Pros and Cons
Playing the piano with iOS apps is a great idea, as the range of piano apps, synthesizers, and effects has reached a truly professional level. But how do you get your keyboard, controller, apps, and external audio to work together? More than just an audio mixer, Kymatica AUM offers a professional solution.
If your goal is simply to play piano with an app, Kymatica AUM goes far beyond that. It’s a full-featured digital mixer with highly flexible options for mixing, routing, organizing, and processing audio signals, including EQs, dynamics processors, reverb, delay, chorus, and more.
With a huge selection of audio units and music apps, AUM turns iOS into a serious platform for mobile music production.
But how do you organize all that variety to make it usable for live performance? That’s where AUM comes in. The app provides all the essential tools: an audio mixer, MIDI routing, storage options, a recorder/player function, MIDI clock control, plug-in interfaces, and more.
To call AUM an “audio mixer” is a bit of an understatement considering its extensive functionality. First, it allows you to integrate MIDI controllers and pattern sequencers with equal flexibility. Examples include the brilliant Fugue Machine and Clavia Nord Beat apps.
Moreover, the AUM mixing interface is completely customizable to suit individual needs. You only activate as many channels and audio or MIDI buses as necessary. This makes it incredibly easy to mix a live setup, organize split/layer combinations, or use AUM as a virtual multi-effects rack. Whether you’re working with external MIDI devices, internal sound apps, USB master keyboards, or DAW controllers, AUM brings it all together.
The iPad has proven to be a reliable device for music apps, making it a strong choice for live performances. This is where AUM truly shines, as it allows you to integrate pads, synths, organs, and piano sounds, all available as high-quality virtual instruments.
Notable examples include Korg’s Gadget, and Module Pro, as well as synths like the Korg iM1 and iPolysix. High-quality piano apps like Modartt Pianoteq and e-Instruments Pure Piano are also worth mentioning. Even top-tier reverb effects from Eventide are available for relatively little money.
AUM makes it incredibly easy to control volume levels, switch sound layers using the mute/solo functions, combine multiple sounds via audio busses, and assign and adjust effects in real time using faders and knobs.
In its simplest form, you can create an audio channel and load a piano application, such as Pianoteq or Pure Piano. Once you establish a MIDI connection, you can play the app via a connected master keyboard. To set this up, open the Routing tab and tap the corresponding field in the matrix to activate a node. A thin line will then appear, indicating the connection.
The MIDI routing matrix displays available MIDI sources at the top. These can include devices connected via USB/Camera Connection Kit or Bluetooth. On the right side of the matrix, MIDI destinations are listed from top to bottom, including all applications activated in the mixer as well as the MIDI outputs of a connected USB interface.
This is one of AUM’s great strengths: It provides a well-organized overview that makes it easy to seamlessly integrate both internal and external sound sources.
Latency becomes a key factor when integrating external devices into the AUM mix, at least for audio. A multichannel audio interface makes this possible.
Kymatica AUM supports low-latency operation, making it possible to route external devices through the AUM mix in real-time. A buffer size of 128 samples is a reasonable starting point—lower values are possible and can further reduce latency, but they also increase the load on the iPad’s processing power. Finding the right balance requires some experimentation.
For more complex setups, AUM proves to be an ingenious tool. It allows you to create audio mix busses just as flexibly as MIDI busses—ideal for grouping instruments or effects for easier control.
One practical application is combining multi-effects with your own audio apps. Similarly, instruments can be mixed via an audio bus, such as grouping all pad sounds under a single volume controller. This makes it much easier to keep track of the MIDI controller faders.
The bus system makes it easy to turn an iPad into a highly flexible multi-effects unit—and at a relatively low cost, since most audio apps are quite affordable. Even adding high-end Eventide reverbs to a simple piano app can already make a remarkable difference. The result? Stunning sound quality!
AUM offers exceptional flexibility and allows even complex audio and MIDI routing, with the bus system providing valuable support. Its ability to combine MIDI via MIDI buses is particularly useful, making AUM a versatile MIDI controller application.
When integrating AUM with other equipment, note that AUM does not sync to an external MIDI clock. Instead, AUM always functions as the master clock, sending timing information to apps and external devices as needed. You can configure which outputs should transmit the MIDI clock signal.
In summary, Kymatica AUM’s open routing architecture and bus system turn iOS devices into highly customizable audio workstations. With this system, you have all the flexibility you need for live performances!
Naturally, AUM is ideal for synchronizing multiple audio apps and external devices such as MIDI controllers, stage pianos, and synthesizers. You can also save settings and recall them quickly—just what you need for live performances.
However, as setups become more complex, additional hardware is required. Consequently, you have to plan for appropriately equipped audio and MIDI interfaces that connect to the iPad via the Camera Connection Kit or USB-C hubs. And don’t forget about a reliable power supply (USB-C power adapter).
Whether instruments or effects, Kymatica AUM is an invaluable tool for integrating multiple audio apps into a cohesive setup. It combines stage pianos, MIDI controllers, synthesizers, virtual instruments, and effects into one interface, ready to use with just one click. With excellent sound quality, intuitive operation, and rock-solid stability, AUM is a reliable solution for live performances.
Platform: iPhone & iPad (with a fast processor)
System requirements: iOS 11 or later
Price: Approx. $22/£20/€23 (available on the App Store)
Manufacturer: Kymatica
Pros and Cons
Jörg Sunderkötter
Stage pianos, MIDI controllers, synthesizers, virtual instruments, and effects are all combined into a single interface, ready to play with a single click—AUM makes it possible, with excellent sound quality and intuitive handling.
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