8.4 still better that 9.3.1 IMHS

supadom

I've been preparing for a gig or two in the next month and I've been using both of my Air 2's interchangeably for looping within AB with Loopy, Sunrizer, Magellan, Tonestack, Turnado and Samplr.

I've been convinced by General reports here and on the IOS musician FB group that we're out of the dark and into the light but it doesn't seem to be the case in my humble looping world. 9.2 still gives me occasional pops and I have a feeling that midi sync is slightly worse too (not using Link).

I just thought I'd report this just in case anyone else was still on the fence. 9.3.1 is by all means usable, just no as clean as 8.4.

richardyot

9.2 is known to have CPU issues, 9.3.1 would be a better comparison.

supadom

Humble apologies, I meant 9.3.1

richardyot

Ah right, yes. iOs 9 was the usual clusterfuck upon release, seems to be a yearly pattern now

Sadly, holding out means you start to miss out on apps that come out, since many will be iOS 9 only. The new Moog synth being a rime example. I usually hold out for the first six months and then upgrade when the worst bugs are fixed.

null____void

In loving memory of those astronauts to be lost when Apple starts making space shuttles.

Lacm1993

My opinion it's the complete opposite. 9.3.1 it's way better than 8.4.1

MusicInclusive

Objectively, as I understand it, according to Geert Bevin and others, that is correct @Lacm1993. There were processing issues with audio in every version of 8 and every 9 before 9.3.

JeffChasteen

Agreed.
I regret updating my phone. I am glad that I did not do the same with my iPad.

supadom

@MusicInclusive said:
Objectively, as I understand it, according to Geert Bevin and others, that is correct @Lacm1993. There were processing issues with audio in every version of 8 and every 9 before 9.3.

I'm not saying this applies to everyone. Believe me I want to be on the latest as much as anyone else but it ain't happening for now and since I have a choice I'm going with the better one.

@richardyot fortunately i have my other ipad to try out new apps. all corners covered

JRSIV

Derek @MusicInclusive wrote some really great articles and posts here about his testing and experiences with 9.3.1, something I took stock in considering he sat out all of iOS 8 trying to avoid the cluster that it was.

I get right on the precipice of diving in to iOS 9 and then back away slowly, because with as much as I may be missing the stories of tech hell some have gone through keep me at bay. I have a Tascam US2x2 interface that I dig so much, very clean preamps and some really good features a lot of USB interfaces don't have (9 pin MIDI in and out, monitor mixing balance knob for control of input and iPad app mix during recording overdubs, etc. vs. just one or the other, etc.) I don't want to get on 9 and have ANYTHING that did work beautifully not work all the sudden.

Of course that's not realistic in this software update era we live in where your smart TV and espresso machine get firmware updates. I am trying to look at it like if it's working now, why fix it and until my favorite apps or must have new release apps are iOS 9 and above only I will hold my cards at the moment... Although the new moog app is a muthaph**a, it's been hard sitting that one out while drooling at video demos.

I feel for @supadom and appreciate his help in at least giving a balanced view to the update debate. For some it is no problem, for others it is far from it...

Be cool...

MusicInclusive

For accuracy: I sat out most of 8 (I did put 8 on something as I was beta testing something at the time that needed 8, but that most certainly devolved the use of the device from where it had been more useful on 7.1.2) @JRSIV - but I sat out all of 9 until 9.3. Now all my iDevices bar one mini 1 and an iPhone 4S are on 9.3.1 with very few hiccups whatsoever. (That mini 1 and 4S are both still on 7.1.2. I had updated another mini 1 to 9.3 but as I noted in the article, it was less capable for audio than the equivalent on 7.1.2, so I left the other mini 1 on 7.1.2, but every other device - two 3's, two mini 2's and an iPhone SE - are all on 9.3.1).

I have had some issues with Grain Science in AB and AUM, and one or two concerns with Tonestack not loading with certain other app combinations, but that's about it. Working perfectly with iC gear as well (I used 3 iPads in the live set Friday with both an iCA2+ and an iCA4+).

I am happy with 9.3.1 as a functional and usable version of iOS for audio on 64-bit devices. I was not happy at all with 8, (nor things associated with the "need" to go to 8, like the AB change to have to use IAA under the hood (not the AB teams' "fault")), and would not move to earlier 9 when I had iC devices. Given that earlier 9 also inherited some of the audio glitchiness of 8, that was a doubly wise move.

But, as I say, happy with 9.3.1

Redo1

@MusicInclusive
How much battery life do you get on a full charge of your 4s now? I've always regretted updating mine and suspect that the battery doesn't last as long and is less reliable. Just curious. Thanks.

MusicInclusive

My 4S is still on 7.1.2. I tend not to run it down much so I can't say @Redo1 - sorry.

supadom

Cheers @JRSIV Indeed this is simply to raise awareness that despite all the 9.3.1 success stories there's still a fraction of our kind that will not benefit from updating or in the very least thread very carefully, or like myself just buy a second (test) device.

I suspect the clicks I'm experiencing come from one app that needs to update to the latest AB sdk (most likely Turnado) and all will be flowery thereafter. As far as sync is concerned I'm not too bothered about link at the moment but as soon as Samplr gets an update I'll be a happy 9.3 camper.

It's all minor issues anyway. Both ipads run all of the above apps in harmony at 128 frames with no latency to speak of. Nothing like glitch fests some folks used to report back in the day.

Thanks all

RUST( i )K

Latest IOS update is giving my AIR 2 MIDI connection/recognition issues with hardware.

Not on my AIR 1 though.

Strange.