16gb, 32gb or 64gb tablet for composing music...?

For iOS (iPhone, iPad & iPod), Android, Windows Phone, etc. App and Hardware talk
RELATED
PRODUCTS

Post

UltraJv wrote:if you have Android you can have fun too.
the software is not the issue, the latency is..

i tried to use caustic on android and found it extremely frustrating. i guess that going the step sequencing route would be fine though.

Post

golemus wrote:I would pretty much just collect ideas (melodies, basslines, etc..) then hopefully export them somehow to Ableton Live and continue the tune there. So I probably wouldn't need that much of samples or anything...
Sounds like 16 gb could be enough for you depending on what else you will use your iPad for. I have a 32 Gb iPad mini 2, 80+ music apps, a few documents, even fewer photos and still got 11,64 gb free disk space. I transfer my tracks to computer once finished. Once in a while I install a game but have only managed to get down to 5 gb free storage even so. If you want to be on the safe side I would say 32 gb.

BTW: My advice would be to get an iPad. Android will leave you with latency and an almost surrealistic narrow range of apps compared to the iPad, both in quantity and quality.

Post

IncarnateX wrote:
golemus wrote:I would pretty much just collect ideas (melodies, basslines, etc..) then hopefully export them somehow to Ableton Live and continue the tune there. So I probably wouldn't need that much of samples or anything...
Sounds like 16 gb could be enough for you depending on what else you will use your iPad for. I have a 32 Gb iPad mini 2, 80+ music apps, a few documents, even fewer photos and still got 11,64 gb free disk space. I transfer my tracks to computer once finished. Once in a while I install a game but have only managed to get down to 5 gb free storage even so. If you want to be on the safe side I would say 32 gb.

BTW: My advice would be to get an iPad. Android will leave you with latency and an almost surrealistic narrow range of apps compared to the iPad, both in quantity and quality.
yeah, i think 32gb is a good compromise

i am currently running at about 6 gig free on a 16gig, with many music apps incl. alchemy with about 5 libraries..i do have to be pretty brutal with app selection, keeping other apps down to a minimum. if you are happy to keep on top of space management then everything is possible, but i'd still go for 32 to allow a buffer (and so you can enjoy all 1.2 gigs of 'real racing' :D )

Post

I am platform agnostic, so the tech is not as important as app availability. To that end, any IOS platform will offer phenomenal mobile studio options to suit just about every musicians needs. I currently use a two device setup:

Device 1: iPod Touch 4/32gb with the Akai Synthstation and Peavey Amplink
Device 2: iPad 3/16gb with Akai MPK Mini or Alesis IO Dock and Axiom 25

I didn't buy all the parts at once; the setup kinda came together as I took advantage of some pretty aggressive sales (Akai MPK Mini and Synthstation cost me $25 each). I also waited to buy the software when it was on deep discount. After putting the pieces in place, I used a strategy that i think maximizes the strength of each device. I use the iPad as the recording studio, so I only installed apps that take advantage of inter-app audio. I use the iPod setup as an external synth, multi-fx unit and loop library. Both setup works really well in a variety of settings, especially when I have someone playing the iPod setup, while I focus on the iPad setup.

In terms of how much ram you should get, I agree that more is always better, but you can get by with 16 gigs quite nicely if you tolerate only installing the apps you need for a particular project. Keeping every single app you own on your iPad at all times (just in case you need them)is not necessary. You only need to have a DAW app and a few synth/drum apps to sketch and develop a song. If you decide you need sounds from another synth, you can quickly download it as needed (which is why you should have a itunes library that is kept up to date, just in case you need an app, but don't have WIFI access). Additionally, you can use your iTunes Library as a loop manager, which you can access on your iPad using the home sharing function.

Post

I went for a 32GB iPad and haven't looked back. The storage space is definitely adequate combined with a good storage v price ratio it's the one to go for. Mind you, this was before the iPad mini was out. Not sure which one I'd go for now.

Post Reply

Return to “Mobile Apps and Hardware”