33 replies to this topic

[asymmetrical head]

I'm starting this thread because I had this conversation with a friend last night who planning on just using his iPad for music production and performing and he stated that I should do the same.

I'm the kind of guy that usually skip certain trends out of either lack of interest or no money. In this case, I'm not interested in an iPad. But my friend insists that the iPad technology will overtake pricey software and bulky equipment. I told him that he doesn't even know how to use the software or equipment on a regular set up, that him jumping on this technology would end up being an expensive hobby that will piss off his wife whenever they are at a lack of funds (which happens all the time because of his excessive spending). But that's not the point of this thread.

I want to find out from the true afficionados here at watmm... not from some trend jumping friend of mine.

What do you guys think of using iPads for Producing, DJing, Performing, etc.? My label partner just got one too and showed me the electribe app and seem pretty cool. I know of some apps I would get if I did ever get an iPad. But as far as it taking over? I'm not too sure about that. I'd much rather watch a performance with a dude and midi controllers than a dud controlling stuff with his iPad.

[Kcinsu]

I wouldn't produce with one, but I'd absolutely use the Lemur for playing live... Either controlling Live or controlling standalone hardware.

[yek]

i've seen the app touch osc used for controlling serato scratch, that was cool...

[soundwave]

I've been resisting but eventually its the way to go.

iPads are shit for gadget/internet browser that 99.9% of people who own one get them for however for a 10 point universal control surface for around £340ish its pretty hard to beat.

The only thing keeping me away is the fact I'll be using old hardware midi which down only one cable is limited.

anyhows they are going to be a big part of music production whether you like it or not

http://www.synthtopi...ers/apple-ipad/

[o00o]

TouchOSC is nice to control real gear but the quality of the synths you can buy it weak compared to a desktop. It works well if you just want to try some idea on the go

[asymmetrical head]

Jonas, on 26 January 2012 - 12:17 PM, said:

I'd like to have one sure, nice gadget to use during lunch breaks, but to use it live..hell no. Need some tactile feedback, feel what is happening, moving sliders, turning knobs etc, an ipad feels like tapping a glass plate.

This for me is my stance on the performance midi controller tip.

[RadarJammer]

Jonas, on 26 January 2012 - 12:17 PM, said:

I'd like to have one sure, nice gadget to use during lunch breaks, but to use it live..hell no. Need some tactile feedback, feel what is happening, moving sliders, turning knobs etc, an ipad feels like tapping a glass plate.

/rant Right. I have never used a touch screen device but to me they seem like the uncomfortable awkward step between phyiscal and mental control, in a few years they might have sophisticated epoc like sensors that let you put your grubby fingers back in your underpants where they belong. There are already some OSC control max/pd patches for the EPOC though they probably work better on paper than in action. Several years ago I saw a quadrapalegic on the news running a game of pacman on a computer with his mind and seeing that definitly looked like a sneak peak into the next big thing in user interfaces. If they made the iPad waterproof it could be rebranded as a bathtub computer and I would be totally sold on it 100% /end rant

[autopilot]

I wouldn't use one, not neccessarily because of the interface, but because I wouldn't want to have to rely on the stability of two Apple products in a live setting. I'd rather stick with the built-like-a-brick Pioneer hardware with no software to fuck everything up halfway through the set. I can't even count the number of times a perfectly competent DJ's set has come to a crashing halt as a result of Serato/Traktor/Apple products/some kind of control tone loss amid the myriad of connections required to set it all up.

[arbee]

same here, I'm not really interested to use it in a live situation.

we bought one last november for the lil' family. even if we use it mostly for your usual mail/web/chat/type of things...

I've started slowly using some musical apps. so far I've used it a bit in the studio. mostly for small digital synths duties (the moog synth is pretty nice and the alchemy is cool as well)... I use the NI iMaschine for quick ideas and jams (and mostly when my girl is using my studio for her stuff).

of course there are tons of control apps, some look nice (I'm thinking the lemur thing) but I'm not really into it yet. just slowly using it.

as I love tactile feedback, I don't really use it that much yet.

[Kcinsu]

Well I never said my Lemur would replace my physical controllers.... But it will be a great addition for a variety of useful controls. Keep the stuff you need to jam out with, and use the Lemur for special things that may be too complex to simply assign to midi controllers. Having the constant visual feedback can be quite useful, and there is no need to fiddle for a mouse, just touch it.

Seriously, none of you have lusted for a Lemur, pre-iPad?

[ryanmcallister]

Kcinsu, on 26 January 2012 - 05:39 PM, said:

Well I never said my Lemur would replace my physical controllers.... But it will be a great addition for a variety of useful controls. Keep the stuff you need to jam out with, and use the Lemur for special things that may be too complex to simply assign to midi controllers. Having the constant visual feedback can be quite useful, and there is no need to fiddle for a mouse, just touch it.

Seriously, none of you have lusted for a Lemur, pre-iPad?

lust is too tame a word. for the love of god... the physics...

[Aces]

I am really not in to gimmicks, especially apple gimmicks...

Seriously though, I can see why people might want to use them but I have no interest in using them currently. It would also mean I have to give apple money so...

[asymmetrical head]

Kcinsu, on 26 January 2012 - 05:39 PM, said:

Seriously, none of you have lusted for a Lemur, pre-iPad?

Lemur I would get if I had an iPad... Hell, I just might get it for my iTouch!

[Promo]

I think given time for the majority of folks it'll take over and its logically mainly due to its portable nature which means you can make music at home, the bus, train or in the office. Also to be honest if you want to hook up a mouse and keyboard and use it in a more traditional sense that you'll be able to do that so it pretty much covers all bases.

[TechDiff]

I use one in my live setup, have been for a little while now.

have tried it for quite a few different purposes, nearly always with TouchOSC doing something or the other. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's the end all solution for live control needs. As many people have stated already, the lack of physical feedback is the primary reason. But I think the positives outweighs the negatives.

Far and away the best feature is the complete customisable nature of touch screen controllers. You can have exactly the controls you want, exactly where you want them, exactly how big you want them to be. used to get so frustrated when trying to set up an traditnal midi controller only to find that I had too many superfluous controls getting in the way, or not quite enough pots, any number of things which ultimately meant that I would have to adjust how I wanted my set up to be, bassed on physical restraints of a piece of hardware. Of course you wouldn't have those issues with a custom built midi controller, but once again that controller would only be perfectly set up for one task.

Another great feature is the visual feedback element, things a screen at the end of it. You can get it to display all sorts of information. that coupled with the wireless connectivity means you can control your setup from all over the place. imagine the practical advantages for in house sound engineers, being able to stand right in the middle of the crowd and tweak the mix to perfection instead of running to and fro from the desk.

Other things like portability too. they take up very little space in a bag, have no sticky out bits to get snapped off, don't arise suspicion at customs (when you're arriving to play shows in a country which you don't have a working visa for) ;D I terms of footprint to function, unbeatable IMO.

I wouldn't go as far as to say theyre a one stop solution to all your control needs. They have things they're good at and things they aren't. XY controller, momentary switches etc they're great at. Fine adjustments, rotational encoders, not so. and of course, they won't suit everyone either.

in terms of use as a production tool, again depends what you're using it for. For certain control or display purposes yes, as sound sources I'm still to be convinced. But for spare time, noodling out fun little tracks they're brilliant.

[Kcinsu]

This^

Also, I hardly ever use rotary controls on the Lemur or touchOSC... Not intuitive... I always use sliders.

[mischjok]

Don´t believe everything Synthtopia tells you. The iPad won´t change the way music is done considerably.

[soundwave]

http://m.youtube.com...h?v=7jDo--sE-t8

[Promo]

mischjok, on 27 January 2012 - 02:51 PM, said:

Don´t believe everything Synthtopia tells you. The iPad won´t change the way music is done considerably.

In time I think it will because you only need add a decent audio/midi interface, synth controller, computer keyboard and mouse and the Ipad can do it all. What you have to appreciate is that there are many young and new producers that will only know software so hardware won't have the same emotional resonance for them as it does for the likes of us.

Edited by Promo, 28 January 2012 - 05:38 AM.

[ryanmcallister]

Promo, on 28 January 2012 - 05:35 AM, said:

the Ipad can do it all

the ipad will always be severely behind the processing capabilities of a desktop computer. not to say a tablet can't handle the same specs, but the manufacturers will never make a "pro" tablet because it's not the market they are aiming for (street price would be too high). for this reason alone, the ipad will never be more than a toy when it comes to these "all-in-one" apps for making music. cool for sure if you want to make some dinky little sequences, but when you want to make real music, it just will not get you there. as a dedicated controller though, fuck ya it kicks ass.

[RadarJammer]

9.7 inch screen isn't really appropriate for long hours of music making. 9.7 inch screen is totally acceptable for a bathtub computer though, if only they would make it waterproof and make suction cups for sticking it to the wall so I could read watmm while shampooing.

[ryanmcallister]

RadarJammer, on 28 January 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

9.7 inch screen isn't really appropriate for long hours of music making. 9.7 inch screen is totally acceptable for a bathtub computer though, if only they would make it waterproof and make suction cups for sticking it to the wall so I could read watmm while shampooing.

porn in the shower. nuff said. no wait, shower porn in the shower... it would be like she's right there with you. no wait, ipad doesn't have flash... fml.

[Kcinsu]

People made extremely awesome music in the early 90s with simple computers. To shrug off the ipad for not being a modern computer is kind of short sighted. Almost all of these music apps come with render-to-audio features, so you could make hundreds of snippets, and string them together in garageband for ipad, for example. If there's one thing I've learned over the years is that technology is no match for the human creative spirit. If we are talking ease of use, or in depth specialized features in an all in one package... ok, sure... but it is entirely possible to make an entire song with the ipad, using a variety of apps, rendering to audio, and editing and sequencing them all on the ipad as well. Personally, I wouldn't want to... I love my studio setup, but if, let's say, I went on a 3 month vacation (HA!) and could only afford to take my ipad with me, you bet your ass I'd still be writing music on it, and I (and probably most composers) would be offended at the thought of my artistic spirit being stifled by technology.

[Kanakori]

That was an amazing statement :)

[Kcinsu]

"Everything is amazing and no one is happy" Louis C.K.