Tablet apps

Cheers

Yeah using a 30 pin to audio cable over the headphone jack isn't a huge difference.

But the iStudio using the 30 pin to dedicated DA/AD convertors will definitely give you a jump in in loudness and clarity. I'm betting it will be like the Alesis one and you'll have gain to spare, and it's headphone output will be louder with improved separation over the Apple jack.

Apple always has put good convertors in the iPods/IPads even going back to the monochrome/iPod Photo days though. I've noticed for years that AAC/Mp3 files I have sound markedly better played from an Apple device than my computers.

cheers I was thinking of skipping the istudio as the tech inside is the same as the alesis io dock and I heard people complaining about the midi issues.

I was thinking of getting a powered usb hub and an audio card and then use my usb keyboard as a midi controller for it.

If the MIDI control is your main goal that plan is a sound one and cheaper. I have the CCK and some powered hubs and I've got a ton of class compliant devices to work no problem.

Stuff like the Korg nanos don't even need the hub the draw is so low. And you always have the option of a cheap USB interface that is class compliant at a later juncture if you do decide you want higher quality audio I/O on 1/4" jacks.

I will say the lack of Sysex on the Alesis was the only MIDI "issue" I had. In basic operation it's been great. And to be real Sysex is hardly something I've mastered. But I do have dreams of using iOS Lemur to make a multi page template to control all the addressable stuff on my 4K.

More likely I just take the easier route and use Lemur to finally make a definitive JJ MIDI to button template, as that's just straightforward MIDI assigns. Hardest thing there is drawing out the best possible page layout on a pen and pad prior to actually making the pages in Lemur.

Thanks for the reply do you have any issues connecting a synth to the io dock via midi and then controlling apps like beat maker nano without any issues?

Been a while since I had a keyboard hooked directly to the I/O Dock. I use Ableton a lot, and I tend to use it's "View I/O" arrow boxes on the channels to direct MIDI all over the place when I have these multiple device setups running.

The Alesis could take a MIDI DIN plug from any synth/keyboard with MIDI Out, and it also has a USB/MIDI port on the side for USB enabled gear.

Like I mentioned though I usually have the MIDI sockets getting the signals from my interfaces MIDI outs+Ableton handling the routings/devices, or if there's no computer being used I hook an MPC up the standard MIDI ports.

I would guess the iStudio has the MIDI/USB extra port too, I recall it having everything the Alesis does plus those extras the other day when I looked at it.

If you need me to try a certain thing to confirm something for you , I'd be happy to. I have Fantom and a couple USB MIDI keyboards, so I have the gear to test most situations. (And certainly way too much free time, especially to help a forum homie )

Metatron72 wrote:Been a while since I had a keyboard hooked directly to the I/O Dock. I use Ableton a lot, and I tend to use it's "View I/O" arrow boxes on the channels to direct MIDI all over the place when I have these multiple device setups running.

The Alesis could take a MIDI DIN plug from any synth/keyboard with MIDI Out, and it also has a USB/MIDI port on the side for USB enabled gear.

Like I mentioned though I usually have the MIDI sockets getting the signals from my interfaces MIDI outs+Ableton handling the routings/devices, or if there's no computer being used I hook an MPC up the standard MIDI ports.

I would guess the iStudio has the MIDI/USB extra port too, I recall it having everything the Alesis does plus those extras the other day when I looked at it.

If you need me to try a certain thing to confirm something for you , I'd be happy to. I have Fantom and a couple USB MIDI keyboards, so I have the gear to test most situations. (And certainly way too much free time, especially to help a forum homie )

cheers

can you let me know if I can plug a usb keyboard with no midi ports into the io dock as I have a novation impulse.

also probably a stupid question but can you plug a hardware synth in as well in the midi din ports and let me know if I can control beatmaker, animoog as well please.

Thanks in advance

I have done both, later tonight I'll check the USB/MIDI port with a USB controller KB.

Only reason is just to check if the last few iOS or app updates have caused any issues.

Again I've done both prior with both the mentioned apps. Pretty sure I had some knob control in effect too.

iPad 1 has been out of dock for a while, I really need to wire it all up anyway, so I'll re-confirm the hookups tonight and post again.

And anytime man.

BTW I think without the MIDI Bridge app you may only be able to use the Novation or the synth keys over the DIN socket in an either/or way. I'll make sure to check if the dock allows both in tandem without the use of the MIDI Bridge app which I don;t have anyway.

Metatron72 wrote:I have done both, later tonight I'll check the USB/MIDI port with a USB controller KB.

Only reason is just to check if the last few iOS or app updates have caused any issues.

Again I've done both prior with both the mentioned apps. Pretty sure I had some knob control in effect too.

iPad 1 has been out of dock for a while, I really need to wire it all up anyway, so I'll re-confirm the hookups tonight and post again.

And anytime man.

Cheers mate:)

the usb keyboard uses this lead



the d shape into the keyboard and the flat end into my usb port on laptop, probably obvious but I'm not sure if that would work on the iodock or istudio as the usbport on is d shaped?

Many thanks

You might need a cable that's the...rhombus (i think that's the shape ) style on both ends as the dock has the same one that all the USB KB's have on their backs.

Those cable exist and there are adapters too. I just looked same USB input is the same on the iStudio.

This is from Alesis' FAQ sheet -

"Connect the iO Dock to a Mac or PC computer. Play the keys on the keyboard, and trigger amazing synth, keyboard and percussion sounds in any number of free or inexpensive Core MIDI enabled apps on the Apple App Store. Click here for details, and a comprehensive diagram on MIDI routing with the iO Dock.

The USB connection on the iO Dock provides MIDI connectivity between the computer and anything connected to the iO Dock. This includes both the iPad, and the iO Dock‘s on-board MIDI ports. The iO Dock shuttles any MIDI coming from any one source (Computer, iPad, or MIDI ports) to the other two. "

So maybe you can't use the USB port without the computer like I had hoped. I was thinking no PC/Mac+USB KB+DC pack. But really no issue as you could just use DIN cables if you were going to need a DC plug anyway. (In the no computer scenario I mean)

The iStudio looks like it has 100% of the Alesis operation plus the bonus stuff.

Thanks for the reply can you check by connecting via hardware synthetic to the io dock please via midi din?

acronym wrote:Thanks for the reply can you check by connecting via hardware synthetic to the io dock please via midi din?

Yeah sure, I'll swap the Fantom DIN's in there shortly from now.

I'm in a cramped attic, so I just need to clear out some cable clutter and get the iPad in the dock. Thankfully the Fantom's MIDI cables are like 15 feet long.

if you can't its ok mate I just tried to plug in a knock off camera kit and usb to mid to my mininova but no luck controlling any of the synths.

You sure all the settings were right in the software? It's been a while but I got the official CCK right here too.

And it's no problem to cable up the dock, need to anyway, haven't been using 3/4 of the stuff I have here anyway, due time I hook stuff up again.

Cheers, but I probably just going to buy the istudio, after adding everything up with the alternative, buying a case for it, a powered usb hub, then a behringer uca 202 audio interface it was quickly adding up to what the istudio nearly cost.

I probably offload the usb keyboard or keep it, I'm still using ableton so it could be useful as a hw interface for it but with the ipad I could use touchosc to control everything with the istudio.