I don’t know why but I’ve never really been able to get my head around getting an iPad involved in a bigger setup. I was hoping is someone could do a super basic 101 for the apps you need, any hardware or dongles etc.
I’m thinking pretty generic, but if it’s useful - I wouldn’t mind using an iPad either as an outboard effects thingy for my digitakt (and future hardware) or maybe as a new sound source - not interesting in using as a daw…
Thanks!
Im not pro but I can share how I do it, no advanced uses. I use DT + Ipad, where ipad does some synths and fx, and for this I need Camera connection kit dongle, you just connect it and in DT select usb audio/midi. Its nice to have the one with charge port too so you dont have to either charge or use usb.
Usefull apps:
AUM - plugin host, create fx chains, load instruments and assign to DT ect, very nice app
AudioShare - handle audio files, send files from computer to ipad wireless among other things
Koala sampler - if you want more sampleness, time stretch samples or play longer stems (has in app purchase for more audio editing)
In AUM (if you use it) click top left on bpm and you can in the drop down menu connect it to Digitakt, AUM is midi host, so if you have things with a sequencer or something that requires you to press play to run you need to press play in Aum rather than DT. But say you only have a bunch of synths triggered from DT you can play on DT instead.
There is some midi wizardry you can do i think to make DT midi master with some apps but I dont know such arcane knowledge!
All audio in ipad will be heard in DT so you can easily sample from apps or from youtube, and all sound will be coming out of DT main out so you can record from there.
Very fun compact setup!
Step two: get addicted to buying apps (such a reasonable price!) and get more than you actually need! 
I think @myrtorp summed it up quite nicely.
Drambo is the only thing I’d add. It is the most versatile app you can get.
Thanks! So the camera kit and Aum is all you really need. Will check it out. Thank you!
Can you recommend a particular adapter - or should I use apples own?
I would highly recommend using Apple original adapter since knock offs repeatedly failed to work as intended
Once you’re up and running, check out this thread in General Discussion:
There’s also some good information to be gleaned over in the iOS thread on lines:
I think that the moog apps are pretty worthwhile, but they do go free on occasion so it might be worth just keeping your eyes peeled. They are really my most used sound source on ipad, maybe just pick between the model d and the model 15 and assume the other will be free eventually. The apps hainbach has been involved with seem pretty cool and unique also, especially the gauss field looper.
DO NOT buy any other adapter for a Lightning-equipped iOS device that you want to use for music making.
I know this sounds hyperbolic, but I’m pretty sure any other iOS inclined Elektronauts will back me up on this…
100% and it’s the best/most important thing you can buy for iOS music making
As mentioned earlier, AUM and AudioShare are massively useful. Because of the way it works, AUM makes connecting things (both internally and externally) easier than anything else I’ve encountered.
Some apps are coded more efficiently than others (significantly so, in certain cases) which means that you can run loads of instances of plugins from one developer but struggle with more than one from another. Bram Bos is a great example - I’ve got sessions with 8 different instances of Hammerhead running, alongside MIDI and audio effects & the CPU is well inside safe levels. Other creators send my CPU spiking out of control with a single instance.
Apps that I really like:
Patterning 2. An 8 cell sample sequencer with fantastic sequencing options. It’s absurdly powerful and if it had more cells I would comfortably use it to make complete tracks on. The various other Olympia Noise Company apps are all very interesting too.
Sector. Created by the same developer who made AUM and AudioShare, it’s a very creative sample mangling app. It’s quite hard to explain. As with all of these, I’d definitely recommend taking a look at some YT videos.
Samplr. There’s nothing quite like Samplr. It’s sort of a granular app (of which there are numerous great examples on iOS) but that doesn’t really explain it properly. It has a handful of different cells into which you can load a series of sounds and each one can be manipulated in various ways, looped then effected. Definitely another one to watch a video on!
Spectrum. Ports of some of the Mutable Instruments modules as free iOS plugins. Absolutely essential.
Atom Piano Roll 2. My personal favourite sequencing app. Sits inside AUM and integrates perfectly with all 3rd gen Launchpad controllers. Ridiculously powerful and beings Ableton style clip launching to iOS.
Rozeta Suite. By Bram Bos, it’s a collection of MIDI tools that really open things up. I use LFO on every track. A simply 3 LFO utility that you can assign to any parameters you can access within AUM. Also Mozaic is fantastic - an open scripting MIDI toolbox (also by Bram Bos) with a huge amount of user-created scripts on PatchStorage).
MiRack. VCV Rack on iOS (except it isn’t and maybe don’t actually call it that because people get upset and I do understand why).
Koala. Like if an SP404 met a PO33KO but it’s £4 or something stupid. Ridiculously fun and creative, Koala also has a huge community including Discord channels, Twitch streams, friendly battles etc.
Hammerhead. Ostensibly a drum machine but in actuality a very powerful sample player and sequencer with 8 outputs which means you can bring in audio from anywhere and effect them on their own AUM channel.
I could go on, obviously, but these are some of my favourites.
One more thought: The newer ipads have usb c, so a normal (maybe powered) hub will work. If you have lightning ipad definitely go with original cck. As others have suggested, worked great for me also…
Check out these apps:
Quanta, iDensity, Protokol, AUM, Tardigrain, Synthscaper, Soundscaper
And remember: You can buy all of the apps and if you don’t like them, you can always get your money back with this link: Request a refund for apps or content that you bought from Apple - Apple Support
Buying too many apps at the same time is the biggest issue! I would start with one and once that is understood try the next.
Wasn’t there an App that syncs AUM to external MIDI?
been using these for years. 0 issues.
If you want to use the iPad as an effects unit I would suggest using audiobuss rather than AUM. Audiobuss can receive a midi clock. You can also use AUM inside of Audiobuss.
In terms of making noise my go to list is:
Drambo - I think this is the best app out there. I also use it as a AU host much of the time (ie: no audio buss/aum). It can also be used as a fx unit.
Zeeon - I think this is the best sounding synth on the App Store.
The bram bos apps are fun.
I would recommend getting a dedicated sound card for the iPad. I use a Steinberg ur22.
Did you get lucky with this particular adapter, or was it a specific purchase? I’ve seen many posts here (and on other forums) of people having issues with 3rd party lightning adapters.
Good to know there are more affordable alternatives out there!
I just tried it out a few years ago as I wanted an interface and a controller connected and forgo an external multiport powered hub.
Never had any issues with it. Never had to be replaced. Never damaged an ipad or anything connected to the USB. Bought 5 more since. All still working.
This. 
And more in general I do not like sequencing from iOS-apps for various reasons (often due to lack of transport and advanced midi options).
What I do like: use apps to create sample fodder for my Rytm.
Few suggestions: Borderlands, Shoom, Gauss, Model 15, Mononoke, Animoog, Figure etc. But don’t buy those all at once! 
Not that Easy when on sale 
