iOS recording frustrations
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 5:23 am
Here's the DL;DR:
1) is there any recording software for this thing that isn't a chore? I normally use Ableton or Reaper, but I have also used, Pro Tools, Vegas, Logic, and few more I'm blanking on.
2) is there any way to get power to the iPad Pro (with USB3, not Lightning) while also using a USB3 breakout box - in this case, a MOTU M4?
3) anyone know any fun sample playback software that would let me scrub audio? I do a lot of stuff with tapes on my old four-track, which is dying (again) - playing things backwards/half speed/double speed/riding the pitch wheel.
RANT BELOW:
I recently bought an 11" iPad Pro, with the idea of using it as a sample playback device, a four-track, and a couple of soft synths.
Boy, have I been frustrated.
I got one of those new MOTU M4 USB3 boxes, and it works fine. One of many problems I am having is that for some reason, no one thought that perhaps something that runs on an iPad should have some sort of power source, rather than forcing you to run off a battery all the time. Perhaps I'd like to make music for more than 45 minutes at a time.
Sweetwater has been worse than useless on this - they sold me a hub that will either supply the iPad with power, OR connect it to the M4, but not both at the same time.
When I expressed surprise at this, I was told I was expecting too much by asking an iOS device to work with an iOS compatible peripheral while running iOS software.
If anyone has any idea on how to supply power to an electronic device while simultaneously using said device - something that I never even dreamed would be an insurmountable problem, I'd be delighted to hear your solution, because Sweetwater and MOTU both keep recommending things that might work, but they aren't sure.
Seems like an oversight.
People keep recommending this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... iport.html but no one seems to know if it will actually work.
Garageband for iOS isn't making me feel better about dropping a grand on what is increasingly looking like a useless status symbol. It's like they took regular Garageband and put a team of scientists together to figure out how to take all the fun out of it. Literally every single thing I have tried to do in garageband for ios has been a miserable chore:
1) want to loop a section in the middle of your recording so you can work out a part, like literally every single piece of DAW software I have used since 1993 (yes, I had Session 8 back then) has been capable of? NOPE.
2) want to change the length of your recording? you can't double-tap and type in a number. If you drag on the temp number, each 1/16 of an inch will increase the number of bars by around 75-100 bars. This is literally true. The other option is to tap the up arrow 56 times to get the 8 bars up to 64. This has turned out to be faster.
3) want to be able to see your arrangement/timeline while you record, again, like literally every single piece of recording software I have used since 1993?
You can not, but you can look at a pretty picture of the amp simulator while you try and remember which bar you are on.
I remember when Apple products were more than ostentatious status symbols designed to force you to buy a legion of tchotchkes to supply basic functionality.
1) is there any recording software for this thing that isn't a chore? I normally use Ableton or Reaper, but I have also used, Pro Tools, Vegas, Logic, and few more I'm blanking on.
2) is there any way to get power to the iPad Pro (with USB3, not Lightning) while also using a USB3 breakout box - in this case, a MOTU M4?
3) anyone know any fun sample playback software that would let me scrub audio? I do a lot of stuff with tapes on my old four-track, which is dying (again) - playing things backwards/half speed/double speed/riding the pitch wheel.
RANT BELOW:
I recently bought an 11" iPad Pro, with the idea of using it as a sample playback device, a four-track, and a couple of soft synths.
Boy, have I been frustrated.
I got one of those new MOTU M4 USB3 boxes, and it works fine. One of many problems I am having is that for some reason, no one thought that perhaps something that runs on an iPad should have some sort of power source, rather than forcing you to run off a battery all the time. Perhaps I'd like to make music for more than 45 minutes at a time.
Sweetwater has been worse than useless on this - they sold me a hub that will either supply the iPad with power, OR connect it to the M4, but not both at the same time.
When I expressed surprise at this, I was told I was expecting too much by asking an iOS device to work with an iOS compatible peripheral while running iOS software.
If anyone has any idea on how to supply power to an electronic device while simultaneously using said device - something that I never even dreamed would be an insurmountable problem, I'd be delighted to hear your solution, because Sweetwater and MOTU both keep recommending things that might work, but they aren't sure.
Seems like an oversight.
People keep recommending this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... iport.html but no one seems to know if it will actually work.
Garageband for iOS isn't making me feel better about dropping a grand on what is increasingly looking like a useless status symbol. It's like they took regular Garageband and put a team of scientists together to figure out how to take all the fun out of it. Literally every single thing I have tried to do in garageband for ios has been a miserable chore:
1) want to loop a section in the middle of your recording so you can work out a part, like literally every single piece of DAW software I have used since 1993 (yes, I had Session 8 back then) has been capable of? NOPE.
2) want to change the length of your recording? you can't double-tap and type in a number. If you drag on the temp number, each 1/16 of an inch will increase the number of bars by around 75-100 bars. This is literally true. The other option is to tap the up arrow 56 times to get the 8 bars up to 64. This has turned out to be faster.
3) want to be able to see your arrangement/timeline while you record, again, like literally every single piece of recording software I have used since 1993?
You can not, but you can look at a pretty picture of the amp simulator while you try and remember which bar you are on.
I remember when Apple products were more than ostentatious status symbols designed to force you to buy a legion of tchotchkes to supply basic functionality.