Do you think this is a realistic set up?

moher

Hi guys,
I' m a newby with the IOS music ecosystem (but quite used to desktop DAWs and softsynths). So I apologize in advance for my questions.

So I m planing on looping several sources for a live project with an Ipad (6th gen): vocals, a lap steel, a bass, an autoharp, an home made cello, maybe some hand percussions and also some synths apps like Tardigrain Aparillo, SamplR.. (I would control the synths with my korg mini air that has non noticeable latency).

I would need at least a 4 or 6 channels audio interface :2 dynamic mic inputs / 2 to 4 lines.
I was thinking on having 6 channels coming from the audio interface and routing them individualy to AUM (or Audiobus). Every channel would have in AUM (or Audiobus) the following inserts apps EQ / PAN/ Compresor / Reverb / and probably some extra FXs.(Bias amps on the bass an lapsteel).

All of this channels plus the synths I mentioned before would be sent to Looperverse (or maybe L7).

I was thinking about the following audio interface:
Steinberg UR44C (4 mic lines combos/ 2 lines) and has the DSP Fx app (said to have very low latency) .
Behringer Xenyx QX1202USB (has an FX and channel strips with compresor).
Iconnect audio 4+ (known for its impresive connectivities and is MFI)
Zoom U44 (2 mics /lines combo ampliable to 4, compact, and can be battery powered).

I'm also planing on using the IK multimedia Blue Board to control play/rec/ stop/ overdub fonctions.

Do you think this is a realistic set up?

What do you think of the audio interfaces I mentioned ?

Would my Ipad be able to deal with about 8 channels with all the inserts apps I mentionned and several synths?

Would I be ennoyed with latency issues?

Any advices will be welcome.

And sorry again for my newbies questions. I ve been reading quite a lot on the subject but get lost.

Thank you for reading all of this.

Regards
Stéphane

Processaurus

For a live thing it would be nice to be able to control volumes without hassle, I don’t have one, but the Keith McMillan Kmix might be nice, it is a digital mixer and control surface and audio interface, in theory you could mix the instruments, loops and synths with one thingy.

Your setup sounds complex, not to scare you, but with iOS you never know until you try it and rehearse with it. Complex setups = seldom tested by developers.

Gravitas

iConnect audio 4+ or the Zoom U-44.

I have the Zoom U-44 and I'm using a
Behringer SRC96 to get the two extra inputs.

The sound quality is more than good.

I'm going to get another one.

Edit.

I'm using it for looping, running DM2, Patterning ii,
BM3, Aphelian, L7, and Spacecraft.
convolution Reverb and compression from Rough Rider.

mjcouche

I can’t comment on the interface but Blueboard should work for your use case. May want to look at some other looper apps too such as Group the Loop and Quantiloop. What I am thinking will break your set up is the effects on each channel. Maybe using busses would be a good idea. But again, you’ll never know until you try. Depends on if you want different reverbs etc on each channel.

moher

Hi guys,
Thank you very much for your good advices and thoughts!!!

Processaurus:
You re right, I guess I ll need to experiment and reajust with the IOS ecosystem.
Great advice! Thank you. The Keith McMillen K-Mix seems to be an amazing all in one package. Control surface + 8 inputs, also has EQ / comp/ reverb for each channel !!! A bit expensive though
I ll take a look on the second hand market.

Gravitas:
Good to know that you re having great results with the Zoom U44.
Couldn't find any infos on the "Behringer SRC96" you mentioned.
Were you speaking of the zoom EXH-6?
How many paralel loops have you been able to run with the apps you mentioned?

Mjcouche
Thank you for the loopers apps suggestions. I didn t know them.
I will have a look.
You re right. I guess I ve been a little too optimistic about having all of this inserts on each channels. (I might go for a hardware solution in the eq/comp/reverb department if the Ipad can not deal with it.
i assume you ve been using the Blue board? Have you notice any latency using it?

What do you guys think of the Behringer Xenyx QX1202USB?
(It has 4 xlr/lines inputs / eq / comp / and FX.)

How would you use AUM in that kind of set up?

Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate.
Regards

Gravitas

@moher

I have managed to record about 8 loops with L7,
sometimes more depending upon the improv or test I'm doing.
I'm currently honing my setup to be as flexible as possible.

I wouldn't advise getting the Behringer mixer.
As mixers go the Behringer range is quiet and clear for the most part
but the audio interface inside leaves much to be desired
as it does have huge self noise once accessed.

Saying that I do have the Behringer Q802usb which I
use as a secondary interface for my iphone.
The Behringer range of mixers uses the exact DAC
that can be found in the Behringer UCA202.
Serviceable but if you're doing a lot of recording the noise does get in the way,
It also has recording latency due to the fact that the DAC works
internally at 48kHz and is only stereo in/out.

My setup currently comprises of an iPad and iphone.
Zoom U-44 for the ipad and the Q802usb for the iphone.
The iPad does the heavy lifting and the iphone is used as
a multitimbral synth with extra inputs via the mixer.

The Behringer SRC2496 is an AD/DA upsampler.
It can convert sample rates from 44.1khz through to 96kHz,
has AES/EBU and SPDIF, coaxial and optical in/outs.
A very useful tool for any studio especially for the price.

If you get the Zoom u-44?
Get the exh-6 as well.

mjcouche

@moher i use the Blueboard mainly FSS an effects pedals and for turning pages. I’ve also used it as a sustain pedal, but I prefer a real sustain pedal. Each use case there is no noticeable latency. Some people like the “click” of some of the hardware pedals and the Blueboard doesn’t really have that feedback, but you still know you are stomping on a button.

You may still get away with the effects inserts on every track...except maybe the reverb. You could bus everything to a reverb track if you want everything to be in the same space. You’ll never know until you try a setup in AUM. Good luck!

moher

Thanks a lot for your answers guys:

So Gravitas how are you EQing and treating your sources coming from the Zoom?
8 tracks is more or less what I would like to achieve.
I remember reading that the U44 has an optical port for extra channels. Glad to hear it works great with the Berhinger. Src2496

I didn t know this Behringer mixer only had stereo output in audio interface mode. Though it was at least able to convert 4 channels.

Mjcouche, glad you says the latency is not noticeable with the Blue board. I guess you can assign whatever fonction you need to every switch, right?

About the inserts, you re probably right but since I ll be using essencially electric or acoustic sources I would need to pass them to individual channel strips. If I can not with AUM I might go for an hardware solution.

The K mix suggested by Processaurus seems to be the ideal candidate but it s quite expensive.

Thanks again for your very helpfull suggestions guys!!!
Regards