iPad Air performance review with Music Apps

Started by Elantric, November 10, 2013, 10:08:03 AM

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Elantric

#50
We each have different perspective and style of music making.

I suggest review the list of IOS Music Apps provided here

http://www.musicappblog.com/ios-for-music/


And review each drum app /and check out youtube demos for the ones that float your boat.

Many use Beatmaker2

or

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drums-by-asrodot/id587450219?mt=8&uo=4&at=10l3RB



or

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/funkbox-drum-machine/id350437349?mt=8&uo=4&at=10l3RB

or
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dm1-the-drum-machine/id431573951?mt=8&uo=4&at=10l3RB


supernicd

There are about 8 billion iOS drum machine apps.  :)

A few of my favorite apps for making drum tracks are:

  • Drum Studio
  • DM1
  • Garageband
  • Nanostudio
  • DrumJam
Strat w/ GK-3, Godin LGXT
VG-99, GR-55, GP-10
---------------------------------------------------------------

whippinpost91850

Thanks I'll look into these. It at least gives me a place to start.

mbenigni

Quote from: Elantric on December 14, 2013, 09:12:37 AM
...unless one wants to be viewed as a fool with junk error prone gear.

Ha - wouldn't be the first time! :)

Seriously though I'm obviously nowhere near burned in enough with this hardware or software to endorse it or trust it myself for live use. 

That said, I suspect the main difference between your results and mine is down to the additional bandwidth coming from the FTP data stream. When I ran this combination of apps with the behringer is202, I had results similar to those you describe: dropouts when navigating between apps, etc.  But then, that was also on a slower iPad 3. Last night I was using - of all things - the Stealth "Real Tone" cable that game with a video game called Rocksmith, and it was smooth as silk.  Again, it might be related to a smaller, simpler data stream: no MIDI, 16-bit samples vs. the iRig Pro's 24, etc.

But that's all speculation. I have to stress that I only played with the combination I described for 20 minutes or so.  I'll write more after I've really tried to shoot some holes in it.

Incidentally I wasn't in airplane mode last night either - had wifi connection, was popping in and out of safari and the App Store as I went. Good stuff!


BackDAWman

Quote from: Elantric on December 12, 2013, 09:48:10 PM
I dont have those type issues
But Im using FTP with ipad.
What type USB MIDI cable are you using?
(So I can avoid using that type)

The meritline (?) class compliant cable that has been discussed in other threads. It works well with PC with MyLyricBook. I have only had this problem with iOS softsynths.

Elantric

Rather odd - i have 2 of those Meritline cables and no problems here.

BackDAWman

Ill give it another go tonight. I'm trying to groom the iPad Air for live work. I think it should be safe enough for midi PC from MyLyricBook. I tested every song in the setlist with no problems. I am waiting for an iRig HD Pro to turn up to really test out Jamup Pro XT and Bias properly. So far with the iRig Stomp it is useable for amp modeling as long as you have your pups flat out into it.

jassy

Quote from: Elantric on December 14, 2013, 09:25:28 AM
Bias is used for Best Amp Modeling tones

Jamup ProXT is used as the "Bias Host" that adds MIDI controllable stereo FX, a "Jammer" function which lets you slow down and learn songs in your iTunes music library, 8 track recorder lets you make a decent demo of your song ideas, "Live Mode" merely presents you with a simple display screen with 8 large target squares to select between 4 patches in current bank, and enable disable 4 separate Stomp FX. Bias Amp modeling works in ALL above modes and features.

I thought that once you had created the amplifier in BIAS, you could save it like a preset and load in Jamup (one more amp like the ones that came with jamup), without having BIAS running in the background, but from what you say I think I was confused. So actually BIAS works only as a plugin for Jamup?


Elantric

#58
QuoteSo actually BIAS works only as a plugin for Jamup?

http://www.positivegrid.com/bias/
i can confirm Bias runs in the following ways


1) Standalone - What you see is what you get ( no Jamup ProXT functions like Stomp FX, No Jam Looper, No 8 track recorder)







2) Within Jamup Pro XT (with full access to all Jamup ProXT functions like Stomp FX,  Jam Looper, 8 track recorder)

Read more details in the Bias thread here:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=9903.0



And JamupPro XT thread here
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8378.0





BackDAWman

Mmmmmmmm. I now have my iRig Pro! I tested it into my iPhone5S with Jamup XT Pro. Sound quality is awesome! I am so much closer to integrating my iPad into the live show....

mbenigni

Quote from: BackDAWman on December 18, 2013, 01:47:14 PM
Mmmmmmmm. I now have my iRig Pro! I tested it into my iPhone5S with Jamup XT Pro. Sound quality is awesome! I am so much closer to integrating my iPad into the live show....

Awesome.  Mine's "out for delivery" right now, along with a Blueboard.  Both were scheduled to arrive yesterday, but got snowed out.

supernicd

A bit further up in this thread, we were discussing iPad Air keyboard covers, and I'd posted my thoughts on the Zagg folio.  Today mine broke - the spine of it developed a crack in it.  This is actually a happy story.  The good folks at Verizon Wireless were kind enough to swap it out, no questions asked.

To my surprise, I got an updated model, and it is a far better design.  My #1 problem with it is now eliminated - it no longer has the piece that goes around the entire iPad, and so there are now no issues with connecting up the 30 pin-lightning converter, plugging in certain headphones, etc.  The iPad is much easier to get in and out (but stays securely in when you want it to).  It also has a new reading mode which is pretty cool. 

The updated design also seems sturdier, such that the way in which the old one broke doesn't look like it will repeat itself. 

Some photos available here:
http://www.zagg.com/ipad-mini-cover/7978?utm_source=GooglePLA&utm_medium=Channel_Intelligence&utm_campaign=Keyboard&default_currency=USD&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=32-338748425-2

That's for the Mini, but the iPad air version looks the same, just larger.  I would now definitely recommend this product if you're in the market for a keyboard case.  Just make sure you get the updated model, as it's much more "musician friendly."
Strat w/ GK-3, Godin LGXT
VG-99, GR-55, GP-10
---------------------------------------------------------------

DF400

Tape by Focusrite is free and seems to be getting very good reviews (4+). It is also Audiobus supported.

Elantric

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-ipad-air-2-specs-design-2014-10


Technology columnist Michael Andrew and his team at The Michael Report say they have obtained photos and illustrations of the second-generation iPad Air from sources within Apple.
The report closely lines up with rumors we've heard about Apple's coming iPad, which is expected to debut on Oct. 16. Andrew didn't publish the pictures, but he did describe some of the design differences in as much detail as possible. Here's an overview of the changes outlined in his post:

The new iPad Air will reportedly come with Touch ID built into the home button, just as rumors have indicated.
It will also come in a gold color option, according to the report.
The new iPad is said to come with an 8-megapixel camera instead of the 5-megapixel camera on the first-generation iPad Air.
As expected, the report says it will run on an Apple A8 processor and will come with 2GB of memory as opposed to the 1GB of memory found in the current iPad.
Apple may get rid of the 16GB option and could instead offer 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage variants.
The design is said to be almost identical to the current iPad Air, but the new tablet will be 0.5mm thinner.
Expect to see one-row grill speakers rather than the two-row grill on the current iPad Air.
The mute/vibration switch is said to be completely gone to keep the design super slim. The volume buttons are also more recessed.
We're expecting to hear more about Apple's next iPad later this month, but in the meantime, check out the full post at The Michael Report for more details on what it could potentially entail.

http://themichaelreport.com/2014/10/06/this-is-the-ipad-air-2/

nervoteso

#64
any music tests about new ipad Air2 performances?

Elantric

 having purchased a 128Gb iPad Air a year ago. - With luck there will be an "iPad Pro at 12" size - I'm skipping the Air2 and holding out for the larger 12" one (Spring 2015)  and hope they add even more than 2GB ram

mbenigni

Quotehaving purchased a 128Gb iPad Air a year ago.

I'm in the same boat.  I'd actually consider an iPad Air 2 if there were some sort of reasonable trade-in/upgrade program.  The additional RAM and speed would be welcome.  But I'm not going to just go out and spill another $700+ for it.


Elantric

#68
http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/


http://www.cultofmac.com/
http://www.cultofmac.com/419127/new-ipad-pro-is-slower-than-12-9-inch-model/

The big difference comes in graphics, with the 9.7-inch unit's A9X chip being 4.3x faster than Apple's A7 processor, while the 12.9-inch unit's A9X chip is 5x faster. TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino ran a GeekBench analysis during the hands-on time at the keynote and also discovered the smaller 9.7" iPad Pro only has 2GB of RAM while the bigger 12.9" iPad Pro model comes with 4GB.

More RAM has major benefit when running sample based IOS music apps 

jassy

I was going to update to the new ipad (to have the latest processor A9X available for my music apps) but I have been surprised by the price increment.
Normally the release of new iPad model (or iPhone) implied processor and other areas improvements, but keeping the price of the predecessor, but this time Apple thinks that the name "pro" implies 200€ more? Im missing something?

Elantric

#70
QuoteNormally the release of new iPad model (or iPhone) implied processor and other areas improvements, but keeping the price of the predecessor, but this time Apple thinks that the name "pro" implies 200€ more? Im missing something?

Observe that effective this week they have new "memory gaps" in the ipad product line-up



I'm happy I purchased a refurb 128GB iPad AIR2 two months ago for $415 . (observe iPad AIR2 is no longer available with 128GB
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=16964.0

But these Apple IOS memory upcharges are getting irksome  -  in 2016 we can purchase 256GB memory at these prices