Best controller for iPad

zarv

I own a M-Audio 32, inexpensive and (maybe too much) basic.
Works well and is easily detected by almost everything, but I feel the lack of more MIDI regulations (knobs).
What do you use by and/or what do you think is the best buy?

gonekrazy3000

Instead of getting a new Keyboard. Just get a USB hub and an additional controller like the novation launch control. Voila. More knobs for your keyboard. My setup is a lot more convoluted. Have 2 Keith MC millan K-boards and a novation Remote Zero SL Mk1.

ErrkaPetti

The M-Audio Axiom Pro 49 is kind of nice...

I have the first generation (the white one) and I'm supersatified!

zarv

@gonekrazy3000 said:
Instead of getting a new Keyboard. Just get a USB hub and an additional controller like the novation launch control. Voila. More knobs for your keyboard. My setup is a lot more convoluted. Have 2 Keith MC millan K-boards and a novation Remote Zero SL Mk1.

Interesting. Would you be so kind to post a photo? And, any latency perceptible?

gonekrazy3000

This is my portable setup. The Novation Audiohub,the Keith mcmillen K-boards and the novation Remote Zero are all powered by a hub connected to the battery bank on the right. The volcas have their own batteries. There's negligible latency since I am running at 128 samples.

Telefunky

today I'd simply prefer a 2nd iPad instead of hardware faders/dials.
For sequenced controller values I use Oscilab in midi-only mode, giving note, velocity and 3 CCs per sequence.
If more controllers are needed, one could assign a 2nd sequence to the same destination.

For manual synth controlling it's TC-Data.
Entry is a bit steep at first, but once you get the idea it works really well.
My favorite is a multi-turn jog dial mode with visual feedback (the circle's color intensity increases/decrease by number if turns/direction.
You can add prefered modification gestures (from a huge list), which results in operations that would be very difficult to setup in hardware, if possible at all.

For the more standard faders I'd choose a Lemur template for their faked physical reaction that makes the control smoother to operate.
Such a setup needs a cable based midi connection, for wireless it's just too much traffic generated (imho)
The IOS device doesn't have to be the latest and greatest, so might also be an option for continued use of an otherwise outdated iPad.

cheers, Tom

zarv

@Telefunky said:
today I'd simply prefer a 2nd iPad instead of hardware faders/dials.
For sequenced controller values I use Oscilab in midi-only mode, giving note, velocity and 3 CCs per sequence.
If more controllers are needed, one could assign a 2nd sequence to the same destination.

For manual synth controlling it's TC-Data.
Entry is a bit steep at first, but once you get the idea it works really well.
My favorite is a multi-turn jog dial mode with visual feedback (the circle's color intensity increases/decrease by number if turns/direction.
You can add prefered modification gestures (from a huge list), which results in operations that would be very difficult to setup in hardware, if possible at all.

For the more standard faders I'd choose a Lemur template for their faked physical reaction that makes the control smoother to operate.
Such a setup needs a cable based midi connection, for wireless it's just too much traffic generated (imho)
The IOS device doesn't have to be the latest and greatest, so might also be an option for continued use of an otherwise outdated iPad.

cheers, Tom

to control an iPad with another one is a brilliant idea. Would you mind to detail some simple layout of how this could be done (or of what you actually do, ofc)?

Telefunky

In my case an iConnectAudio4+ can route both audio and midi signals between 2 devices.
All audio-only interfaces would block the midi path (for obvious reasons).
The idea first showed up when I still used an ioDock:
in that case I would connect an iRig Midi to the 'controller-iPad' and plug it's output into the DIN connectors of the ioDock.

I found the midi handling of the iCA4+ quite reliable with the afforementioned apps and even with a quite complex setup that included an external FM synth module that was partly managed by PC software while tweaked and sequenced by the iPad simultaneously.

The main hurdle is the handling of TC-Data, as they don't have 'building your custom controller' as their first intent.
So you just cannot pickup an example preset and modify that.
Best approach is to really start from a blank page and extensively explore how 1 single element performs, how all those angles, distances and time constraints interact...
It's not difficult at all, but you HAVE to understand it's behaviour.
Worth the effort as TC-Data is a phantastic controller, very clear layout.
(don't be mislead by the fancy screen layout)

cheers, Tom

zarv

@Telefunky really useful. I figured u'd use that good iCA4+. Thanks, Tom