Apparently the Orba 1 app can save a newly created song to the app. Now how to get it out of the app is the question. I assume it's saved somewhere in my files in a proprietary format? Do you have a plugin that will turn it into an MP3 or MP4?
The files are stored somewhere for both the O1 app and the O2 app. The O1 files might not include some info in support of new features in the O2 like sampling and quantizing, so even though the O1 app can save O2 songs, the O2 might not be able to read them back in, or at least to load a song properly if it uses some of the new features. I am looking into this myself.
The easiest way to save a song into MP3 is to record the output of either Orba directly using a DAW or audio recorder like Audacity (free and excellent) and exporting to MP3. That's the best way to get the actual sounds generated by the Orba into an audio file.
The easiest way to save a song as a MIDI (.MID) file is to use the Orba as a MIDI controller with a DAW or MIDI synth and "play" the song into the DAW while recording the MIDI. This will NOT record the sounds that the Orba is generating. It will record the MIDI "events" into a MIDI file that can then be "played" through a DAW and/or MIDI synth.
Apparently the Orba 1 app can save a newly created song to the app. Now how to get it out of the app is the question. I assume it's saved somewhere in my files in a proprietary format? Do you have a plugin that will turn it into an MP3 or MP4?
This is very disheartening. Why would you advertise this toy as being able to save recordings!!! I knew nothing about the Orba 1. With all of the money you spent on advertising, you could have spent on a coder worth a damn and then left it to Affilitate marketing for others to do the heavy lifting. This is so freaking disappointing! I just got my Orba 2 yesterday. I am an Android and PC user.
Lots of toys have made it onto successful songs. electro~harmonix touch synth, various Casio keyboards, circuit bent kids toys, etc, etc, etc.
Orba 2: A toy, a fun toy, but still just a toy.
Although it does appear that you can save songs in the Orba 1 App. You cannot load them back in. I think we are stuck without being able to save songs. :(
While you’re right that it’s a euphemism (and quite “tonedeaf” given the unkept promises which got us in this situation in the first place), I sure hope they don’t abandon this basic feature. Your quantization example (a promise they didn’t keep) is solid. Saving our work is more fundamental. Especially since a form of it existed in the Orba 1. (And I’m quite sure saving was mentioned in the original marketing campaign for Orba 2.)
Having said that, you’re right about current dealbreakers. Users should only keep their Orba 2 if the current state of things is acceptable. We can’t assume that the company will fulfill its promises.
Christian, "We don’t want to make any promises that we can’t keep" is Artiphon's euphemism for "We're not going to do this and hope everyone will eventually give up or forget about it". It was their standard response for quantization in the Orba 1 and for updates to the Orba 1 app. Now they're just applying the same approach to Orba 2.
Don't get me wrong, I like the Orba. But if any features it doesn't have right now are deal-breakers for you, I would recommend returning it while you can and maybe buying again if the update ever comes.
I have had mine for about a week now and notice that the mk2 crashes about as much as the mk1, and getting a 5 minute loop going is never going to happen. I've tried it with several apps (ios and android) and it loses connectivity often. The orba 2 app is quite buggy as well. I was going to take some video but the whole thing seems wonky, so I can't even find a starting point. The sounds are vast improvement but it was not ready to ship yet imo. I hope they can improve the midi connectivity, and the frequent crashes, but for 150 bucks its fun and I can accept the limitations, but it is no studio in the palm of your hand yet.
Maybe useful to know…
The original Orba app does support saving (obviously!). And it sounds like it works with Orba 2.
So, unless I’m mistaken, there’s a cumbersome workaround for Orba 2 owners who want to use the product as intended: load that old Orba app and save the patterns there. Far from ideal and it really heightens the absurdity of the situation (the QA process is strict enough to delay software features yet disconnected enough from product development that people have the hardware in their hands before the most basic features are ready).
Received my Orba, today (had two Orba Mk I, already). Been hoping that Artiphon issues had been ironed out, at this point. (Quality hardware plagued by software inadequacies.)
So I started playing with the device itself. It’s more fun than the original one in a few ways… a point which is completely moot if we can’t save what we create.
So, basically, the product wasn’t ready for launch. And that's more than disappointing. It’s deeply concerning.
I still hold hope that the premature launch (emphasizing self-promotion more than what people can do with the device) isn’t a sign of systemic issues with Artiphon. And we’ll get the Minimum Viable Product in a timeframe which isn’t that completely unreasonable and unconscionable.
Others would (and will) laugh at me. I still prefer to hold hope.
Evan’s answers don’t fill me with hope, though.
Christian Colquhoun
This is functionality that should have been an 'out of the box' feature, not a "We'll add it in the coming month.." which is the reply I got from support.
To be honest, If I don't get a response soon about WHEN this ESSENTIAL USABILITY FEATURE will be available - at the moment it's barley above a glorified toy and NOT worth the money or my wait time - I will want my money back...soon...
Why would I want to compose / write / take the time on this if I can't save it?
EXCEEDINGLY disappointed....
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