tempo of Ableton Live and Link-enabled iOS apps over a wireless network. Connect external music machines and synchronize them with MIDI Clock.

Includes built-in processing nodes for various stereo processing, Mid/Side balance and conversion, EQs and filters, limiting, clipping and saturation. Or use any 3rd party Audio Unit extension or Inter-App Audio effect.

All controls in the mixer can be controlled via MIDI, including parameters of hosted and built-in plugins.

"A brilliant idea that has been brilliantly executed. Top-notch technical stuff and highly recommended" - MusicAppBlog

"Feature rich, powerful, intuitive, and simple to use" - DubSpot

"Executes live mixing with surprising ease, with a load of extensive features under the hood, quick snappy response on the screen and audio" - AudioNewsRoom

[GavinskisTutorials]

Apologies that the mic quality on this particular vid was not great. I now have a better mic setup and am about to start posting more short videos related to AUM on my newly opened Patreon, which has stuff like exclusive vids, preset packs, app giveaways, AUM session files and more, you can check it out here:


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**Detailed summary of points covered in this AUM tutorial**

AUM is a powerful audio mixer and effects app for iOS that allows you to create complex and layered compositions by combining multiple synths, effects, and loops.

**Channels**

Channels are the basic building blocks of AUM sessions. There are instrument channels and midi channels. FX can be loaded on audio channels and their positions easily changed with a quick touch gesture. Channels can be grouped together into busses, which allows you to process multiple channels with the same effect, saving CPU usage.

**FX**

AUM allows you to load various AUv3 and IAA FX apps, but it also has a lot of useful built in utility nodes which can be used for things like stereo placement, filtering and EQing, saturating, limiting, and so on. You can add effects to any audio channel in your session, and you can also create custom effects chains by chaining multiple effects together.

**Buses**

Buses allow you to process multiple channels with the same effect. This can save DSP resources and improve performance. For example, you could create a bus for all of your reverb effects, and then send all of your channels to that bus. This would allow you to apply the same reverb to all of your channels, without having to apply the reverb to each channel individually.

**File player**

The file player allows you to add pre-recorded audio to your compositions. You can use the file player to add loops, samples, or even entire songs to your sessions. The file player also allows you to sync your loops and samples to the tempo of your session.

**Importing sessions**

You can import sessions from other AUM users or from your own device. This can save you a lot of time if you have a complex session that you need to use again. When you import a session, you can choose to import all of the channels, or just a selected few channels.

**MIDI mapping**

You can map MIDI controllers to any parameter in AUM, giving you precise control over your music. For example, you could map a MIDI knob to the cutoff frequency of a synth, or map a MIDI pad to the panning of a channel.

**Automation**

You can automate any parameter in AUM, allowing you to create dynamic and evolving compositions. For example, you could automate the cutoff frequency of a synth to create a rising and falling sound effect. Or, you could automate the panning of a channel to create a stereo effect.

**Recording**

You can record audio from any channel in AUM, allowing you to capture your performances and ideas.You can record multiple channels simultaneously and can use a mix bus, if desired, to make a single audio recording of your entire session.

**Specific tips for using AUM**

* Use buses to process multiple channels with the same effect. This can save DSP resources and improve performance.
* Use the file player to add pre-recorded audio to your compositions. This can be a great way to add loops, samples, or even entire songs to your sessions.
* Import sessions from other AUM users or from your own device. This can save you a lot of time if you have a complex session that you need to use again.
* Use MIDI mapping to give you precise control over your music.
* Use automation to create dynamic and evolving compositions.
* Record audio from any channel in AUM to capture your performances and ideas.

**Additional tips**

* Use the mixer to adjust the levels of your channels. This will help you to create a balanced mix.
* Use the EQ to adjust the frequencies of your channels. This can help you to create a more interesting and pleasing sound.

**Since this video was made, other useful features have been added to AUM**

*Nodes can be named and given custom colors
* Setting up automation is now ridiculously easy - tweak an AUv3 parameter in the AUv3 UI to find and show its midi control!
* When adjusting octave range of keyboard, notes cannot be played
*There is now a search bar for finding previous AUM sessions
*FLOAT 32 recording is now possible
*Currently in beta but coming soon: tail recording. This decouples play and record so you can stop the transport while it continues to record (until you tap the rec button), to capture fx tails etc.
*Long pressing nodes allows you to copy, paste, replace them etc
*If you tap the global dsp indicator, you can view node statistics such as per-node DSP, latency etc
*Handy feature to divide AUv3 parameter lists into parameters that have or have not been mapped etc
*Now has midi buses!
*Various midi filtering options in channels
*You can always open the previous session’s state - click on ‘Files’ in the Menu

[markus_knoedel]

How much I like this apps and all your tutorials. And AU3FX:Dub or AU3FX:Space would be great...

[fredbloggs]

AUM is such a rich tool, but with that is complexity. Im so grateful people are willing to put themselves out to share their knowledge like this. Cheers. AUFX:Dub

[MikeButle]

Finally picked this up a few weeks ago. Such a fantastic app. It puts the home studio right inside the iPad.

[erotocrat]

You save the best part for last Gav, I finally figured out how to record multiple channels into 1 mixbus. Thank you so much for this!

[samueledwards]

Thanks for the great tutorials. you have the soul of a Teacher.

[eylvy]

Every day using this - i'm learning something new

[CleveStarke]

Brilliant thank you very much .
I just bought AUM today and you guide has answered a lot of questions for me . Well done

[rubyroomsdsoundbooth]

AUM works like iPad apps should work. It’s workflow and interface are built for touch. It even works well on an iPad 4 I have. Thanks for another killer tutorial.

[Prexsplay]

Aum... the iOS music production essential. The fun of iOS music starts with AUM! 👌🏿

[fabioorsi]

AUM is the only app that let you feel free and almost dawless! Almost all my musical ideas come out from this amazing modular mixer!

[rheslip]

Excellent tutorial on an absolutely brilliant app!

I have a 7 port powered USB hub plugged into my iPad with a camera adapter and a couple of USB to MIDI adapters, an audio interface and two MIDI keyboards plugged into the hub. Class compliant USB audio and MIDI devices will show up in AUM's routing matrix. This setup was a game changer for me - I can use my modular and hardware synths with iOS synths, FX and sequencers and most of the audio and MIDI patching is done in AUM. AUM rocks!

One thing you didn't cover is how to rearrange the mixer channels. Touch the channel input or output, pull down and it will show a smaller view where you can move the sliders left and right.

[danielsalomon]

Working in AUM is like cooking soup, Drambo is like preparing sushi. Learning to cook is an essential part of growing up. Gotta eat.

[LuisTorres-qzkr]

GREAT tutorial! Just what I needed after only getting AUM days back. Thank you!

[jeroen]

AUM is my basic app I use to explore IOS music making! So much fun and really great!

[Hav-Bills]

AUM is great! My go to station. 4pockets Midi Mixer is a godsend

[merlijnduynstee]

AUM is unparalleled and without a doubt my favorite music making app. The ease of use and flexibility are superb. During live performance i use AUM via a MIDI controller to run ambient pads, apply shimmers, delays and reverbs to my stage piano/synth, additional instruments. In addition it routes the audio to FOH and my monitor via a scarlet 6i6 and creates a headphone mix of the aforementioned combined with a monitorfeed from the rest of the band. It also records the entire session. All while running in background mode? So that I can use Unrealbook to see the setlist, songdetails and control patch changes sent to my keyboard.
My iPad has become pretty essential with AUM as my central command due to the Audio and MIDI capabilities.
What’s not to like? ... Can’t come up with anything.
I’d love to play around with one of the plugins. Dub or reverb.

[shimgadget]

AUM is very helpful in sketching music ideas instantly.

[bittergums]

So many possibilities in AUM. I know it's not really this type of app.. but after recording all the channels would love to see AUM have the ability to display all the channel's waveforms on one page..horizontally like a DAW. Sort of bridge the file player with some of AudioShare's features! People would use the internal fx/processing/busses you mentioned a lot more. You wouldn't really need anything else.

[howardanderson]

I will watch this one over and over as I do any great tutorial.
Also changing playback speed is a great device, I use it to learn music parts and so on.
I never thought to use it to slow the pace of a tutorial, brilliant idea. Thanks!