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Clarett+ 2 & IPad Air / Pro

IvanMike

IvanMike

TTRPG enthusiast, Happy, Joyous, & Free.
Supporting Member
Nov 10, 2002
7,150
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Middletown CT, USA
#1
Hey there I’ve seen some stuff on this on YouTube and what have you but the Internet can be… The Internet. Which is also where we are.

I just want to get an idea of what is any extra things I will need to use the Clarett 2+ With my iPad air and eventually with the iPad Pro I plan on buying next year. I’m more interested in hearing your experience with the hardware in the things like any sort of adapters or devices needed to hook the two together correctly.

From what I understand from the focusrite website, there are things I will need to edit on the preamp on my crappy little windows laptop, which is fine. Although that has me scratching my head.

If there are particular devices that are more trustworthy than others in terms of the adapters, and what have you let me know from your experience.

Thank you very much for tolerating this neophyte question.

Ivan
 
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#4
Depends on which iPad Air. I have one with a USB-C port.

"The Focusrite Clarett+ 2Pre is an audio interface that's compatible with iPadOS. It has USB-C connectivity and comes with software that gives you control over all aspects of the device."

I still use a powered USB-C hub, so I can charge and use the iPad Air at the same time.
Plus I can power interfaces that get their power over USB-C.
 
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#5
seamonkey said:
Depends on which iPad Air. I have one with a USB-C port.

"The Focusrite Clarett+ 2Pre is an audio interface that's compatible with iPadOS. It has USB-C connectivity and comes with software that gives you control over all aspects of the device."

I still use a powered USB-C hub, so I can charge and use the iPad Air at the same time.
Plus I can power interfaces that get their power over USB-C.
Click to expand...
I’ve got one with the lightning
 
#6
IvanMike said:
I’ve got one with the lightning
Click to expand...
You mentioned that you’re planing to get an iPad Pro. If I were you, I’d wait until then to get new hardware. The usb-c connection will open up new options and they won’t require the Apple camera kit, which is what you currently need to plug external hardware into your iPad Air.

Once you’re USB-C ready, the clarett is a decent choice for sure. Myself, I use the Arturia Audiofuse Studio but all of Arturia’s interfaces are iPad ready. Same with the stuff from Universal Audio and many other brands including IK Multimedia, which makes the cheapest USB compliant hardware on the market
 
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#7
I use the camera kit on my 1st gen iPad Pro. The dongle plugs into the lighting on the iPad and has a lighting port for power/charging and a USB A type for the interface.
upload_2023-10-9_21-36-0.png


For my current iPad Pro with USB C I have a mini dongle with USB C for power/charging and USB A and headphone jack, so I can plug just about anything into it.
IMG_4754.jpeg IMG_4755.jpeg
 
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#8
IvanMike said:
Hey there I’ve seen some stuff on this on YouTube and what have you but the Internet can be… The Internet. Which is also where we are.

I just want to get an idea of what is any extra things I will need to use the Clarett 2+ With my iPad air and eventually with the iPad Pro I plan on buying next year. I’m more interested in hearing your experience with the hardware in the things like any sort of adapters or devices needed to hook the two together correctly.

From what I understand from the focusrite website, there are things I will need to edit on the preamp on my crappy little windows laptop, which is fine. Although that has me scratching my head.

If there are particular devices that are more trustworthy than others in terms of the adapters, and what have you let me know from your experience.

Thank you very much for tolerating this neophyte question.

Ivan
Click to expand...

With regard to iPad/iPhone, make sure whatever audio interface you use, make sure it has an independent power source. I have an iPad pro and run Cubasis with a Steinberg UR12 audio interface.

The UR12 get's it's power from the iPad or computer. I my case with the iPad pro, that means I get about 20 minutes until the battery is drained. It's not optimal so I ended up getting an notebook running windows to record with.
 
#9
superheavyfunk said:
You mentioned that you’re planing to get an iPad Pro. If I were you, I’d wait until then to get new hardware. The usb-c connection will open up new options and they won’t require the Apple camera kit, which is what you currently need to plug external hardware into your iPad Air.

Once you’re USB-C ready, the clarett is a decent choice for sure. Myself, I use the Arturia Audiofuse Studio but all of Arturia’s interfaces are iPad ready. Same with the stuff from Universal Audio and many other brands including IK Multimedia, which makes the cheapest USB compliant hardware on the market
Click to expand...
That’s going to be a while. I’d rather use it a bit now with the Air. I already have the Clarett
 
#10
IvanMike said:
That’s going to be a while. I’d rather use it a bit now with the Air. I already have the Clarett
Click to expand...
My opinion: Don’t wait. Trade up ASAP. Your options will expand dramatically with even a three year old iPad Pro like the one I have (2020). Add to that, the longer you wait, the less money you’ll get for your old one on a trade in or in a private sale.

Anyway, with your current one it seems you’ve already got all you need (assuming you’ve got the camera kit)… not sure what other help we can provide. Just be sure that the iPad isn’t the sole source of power for the interface and you’ll be fine.
 
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#12
"Compatable with iPad" doesn't really mean anything here. Audio interfaces are pretty standard, and more or less anything will work. Nothing against the one you've chosen if you like it for other reasons, but just because they're pushing it as "works with iPad", isn't a factor. Just plug them any "class compliant" interface (all of them!), and they work. If they don't they're broken! External power is handy as you don't want to power it from your iPad battery - otherwise a USB hub will do the same job.

As others have said you just need a lighting to USB adaptor. They're cheap and there's no reason not to get one. I can't remember if mine are official apple - I've got one which is just USB, and another that includes a lighting socket for power (so you can power the iPad and connect to USB at the same time). If I had to guess I think I paid about $15 each for them on eBay and they work fine.

My main use at the moment is just running backing tracks, so I've got a few iPads with Multitracker on, and connect them via USB to an XR18, which works perfectly, even with some very old iPads.

The difference between the iPad Air and the Pro really depends on which Air you have and which Pro you can afford. Obviously the 12" is a monster screen, but other wise it looks like the current Air spec is basically last years Pro spec. The M1 Air's and Pro's can run Logic, which is pretty amazing, but even an old Air will run GarageBand great.

I just got a couple of Air 2's as they're super cheap, and I don't want take my new iPad to gigs/rehersals, and they're still really decent machines, and I'll only be slightly annoyed when they get knocked on the floor.

I'd just go with what you've got: get a lighting-usb cable ($15), plug it into a cheap/generic audio interface ($50), fire up GB on your Air and start figuring out what you need to learn. Then when you're ready to spend $1K plus on your perfect system you'll know why you need it.
 
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#13
IvanMike said:
Hey there I’ve seen some stuff on this on YouTube and what have you but the Internet can be… The Internet. Which is also where we are.

I just want to get an idea of what is any extra things I will need to use the Clarett 2+ With my iPad air and eventually with the iPad Pro I plan on buying next year. I’m more interested in hearing your experience with the hardware in the things like any sort of adapters or devices needed to hook the two together correctly.

From what I understand from the focusrite website, there are things I will need to edit on the preamp on my crappy little windows laptop, which is fine. Although that has me scratching my head.

If there are particular devices that are more trustworthy than others in terms of the adapters, and what have you let me know from your experience.

Thank you very much for tolerating this neophyte question.

Ivan
Click to expand...
I use the 4i4 into a Mac book. And older one. I had nothing but issues with PC. Besides having to download Reaper to the Mac after the PC gave me nothing but trouble, I haven't had any troubles issues hardware, software. I'm looking to get a newer refurbished MacBook sometime in the future.
I just purchased an additional USB port thingy with 4 inputs. Those Macs don't offer many. That's about the only hardware issue I've suffered a dilemma over.

I do need a humbucking guitar tho'. Love the Strat tone for many things but, the ease of playing an Ibanez RG model for crunch is easier.

Guitar amp modeling software is a very deep well of options. Spend more time tone fishing than laying down clean tracks.
 
#14
I'm not an Apple user, but have been (and still am) using PC-based DAWS almost since their inception. The Focusrite stuff is quite good; I have a Scarlet 18i20 for daily stuff, and feed it with outboard pres and converters when I'm feeling extra fussy or have a high end project.

My question/comment, admittedly based upon zero experience doing any audio work on a tablet of any kind, Apple or not, has to do with relying on any USB-c jack for anything other than routine recording of non-important practice sessions. My (expletive deleted) charging cable won't even stay attached to my (additional expletive deleted) phone.

How/why do folks deal with this in essential recording situations?
 
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#15
MuseChaser said:
How/why do folks deal with this in essential recording situations?
Click to expand...
Never had an issue, personally. I get hired to record a lot of comedy shows and band sets in smaller clubs. I find my iPad rig a lot faster and easier to set up and tear down than my windows one and it takes up less space which is important, as I’m not often given much more than a tiny table and sometimes not even that.

I capture the audio, take it home and transfer it to my desktop. Then I do my editing and mixing from there.
 
#18
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