Viv Savage Posted July 16, 2023 Share Posted July 16, 2023 I wonder if anyone has thoughts on the best way to run Pianoteq using a 5-pin MIDI controller (in this case, Kawai ES110) and an iPad Pro? I have a Korg PlugKey but unfortunately that uses lightning whereas the iPad Pro uses USB-C. It seems like the options include: 1) Using some kind of female-lightning to USB C male adaptor between the PlugKey and the iPad Pro (really not sure if this would work) 2) Using a DIN MIDI-USB adaptor to connect the Kawai and iPad to a USB-C hub like this one, and hoping that the hub has decent audio output from its headphone out 3) Getting a older iPad /iPhone with lightning to run Pianoteq, and using the PlugKey, which is a terrific product. 4) Using another audio interface like Zoom U24 to take audio out of the iPad Pro, using an Apple Camera Kit connector? I guess this would take care of the audio, while the Kawai could send Bluetooth MIDI to the iPad? 5) Any other ideas? Sorry for the basic question, but the universe of possible hubs and adaptors out there is a little overwhelming, not to mention the variability in quality and performance with third party adapters. Wondering if anyone has found a solution for something similar. Thank you in advance! Quote "Have a good time ... all the time. That's my philosophy, Marty." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted July 16, 2023 Share Posted July 16, 2023 I love the PlugKey with my iPad 9G, but if I'd upgraded to an iPad Pro, I'd have probably bought an iRig Pro Duo. 1 Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Gauss Posted July 16, 2023 Share Posted July 16, 2023 i use this (20 bucks) : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BTKPGVW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 plus a generic version of this: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassdad Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 Apologies if not applicable, but I can’t easily find info on the Kawai ES110…. but if it has USB out, what I do is do both the MIDI in and sound out via USB by simply connecting the USB out of my keyboard to the USB connector on the iPad Pro. Pianoteq works great for me that way. Just an idea. Quote Ludwig van Beethoven: “To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.” My Rig: Yamaha MOXF8 (used mostly for acoustic piano voices); Motion Sound KP-612SX & SL-512; Apple iPad Pro (5th Gen, M1 chip); Apple MacBook Pro 2021 (M1 Max chip). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delaware Dave Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 13 hours ago, D. Gauss said: i use this (20 bucks) : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BTKPGVW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 plus a generic version of this: I have no need for this adapter but must say there is alot of connectivity built into that for $20. Quote 57 Hammond B3; 69 Hammond L100P; 68 Leslie 122; Kurzweil Forte7 & PC3; M-Audio Code 61; Voce V5+; Neo Vent; EV ELX112P; GSI Gemini & Burn Delaware Dave Exit93band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Gauss Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 3 hours ago, Delaware Dave said: I have no need for this adapter but must say there is alot of connectivity built into that for $20. i've used it with the ipad, my samsung phone, and amazon fire tablet. been a good little problem solver so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 I have the Apple Magic Keyboard. The BIG bonus of using this is the ability to plug the keyboard into the charger and power the iPad while leaving the single USB-C port open. Been looking at sound interfaces and found a few with iPad drivers. Strongly considering the UA Volt 2 as my audio interface. It has MIDI in and out which would allow me to connect a keyboard through the Volt. With that setup I will not need a hub. Quote This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 Very cool - if expensive - way of charging an iPad without consuming the port. I wonder if a third-party would be interested in coming up with a charger that uses the Magic Keyboard technique - just without the keyboard. Cheers, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldwin Funster Posted July 20, 2023 Share Posted July 20, 2023 I don't know what generation your iPad is but I did a 3 plus hour rehearsal today and still had over 80% left on my battery. I could have played a 3 set gig and another 3 sets the next day and still had maybe 20% left on the meter. Gen9 ipad btw. I don't need to think about using a charger during a show. And if you use a charger ever time you use your iPad and the battery never gets to cycle it eventually won't hold a charge. My suggestion , power all keyboards and peripherals from a powered hub and let the iPad work through its normal battery cycle. Unless your battery only gives enough time to sweat whether or not you got enough battery time to get through your event. Then yeah, a powered dock would work but I believe to the detriment of your battery. What about getting audio out of the ipad you ask. Get an $8 thumb sized sebrent usb sound adapter and stick it into the powered hub. Quote FunMachine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 On 7/16/2023 at 7:30 PM, D. Gauss said: i use this (20 bucks) : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BTKPGVW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 plus a generic version of this: That's very cool. I was searching their Amazon store for a Lightning version, but I guess they don't make one. Quote The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthaholic Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 On 7/17/2023 at 11:57 AM, D. Gauss said: i've used it with the ipad, my samsung phone, and amazon fire tablet. been a good little problem solver so far. Oh, if you're successfully using it for Android, also, then I'm going to pick one up for my Pixel phone and Samsung tablet. Thanks! Quote The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers People only say "It's a free country" when they're doing something shitty-Demetri Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanefsky Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 This is the one I like to use. I prefer to use a separate high-quality USB DAC versus the cheap built-in audio. I also prefer not to have a bunch of other unnecessary ports (HDMI, memory card slots, etc.) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SVZFFPP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viv Savage Posted July 25, 2023 Author Share Posted July 25, 2023 Thanks, all, I really appreciate the different suggestions! I'll likely go for one of the USB hub options. Quote "Have a good time ... all the time. That's my philosophy, Marty." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 There's a lot of conversation about this kind of thing (including different kinds of hubs) at https://forums.musicplayer.com/topic/185410-ipad-as-a-serious-musical-instrument/#comments Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marczellm Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 I have a Focusrite USB Audio interface. I can connect it directly to the iPad Pro through USB-C, and get MIDI signal in and audio signal out that way. Basically any USB audio device that does not require very custom drivers will work. Quote Life is subtractive.Genres: Jazz, funk, pop, Christian worship, BebHop Wishlist: 80s-ish (synth)pop, symph pop, prog rock, fusion, musical theatre Gear: NS2 + JUNO-G. KingKORG. SP6 at church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanefsky Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 34 minutes ago, marczellm said: I have a Focusrite USB Audio interface. I can connect it directly to the iPad Pro through USB-C, and get MIDI signal in and audio signal out that way. Basically any USB audio device that does not require very custom drivers will work. There's a big difference. The vast majority of USB hubs and USB audio interfaces either draw power from the USB host or have a data-only connection and neither draw nor supply power. So they don't solve the problem of how you keep the iPad charged and also have it connected to a MIDI keyboard at the same time. You'd have to use something like the Magic Keyboard that can supply power without using the USB port, or just remember to disconnect the audio interface and plug in a charger every so often. The hub I listed (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SVZFFPP) has a USB-C power input and will pass that power through to the iPad to keep it charged in addition to allowing you to connect multiple USB devices to the iPad like a MIDI keyboard or audio interface (and it will power those as well). Similarly with the docking station that D. Gauss mentioned earlier. (when I mention "iPad" above it also applies to other tablets and smartphones with USB-C ports. Even laptops like a MacBook Air can be kept charged and connected to multiple USB devices with just a single connection this way). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanefsky Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 Just to add some clarification to my previous message, note that there are many powered USB hubs that will supply power to the devices you plug into them, but they will not supply power back to the host (e.g. the iPad, Android Phone, MacBook Air, etc.). Regular powered USB hubs also tend to come with big ugly AC adapters, whereas hubs like the one I listed and docking stations like the one D. Gauss listed have a USB-C power input so you can just use the normal charger that you would use otherwise or you could use one of the cool third-party chargers from Anker, etc. that can supply tons of power in a tiny form factor (e.g. 30 watts from a 1" cube or 65 watts from a 1.5" cube). You can also choose your own USB-C cable in whatever length and color you like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldwin Funster Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 Keeping the iPad charged while you use it will kill your battery over time. Quote FunMachine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanefsky Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 No, Apple has very good power management circuitry. It's not like the old days when a battery was charging whenever it was plugged in. Now it uses a lot of logic and sensors to decide when and how much to charge. I have iPads that have been continuously plugged in for several years without any issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Gauss Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 How do y'all get digital audio out of your Ipad and into a windows PC over USB? Seems to be impossible, no? To be clear, one cable between the two just like connecting to a Yamaha keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Beach Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 I just bought an IPad G9 which has a Lightning port. I have a Korg Plugkey and/or an I-Rig Pro Duo to interface to the IPad. The negative of the I-rig Pro Duo is it does not charge the IPad, so I had to buy some Camera kit adapter to get power to the IPad. I hate extra dongles and adapter cables but it works. The Plugkey does everything in one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jejefunkyman Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 The Plugkey is a very nice and practical piece of gear in a very small package and I put it to very good use, but I've understood it is not working any more with USB-C when using a lightning to USB-C adapter. I'm still using it with a last generation iPhone SE and an iPad 7 with Korg Module and for the time being I'm good with this setup, but I'm wandering what to do when I will have to update my iPhone and my iPad to newer versions without lightning ports. I find it a pity that I will have to trash the Plugkey 😒 There's no USB-C based equivalent solution to my knowledge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Gauss Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 12 hours ago, D. Gauss said: How do y'all get digital audio out of your Ipad and into a windows PC over USB? Seems to be impossible, no? To be clear, one cable between the two just like connecting to a Yamaha keyboard. anybody? seems the app "studiomux" can kinda sorta could do it, but it looks to be very buggy. it's 2024, this should be easy-peasy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 9 hours ago, jejefunkyman said: I'm wandering what to do when I will have to update my iPhone and my iPad to newer versions without lightning ports You can still buy iPad 9th generation, and they’re sometimes on sale. Won’t be for long, though. 1 Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reathpd Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Apple USB-C to Lightning Adapter From Amazon. Works perfect. Now back to using my plugkey with my new ipad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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