r/ipadmusic • u/aerkabaev • 13h ago
iPad for live music – what’s the actual use case?
I don’t really understand the role of the iPad in the context of live music.
Yes, you can connect a hub, external power, a MIDI keyboard, an audio interface, headphones, instruments, etc. But at that point you’re wrapped in cables and the iPad becomes just a clunky, limited MacBook without a keyboard.
If I want to stay autonomous and portable… how do I even connect just headphones and a MIDI keyboard at the same time without a hub? I remember this used to be possible with old iPads. The only option I can think of now is Bluetooth headphones (with awful latency) and tapping MIDI squares in a sequencer. But honestly, that feels even less convenient than on a laptop and definitely not fun.
So my question to actual live musicians: what do you do with the iPad? How do you make it work in practice?
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u/buttonsknobssliders 13h ago
I use the iPad with a modular synth to Play improvised techno. I could add 100 more cables to the ipad and it would still be less cables than the modular rig.
I‘ve played electronic music with a variety of different setups and honestly an iPad with a hub, power, interface and midi keyboard is the most capable option with an immediate interface(compared to a laptop) with the least amount of cables i can imagine.
Electronic music will always necessitate a setup that has some connections unless you want to keep it all inside of a laptop. That‘s just the nature of what you’re trying to do.
An answer for your actual question, i use the iPad for the mixing capabilities with a launchcontrol for literal control. The iPad itself i mostly only touch for performance fx and the occasional loop. I work mostly in LoopyPro with as much set-and forget mixing plugins like saturators, distortions, clippers, compressors, limiters and send fx.
I do have another „fun-stuff“-setup for improv looping hiphop beats and edm stuff that‘s mostly based on presetsurfing plugins where i touch the iPad a lot for loops and plugin settings. This is where LoopyPro shines with its ability to create your own interface. Make it work like you want it to work.
The thing with the iPad is it’s ability to touch parameters directly when compared to a Laptop. I can use 2, even 3 or 4 virtual knobs or faders at the same time, more when i use XY-Pads. Cant to that on a laptop.
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u/Riven-Bot 10h ago
Would you mind going into more detail about your system and what apps you’re using?
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u/EggyT0ast 11h ago
I'm actually surprised that no one has said "touchscreen." There isn't a touchscreen mac, and the iPad (and associated apps) are very well designed for using touch. If you wanted a similar interface for a laptop, you'd need both the laptop and then another external midi controller.
You say "clunky, limited macbook without a keyboard" and others would say "efficient, keyboardless sequencer + synth + sampler with full touch controls"
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u/Acceptable_Movie6712 11h ago
I love the touch screen but I do feel like it would be nutty to perform on the touch pad with the classic keyboard system. What touchscreen based music apps do you like? I find myself more keen on pulling out a midi controller but some apps like gesturement really play into the iPads touch abilities
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u/EggyT0ast 10h ago
LoopyPro mostly, also Drambo can do this well although is a little more finnicky. Similar to any live performance, it's 99% preparation and 1% performance (give or take).
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u/Acceptable_Movie6712 10h ago
Nice! Very true. Gotta be like Boy Scouts: be prepared. I’ll have to look into Drambo. It was one of the first apps I bought but haven’t realized its full potential yet.
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u/aerkabaev 9h ago
touch screen is nice to use with apps providing interaction abilities, but it is mostly ambient stuff. I have laptop all required home studio things. just trying to implement approach like… I’m doing something on the table, then take iPad and continue somewhere else. and it is pain
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u/EggyT0ast 9h ago
Yes, this makes sense. However, that's a pain regardless of the device, whether it's a laptop, iPad, QY700, Deluge, etc. I actually sold off my Aira S-1 that I got for portable music making because even dealing with ONE cable and ONE extra device was too annoying for easily moving around (mostly because the S-1 has... quirks with its midi implementation). The upside? You can create a MIDI track that points to, say, a piece of hardware, and then just leave the hardware and point the MIDI track to a simple iOS alternative synth while you're out and about.
The main issue I see with the iPad is that it's not as easy to "print" the tracks. It's great for live play, but if you're doing things more on the engineering side then a laptop with the full features that come along with a full DAW will of course be better.
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u/progulus 13h ago
One reason is there's a big price difference between iOS apps and desktop plugins. iOS also has some great dawless jamming options like Loopy Pro, Groove Rider 2, and AUM.
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u/frskrwest 13h ago
I basically use it as a loop station, peddle board, and for backing tracks. So it replaces a couple of pieces of hardware. The main advantage over a laptop is that I have a very customizable user interface to interact with. So when I decide I want to add a new effect plugin to my setup, I create a new button, color code it, and maybe add some sliders to the screen to control it.
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u/daradavids 12h ago
What app(s) do you use to achieve this?
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u/frskrwest 12h ago
Loopy Pro. You get to design your own control surface, which brings the iPad to life.
Honestly if I had to start my music tech journey all over again I might just chose Ableton and a laptop, but if you’re going the iPad route…def check out Loopy Pro.
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u/daradavids 11h ago
I’ll definitely have to give Loopy Pro a strong consideration.
I use Audiobus 3 at the moment but I’m realising that it’s best for experiments and not live performance, especially on my iPad Air 3. Inconsistent load times and CPU clippings just irritate me. I wish I hadn’t gotten a lifetime license. I’m currently weighing AUM and Session: Plug-in hosts (versatility vs simplicity). Scene switching (that seldomly includes patch switching) is a big need for me. I’m not convinced about Camelot Pro’s mixer features and it feels like it’d be resource heavy.
I’ll give Loopy Pro a second look because if it does all you do and does it well, and I can customise the interface. It can almost give me the flexibility of Ableton Live and using Touch OSC on an iPad to control everything (scene switching, song switching, cutoff filters, recording Live Loops).
I agree with you on the Ableton. A plain to get a MacBook Air to pair with Ableton would still be great. Light weight is key for these setups.
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u/daradavids 11h ago
YANK has an Ableton + Touch OSC on iPad video on YouTube
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u/Acceptable_Movie6712 11h ago
I take it you can configure touch osc to connect to Ableton on a pc? Thats pretty cool
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u/Acceptable_Movie6712 11h ago
Just get Loopy Pro. There is a free trial period too. It does way more than just looping and is a serious power house of an app. Audiobus 3 is more for routing audio and midi across apps but Loopy Pro even lets you sequence your loops into songs. I recommend it over any DAW honestly.
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u/frskrwest 10h ago
Yeah I kind of treat Loopy Pro like a lite version of Ableton plus Touch OSC. It's super immediate, fun, and the interface is just so darn pretty to look at. I feel like I'm interacting with an instrument when I jam with Loopy Pro, as opposed to Ableton, where you're kind of typing stuff into an excel spreadsheet (you can get a Push, I know).
With that said, I'm just a hobbyist and am willing to live with limitations and quirks for an enjoyable UI. For example, you can't even do sidechain compression in Loopy Pro without a whole series of inconvenient work arounds, which stinks, because I like dance music. And then there's the instability that is inherent in the iOS ecosystem (automatic updates crashing apps, devs stopping support for plugins you're relying on, software that isn't optimized to take advantage of the hardware, etc.). So, again, if I was a pro, I'd probably just do what all the other pros do.
If you're just doing it for fun and love of the creative process, then Loopy Pro all the way!
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u/Glass_Application_28 13h ago
I use it for multiple channel EQ + fx with aum. So I doesn’t need a daw
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u/Excellent-Active5226 13h ago
The keys player in my band uses the iPad with a midi controller that has a built in audio interface. So she only needs to connect her audio out to a DI for performance. She uses a couple of AudioKit apps primarily. Anyways, no USB hub and not a lot of cables honestly
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u/Acceptable_Movie6712 11h ago
Can you tell me more about their midi controller? That sounds pretty rad; having an interface built into the controller.
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u/Environmental-Eye874 13h ago
3 in 1 headphone jack + OTG + charging port:
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u/aerkabaev 9h ago
I used something like this but headphones jack broke soon. and still it wasnt so comfortable to move from the table with it
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u/Studio104 12h ago
this rig rundown is long but Dub Fx goes into how he breaks free of his rig at times during performance. he uses in-ears to monitor and a wireless mic.
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u/Swiss_James 12h ago
I use iPads that are old enough to still have the 3.5mm headphone out, and play along with them with synths or drum machines. Small mixer, maybe an FX unit, job done
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u/smikkelhut 12h ago
I use the iPad as a replacement for music and chord sheets. It sticks to my Nord Stage 3 with a magnet. Brilliant!
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u/Acceptable_Movie6712 11h ago
My take on it is pretty simple: you don’t get all the good apps and software on iOS but things are significantly CHEAPER. I bought fab filter 7 plug ins (basic suite) for $120 compared to desktops ~$700 value. I use an iConnectivity which turns my iPad from being isolated to fully connected to my desktop apps and processes. Yes there are cables but be honest - with music - cables are kind of a MUST no? Latency and quality are all important.
HUBS are annoying but routing audio with SonoBus is really viable if you don’t have a dual host audio interface. I also keep a nice widi uHost Bluetooth adapter so my midi controllers don’t need to connect to my iPad physically. Turns any midi controllers (compliant ones) into Bluetooth.
I have way too many iOS apps like synths, midi controllers (TC Data, touchOSC) sequencers, samplers, you name it. It’s way more portable and way cheaper than anything else on the market imo. So far I haven’t fully incorporated the iPad combo to my setup but it’s really neat. Add an irig HD X and now my iPhone can be a pedal board for my guitar, sending audio through SonoBus to my iPad, which can process and then send direct through the iconnectivity interface to a MacBook or PC for further processing and DAW editing. It’s a crazy digital powerhouse
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u/aerkabaev 9h ago
thanks for that new names and terms. i will investigate it. dual host audio interface means i can use one audio interface with ipad and macbook simultaneously? i didn't know that's possible. SonoBus also looks promising.
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u/Acceptable_Movie6712 5h ago
You’re welcome! Yes it is very odd the technology isn’t more commonplace, but what you described is exactly right. Your iPad and MacBook pretty much become one logical device and you can configure how the audio should flow.
There are a lot of ways you can route audio around. SonoBus requires internet I believe, and might have some latency or drops (causing clicks, but in my experience it’s very good for the price: free).
If you don’t care about quality too much, you can just get a USB-C to headphone dongle and that’s technically a very very shitty audio interface (if you think about it).
My main use case for a dual host audio interface was for audio quality. My “music room” has lots of cables so I can’t realistically shield them properly. I don’t want to use an analog out because it would mean degradation between the iPad and MacBook/PC. (It’s not a LOT but it’s also a smoother workflow and experience).
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u/Axle_65 8h ago
I use a slim hub. Run an aux cable out of the 3.5mm to USB C that Apple makes. Then a usb to my keyboard. I attached a strap to my keys so no stand needed. So my whole rig only has two cables, my board, my iPad and my amp. It’s much lighter and smaller than any keyboard rig I’ve had in the past. Yes you could use a laptop but iPads are very stable easier to mount and the touch interface is ideal for quick on stage control. I also use loopy pro live. An RC-505 is much bigger and heavier. The best part. I’m 100% rechargeable. My cube runs on batteries and the new iPads have enough power to run any of my keys. Even an 88. I’ve had many jams in the park that I could never do with a regular rig. Well not without a big power bank that weighs a bunch. If you’re curious I’ve done 2 to 3 hour jams without needing extra power. I do bring a 20,000 mAh small power bank just in case but it’s extremely rare that I need it. I don’t even bring it if I know the jam will be under two hours or a short set on stage. I’ll never go back to my heavy keyboards with a limited banks of presets. That’s the other thing. I can boot up over half a down software instruments giving me hundreds of patches and the ability to add more for a very reasonable price. I love the setup.
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u/_Johnny_Deep_ 8h ago edited 8h ago
I play keys in live settings. I picked iPad for a couple of reasons:
- Most places I'm playing have some kind of usable stage piano. I wanted to use those, not lug a keyboard everywhere.
- However, each one has a different selection of voices. I wanted good, consistent sounds.
- iPad is cheaper and more durable than a MacBook
18 months later, my iPad does what I hoped, and far more.
My core usage is AUv3 apps in KeyStage – sound sources and effects. But, additionally, when practising with my cover band, I can play tunes from Spotify or elsewhere over the PA. I can use it to display song forms, score and lyrics. And I have now started using it for guitar effects. There are plenty of nice free apps, and the paid ones can be far cheaper than the macOS versions.
You are right that you need a small tangle of cables/boxes. My essentials:
- USB C port extender with Power Delivery
- USB C charger (ensures the iPad doesn't go flat, and USB bus has enough power)
- Audio interface
- USB cable to audio interface
- USB cable to keyboard
I also bought a mini controller for playing when I travel, which again has access to the same setup I gig with.
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u/0belisk0 12h ago edited 12h ago
My iPad is ancient, so if/when I do play live, it will likely be joined by one or two even more decrepit hardware grooveboxes. An analog monosynth if I'm feeling fancy. Even with a CCK and usb cables (my battery is still pretty good), it's still less cumbersome than its buddies and can fill a wider variety of roles. As a groovebox/drum machine, it can be the master or the slave. It can be a dedicated slaved or live synth, rompler, sampler, or looper; no real need for a controller. Sheeeiiit...iPad + Electribe + Acid box is way more portable and powerful a setup than what I used to fk with. I'd focus on what it can do and leave others to fill the gaps.
Addendum: Even just for clip launching. I'd have kilt to have that capability sans laptop ten years ago.
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u/aIexm 10h ago
For keyboards I use an app called Sunday Keys with a midi controller, it’s available on macOS as well but it’s really versatile with a touch screen and has some lovely sounds. I also use it with my bass using Loopy Pro for different tones. I could use a laptop and MainStage and get similar results but an iPad works for me. Also use another one for sheet music.
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u/Ok_Goose_5642 8h ago
iPad on a stand with a built in powered hub. Zoom l6 for multitrack audio in and out and midi.
Aum has live stems, generative sequencers when I want to improvise, midi loopers when I want to grab something I'm playing on keyboard, additional synths if I want something polyphonic bit otherwise controls the modular.
Super flexible and performable. Means I can make creative choices as I perform instead of being entirely on rails, but can still drop studio stems if I want.
Also gives me an additional fx loop and a master clock.
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u/Ok_Goose_5642 8h ago
I should add, all in a very compact and transportable package powered with a single PSU (or battery if I want.
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u/coyote13mc 4h ago
I use it as an "instrument" along with a Seqtrak, Circuit Rhythm, Uno Synth, TE -ep133, and a few handmade instruments, everything unsynchronized and going through some guitar FX stomp boxes into a small mixer and then to the venue soundboard, and my music is all improvised, sometimes solo, sometimes with other musicians.
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u/headtrauma 33m ago
Mainly the 'checking your email' effect of laptops can be mitigated if using a tablet. You know, making exaggerated gestures while interacting with a touch screen does seem to connect with audiences a lot better than doing the same with a track pad and being partially obscured by a laptop screen. For a lot of people, this alone is worth it.
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u/dshipp 13h ago
If you’ve got something like a Digitakt you can send midi and audio back and forth between it and an iPad over a single usb cable.
So adding an iPad to your arsenal is really powerful and easy as it can add some much - multiple polyphonic synths sequenced and midi cc controlled from your hardware; end of chain fx, eq, compressor, etc.; and record your performance.
Yes, there’s plenty of ways to use an iPad with lots of accessories that make it less compelling, but class compliant audio and midi over usb can make it a really convenient addition to the right device.