Different Drummer User Reviews

Top reviews

Really cool (stand-alone)

EDIT: Still crashes with IAA/Audiobus, still no sync :/

Sadly doesn’t sync MIDI clock / Ableton Link start/stop, crashes a lot. Very cool though!

Really cool (stand-alone)

Sadly doesn’t sync MIDI clock / Ableton Link properly, crashes a lot. Very cool though!

Response from developer

It used to...will look into it...sometimes stuff does go wanky after a few years of changes. Thanks!

Really cool (stand-alone)

Sadly seems to use old API’s so doesn’t sync MIDI clock / Ableton Link properly with newer DAWs (AUM, Audiobus 3, etc.), crashes a lot.

Frustrating and time wasting

I so much wanted to like this app but it is the most unintuitive and frustrating piece of software that I have ever seen. The user interface is like some alien technology. the hours wasted trying to get something musical out of this would be better spent actually making music. I hope someone somewhere does make this work because the developer must have spent ages making it. If you like puzzles try this. I thought that I might try bending some midi files to send midi to synths but can’t even load midi files without audio share. I wish I had spent the money on some treats for my cat instead.
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A very different drummer

Even with the Zenterface control this is still a complex app, and could really do with AU3. It’s an ingenious, highly variable rhythmic sound manipulation tool, that just needs updating to modern connectivity.

Deliriously Amazing

Kudos to this developer...this app is a major experimental tour de force.

I kid you not. This is crazy versatile when you get a grip on what you can achieve with this. The big cornucopia of sounds is awesome, but you can also import your own soundbites! No probs when I brought in the 24/48’s. Access to Audioshare is in there. You can set up a bunch of short soundbites in AS, go into the wave section of DD, click the plus sign and choose/import/choose/import... ad infinitum.

Clean sounding, no detected glitch. Variable-pass for each track right up in the front interface is so cool. You can push the sound in each of the tracks through filter and distortion.

Randomization! Highly configurable.

I haven’t checked on midi configurations yet, but it’s probably going to be a friggin blast.

Granted, the interface is slightly difficult to navigate, but there’s so much capability jam-packed in this, that imho there’s no easy way to arrange the visual elements.

Read the manual while groking what’s going on, because it will definitely guide you well.

Keep experimenting with DD...you’ll be glad you expended a few brain cells getting there.
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AUv3

Excellent App, please bring AUv3 support.

Still doesnt handle midi well after all these years of development

Strange that there’s been a ton of updates over the years, but still no fix for hanging midi notes when using automation. I want to love this app and it has so much potential. Glad to see its still being serviced, but sad the midi is useless for me.

Update: bugs

Ableton link and midi don't seem to work. Random automation is fun to mess with but needs to be brought into the iphone version as well for a more portable way to experiment.
Update: Good job on the fixes!

Great deep app.

This app really is one of the best values I have encountered. so many features packed in , many of them unique and fresh. It does take some time to explore and master all the possibilities but well worth the effort. I recommend it highly for those interested in poly rhythms and tuned percussion. Also the developer is extremely responsive to inquiries regarding issues or bugs. I thank him for making it!
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Deep and delicious

This is an amazing app, with the ability to create more human sounding drums. The interface takes a bit of getting used to but the sheer flexibility that;so accessible just by playing with it is worth it. Ace.

Brilliantly inspiring and Gorgeous to look at.

I can’t think of a nicer GUI. Tough learning curve. I like the learning so it’s brilliant for me.

Messy interface, but fantastic app

This is one of the most unique apps I have, and it is proving to be one that prompts lots of creative ideas. The concept of using waves to manipulate pitch, timing, panning, volume, etc. tends to pull my music in many unexpected (but good) directions.

I would love to give this five stars, but feel that it does have a weakness in that the interface is cluttered, over-engineered, dated, and not particularly intuitive. It doesn’t lend itself to live performance, and uses some very non-standard graphics not seen in most apps. A good example would be the graphic used in place of the standard X that other apps use to close windows; considering the cluttered interface, it would be more user friendly to just use the smaller and more recognizable X.

Really great app by the developers, but badly in need of some UI and UX design updates.
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Great app

Its a cool app but takes time to get the hang of it. Its not the app that you open and figure out in minutes. If you are into electronic drumming, this app should make you happy, if you are patient enough to put in the time. Once it clicks in your head, it’s fun fun, and more fun. I get the most fun from apps that are not minimal, that usually take some time to figure out all the features. Its nit because its badly designed, but because it’s complex. I think it’s well worth it.
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Great to shake up your normal creative process

Ive spent alot on various ios music apps thinking I would integrate them into my workflow. So far they have turned out to be mild sources of amusement. Different drummer is well... different. For starters i use it. I use it to generate rhythms and melody lines as a base to create feels i wouldnt come up with on my own. When i layer in my guitars and bass playing i am able to break out of patterns and feels that i get comfortable in and really expand my creativity and playing. Learning curve - yes. Worth it - every second

Great and responsive developer. I dont review much but this app deserves it. 10/10
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The Newest Member of My One-Man Band

Different Drummer is now a magic bullet in my music composition arsenal. I have been looking for an app that will put out algorithmic but very controllable and interesting MIDI material to record into my sequencer. I enjoy “collaborating” with algorithmic sources, and because of the depth of features, I can already tell that Different Drummer will produce satisfying MIDI material for me to manipulate for a long time to come. The internal sound engine is decent as well, and I have recorded some great stuff using Inter-App Audio.
There is one issue (v4.6.1) that I hope will be resolved soon: Ableton Link integration is not functioning properly.
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Innovative app and developer

This is magic. If you need rhythmic muse, buy this.

To dev, Thank you for the great support and keeping the app up to date. The zen interface Is one of the most innovative developments I've seen in electronic rhythms.

One request, please revamp sample import, possibly the ability to import zip, have it unpack, then dispose of the zip. One by one import is cumbersome.

5 stars don't come easy from me. You've definitely earned it.
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One of a kind!

I have a few apps in my iPad that I think of as Mind-Stretchers. Though the learning curve is steep, once you get the hang of it, the results are endlessly fascinating. Most apps offer you new ways to get to old places. This feature-packed gem takes you to new sonic and musical worlds very quickly. It helps you to think of music in new ways. It is a labor of love for this developer as he continues to bring refinements to it. This is a true masterpiece for iOS!
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Over my fear!

All the talk of the complexity of this app scared me away forever, but I finally took the plunge. Man, am I glad that I did! Sure, I haven't begun to crack the programming, but so many great sounding presets are provided for tweaking delight. Did I mention that it sounds really good?
I am really enjoying this one and running it on both my pad and phone. Running it a lot.
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Brilliant

Useful for more than just drums. Using DD for manipulating melodic loops is very interesting. Not an immediate application, but definitely worth making an effort.

Don't hesitate buying, it's worth more than price.

Thank you to the developer for creating the universal version. Useful on phone and iPad.
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