The iOS bass player thread. (Jamup XT, Audiobus, Multitrack DAW and more)

[TaySte_2000]

I've never owned an iOs device, but I'm a looping bassist who loves effects. So I'm way out of touch with the use of tablets and smart phones for music creation. But I have a small DAW based project studio, so ideally I'm always looking for new ways to fire up the creative juices (although I rarely get the time to do so...). Some day I'd love to ditch the whole pedalboard, so this thread caught my interest.

Are these apps really on par soundwise with the current batch of modelers, softsynths, and DAWs? I find it hard to believe that a $10 app can be in the same league in terms of sound and functionality.

In a potentially serendipitous twist of fate, my 7 yr old daughter asked us this am if she could get a tablet for Xmas... hmmm...

Difficult to say, it certainly sounds better than any practice/headphone amp I've had before.

Digital fx are always an interesting one, because they'll never have those quirks of stringing a chunk of analog pedals together and twiddling the knobs, but that said if you're looping Loopy HD is the closest thing I've seen to the Looperlative and the sound quality is crystal clear, the fact you've now got an ability to have an amp sim and some verb and delay going, its such a nice portable setup even with the full dock I use.

I've been looking into Airturn, its a bluetooth footswitch Loopy recognises and you can get it working with 4 commands, so record toggle, next track, previous track, clear (you can set it to anything you want but that makes sense to me) with this you could be running a small Irig adaptor, some cans and this pedal, all running on batteries all easy to move and relatively cable free, especially if you got bluetooth headphones and the footswitch, all you're cabling then is the bass to the Ipad.

Getting this all working means my M13 is on the chopping block and that was what replaced all my pedals, is it as good and versatile, no probably not, but its good enough and its so easy to use and setup that I find myself playing more and more.

All I need to find is the right simple to midi floorboard, had an FCB1010 and it was a ikkle bit OTT

 

[PrietoBass]

You guys are putting a note that says to be careful with "the gateway interface" right?
The first interface is free but the next one will cost ya

 

[adambomb]

I've never owned an iOs device, but I'm a looping bassist who loves effects. So I'm way out of touch with the use of tablets and smart phones for music creation. But I have a small DAW based project studio, so ideally I'm always looking for new ways to fire up the creative juices (although I rarely get the time to do so...). Some day I'd love to ditch the whole pedalboard, so this thread caught my interest.

Are these apps really on par soundwise with the current batch of modelers, softsynths, and DAWs? I find it hard to believe that a $10 app can be in the same league in terms of sound and functionality.

In a potentially serendipitous twist of fate, my 7 yr old daughter asked us this am if she could get a tablet for Xmas... hmmm...

If you do go the tablet route pretty much what we have been discussing here is on an iOS device. (iPad, iPhone, iPod touch) the other "tablets", to my knowledge, are not on board yet with amp sims and such yet. If you decide to go with an iOS device the first thing to do is make sure it has the processor power of iPad 2 and up (mini included) the earlier versions just does not have the processing strength. That may go into you decision or which way to go. After that .......
The amp sim apps have come a long way in a short period of time. Amplitube iOS is what I began with and added the fender pack and various pedals. To me AT is a great amp sim for guitar as it does a fantastic job on their amp sims and pedals......a very versital app. All the pedals and amps have been well done (on guitar) on bass is another story, for a long time I used AT live for bass but it always lacked something to me as I was constantly trying to reach the "sound" I was looking for. There are two bass amps in AT compared to many many guitar amps. In versatility at some of the guitar amps can be paired with the bass cabinets to achieve a good bass tone.
Jamup xt is the new bass "king" to us here at the moment. Since the newest release the bass expansion pack, which have 4 bass amps and bass pedals
Which are based on:
Amps-
1969 *Ampeg SVT®
1968 *Ampeg® B-15
Gallien-Krueger® 800RB
SWR® Redhead
Pedals-
Musitronics ® Mu-Tron III
Tech 21® SansAmp.
All sound fantastic with bass guitar and much easier for me to get a good bass tone.
Next you need an interface for you iOS device..... Do your homework for in AND outs.... the outputs are just as important as the ins.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Thanks for the tips Adam and Steve.

I get the impression that since so much has happened so fast with iOS music applications, and since there seems to be a significant demand, lots of new and exciting things are coming. And it won't be long before some of the industry leaders (Avid, Cakewalk, MOTU, line6, etc.) port over versions of their current offerings.

 

[SolarMan]

I just scanned through 9 pages and used the search function for focusrite.

Has anyone tried the new itrack solo? It's 30 pin.

 

[adambomb]

Thanks for the tips Adam and Steve.

I get the impression that since so much has happened so fast with iOS music applications, and since there seems to be a significant demand, lots of new and exciting things are coming. And it won't be long before some of the industry leaders (Avid, Cakewalk, MOTU, line6, etc.) port over versions of their current offerings.

I hope so (avid cakewalk moto etc.) it seems a very exciting time for music production and creativity.

 

[Rip Topaz]

I just scanned through 9 pages and used the search function for focusrite.

Has anyone tried the new itrack solo? It's 30 pin.

I think Duke has one. He should be around shortly.

 

[AaronMB]

Forgive the thread [DEL]derail[/DEL] digression...

On the first or second page there was brief discussion of rigging, wires, velcro and dealing with gravity. So for the sake of hopefully inspiring ideas, here's my current ghetto-rigging using some materials I had at home, along with the Ampkit Link and two bundles of Velcro ties. (Those who are wondering about velcro ties should check these out: Walmart, HomeDepot, etc, a bundle of 50 for about $5.) I'm changing things around all the time so I appreciate the cost/versatility; if/when I get this dialed in, I'll make something aesthetically pleasing. Here it is currently:

It's a small cutting board attached to a 1" dowel, originally intended to make a pseudo-rocking wah for AK's wah pedal. There wasn't enough travel to make it effective with the shallow angle the 1" dowel provides but the angle is nice for viewing the phone while it's on a desk, etc. The IN is the 1/4" cable coming from the floor (three pedals: TU2, flange, tremolo); the OUT goes to my amp and/or my 3.5mm Line In on my PC's sound card, as I've just started playing around with Audacity (thanks to it being mentioned deep in the previous iRig thread). I secure the Ampkit Link with two removable velcro ties, which stick to velcro on the cutting board; the iPhone (3GS, unfortunately) sits on a movable sticky mat (I love velcro but not on some things). It's all rather secure. The wires/cables are supported and not pulling on the AK Link, which also makes moving things around a little easier.

I've been quite impressed with this little AmpKit Link. I've no basis for comparison - but I can say that I think it's quiet: the only noise I get is from Amp/Pedal Sims and their settings, if I have them cranked too high. It's usually easily adjusted out in AmpKit and I can get sound(s) I really like.

I originally got the AK Link to play with my ABG when the itch to plug-in came again. I paid for Amplitube (and its multi-track recorder) and AmpKit (and several add-ons). I had a great time playing with sounds with my ABG (and somehow won runner up in AmpKit's Pedal contest in the process!). This quickly lead to a small re-investment in an electric bass (now 2 ) and proper practice amp. So while I play around with the ios options in order to get an idea of sounds that I can get (and explore easy recording possibilities), I slowly wade into the waters of 'real' pedals, which is something I never did when I played a little, years ago...

 

[adambomb]

I think Duke has one. He should be around shortly.

Idk if he has one or was just looking into getting one. It is comparitively more expensive of an interface for what it offers to the other offering out there. It also has a special plug with a lot of reviewers did not like that aspect.....but if someone does own one I would like to hear their side of it

 

[SolarMan]

I'm getting one soon (it's wrapped up all pretty - I want to peel the wrapping off and take a sneek peak, but I would never get away with it)

Is the special plug the very short connector cable? They say it needs to be so short (like a foot or a little more?) to be iPhone compliant for noise, etc.

I like the mic input.

 

[nomeX]

I'm trying to do my part...after getting an iPad3 as a gift, I started looking into Auria and all those synths and apps that I couldn't have since I didn't own any iOS products. I'm thinking of going with a Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 as my interface into the iPad for use with Auria, and hopefully use the midi for my synths and Loopy and granular synthesis.

my apps:
Auria (still haven't used it)
Alchemy
akai synth Station
Addictive synth
magellan
Impaktor
Nord Beat (for when I get my midi working)
Tachyon
PPG
Borderlands
Yamaha synth and drum pad
Grain Science

I love being all hardware, but I'm running out of space and understanding from the wife. It's easier to have all my synths in the iPad and a controller. Too bad I can't get over buying so many basses....

 

[adambomb]

I'm getting one soon (it's wrapped up all pretty - I want to peel the wrapping off and take a sneek peak, but I would never get away with it)

Is the special plug the very short connector cable? They say it needs to be so short (like a foot or a little more?) to be iPhone compliant for noise, etc.

I like the mic input.

Maybe so.......but why do they offer an extension cable for 30 pin separately on their site. It's digital.....why would the llength of cable introduce noise?

 

[SolarMan]

iPhone won't certify the longer cable

I'm told that you are correct, still, that is what they say

 

[AaronMB]

I use--and have been largely satisfied with--an AmpKit Link as the middle man for my ios-based sound (iPhone 3GS, my wife has an iPad 2 that we theoretically share). I really dig the Trace Elliot 1215 rig and its adjustability in AmpKit. I can get a good sound that I rather like.

I've also just started playing with JamUp. I mostly like it so far; I made the mistake of just getting the SANSAMP and not the bass expansion pack...but I'm trying to try it (lol) as it is with the stock AC amp. I think I really like the SANSAMP (does this come close to capturing what the real deal does for a bass?) but not the stock amp. Of course, I'm just going to have to get the expansion pack.

I'm limited with my iPhone 3GS but the wife has an iPad 2, which I can use at times; she's getting the camera connection kit for Christmas so maybe that will be handy for me as well. Hmmm.

 

[Duke21]

I just scanned through 9 pages and used the search function for focusrite.

Has anyone tried the new itrack solo? It's 30 pin.

I've ordered the iTrack, and I might get it by this weekend, I'll rapport something as fast as I can

 

[Duke21]

Btw, I've recorded 2 clips now, haven't got the time to post them here properly, will try to post it before I go to bed. But both of them are on my soundcloud. The first track is 3 parts:
B15 alone, with the MuTron as an Rip-EQ in front and with the Turbo Rat before the B15.

The second clip if something for Adam and maybe Rip, it is the Tube Power amp with the booster in front. It gives this nice clean warm tone with some decent punch.

 

[Duke21]

B15 alone, B15 with MuTron in front, B15 with a Rat in front:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Tube Power with booster in front:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[adambomb]

Tube power amp--- that's the Mesa 20-20 right?

 

[Duke21]

Tube power amp--- that's the Mesa 20-20 right?

Yes,
Btw, I've recorded these clips on my iPad 1 without Audiobus, thus, I used the PrietoBass method ( ), so Jamup in background mode and Multitrack DAW in the front. No issues with lack of power on iPad one (A4 cpu).

 

[Rip Topaz]

Cool clips, Duke. The tube sound is awesome, very much usable. It seems a little quieter overall than your usual clips, though. Probably could've brought the volume up a bit more.

BTW, Amplitube just now released a crash fix update. Figures they'd do it a day after I finally gave in and did a delete/reinstall. Luckily, all my gear bought in-app survived.