ipad and virtual midi

[sazb30]

I'm still getting to grips with my new ipad and was wondering if anyone could help me understand how virtual midi works...?

Am I right in thinking that I can use one app (like say Geo Synth or Thumbjam) to control another (such as Alchemy mobile)?

Do I need something like Midi Bridge to be able to do this or will it just work if the apps in question support virtual midi?

Is there a particular set-up process?

Can the audio produced from one app controlling another actually be recorded? (and then used in a DAW type app - Auria or Garageband say)

Sorry if these are dumb questions but I'm an ipad noob and any advice would be much appreciated!!

thanks guys

[gdog]

Hi saz,

Here r some answers -

Am I right in thinking that I can use one app (like say Geo Synth or Thumbjam) to control another (such as Alchemy mobile)?

Yes, but some apps don't work as expected, especially since ios6, so experiment & see.

Do I need something like Midi Bridge to be able to do this or will it just work if the apps in question support virtual midi?

Only certain apps require MB, all others just work

Is there a particular set-up process?

Only make sure that midi is not turned on twice, eg in Music Studio if I have midi out turned on (sending to NLog for example), I don't turn midi in on in NLog too - this causes some wierd midi repeating.

Can the audio produced from one app controlling another actually be recorded? (and then used in a DAW type app - Auria or Garageband say)

Most synth apps have a recording function, so u can set them to record before playing them with another app. Just be aware if they have a limit to how long u can record. Once recorded u can then use a function called audio copy & paste (ACP) the audio into your daw app - there's usually an option to do this in the best synth apps. Another option is to use a portable recorder like Yamaha's pocketrak. Soon Audiobus will be released which would let u record into sequencer apps like Music Studio & Beatmaker 2, but atm, u have to use the other methods

Sorry if these are dumb questions but I'm an ipad noob and any advice would be much appreciated!!

not dumb at all.

All the best

[hogo]

^^ that is a great answer.

[gdog]

<3

[sazb30]

Thanks so much gdog... Very helpful and informative reply! Better get experimenting!

[sazb30]

Another option is to use a portable recorder like Yamaha's pocketrak...

Just wondering how that would work? I do have a little portable recorder... Can you send the audio out of the headphone jack or would an audio interface be needed?

Cheers!

[gdog]

If u have an iPad 3 or older u can use an interface like the GuitarJack model 2 or any other interface (that's the only 1 I'm familiar with, but there are others) to send audio out of the headphone jack. If u have a newer iPad that has the narrower lightning connector, u can still use the GJ2, but you'll need a lightning adapter, I'm sure the devs of GJ can help with that info, if u need it .

Another method is to use iTunes, or Diskaid (I use diskaid), & transfer ur recording from your recorder to your pc, then to your ios daw app.

All the best.

[sazb30]

thanks gdog... I'm a bit confused though.. I looked at GuitarJack (bit pricey!!) and see that its only output is a headphone output... If I used this output to connect to my field recorder, I wouldn't be able to hear what I was doing, would I? (ie, no additional connection for my headphones...)

Can you also explain the second method a bit more please? I looked at Diskaid and it looks like a useful way to access the file system of the ipad. Are you saying that you would use the above method to get the audio onto the field recorder first? Then use diskaid to get it off the recorder and back into the ipad? It seems like a lot of steps - from ipad onto recorder, from recorder onto PC, from PC back onto ipad. What would be the advantage of doing it this way rather than just recording in the ipad and copy/pasting the audio between apps?

Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me!

[gdog]

Hi Saz,

Well the Pocketrak I use has the ability to monitor recordings, but yours doesn't. You could get a Belkin Rockstar, which can split inputs, but also let's u connect headphones. However for every device u connect the volume drops, but should still be usable. Search amazon & u'll find it - v.cheap. All u do, is connect ur iPad, recorder & headphones to the Rockstar, the connections work both ways, so it knows when it's receiving ins & outputs.

Re 2nd method - yes, u understood correctly. Some apps don't have ACP, like Samplewiz, TriqTraq, etc - So this is another way to export audio out of apps. It isn't as nice as app having ACP, but it's a (longer) solution

Your welcome, & all the best

[sazb30]

Ok, cool. Thanks a lot gdog!

[sazb30]

Sorry to bump this thread again but I need some help setting up virtual midi connections between thumbjam and alchemy pro..

I have enabled core midi in thumbjam and muted the output, and I have enabled virtual midi in alchemy but thumjam is not playing alchemy. The thumjam manual just describes each menu rather than explaining the process so I'm a bit stuck!

I guess I'm missing a step somewhere...

If anyone could talk me through the steps that would be really helpful..

Thanks!

[gdog]

Hi Saz,

I didn't mute TJ, but here's the steps I used -

. In alchemy, menu, midi, turn on virtual midi, then in the same menu, Configuration, tap Midi In, tap Any Source, tap all channels, or the channel u know you're using
. In TJ, Pref menu, Midi Control, turn on Use core midi & Active in background, scroll down to Midi output connections, Alchemy should be listed, turn it on

All the best <3

[sazb30]

Yay! It works! Thanks a million gdog