On-the-go music making device

[Tj Shredder]

I always preferred the iPad mini over the bigger ones, because my Macbook Air 11” is about the size of the bigger iPads, but way more powerful and flexible...
The surfaces are tempting, as Bitwig supports the touch screen though...

[Tj Shredder]

For those mentioning an iPad show me the best track you’ve heard or made on one, it doesn’t have to be yours. I’m yet to hear anything even average coming from one.

That’s not to say the synths and FX aren’t great; they are, but a full track I’m yet to hear. BTW I don’t consider 1 drum kit, 1 lead and 1 bass a track.

I love this one, completely done on an iPad including the video...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6bQ3TNSmPdY

[Mushy Mushy]

For those mentioning an iPad show me the best track you’ve heard or made on one, it doesn’t have to be yours. I’m yet to hear anything even average coming from one.

That’s not to say the synths and FX aren’t great; they are, but a full track I’m yet to hear. BTW I don’t consider 1 drum kit, 1 lead and 1 bass a track.

I love this one, completely done on an iPad including the video...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6bQ3TNSmPdY

Yes that does sound great indeed. Definitely the best I’ve seen.

I think anything more complicated and it would struggle though. For example, is it possible to loads dozens of synths and FX into a DAW?

[Tj Shredder]

Hey, the op asked for on the go and compared iPad to two hardware options. Of course a decent laptop has more options... But its also a question of what kind of music you have in mind, and what does inspire you most. If you want to jam away on the road, some knobs and buttons can be what you need more than options...

[Mushy Mushy]

Hey, the op asked for on the go and compared iPad to two hardware options. Of course a decent laptop has more options... But its also a question of what kind of music you have in mind, and what does inspire you most. If you want to jam away on the road, some knobs and buttons can be what you need more than options...

Not arguing I'm genuinely curious.

[Cinebient]

For those mentioning an iPad show me the best track you’ve heard or made on one, it doesn’t have to be yours. I’m yet to hear anything even average coming from one.

That’s not to say the synths and FX aren’t great; they are, but a full track I’m yet to hear. BTW I don’t consider 1 drum kit, 1 lead and 1 bass a track.

I love this one, completely done on an iPad including the video...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6bQ3TNSmPdY

Yes that does sound great indeed. Definitely the best I’ve seen.

I think anything more complicated and it would struggle though. For example, is it possible to loads dozens of synths and FX into a DAW?

Sure, maybe search yourself, there are tons of examples. The only thing which is hard are most realistic orchestral things, otherwise its up to you. But there are also people doing interesting things in this field like this guy f.e. making everything on iPads.
https://soundcloud.com/scottvanzandt/cl ... r-district
You even can do all that on an iPhone....of course its not easy but it is possible.
Here he use NS2 which can handle 50+ instances of the intern synth which i find even better than some of my expensive plug-ins.
But anyway useless to try tp prove something to others. Lust let it go. But i say the right people can do amazing things with iOS devices which the could not do on a laptop and vice versa. At the end there is NO different in quality (depending on the genre in some cases).

[Mushy Mushy]

Sure, maybe search yourself, there are tons of examples. The only thing which is hard are most realistic orchestral things, otherwise its up to you. But there are also people doing interesting things in this field like this guy f.e. making everything on iPads.
https://soundcloud.com/scottvanzandt/cl ... r-district
You even can do all that on an iPhone....of course its not easy but it is possible.
Here he use NS2 which can handle 50+ instances of the intern synth which i find even better than some of my expensive plug-ins.
But anyway useless to try tp prove something to others. Lust let it go. But i say the right people can do amazing things with iOS devices which the could not do on a laptop and vice versa. At the end there is NO different in quality (depending on the genre in some cases).

Thanks for that. I wasn't really trying to start an argument but I'm sure it will end that way so I'm happy to leave it here

[Cinebient]

Sure, maybe search yourself, there are tons of examples. The only thing which is hard are most realistic orchestral things, otherwise its up to you. But there are also people doing interesting things in this field like this guy f.e. making everything on iPads.
https://soundcloud.com/scottvanzandt/cl ... r-district
You even can do all that on an iPhone....of course its not easy but it is possible.
Here he use NS2 which can handle 50+ instances of the intern synth which i find even better than some of my expensive plug-ins.
But anyway useless to try tp prove something to others. Lust let it go. But i say the right people can do amazing things with iOS devices which the could not do on a laptop and vice versa. At the end there is NO different in quality (depending on the genre in some cases).

Thanks for that. I wasn't really trying to start an argument but I'm sure it will end that way so I'm happy to leave it here

Well , nothing wrong if its not for you but for some it is enough. Like i said i also think to switch back again (maybe it will take a year since i still miss some things).
I agree that i can go further personally with my mac but that is not always prove for quality and more important creativity.
Just as little other example 100 songs you-tube playlist from just one iOS DAW with various things. Of course there is much more possible and there are tons of examples to find. I think there are some nice ones there. As usual people also can make crap with the best tools and vice versa.
For mixing/mastering there might be a gap but you also get now the best Fabfilter tools, Eventide and other big players on iOS devices. Its still early days there but i see more innovation there, especially in terms of on hand expession without a ton of extern devices. Beside hardware it is the best thing ever invented in terms of switch on and play. You also of course can take things further with big DAWs and whatever on your desktop. But in terms of sequencing and expressive play without a need of MPE devices etc. iOS devices are far better than the most powerful desktop ever could.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLny ... =emb_title

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Sinking Feeling's debut album, “iPolysix Sessions Vol. 1,” was created entirely on the Apple iPad using Korg’s iPolysix app.

https://sinkingfeeling.bandcamp.com/track/soundstate

"Sinking Gadget" by Sinking Feeling
Created entirely on Apple's iPad with KORG's Gadget application. "Sinking Gadget" is 17 tracks taken from a selection of 75 tracks written between Jan 21 (gadget release date) and feb 18 (album release date).

https://sinkingfeeling.bandcamp.com/track/mellisonant

[Cinebient]

Also a lot apps seems even a lot more efficient than you think since everything runs always on one core and still some apps allow you to use 30, 40 or more instances of a synth plus FX (which i would say are on par with good stock FX from most major DAWs) on old devices while on my mac some just slightly better sounding tools (or just on par) break my quadcore i7.
Another part (beside piracy) on desktops, laptops i do not like is bad coded things which had to run on 1000 different configurations, DAWS, OS etc. Then there are still a lot GUI on desktop (Kontakt, Reaktor etc..) which are so 1990 while 95% on iPhone, iPad looks really optimized an up tp date.
Yes, i often hate iOS and its limitations and i try to love my mac, all the plug-ins and also tried to like some windows solutions but it all does not feel like future in some ways.
Of course that all is a personal thing. But if you do not need all the fancy stuff and 1000 instances of oversampled reverbs and overpriced synth plug-ins an iPad is a wonderful thing for a bedhead producer. When i then hear that the Audio Modeling SWAM instruments soon comes for $15 each there is of course another pro for such a mobile device.
At least until Apple breaks something again

[Mushy Mushy]

Sinking Feeling's debut album, “iPolysix Sessions Vol. 1,” was created entirely on the Apple iPad using Korg’s iPolysix app.

https://sinkingfeeling.bandcamp.com/track/soundstate

"Sinking Gadget" by Sinking Feeling
Created entirely on Apple's iPad with KORG's Gadget application. "Sinking Gadget" is 17 tracks taken from a selection of 75 tracks written between Jan 21 (gadget release date) and feb 18 (album release date).

https://sinkingfeeling.bandcamp.com/track/mellisonant

Ok, now that's what I was looking for. Not my cup of tea music wise but I can see complex arrangements are possible. I stand corrected.

[Tj Shredder]

I am pretty sure a recent iPad pro has power comparable to my air or any smaller laptop... The instrument and fx are top quality thanks to Juce which allows to share the same code base for iOS and desktop applications, but the apps cost about 1/10 of the price... Its easy for developers to code for all platforms that way and they do...
Combine it with a keyboard and you’re off to go. But I still prefer a real computer. Way more flexible and not that prone to Apples world domination tendencies...