KVR Audio

bmot · Post by **bmot** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:25 am

The iPad has some great software, I am envious of the iElectribe for example. It is also an amazing touchscreen device, i've seen how well it works. But it is very expensive. And for PC users like me, it seems more of an expensive toy than something I could use in the real world. Now there is an alternative. I recently got one of these:

http://wetab.mobi/en/

It's a German touch tablet, based on the EXoPC. It has 1.66 MhZ Intel Atom processor (same as in some netbooks), an 11.6" widescreen format touchscreen, multi touch, has 2 USB ports, SD card slot, 1GB RAM, 16 or 32 GB SSD storage. WiFi or 3G and GPS.

It comes preloaded with the WeTab OS. The WeTab OS is fun to mess around with, but ultimately it's no good as a productivity tool, especially for music. Luckily it can be dual-booted or replaced with anything. I have tried various versions of Linux, a few "specialist" touch screen operating systems, and Windows 7.

Windows 7 means I can plug in my sound card and midi keyboard (I use an X Station keyboard/sound card combo), and have a very mobile, but fully capable, mobile music setup. I have started using it with a band, using Chainer and a few VSTi's for live playing. It's quite underpowered compared to a desktop, but Reaper runs on it just fine. I haven't tried Ableton Live yet. So far I haev used it with 1GB, but it can be upgraded to 2GB which costs 25 euros. If so inclined, larger SSD can be added (although it's a bit expensive at the moment).

WeTabs can be had for around 220-250 euros for the 16GB WiFi only version, 50 euros more for the 32GB Wifi/3G/GPS version. This is a relative bargain when compared to similar devices. Check German (.de domain) shopping sites. The prices fluctuate quite radically, as the price dropped recently from something like 429 / 549 euros.

I believe I might be one of the first to try this setup for live music, but i'd be really interested to hear if anyone else has tried it.

And by the way, contrary to what I had been led to believe, touchscreen implementation on Windows 7 is very well designed. This was a nice surprise for me.

wakax · Post by **wakax** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:35 am

excepting Sensomusic Usine, there is no multitouch enabled music app for windows. maybe now, with Windows 8 announced, the developers will start doing something. But we need to wait another year at least.

bM3w · Post by **bM3w** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:44 am

Well, to be honest with you, if you don't have the need for a tablet now it's worth waiting for Windows 8 (tablets). It's probably still almost a year away before Windows 8 will hit the shelves, but what I read and saw so far is really impressive. My hopes are that with Windows 8 all those "touch apps" we know from the iPad are coming to the PC, because for me there's no way I'm gonna waste a single cent on an Apple product.

See yourself:

http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-8-ta ... f-on-video

bmot · Post by **bmot** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:47 am

maybe so, but for me the point isn't multi-touch. The point is that it's a portable PC, much more portable than a netbook or laptop, with the ability to use VSTi's. The touch input is nice because it does away with the need for keyboard and mouse. I find my laptop and all the associated accessories such a pain to carry around and plug in each time I use it that I just leave it in the training room now.

This device offers complete simplicity: 1 usb cable, 1 X Station, 1 tablet. That's all I need to play live.

If I want a "multi-touch" controller, i'll use my Bitstream 3x or MPK49!

penguinfromdeep · Post by **penguinfromdeep** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:51 am

No I won't

bmot · Post by **bmot** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:06 am

penguinfromdeep wrote:No I won't :o

well, fair enough. But I think you know well enough that the point of the title was not to ask a direct question, but to encourage discussion. If I only wanted yes or no answers I would have started a poll

IncarnateX · Post by **IncarnateX** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:58 am

chas48155 wrote:maybe so, but for me the point isn't multi-touch.

Fair enough, but for people owning an iPad it is all about touch screen control, so there goes your point about forgetting the iPad!

bmot · Post by **bmot** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:07 am

IncarnateX wrote:so there goes your point about forgetting the iPad!

if you put it that way, then I concede, you win! But, put another way, I was really trying to make the point that there are cheaper alternatives to the iPad for those who want portable live music computers. My laptop is a lot of hassle and wires. This tablet is 1 wire, 1 keyboard, 1 tablet. Really simple to set up and use.

This setup is for people who want to use the same instruments and software as they do on their PC, but with the bonus of portability and low cost. The iPad requires buying different software and is not going to run your VSTi's or Reaper (or can it do that now?) You could easily use a netbook, but it's fun experimenting with different technologies and it'll look better on stage.

vincent66 · Post by **vincent66** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:09 am

This is really interesting, which vst's do you use on this and how many can you get away with using at once?

BrufordRules · Post by **BrufordRules** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:17 am

Hi chas48155, and thank you for your review. Very interesting.

Cheers!

Nokenoku · Post by **Nokenoku** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:21 am

I have to agree, that the iPad is more a toy than anything else and not really made for serious music production.

On the other side, no tablet is.
And if you use Windows7 on this thing, you could have gotten just a good 13" Notebook, which is just as portable, but more comfortable and a lot faster.

Of course a decent Notebook is not as cheap. But around 700€ you can already get a high quality one with loads of processing power, 4GB RAM, long battery life, multitouch-touchpad, good keyboard, etc.

I understand, there's a total tablet hype atm ... but really those things are actually the wrong choice for probably 90% of their customers, who had better gotten a smartphone or notebook.

Dewaine · Post by **Dewaine** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:22 am

Sounds like a great deal for you. I am happy with the iPad, and so choose not to forget it..... To me a Win 7 pad is simply a netbook without a keyboard.... to each his own...

adydub · Post by **adydub** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:34 am

bM3w wrote:Well, to be honest with you, if you don't have the need for a tablet now it's worth waiting for Windows 8 (tablets). It's probably still almost a year away before Windows 8 will hit the shelves, but what I read and saw so far is really impressive. My hopes are that with Windows 8 all those "touch apps" we know from the iPad are coming to the PC, because for me there's no way I'm gonna waste a single cent on an Apple product.

See yourself:

http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-8-ta ... f-on-video

Just careful not to get an ARM based tablet (or notebook) - most music apps are compiled for Intel...

kuniklo · Post by **kuniklo** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:43 am

The touch screen is a *completely* difference kind of input device than a mouse and a keyboard. Apps designed for a mouse will be very clumsy and frustrating to use on a small touch screen. I don't see this as a reasonable iPad alternative at all.

The best hope for a real iPad competitor is Android, if they ever sort the audio latency issues out.

kuniklo · Post by **kuniklo** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:46 am

bM3w wrote:It's probably still almost a year away before Windows 8 will hit the shelves, but what I read and saw so far is really impressive. My hopes are that with Windows 8 all those "touch apps" we know from the iPad are coming to the PC, because for me there's no way I'm gonna waste a single cent on an Apple product.

I agree that this interface looks nice, but Microsoft has said that these touch apps will be coded in HTML5 + Javascript. If they don't also allow low-latency C++ apps to run as touch apps you can forget about anything interesting in the audio realm.

Forget iPad, get a Windows 7 tablet!