A Noob Asks: Apple Connector or Something Else?

[DirtDog]

It's all useful information.
Yeah, right now I just want to record acoustic guitar and vocals, but I can foresee wanting to add drums or drum loops and bass eventually.
I hate my Windows PC so I might have to go and get myself a Mac with Thunderbolt 3. I figure I'll never wish I had more latency.

So, adding vocals to the mix, you'll need something with a mic pre, an instrument input, a Lightning adapter and compatible with iOS Garageband (for the bass and drum loops).

If it were me, I'd be looking at something like this: Behringer iS202 All the ins and outs you'll need for an iPad recording deck.

Focusrite had the iTrack dock, but seems its discontinued. Maybe look for a used one? I use the older Alesis version with the Gen1 iPad...just as an easy scratchpad for ideas.

 

[silky smoove]

Can't you just get an adapter for the instrument cord, plug directly into the ipad and record that way?

That’s precisely what the iRig HD, Apogee Jam, etc. are.

 

[Orion1985]

Yeah, the superior interface and sublime user experience are such a drag. I had no idea I was such a fool!

New most controversial topic on TalkBass?

 

[selowitch]

Can't you just get an adapter for the instrument cord, plug directly into the ipad and record that way?

Yes, but my initial thought was to leverage my existing equipment. Please see my initial post.

 

[selowitch]

This also seems like a possibility: Tascam iXZ. It's certainly cheap enough!

 

[Picton]

As a tech-illiterate digital immigrant, the iRig with my iPad's version of GarageBand is a simple, robust, easy-to-use interface that doesn't break the bank.

My $.02. When I'm using it, I use no amp. I have slightly worse luck using the same setup into a MacBook, but I also despise the MacBook and that's probably coloring my judgement.

In my experience, Apple products that start with "i" are excellent. Ones that start with "Mac" are the tools of the devil. YMMV.

 

[selowitch]

In my experience, Apple products that start with "i" are excellent. Ones that start with "Mac" are the tools of the devil. YMMV.

Interesting. I haven't used a Mac in ages, but back when I did I felt the experience was superior to Windows in virtually every respect. Heck, I prefer Ubuntu to Windows and that's saying something!

 

[Barticus]

I use a Line 6 Sonic Port that plugs into my iPad with the lightning cable. The guitar/bass goes into the Line 6 with a std 1/4” cable and I record directly into Garage Band. In Garage Band I select instrument and just do a clean channel into the track. Depending on my need for a particular tone, I will also run an amp emulator like the Bias on the iPad or output from another amp into the Line 6 as well. If you want a good ambient mic for vox too, you can pickup the Sonic Port VX which has a built in mic (I have that one too).

Its simple, easy and you can easily record multi track with garage band. All the members of my band use this process for writing to lay down ideas/tracks and just share them on OneDrive for the others to pickup and add additional tracks to the idea.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

That’s precisely what the iRig HD, Apogee Jam, etc. are.

If you do iRig, do the digital one.
I've got the old analog iRig. Noisy summabitch.

 

[silky smoove]

If you do iRig, do the digital one.
I've got the old analog iRig. Noisy summabitch.

Bingo. The HD is the only way to go. The old aux ones are junk.

 

[AndyPanda]

But if you use the HD into the lightning port you won't be able to charge your battery unless you also buy the iRig power bridge. Just in case you plan a really long recording session

 

[sbergman123]

If you do iRig, do the digital one.
I've got the old analog iRig. Noisy summabitch.

But they (the old analog iRigs that plug into your headphone jack ) are like $3 on Ebay (at least that's what I paid for one). May be worth the 3 bucks to just get your feet wet and if you hate it, then consider upgrading. It may be possible that it does what you want it to do on the cheap. I played a little with one of these cheap irigs and was extremely surprised at how easy it was to get started - everything worked the way it was supposed to from the start. I thought Amplitube on the Iphone sounded horrible, but Jamup was tolerable for a non-pro setup (practicing or whatever). Not to mention all the access to apple tools like Audiobus, Looper HD etc...

 

[sbergman123]

So, adding vocals to the mix, you'll need something with a mic pre, an instrument input, a Lightning adapter and compatible with iOS Garageband (for the bass and drum loops).

Or the 3 dollar Ebay Irig and the microphone on your iphone/whatever. No investment at all and you can see for yourself what it is you really need.

 

[Wfrance3]

+1 on the line 6 Gizmo. Works perfect with a variety of different software titles

 

[Thespis]

I'm unable to get comfortable with Apple's superior interface

LOL! I see what you did there...

 

[DirtDog]

@sbergman123 - there a mic pre/XLR input on the $3 iRig? OP wants to record vox.

 

[charlie monroe]

Yeah, the superior interface and sublime user experience are such a drag. I had no idea I was such a fool!

Maybe you didn't get the memo, but Steve Jobs died several years ago.

Apple has returned to the overpriced, no legacy support and walled garden business model. Get out while you still can.

 

[selowitch]

Maybe you didn't get the memo, but Steve Jobs died several years ago.

That he did. Very sad.

Apple has returned to the overpriced, no legacy support and walled garden business model. Get out while you still can.

I'm happy to pay more to get more. The walled garden has advantages and disadvantages. Like I said, I haven't used a Mac in a long time so I'm going to withhold judgment until I actually try a recent one.

 

[morgansterne]

I don't know your experience level with recording, but my very tech unsavvy friend uses his iPad and garage band for demos. We've gone to a studio, dumped his tracks into protools, and record over them for final mixes.
I doubt he'd be as productive if he had to be learning reaper or another DAW while recording.

 

[selowitch]

I don't know your experience level with recording, but my very tech unsavvy friend uses his iPad and garage band for demos.

I’m relatively tech-savvy but new to recording. I’d like to try doing some demos at home before determining if I care to invest more time and money in it.