Bram Bos Salome is a new straightforward and workflow-optimized AUv3 sampler for iOS and macOS made for MPE controllers.
Hardware or software. A debate that will never end in the music tech world. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. An advantage of software is the significantly more extensive range of features. In hardware, developers must always consider the internal DSP capacities and workflow.
In software, you will always find a corner that can be reached with the mouse where you can hide a menu. Bram Bos goes the other way his new MPE sampler for iOS and macOS. It makes software as easy to use as hardware by minimizing the feature set and focusing entirely on the workflow.
I needed something to quickly capture (or import) bits of audio, and create seamlessly looping sounds out of it with as little fuss as possible.
Bram Bos Salome
Salome is a new AUv3 sampler for iOS/macOS that entirely takes advantage of MPE. For Bram Bos’ new AUv3 sampler, you don’t have to be a science expert or be Hainbach. It is probably one of the developer’s simplest and most fluid apps he has released so far.
With the Salome app, Bram has created a tool primarily designed for efficient work. Form a simple sample into a versatile polyphonic instrument (12-voice max) with MIDI MPE in a few steps.
Sounds can be imported using the well-known Apple methods or captured in the app with the internal recording function. For the latter, the app must be in an effect slot of your AUv3 chain.
It does not yet use the internal iPad/iPhone microphone. Hopefully, this feature is on the roadmap for a future update.
Effortless Samples Into Instruments
Once you load your sample (WAV, AIF, MP3), Salome turns it into a polyphonic instrument. From here on, the new Bram Bos sampler offers various features to fine-tune your instrument. There are no super sophisticated functions onboard, such as granular, spectral processing, etc.
You will find functions that are simple and quick to use. Sample playback direction (loop, start loop…), tune, a 12-mode Oberheim Xpander-style filter, AR envelope, and one-knob multi-FX section. Here you get a chorus and ambiance, aka reverb. Okay, two features drift away from the classic sampler feature set.
The instrument can be triggered using the built-in keyboard. That’s classic. But using the latch mode, you can play it using the faders. Perfect for expressive soundscapes.
Another unique feature is the non-destructive X-fade function, allowing you to create effortless seamless loops.
These features, not all, can then be mapped to the X and Y axes and thus played with an MPE controller. If you don’t have an MPE controller, you can also explore it with the onboard keypads becoming 2-dimensional faders with modulation, and more on it.
First Impression
Bram invited me to the Beta group two days ago. So far I really like Salome and what it does. Everything is clear and easy to use. The workflow is fluid as promised and not disrupted by annoying menu diving.
Bram Bos Salome is available now for $6,99 on the Apple AppStore. It runs as a standalone app and AUv3 plugin on macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel). Both versions are included in the purchase. It’s not a VST, only an AUv3 plugin on macOS.
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