4Pockets Audio PolyPipe: a multi-lane polyphonic sequencer for iOS and macOS with advanced step modifiers, and creative playback directions.
Have you ever tried using an iOS sequencer instead of an Oxi or a Keystep hardware unit? Not hardware, but I like doing that, especially since I run a hybrid setup where the sequencer is synced with my other virtual instruments and effects.
With PolyPipe, Paul from 4pockets has brought a powerful sequencer to the App Store, suitable for live performance.
4Pockets Audio PolyPipe
PolyPipe is a new multi-lane polyphonic sequencer app and plugin for iOS and macOS. At first glance, I thought: Oh, the popular StepPolyArp app by Laurent Colson has been updated.
On second glance, it was clear that this was not the case, but rather the new PolyPipe app from 4pockets. Although both have a very similar concept, based on advanced arpeggiations.
Instead of switching individual step sequences, PolyPipe lets you build multiple independent lanes, each with its own rhythm, pitch logic, octave behaviour, probability, and modulation data.
Play notes on your MIDI controller, and PolyPipe transforms them into arpeggiators/sequencers. In total, you have four arpeggiators/sequencers with multiple lanes to play around.
Each lane in PolyPipe is its own sequencer voice with multiple patterns, and each pattern is made up of steps. They can have up to 32 steps, but can be chained up to 128 steps. They house an impressive set of adjustable per-step modifiers.
Alongside pitch and gate information, a step can house pitch offsets, velocity, gate length, strumming, probability, ratchets, ties for legato behavior, and chord information.
The same flexibility is evident in the patterns. You can enable/disable patterns independently, shift them by octaves, or even transpose them globally. Because each pattern is very different, you achieve very expressive, organic, evolving sequences with one pass.
Logic Sequencing
Then, you set a distinct playback direction for each lane, including up, down, ping-pong, random, drunk, chord, bass, and hybrid note/chord modes. So can have a different behavior for each lane, ranging from classic arps to controlled chaos.
4pockets PolyPipe applies musical logic at the MIDI output stage rather than hard-coding notes upfront. For example, you can force pitch values into a chosen scale and key, allowing you to experiment deeper with patterns while staying musically.
As a bonus, you can also use PolyPipe to output MIDI CC data to other instruments and effects. There is also a built-in randomizer for the parameters.
PolyPipe runs as a standalone app and an AUv3 MIDI FX plugin. It gives you four MIDI output ports, allowing each of the 4 phase-locked arpeggiators to be routed to a different instrument.
First Impression
Yes, the concept is the same as the StepPolyArp app. However, 4pockets has made the whole thing significantly more powerful and evolving. The user interface looks very immediate and fast.
At first, a very exciting multi-lane AUv3 arpeggiator/sequencer for iOS/macOS.
4Pockets Audio PolyPipe is available now for $14,99 on the Apple App Store. It runs as an AUv3 MIDI FX plugin on iOS (iPad/iPhone) and macOS.
More information here: 4Pockets (App Store)
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