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USB hub that will keep ipad charged while using Audio/MIDI over USB?
I'm looking for something hopefully under $50 that will keep my ipad charged while I use it in my studio. I cannot plug the ipad directly into my mac pro, as the computer is too far away (reducing computer sound while recording) and my USB hub, while allowing for the ipad to transfer midi and audio via USB, does not charge the ipad while in use, so I run out of battery very quickly.
Anyone know of any USB hubs that will keep an ipad charged (or at current battery levels) while using audio & midi over USB? The only ones I've found that say they charge an ipad only do so when the hub is not transferring data and/or they have charge only ports, so it wont work for my needs.
I'm running a 2009 Mac Pro and an iPad Pro 9.7 running iOS 11
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No matter what, you need the USB Camera Connection kit that has the lightning charging port. With that you can run a second cable from either a wall charger, or one of your hubs charge capable ports to the lightning port.
There is no way to power the iPad and pass data over the same cable.
So if I get the Apple MK0W2AM/A Lightning To USB Camera Adapter, I will be able to run IDAM (audio and midi) via my lightning to USB from my ipad to my USB hub connected to my mac pro, and then also somehow power the ipad? Unsure how it would work in practice and must admit I'm confused by the single picture on apples site. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0W2AM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter
Also unsure if IDAM only works via the lightning cable or if it will still work with the camera kit? Anyone have experience? How are you all integrating your ipad into your studios?
You charge the iPad by running a USB lightning cable to the lightning port on the CCK, either connected to a wall charger, or to a battery bank, or to charge-capable port on the hub. No audio or midi can pass over this cable though.
You run a usb cable from the CCK USB port to the hub’s uplink port to pass audio and midi to the hub. I can’t offer advice re: IDAM over USB hub. All I know is audio and midi work fine through the CCK to a USB hub as long as the CCK is plugged into the uplink port of the hub. It doesn’t work for me plugged into any other port.
BTW, there are hubs that also have an Ethernet port. I’ve heard it’s possible to pass data over the Ethernet connection to a LAN. I haven’t tried this myself.
So with a CCK, are you using an app (not IDAM) to get the audio and midi into your computer's DAW?
Well, I purchased the official apple camera adapter, plugged the lightning side into power and the USB into my USB hub connected to my computer, and the computer doesn't recognize the ipad anymore in audiomidi setup. Unplug the camera kit, plug in a lightning cable into the same USB hub connected to my computer, and the ipad is recognized.
Any ideas?
You only hook the ipad via lightning to computer if you want idam, no dongles or hubs in between. You use usb dongle to hook interfaces and other usb gear directly to your ipad. If using idam and interfaces, you hook them to your computer
I’m not sure about your needs but as convention:
1- Connect everything to hub (audio interface, midi controllers...)
2- Connect hub to CCK
3- Connect CCK to iPad
That way is how it should work properly avoiding error messages and so.
Then try to archieve your goal which I still not understood completely.
My goal is to use my ipad basically as a synth in my computer setup. So I want to send midi data from my DAW on my computer to the ipad, and send the audio from the ipad back to the computer. Still dont know the best way to achieve this goal.
Ok...
IDAM atm only works with lightning cable directly as you notice so the simpliest way to use your iPad as synth with full audio/midi input/outputs AND keep charguing could be just use a audio/midi interface (clasd compliant like focusrite iTrack series or Presonus audiobox etc) through powered usb hub and CCK 3 threating it as “standalone”...
Or
IConnectivity interfaces which has some “extra features” like you want but be sure to check forum reviews before buy some of them to find if there is any driver issue with your desktop OS or performance issue with iOS11.
How far is too far? 3 metre long Apple approved lightning cables are widely available
Idk with lightning but mfi 30pins were short af. Example the irig midi...
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Clarification needed - why is the CCK 3 necessary in this situation? Is this how you are getting midi into the ipad? Is audio out also through the CCK or is it done through the headphone jack and cables back into an audio interface? Incase it helps, I use an sliverface apollo as my computer audio interface, and my novation controller keyboard accepts midi in and out, which I have used in the past to control analog synths from my DAW. Do I have all the equipment I need?
Unfortunately the iConnectivity stuff is a bit out of my price range for simply wanting to integrate a $5 synth into my computer setup.
Thanks again for taking the time to help me figure this out! Really appreciate it, as it seems information on how to use the ipad as a DAW is plentiful, but how to integrate it into your existing computer based DAW system apparently is not.
Interesting. I just tried plugging my iPad Air 1 (iOS 11.2.6) into two different powered USB hubs connected to my Mac Mini and both were able to power/charge the iPad. Both are older USB 2 hubs. One is built into my old Dell 24 in LCD display. The other is an old Keyspan (which I normally use for iLoks; and I believe it is 2.0, but it might even be 1.1). Maybe it’s a matter of finding the right powered USB hub? Maybe try an older used USB-2 hub, which you should be able to find cheap on ebay?
Also, I believe that the max length for USB cables is about 15 ft. So even if you did have a powered USB hub that worked, you might need more than one, or a repeater cable, to go to 20 ft.
I use IDAM and Studiomux all the time, but I always plug directly into the USB port on the Mac. (The Mac Mini is essentially silent, so no problem having it near recording mics.)
I have never used the CCK, but I think the way most people use it is to plug a MIDI keyboard with USB out into it. This sends MIDI notes to the iPad and they take the audio analog out of the headphone out. I guess then the DAW is within the iPad (Cubasis etc.).
As I say, I don’t work this way. I use IDAM and a desktop DAW. But just mentioning this as a typical workflow for people who use the CCK.
CCK is only needed if you are going to make that iDevice (iPad/iPhone) standalone
So you will need an audio and/or midi interface (a combination of some could work but audio one needs to be class compliant). Audio doesn’t goes over usb on CCK, that usb works as host for other gear meanwhile IDAM works as endpoint (but special one allowing full duplex) like the iconnectivity... (this will require to learn about how usb peripherals work being host or endpoints) BUT it could work with the headphones and novation as you wondered
My advice is to get a dedicated audio interface too for you iPad/iPhone and link cables between it and your desktop’s one. If you have also midi in/out wire them to get full communication.
Makes sense?