Interface with midi/audio for iPhone+iPad?

The Lounge Other Gear
1

I’ve been doing a bit more sampling (on iPhone) and sequencing/synthing on iPad, and totally clueless in i/o for these things.

What I’d ideally like is something:

  • compact
  • unpowered / usb power
  • switchable usb connector (iPhone uses lightning cable, iPad uses usb-c)
  • midi in and out
  • audio in and out (mono is fine)

Does such a thing exist? Or do I need to look at multiple separate connectors?

I’ve no idea if standard computer audio usb interfaces even work on phones/tablets to be honest…but something portable would be nice.

2

Yep, it just needs to be class-compliant and usb bus powered. I have MOTU m4 and it or m2 ticks all these boxes for usb-c. (Lightning will require a dongle, I believe, as I don’t think the power delivery works seamlessly on lightning.)

2 Likes
3

Tascam 2x2HR is pretty much exactly this I think: Tascam US-2x2HR | High-Resolution USB Audio/MIDI Interface (2 in, 2 out)

I use this with an iPad Pro. Tascam takes MIDI DIN from Digitakt and sends stereo audio over 1/4” jack plugs into Digitakt. Class compliant, just works out of the box.

I do this as an alternative to simply connecting Digitakt to iPad via USB (which also works great BTW) because I use the USB port on the DT for Overbridge a lot.

I recommend getting a small hub for iPad/iPhone that has a PD power passthrough port so you can connect a charger at the same time as use the Tascam. iPad music apps seem to kill the iPad battery super fast.

Also there is an optional power supply for the Tascam (pretty cheap, found it on Amazon) which is good as it means the Tascam isn’t draining the iPad battery either.

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4

Plus one for the MOTU M4 here. Works flawlessly with all my devices - iPhone, iPad, MacBook - plug and play, no drivers required. And I really like the front panel level meters!

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5

I use a UA Volt 476, which has 4 ins (2-preamps and 2 line) and 4 outs, and midi din in and out.

Works great on my iPad Air (m1 and usb-c) and my iPhone 15 Pro (usb-c), so I imagine their entire line of cheaper Volts probably work fine as well.

I largely use it as a bit of a micro-rig (mic, hydrasynth explorer - which is battery powered) for tracking rough ideas quickly into Logic for iPad or AUM.

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6

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irig2/

7

Another vote for the UA volt range. I have the 276. 2 inputs, USB out (but also 1/4 inch audio out for monitors etc), power over usb. Nice built in compressor if you want it. Pretty cheap. Works great and seamlessly with IOS and Mac.

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8

You can also check out RME.

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9

Thanks for the advice all, plenty of good options here. Key thing was finding out that class compliant interfaces are the way to go.

I’d always thought you needed some specialised iPad/iPhone specific bit of kit.

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10

Correct, but with the caveat that “class compliant” is not always as true as it’s stated to be. It’s a spec, not a guarantee, and some manufacturers don’t follow the spec so well.

So it helps, especially in iOS, to talk to people (as you did here) and find out what is actually working for them.

If you decide to choose a “class compliant” interface not mentioned here, make sure to get confirmation from actual users of it that it works in iOS. People have been burned before.

1 Like
11

What about the zoom UAC-232