As someone with A12Z/128, I’d go M2 for sure. Never had any issues with storage (have ~45 gigs free at the moment without any conscious effort to save space), but hitting CPU limit is a thing that holds me down.
You may also consider the new Air M2. It may (or may not) be cheaper.
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I’d guess that any M chip iPad would be able to satisfy most requirements with audio.
I replaced my Air 3 with the new Air M2. On the old one it would top out with about 9 sampler tracks in Drambo and one track sequencing an instance of Model D. The M2 can run 10 instances of Model D with capacity to spare. It was totally worth the upgrade!
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There are lots of free DS Sampler libraries on pianobook.co.uk. Can we share our favorites? Mine are Woven Strings, Volitions, Modular Synth and November Piano.
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Some AUv3s will quickly max out my M1 iPad Pro if the buffer size is too low. I think I had to increase it to 256 or 512 samples in AUM.
I don’t know if there would be much difference between M1 and M2 though.
Yeah, I’ve been through several different cables, ensured that they’re all making a proper connection, and tried every port.
The Microfreak has a bit of a reputation of ground-related issues (like the capacitive keybed not working well) and noise with many interfaces. Mixers too, I suppose.
It might be that it requires a balanced connection.
The last thing I want to try is seeing whether I have the same issues with another mixer in this setup.
I’ve got a small Mackie ProDX8 and Boss MX-10 here that I can try (though neither have USB interfaces).
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I want to catch up on this. How exactly does the wiring (Power, Audio, USB and MIDI) of all devices look like? There are several possible causes for the noise. Did you try a transformer isolation (aka DI Box) between the Microfreak and the audio interface?
Some free sample fodder
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The MAT 16X8 looks so dope!
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A few questions, if anyone in the know could help I’d appreciate it.
I’ve been on the lookout for some hardware that I could use specifically for taking my own audio files and midi sync their playback to my overall setup while doing realtime processing. Think techno drones, textures, ambient, etc. Unfortunately the hardware that I have found seems either woefully undercooked (Lemondrop, Torso sampler thing) or massively overpriced, or both.
I’m starting to think that the way to go would be to do this on an IPad of some sort, which would give me the added benefit of being able to work on stuff away from my desk on headphones, and then bring it to the main setup and dock it for performance.
Am I correct in thinking this would be a good use case? Would a standard iPad (not Air or Pro) suffice?
My main setup is based around Ableton Live on a PC, with a Digitakt and Analog Keys hooked up via a USB hub and over Overbridge. All other sound sources go into Ableton via the Elektron devices’ inputs, and therefore go over Overbridge too. I have a currently unused Novation Circuit Tracks, and it seems like it would be an ideal midi controller for an iPad, which I would sync via midi and use it only for midi control and not audio. If I wanted to run midi in and out of the iPad, as well as audio over usb from the iPad into Ableton, would this be an issue? I do not use an audio interface at all, so if my limited understanding is correct, the iPad would be treated as an audio interface. Correct?
Any pitfalls I’m not considering? Using this setup, would I be able to route audio and midi via my PC into the iPad? If so, am I going to be dealing with latency issues?
Any help would be appreciated.
If you want to keep it simple, this says Roland SP404 mk2 or the 1010 Blackbox to me.
To use an iPad you’ll probably need a USB interface so you can run audio and midi I/O… you could certainly do it, but it might be over complicating the set up if it’s not something you already have.
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By USB interface, what do you mean exactly?
Where’s the problem with using Live for your task? Adding an iPad with an extra audio interface etc. introduces a lot of complexity.
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This was exactly what I was going to say. An iPad is going to do exactly what plugins on Live will do, but make your setup much more complicated and error prone.
The only advantage I see is that you add processing horsepower (but you could just freeze tracks) and that there are some plugins that are only available on IOS or are much cheaper (Like Fabfilter), but this wouldn’t sway me. I have an iPad and I’d happily add it to an all hardware rig, but I wouldn’t use it with a PC.
Understood, thanks for the input all. I guess the closest thing I’ve found to what I want that isn’t sketchy is a 404 mk2, it’s just unfortunate that it doesn’t offer any real time granular processing, but I suppose there would be no problem doing that part in Ableton.
Cheers
Something I would mention is that the MC-707 has 4 inputs, mixer style faders and a ton of FX. It’s not cheap though.
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That’s also secondhand Octatrack mk2 territory then too, which would be another option for this.
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An audio interface, for I/O’s, preferably with midi connections, and class compliant to use with an iPad.
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Lots of amazing plugins on both platforms for sure!
But some are unique to each platform. For instance, I’m often sending stuff out to Spacefields from my Mac.
Also, its a different way of working, treating each device more like a piece of hardware.
Lastly, it takes some of the strain off of your CPU if you’re close to the limit!
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It’s mainly about how I use Live. Live for me (so far) is a multi track tape machine and a place for mixing and mastering. I have a template set up so I can open Live and just immediately play any of my instruments, sorting levels, panning and sends on the fly with a Launch Control XL.
I don’t particularly want to use instrument features of soft synths in Live while simultaneously performing with my synths. It’s heavy on the juggling and takes me away from what I want to be doing when recording.
The reason I’m looking towards doing what I mentioned above is that I don’t have enough hands or gear to simultaneously create the textures I want alongside the sequencing and performing rhythmical and tonal material, which I often enjoy improvising. My intention would be to work on a bank of long-ish loops that I create the starting points for with my gear and in Live, then export those files into a device that I can set up in advance and away from my desk, which I can then plug back into my setup when it comes time to perform and have a bank of ready made material I can manipulate live.
@thejewk I was going to suggest koala for iPad/iPhone into Digitakt USB, but then realised you are using Overbridge so that wouldn’t work. Now I just realised Koala is available for Mac. I’ve used it standalone on Mac, not sure if it sync’s up via midi but. It’s worth a try though.
Unfortunately I’m not a Mac guy and it’s not on PC as a standalone. I think there are too many headaches involved with the iPad unfortunately when trying to mix it with a PC setup.