I have an iPhone 4S and, iPad, and Axiom 49 keyboard. Is it worth the bother to get them talking to each other?
Long story short, I've already returned a defective iRig MIDI, bought a iPad Camera Connection Kit, and at least one other cable, and have yet to be successful.
If anyone has made this work... was it worth it? Or is it just as well to use the iPad virtual keyboard, and save the MIDI keyboard for other things.
Obviously I have a big interest in this stuff, but hate the time sink to get things working and configured.
Thanks,
-- Joe
MIDI Keyboard to iOS devices - worth the bother?
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- KVRer
- 26 posts since 27 Nov, 2012
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- KVRian
- 1107 posts since 31 Oct, 2002 from the high desert
Hell yeah it is! Especially if you consider yourself a keyboard player in the first place. It can turn all those fun things on your iPad to actual musical instruments. I think many of the synths are just as good as a decent "hardware" virtual analog.
The keyboards on the apps are fine for when you are sitting on the couch, but why stop there- you already have the CCK and the Axiom, just get yourself a cheap USB MIDI interface off Amazon.
The keyboards on the apps are fine for when you are sitting on the couch, but why stop there- you already have the CCK and the Axiom, just get yourself a cheap USB MIDI interface off Amazon.
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- KVRian
- 1336 posts since 21 Dec, 2004
I've had great success using the cck and a Korg padKontrol. I'm thinking the mapping and midi implementation is very much dependent on how well the app was coded, but most of the controllers will talk to a good app. Make sure you have a power adapter or powered USB hub if using the cck + controller. Not enough juice in my ipad 2 to power anything USB.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 26 posts since 27 Nov, 2012
Thanks!
A bit more info:
- I play bass and guitar as hobby and as church band musician
- Have Ableton Live Lite, Reason demo, and a MacBook Air
- Have lots of iOS apps, including Beatmaker 2, SoundPrism, Thumbjam, AudioBus. iKaoscillator is my fav.
- Don't really know keyboard, but heard for years a musician it's really a good thing to learn
The current snag is I don't have a power supply with for the Axiom 49. I was hoping that hooking up the Axiom and the iPad CCK on the same powered USB hub would do the trick. It didn't.
I could go to Radio Shack and have them find a power supply for the keyboard. Or... hate to sound dense... but are saying I should get a cheap USB MIDI interface to go directly from the Axiom MIDI out to the iPad CCK?
I'm also wondering if I should try another iRig MIDI, which *should* work for both the iPhone and the iPad.
Cheers,
-- Joe
A bit more info:
- I play bass and guitar as hobby and as church band musician
- Have Ableton Live Lite, Reason demo, and a MacBook Air
- Have lots of iOS apps, including Beatmaker 2, SoundPrism, Thumbjam, AudioBus. iKaoscillator is my fav.
- Don't really know keyboard, but heard for years a musician it's really a good thing to learn
The current snag is I don't have a power supply with for the Axiom 49. I was hoping that hooking up the Axiom and the iPad CCK on the same powered USB hub would do the trick. It didn't.
I could go to Radio Shack and have them find a power supply for the keyboard. Or... hate to sound dense... but are saying I should get a cheap USB MIDI interface to go directly from the Axiom MIDI out to the iPad CCK?
I'm also wondering if I should try another iRig MIDI, which *should* work for both the iPhone and the iPad.
Cheers,
-- Joe
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- KVRian
- 1107 posts since 31 Oct, 2002 from the high desert
If you have an extra Apple power supply ( the little white cube) and USB cord, you can plug that in to the Axiom to power it. Then the USB MIDI interface will connect from the MIDI ports on the Axiom to the CCK.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 26 posts since 27 Nov, 2012
!!
Wow, I would never have considered that. One thing... I'm a bit paranoid about messing up the Axiom keyboard. Are you sure that using this kind of power couldn't hurt anything? Again, thanks, I appreciate all the info.
BTW, part of my thinking here is whether or not to buck up $250 for the latest Ableton. It's tempting, but there is so much you can now with iOS, I have my doubts about it being worth it.
Best,
-- Joe
Wow, I would never have considered that. One thing... I'm a bit paranoid about messing up the Axiom keyboard. Are you sure that using this kind of power couldn't hurt anything? Again, thanks, I appreciate all the info.
BTW, part of my thinking here is whether or not to buck up $250 for the latest Ableton. It's tempting, but there is so much you can now with iOS, I have my doubts about it being worth it.
Best,
-- Joe
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- KVRian
- 1107 posts since 31 Oct, 2002 from the high desert
I own an Axiom ( one of the older ones, not the Pro, if that makes a difference) and that's how I power it. The first year or two I owned it, I had it plugged in to my PC and didn't even consider the power issue. Later it became my second keyboard, used to control my Blofeld, and I realized it needed juice and I didn't want to take that trip to RadioShack.
I'd consider whether Ableton Lite can meet your needs before spending the $$ to upgrade. And as cool as iOS apps are, they really can't compete with an actual computer-based sequencer. But you CAN use your idevice to CONTROL Live, and of course a million other things too.
I'd consider whether Ableton Lite can meet your needs before spending the $$ to upgrade. And as cool as iOS apps are, they really can't compete with an actual computer-based sequencer. But you CAN use your idevice to CONTROL Live, and of course a million other things too.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 26 posts since 27 Nov, 2012
Last (probably obvious) question...
I got all kinds of Apple stuff.... MacBook Air, ipods, ipads, iphone.
Are you talking about a MacBook power supply? So I power the keyboard with that? And then I'd take the USB from the Axiom to the iPad CCK.
Your patience and help is much appreciated!
-- Joe
I got all kinds of Apple stuff.... MacBook Air, ipods, ipads, iphone.
Are you talking about a MacBook power supply? So I power the keyboard with that? And then I'd take the USB from the Axiom to the iPad CCK.
Your patience and help is much appreciated!
-- Joe
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- KVRian
- 1107 posts since 31 Oct, 2002 from the high desert
Other than the iPad, I'm not at all an Apple person ( no flames, just a fact), but I'm talking about the white blocks an inch or two on a side that come with iPads. Has a 2 prong electrical plug and a slot for a USB cable. Any regular AB USB cable goes from there to the USB port on the back of the Axiom. No idea if that is the same as what MacBooks use.joegrant413 wrote:Last (probably obvious) question...
I got all kinds of Apple stuff.... MacBook Air, ipods, ipads, iphone.
Are you talking about a MacBook power supply? So I power the keyboard with that? And then I'd take the USB from the Axiom to the iPad CCK.
Your patience and help is much appreciated!
-- Joe
So, no- not USB from Axiom to CCK. MIDI from 5 pin MIDI ports on Axiom to USB MIDI adapter to CCK. If the Axiom was class compliant, you COULD go from its USB to the CCK. But then you'd need to buy an actual power supply for it, instead of powering it through the USB port.
I know it sounds complicated, but you probably have most of this stuff already. The CCK is the most expensive part- I got my USB MIDI adapter for 5$ on Amazon.
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- KVRist
- 246 posts since 18 Jul, 2003 from NJ
No, the charger from your iPad. No matter what, you're going to have to spend a little bit. You can get any USB power converter as long as it supplies what the axiom needs. I'd get a power adapter for the axiom and use the USB out of the axiom to the cck. Unless the axiom is still seen as needing a power supply with the cck, even with the adapter. If that was true, then the midi interface would be the way to go. Forget the irig midi, unless target still has it on clearance. I have a $10 USB midi cable that I got on eBay and it works great with the iPad and iPhone (jailbroken, so cck works with the iPhone as well). I don't have the axiom, I have a novation xio and I power it by USB sometimes and power adapter other times. Battery too...and then I use USB to go to the cck. Hope that was not too confusing, I'll try to clarify if you still are unsure.
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- KVRian
- 1107 posts since 31 Oct, 2002 from the high desert
At least with my Axiom, you can't go from USB to CCK- the iPad does not recognize it. Might work with other Axioms- worth a try...mrufino1 wrote:No, the charger from your iPad. No matter what, you're going to have to spend a little bit. You can get any USB power converter as long as it supplies what the axiom needs. I'd get a power adapter for the axiom and use the USB out of the axiom to the cck. Unless the axiom is still seen as needing a power supply with the cck, even with the adapter. If that was true, then the midi interface would be the way to go. Forget the irig midi, unless target still has it on clearance. I have a $10 USB midi cable that I got on eBay and it works great with the iPad and iPhone (jailbroken, so cck works with the iPhone as well). I don't have the axiom, I have a novation xio and I power it by USB sometimes and power adapter other times. Battery too...and then I use USB to go to the cck. Hope that was not too confusing, I'll try to clarify if you still are unsure.
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- KVRist
- 246 posts since 18 Jul, 2003 from NJ
Then that answers that. Buy the no name midi interface from eBay/amazon, should be $10-$15, and power the axiom via USB. I got a USB ac adapter with 2usb ports for about $2 on amazon, it powers my xio and my synthstation at live shows with no issues.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 26 posts since 27 Nov, 2012
FYI, got a power supply from Radio Shack for the Axiom 49. With that, all is well in hooking the Axiom 49 USB to the iPad Camera Connection Kit.
Really appreciate all the help, folks!
-- Joe
Really appreciate all the help, folks!
-- Joe
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- KVRist
- 246 posts since 18 Jul, 2003 from NJ
Cool! Enjoy it!