My $15 iPad Midi interface solution

[SBX-80]

I wasn't sure if this was going to work, but since it was cheap, it was worth taking a chance and I ordered a few cables which I got today.

After testing them out real quick, I am pleased to report that it works!

It's real simple and real cheap.

You buy 2 of those Midi > USB cables that can be found online many places. I got mine from Amazon, $5 each.

You buy 1 or 2 of those Female MIDI to Female MIDI Connectors. I got mine from Amazon, about $4. If you want both Midi in & out, then you need 2, if you only need in or out, then 1 is sufficient.

You connect the 2 Midi> USB cables together, using the Female MIDI to Female MIDI connector in the middle.

You plug one end into your computer and you plug the other end into your iPad with the camera connection kit. No drivers needed, no USB hubs needed. It's instantly recognized by both my Mac and my iPad.

I fired up a Yamaha arpeggio/drum/keyboard app on the iPad and I was controlling Logic perfectly recording awesome arpeggios within seconds.

So, if anybody is looking for a real cheap MIDI solution for iPad that works, then I thought that I would pass on what I found out.

[lowkey]

Cool

[login]

some one to try it on PC?

[shadowfac]

What about MIDI over WiFi?

[SBX-80]

Originally Posted by login

some one to try it on PC?

I don't have any PC's to test it on, but the description does say that it is compatible with Vista and XP at least.

USB MIDI Cable Converter PC to Music Keyboard Window Win Vista XP, Mac OS

Here's a link to what the cable looks like:

http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Converte.../dp/B0017H4EBG

And here's a link to what the female MIDI connector looks like:

Amazon.com: Hosa GMD108 Female MIDI to Female MIDI Connector: Musical Instruments

[SBX-80]

Originally Posted by shadowfac

What about MIDI over WiFi?

That works fine too. The main reason I wanted wired MIDI, is that not every app works with WIFI core midi.

[DSK]

This means that if I just want to use it with midi synths than I just use the camera connection kit.

I use this cable :

MUSONIK International - Terrasoniq Midi One

It's seamless and works way better than the cheap one (the exact 5$ one you linked that a friend tried it on his Virus and the usb to midi couldn't handle all the midi dropping notes etc)..

So this means that all I need is a camera connection kit!

Thank you so much!

[SBX-80]

Originally Posted by DSK

This means that if I just want to use it with midi synths than I just use the camera connection kit.

I use this cable :

MUSONIK International - Terrasoniq Midi One

It's seamless and works way better than the cheap one (the exact 5$ one you linked that a friend tried it on his Virus and the usb to midi couldn't handle all the midi dropping notes etc)..

So this means that all I need is a camera connection kit!

Thank you so much!

Yes, to connect a midi synth to the iPad, that cable which you linked to and a camera kit looks like it should do the job nicely.

The cheap cable which I linked to does do one thing which the other cable can not. It can both send and receive Midi at the same time.

If somebody is just going to connect a midi keyboard to an iPad, then a one way connection is probably all that's needed, but for my needs, I need the midi signal going both ways, as I want the iPad to both send Midi messages and to receive Midi so that it can sync to external clock.

Good luck!

[fooloof]

Originally Posted by SBX-80

Yes, to connect a midi synth to the iPad, that cable which you linked to and a camera kit looks like it should do the job nicely.

The cheap cable which I linked to does do one thing which the other cable can not. It can both send and receive Midi at the same time.

If somebody is just going to connect a midi keyboard to an iPad, then a one way connection is probably all that's needed, but for my needs, I need the midi signal going both ways, as I want the iPad to both send Midi messages and to receive Midi so that it can sync to external clock.

Good luck!

So, is the advantage of using the Ipad the fact that there are a lot of cheap apps that you can use to control your DAW?

[SBX-80]

Originally Posted by fooloof

So, is the advantage of using the Ipad the fact that there are a lot of cheap apps that you can use to control your DAW?

That's one use for it, there are others also.

Using apps like Touch OSC, I basically use the iPad as a big remote control for Logic, and I can control fader levels, EQ settings and third party plugin parameters from the iPAD wirelessly. It's useful when doing your own vocals or recording instruments as you can control the DAW from anywhere in your house or studio.

I can also use the iPad as a Midi controller, controlling other softsynths and hardware synths directly from the iPad. Using drum pads on the iPad to trigger drums on a sampler and switching to arpeggios for example to control synths which don't have such features built in to them.

I can also use the iPad and treat it as a regular hardware synth, sending Midi into the iPad and recording the audio out from the iPad into a DAW. There are some decent synths and apps on the iPad that have no counterparts on any other platform. The multitouch screen opens up new possibilities for expression. Apps like Animoog are a good example of this.

[DSK]

Originally Posted by SBX-80

Yes, to connect a midi synth to the iPad, that cable which you linked to and a camera kit looks like it should do the job nicely.

The cheap cable which I linked to does do one thing which the other cable can not. It can both send and receive Midi at the same time.

If somebody is just going to connect a midi keyboard to an iPad, then a one way connection is probably all that's needed, but for my needs, I need the midi signal going both ways, as I want the iPad to both send Midi messages and to receive Midi so that it can sync to external clock.

Good luck!

Thanks man.

I have an EMU X-Midi that has both ins and outs so that would work well for receiving and sending.

Actually I'm thinking to get another Terrasoniq and have them connected like you said with a female to female.

That should work using just two of them because the Midi One both receives and sends.

I think it should work to send messages both ways!

[fooloof]

Originally Posted by SBX-80

That's one use for it, there are others also.

Using apps like Touch OSC, I basically use the iPad as a big remote control for Logic, and I can control fader levels, EQ settings and third party plugin parameters from the iPAD wirelessly. It's useful when doing your own vocals or recording instruments as you can control the DAW from anywhere in your house or studio.

I can also use the iPad as a Midi controller, controlling other softsynths and hardware synths directly from the iPad. Using drum pads on the iPad to trigger drums on a sampler and switching to arpeggios for example to control synths which don't have such features built in to them.

I can also use the iPad and treat it as a regular hardware synth, sending Midi into the iPad and recording the audio out from the iPad into a DAW. There are some decent synths and apps on the iPad that have no counterparts on any other platform. The multitouch screen opens up new possibilities for expression. Apps like Animoog are a good example of this.

sounds like some cool stuff, especially being able to record own vocals or drums. This beats hitting record and then running to the mic or drum set!

Also, the Animoog is one app I definitely could see recording.

[dougt]

If you already have a MIDI interface on your computer (as most of you probably do) then you can just get one of those cheap USB to MIDI cables which has MIDI in and out on it and plug it into the camera kits USB as I've mentioned in previous topics here... I got one on ebay for $2 shipped.

[SBX-80]

Originally Posted by dougt

If you already have a MIDI interface on your computer (as most of you probably do) then you can just get one of those cheap USB to MIDI cables which has MIDI in and out on it and plug it into the camera kits USB as I've mentioned in previous topics here... I got one on ebay for $2 shipped.

That's the same cable I used, though it looks like I paid $3 more for mine. I already own multiple midi interfaces. I got two of those MIDI>USB cables, to eliminate the midi interface from the picture. I just wanted a cable that goes directly from the computer and into the iPad, without using any hardware midi interface box and two of those cheap USB>MIDI cables gives me that.

[ktown]

Is it possible to connect your ipad to your computer via usb? I wanna use it as a midi fighter with no latency

[Itsmorning]

Originally Posted by blastbeat

TouchOSC supports MIDI over USB.

Really? Is this recent? I was going to get an ipad to use as a controller for my pc but when I tested the latency through wireless there was too much to be used as a controller. When I looked for USB connections I only found one solution and it required some serious adjustemets to your USB conncetion to be workable and many users were experiencing difficulties as the ipad doesn't have a standard USB port.

Anyways as a remedy I recently purchased a widows 7 tablet and i am really happy with the results. Smithsons emulator is way too awesome, how do you like having ableton and your custom touch screen interface all on one slate and then hdmi out to a separate screen to see your daw. I'm using ableton, reason, trillian, omnisphere, zebra flawlessly. With an i5 processor it can actually handle a good load of vsts and channels with dpc latency staying in the green. Ipad will never be able to have a full fledged daw from a touchscreen input who's touch sample size is that of a finger tip. To make precise changes that high powered instruments require you need a wacom pen.

Edit: sorry if that sounds negative. Ipad and touchscreens are awesome as controllers when you have huge buttons/knobs but not with wireless latency

[Itsmorning]

Originally Posted by blastbeat

Yes really. It's had that feature for a while.

You can easily use an adhoc network directly between the ipad and the computer without a need for wifi or a router for low latency wireless connection.

You just need the CCK adapter which gives it a USB port. Works great with no complications.

How is the battery life on that thing?

5 hours for battery life (samsung series 7 slate, I beleive it's rated higher but u know real world usage is whole nother) I've read those adhoc connections don't work for everyone and can lead to frustration. So you use the camera kit to get the USB out of the ipad to the computer?

[troublegum]

Originally Posted by blastbeat

Yup. Audio/MIDI in and out.

great.

I had hotspot/ad hoc issues during gigs (crappy network card), looks like i'm going to use TouchOSC wired now.

I was considering getting 2 midi interfaces (one for the ipad, one for the computer) and I'm glad I don't have to.

[troublegum]

are you sure it can work only with the CCK and an USB cable ? (without any usb to midi + midi USB adapter trick)

I got a CCK and it doesn't work at all with a USB cable alone.

[troublegum]

just got confirmation from the guy who makes touchOSC that it doesn't work and that you still need 2 usb to midi interfaces.

(update) : and from the guy who makes rtpmidi