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Does such an interface exist?
Hey guys - I'm looking for opinions on interfaces. I'm using an Air2 with the latest OS. It's starting to feel like my quest for the perfect interface has become a wild unicorn chase. Here's what I'm looking for in a unit:
- Charges the iPad
- 1/4" outputs
- USB host port for connecting a powered hub to simultaneously support multiple midi controllers at once.
Ultimately, I envision having connected all at once: a realistic piano controller like a VPC1, as well as a synth action board, and room to expand with other controllers for additional knobs/faders/pads.
Of course there are other features I'd appreciate but the above are paramount for me.
So, I originally purchased an itrack dock early last year. It worked great, but the USB port only supports one controller at a time, and the design IMO is unwieldy (and would be even more so if I upgrade to the new 12.9 ipad pro next year and have to use an adapter to fit the dock).
So, I returned it to wait for the impending release of the iConnectAudio4+, which seemed to check all my boxes. Due to a number of factors, I didn't end up purchasing until last month. At first, it seemed to be the magical unicorn solution I had hoped and waited for. However, it quickly became apparent that the interface has major iOS10 compatibility issues. Basically, after a few minutes of use, an interference/crackling sound will appear, ruining whatever you're doing and requiring a reset to grant another 5-10 minutes of use until it invariably comes back again. Very frustrating. IConnectivity has reported the issue to Apple and is "optimistic" for a fix in a future update. They instructed me to downgrade to iOS9, but I found that Apple is no longer signing iOS9 firmware, making such a downgrade seemingly impossible.
Without a guarantee that full functionality will be restored, I face the unfortunate choice of returning the iCA4+ while I still can (I have this option for just 2 more days via B&H return policy). I would rebuy the iCA4+ in a heartbeat if the bug is addressed in a future update as they hope, but I thought I would also field opinions on any other interfaces which I may not have considered. After having done an admittedly limited amount of research, I've yet to find any other interface that promises this combination of capabilities.
Sorry this has gotten kind of long, I just wanted to make my situation clear! Thanks for any recommendations!!
Comments
Hmmmm. I was going to say, iCA4+ until I read of your problem there. Sorry to hear about that. Positively, I do know that iC was able to work with Apple to get the previous issue fixed with iOS 9, so, hoping they can also do that with iOS 10. It's a shame Apple keep introducing this kind of problem. The iCA4+ is the right interface to do what you want however. I'm pretty sure iC is assiduously attacking the problem as they are able
Connect a powered usb hub to the rather new CCK3, which lets you charge the iPad.
Connect any audio interface to the hub along with your controllers and you're basically good to go.
the iConnect has a big advantage when it comes to multiple external controllers or other midi gear - most interfaces don't handle Midi at all.
I'm also surprised to read about those IOS 10 problems, and fortunately refused all update suggestions, more than a hundred times... it's annoying, but at least takes only a couple of seconds.
The main factor here is that you don't need to look for an all-in-one solution. The CCK 3.0 should charge your iPad and be host for a powered USB hub. Then plug in any class-compliant audio interface to the hub + as many USB MIDI devices as you want. This method is only limited by the number of USB ports on your powered hub.
Thank you all for your responses! As you can no doubt infer, I'm new to this kind of hardware. In fact this has been my first experience purchasing an interface.
When you say this do you mean in the way it includes midi din ports for physical hardware, or is it also unique in working with midi apps?
I'm going to check out the CCK3 and a hub as suggested. Any particular CC interfaces I should check out in the 2-3 hundred price range?
Thanks again guys.
first of all the iCA4+ has a midi heritage, basically the analog audio (input/output) part was added to a midi interface. Digital audio could always be routed by the iConnect Interfaces.
That means that their routing software handles midi data independently from IOS, no need for an extra app for that purpose.
It handles 1 DIN in/out and a dedicated USB port, which can be extended by a HUB.
I have no practical experience how reliable a big setup works (potentially the interface can handele a ton of devices) for the lack of midi gear.
The software is technically well thought out, but as all routing matrices needs it's time to get used to.
Which is the biggest 'problem' the interface may present to some users who want it all to work automatically right out of the box... and forget that digital crystal balls don't exist yet for electronic devices
I don't know of any other interface with such an extended set of functions.
This or audiohub plus new cck3.
I discovered iOS supports hierarchical hubs, at least for MIDI devices. Just be sure the audio interface is on the hub closest to the CCK. Do not know the limit here, but I have run 10 devices + audio OK this way.
That's neat. Never has need to try it but good to know.
I think the iMicro USB 3.0 looks cool - might be worth a look:
http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-iusb3-0/
OK. I did some tests today with the iCA4+, Sierra, and a mini 4 running iOS 10. Everything up to date.
Here's my test scenario.
I connect my Xkey 25 to the host port of the iCA4+. I connected the Mac to USB port 1, and the iPad to USB port 2.
MIDI is routed from the Xkey 25 via the iCA4+ to Studio One Pro running on the Mac on port 1, then back out to the iPad via port 2. (i.e. I'm involving both macOS - specifically Sierra - and iOS - specifically 10 - in the MIDI routing process and not just routing the Xkey 25 directly in the iCA4+ to the iPad.
I'm triggering Animoog from the MIDI thusly routed. I'm then recording Animoog's audio and the MIDI from the Xkey into two tracks on the Mac in Studio One Pro 3 - again latest version.
My iCA4+ has buffered audio frames of 3 and a sync factor value of 2. I am running at 44.1k/24 and have the clock source set to be USB 1.
I recorded 15 minutes of continuous Animoog audio into S1 without any crackling at all. No pops, no clicks, no losing sync.
I also, simultaneously, on the same iPad, recorded 15 minutes of microphone audio (by feeding the monitored Animoog audio out from the main outs from the DAW via the iCA4+ through some cans connected to the iCA4+ then in via an SM57 connected to the front of the iCA4+ into jack 1) into Auria Pro without any crackling at all.
Not sure if that helps @hondobro ?
@MusicInclusive - Were you having crackling problems prior to today's iOS 10.2 update?
@MusicInclusive thanks so much for the testing and sharing your results!
I've been out of town but I wanted to update that I may have had a defective iCA4+ unit all along. I discovered the crackling would occur even during the simplest of tasks, like playing spotify or podcasts. I've returned the unit and am planning to rebuy another once I'm refunded. Coincidentally, the price is $50 lower now than a month ago when I bought it so at least I'll get some savings for the trouble.
Some of the alternatives proposed here using the cck3 are also interesting, but the ability to connect 2 ios devices has me still wanting an iCA4+.
I'll let everyone know how the replacement performs.
spotify or podcasts are by far a 'simple task', there's a lot of high power processing going on when decoding and network processing.
Crackles on streams can have dozens of sources, it's not a reliable test for any audio interface.
Ok, I just assumed that these were comparatively simple tasks in contrast to running/recording multiple music production apps at once. It also happened when playing locally stored mp3 files.
I was planning to buy the iCA4+, so i´m a little disconcerted to hear about these issues. It seems to be the absolute best solution today. What an evolution, i started with an iPad 2 and a AKAI Synthstation 49, which i´ve recently reactivated, and would be great to use them again with the iCA4+. With some AUs on the Mac, Gadget on the old iPad 2 and Cubasis with the "hungry" synths on my iPad Air 2 it would just all come together perfectly with that interface.
I hope the issues get fixed...
No. I haven't done the 10.2 update yet. The above was with the 10.1 version.
I appreciate the testing you've done, @MusicInclusive, but I'm confirming that I still get the crackling after 30+ minutes, using iOS 10.2 and the latest ICA4+ firmware. In my case, the crackling occurs on a specific stereo pair.
I really wish iconnectivity would be more clear about what the problem is, and how we can also ask Apple to make it a priority. In the meantime, I think it's fair that potential purchasers know that this problem still exists post 10.2.
I will do a 31+ minute test at some point @uncledig as time permits. It may well be a specific issue with your unit. Can you specify a little about your setup and also what stereo pair the problem occurs on and I will try and replicate it.
Sure! Thanks for any help, because this is an annoying problem that I was hoping would be fixed by now.
Btw, the problem seems to appear after a random amount of time, at least 30 minutes, often 40+, and sometimes it'll happen after an hour. When it happens, a power cycle on the ICA4+ will fix it until the next time. I generally keep the unit powered on, but my laptop (which is on USB port 2, and is the clock) usually gets a reboot before I start a session. Now I reboot the ICA4+ too, just to be sure. I'm not sure if just a reboot of the laptop fixes/resets the problem. I'll test that and let you know.
Here's my audio routing. I don't use the USB mixers, I do all of that inside of Ableton Live, so it's just USB device and Analog routing:
USB1 is an iPad Air
USB2 is a Windows laptop running Ableton
USB2 is also the Clock Source
Analog 1/2 Out are Main R/L out, same goes to headphones
So the laptop (USB2) gets electric guitar on Analog 1, a mic on Analog 2, the main output of the iPad (USB1) on 3/4 and another set of output from the iPad on 5/6. This second set, which is 5/6 In on the laptop (USB2) and 3/4 Out on the iPad (USB1), is the stereo pair that goes bad after a while.
On the iPad, I'm using AUM for routing/hosting, and have Thumbjam and Animoog playing through the main outputs on the iPad (1/2 Out on USB1). I use various FX apps on the iPad which process audio input from 1/2 In (on iPad USB1) and send it out on the iPad's 3/4 Out (which is routed to 5/6 In on the laptop). It's this chain that has the problem. I've confirmed that it's not the FX apps - I've run without any apps in that chain and still have the crackling appear after some time has elapsed.
Hope that makes some sense. Essentially, I have the iPad doing sound module duties (TJ, Animoog) and aux audio processing duties. The aux audio processing chain get crackly after some time.