Good audio-midi interface for iPad Air 2?

[aMUSEd]

I'm just about to get an iPad Air 2 and would like a decent interface to go with it. Should be something portable, handle stereo audio and midi ins and outs, and ideally with the ability to keep the iPad charged too.

[aMUSEd]

How about this one?

http://www.thomann.de/gb/griffin_studio ... htning.htm

[ezelkow1]

why not just get an actual interface at that price? Ive never understood the expensive iOS only interfaces when many regular interfaces out there will support an ipad. At that price may as well just get a komplete 6, EIE, scarlett 2i4, etc. and then you have an interface you can use both at home and with an ipad. The only downside is that it wouldnt keep the ipad charged, since no device that relies on the camera connection kit will charge, but you get so much more flexibility

However if charging is high on your list then you dont have much of a choice because of the cck, at least until someone comes out with one that will work in all instances without the cck. Though some people have mentioned powered hubs can be used to power the external interfaces instead of the ipads power, and some have also used those usb batteries meant to charge iphones to power the devices as well.

[BiancaNeve]

Have a look at

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roland-DUO-CAPT ... capture+ex

Won't charge the iPad but at least you're not tied to a power socket

[bmrzycki]

Hey aMUSEd, I'm in the market for the exact same thing. The problems I have with the one you posted are the following:

1. That big volume knob on the front is for the headphone jack, not for the output volume. The small knob on the side is for line-level gain. You have to use an external volume source to adjust levels exiting the RCAs on the back.

The DAC in there is a lower-quality consumer grade one that only supports 44.1kHz/24-bit. (see here: http://forum.loopyapp.com/discussion/12 ... ect-review ) documentation.

The line input has no mic pre, it's line-level only.

I would have purchased that unit if it were about $49-$59. But at prices north of $120 I don't think it's a good deal at all.

Here's the manual.
http://griffintechnology.com/sites/defa ... Manual.pdf

I was interested in the Griffin StudioConnectHD but that one so far is nothing more than marketing. It was announced almost a year ago at the last NAMM and we haven't heard a peep from Griffin since.

I have yet to find an interface that is compatible with the iPad Air 2, charges it, and has a decent DAC + Pres + Midi. The closest I've found is the Focusrite iTrack but that doesn't work with the Air 2.

I'm hoping NAMM in a few weeks will showcase some interfaces for the iPad.

[aMUSEd]

why not just get an actual interface at that price?

Because I already have a decent RME interface - it's just not iPad compatible. So I just need something relatively cheap for the iPad and preferably something specialised for iPad tech.

[aMUSEd]

Hey aMUSEd, I'm in the market for the exact same thing. The problems I have with the one you posted are the following:

1. That big volume knob on the front is for the headphone jack, not for the output volume. The small knob on the side is for line-level gain. You have to use an external volume source to adjust levels exiting the RCAs on the back.

The DAC in there is a lower-quality consumer grade one that only supports 44.1kHz/24-bit. (see here: http://forum.loopyapp.com/discussion/12 ... ect-review ) documentation.

The line input has no mic pre, it's line-level only.

I would have purchased that unit if it were about $49-$59. But at prices north of $120 I don't think it's a good deal at all.

Here's the manual.
http://griffintechnology.com/sites/defa ... Manual.pdf

I was interested in the Griffin StudioConnectHD but that one so far is nothing more than marketing. It was announced almost a year ago at the last NAMM and we haven't heard a peep from Griffin since.

I have yet to find an interface that is compatible with the iPad Air 2, charges it, and has a decent DAC + Pres + Midi. The closest I've found is the Focusrite iTrack but that doesn't work with the Air 2.

I'm hoping NAMM in a few weeks will showcase some interfaces for the iPad.

Maybe this would be the answer?

https://iconnectivity.com/iConnectAUDIO4plus

I suspect it will be more costly than the iConnect 4x though - so I might just go for this:

https://iconnectivity.com/products/midi ... tMIDI2plus

[bmrzycki]

Maybe this would be the answer?
https://iconnectivity.com/iConnectAUDIO4plus
I suspect it will be more costly than the iConnect 4x though - so I might just go for this:
https://iconnectivity.com/products/midi ... tMIDI2plus

I like the iconnectivity people and think the audio plus is awesome. Unfortunately, it too is still TBD. Until then I'm stuck with the CCK for midi and a 3.5mm adapter for audio.

[aMUSEd]

Yeah at the moment I'm using a Midi Mobiliser 2 and the 3.5 adapter, or when I don't need midi in and want better audio out I use this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008 ... d_i=468294

but neither will work with my new iPad (without another adapter at least)

[aMUSEd]

I'm ruling out the Griffin one anyway, on reflection the upright docking position is probably not that useful - I prefer to have my iPad on the desk just at a slight angle (using the Smart case to prop it) - you get a more secure position for touching controls that way.

[bmrzycki]

I'm ruling out the Griffin one anyway, on reflection the upright docking position is probably not that useful - I prefer to have my iPad on the desk just at a slight angle (using the Smart case to prop it) - you get a more secure position for touching controls that way.

Good luck. I'll post on this thread if I find anything interesting in the coming weeks.

[ValliSoftware]

Maybe this would be the answer?

https://iconnectivity.com/iConnectAUDIO4plus

I suspect it will be more costly than the iConnect 4x though - so I might just go for this:

https://iconnectivity.com/products/midi ... tMIDI2plus

I use this one from iConnectivity

https://iconnectivity.com/products/midi ... tMIDI2plus

I can control MIDI to the iPad MINI, iPod Touch from my Mac and can grab audio from the iPad MINI, iPod Touch and my 2nd generation iPad to send to Logic and Twisted Wave Lite.
You'll need to purchase the adapter to keep your iDevice from draining. I think the adapter comes with thier MIDI4+.

There is a known audio recording delay issue but since I use Logic Pro X, I'm able to make a setting within Logic Pro X and I can get rid of that issue.
I posted how I did that here. I have a link within the description of the user that pointed out this delay issue.

[aMUSEd]

You'll need to purchase the adapter to keep your iDevice from draining. I think the adapter comes with thier MIDI4+.

I presume they expect people to buy their €24 adapter but it looks like a bog standard 6V transformer to me - I'm sure I have several already, if not I can pick one up for a quarter of that price.

[duncanm]

I'm also looking around for something that I can occasionally use with the ipad as well as just replacing my current 10 year old x-station's interface, and the Komplete Audio 6 does seem to be a reasonable price at the moment and also works (with a powered USB hub)

Would this be a good option? I assume that for some others, the fact that it only works with USB power kind of defeats the point if you want to do it 'on the move', but thought I'd ask!

[bmrzycki]

Would this be a good option? I assume that for some others, the fact that it only works with USB power kind of defeats the point if you want to do it 'on the move', but thought I'd ask!

That will work provided you are OK with the iPad not being charged during use. The power to the USB hub only provides power to the KA6.