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Rig setup advice please
Ok I'm a bit unsure of how best to setup my rig now that I have a mix of traditional and class compliant devices.
This is what I'm working with:
-Behringer MX2642A mixer (old school no built in effects, 26 inputs and 4 busses)
Synths:
-Yamaha TX81Z
-E-mu Proteus/1
-Roland MKS-70
Grooveboxes:
-Elektron Model Samples
-Elektron Model Cycles
Interface:
-Focusrite Scarlet 4i4 (3rd gen)
Computer(s):
-Macbook Air M1
-iPad Pro
Monitors:
Kali Audio LP6
So if I'm routing audio only for jamming, it's pretty straightforward..each device gets it's own mixer channel(s) inlcuding the audio interface's outputs. Monitors hooked up to the mixer's main output. No issues there.
Thing is I'm looking for a setup where I can either jam or record without too much cable pulling.
I'm running Logic on the Macbook and AUM and all the other DAWs on the iPad but I'm not wed to any one just yet. Since my day job involves me sitting in front of a computer all day, my preference is to minimize the time spent staring at a computer screen when I have time to make music. (I suspect I'm not alone here.)
Some ideas I'm thinking of:
-Connecting the audio interface to the iPad and then connecting all the devices to the mixer then the interface (plus is less time staring at the macbook screen)
-Connecting the audio interface to the Macbook and then all of the devices (including the iPad) to the mixer then the interface
Am I missing any other options? I'm curious how people are setting up their gear when there is a mix of audio only and class compliant devices.
Comments
Get a small mutichannel audio interface for your ipad so you can use the iPad also for effects. The tc helicon blender might be nice for that. Also nice for jamming with friends.
Or maybe if the mixer has usb you could try connecting that to your iPad.
Whenever I see someone using both a Mac and iPad I have to suggest the iConnectivity Audio 4c. Making an aggregate device with that and your Focusrite would give you 8 ins. The Audio 4c has a MIDI host port that, with a hub, can host 8 MIDI units. The Audio 4c is very flexible as far as routing audio and MIDI back and forth between iPad and Mac. I’m not sure where your mixer would fit with that and with 8 inputs without the mixer, it may be redundant or repurposed.
What I'd do is:
Get another audio interface + MIDI interface, or alternatively a cheap class compliant MIDI only interface for the iPad.
Cable the bus outs 1-4 from the mixer into the audio ins 1-4 of your interface.
Cable all the synths and iPad audio outs directly into the channels.
If you have an audio interface for the iPad, cable the effect sends to the iPad audio interface INs. This will let you record/sample directly into the iPad or use it as an FX unit.
A screen is a screen. There's no advantage in using the iPad for recording audio, the MacBook is much better at it (and the DAWs on Mac are way better). Use the iPad to it's strengths such as funky MIDI sequencer/virtual instruments and fx.
You can then sequence via the iPad, using the Mac as MIDI clock master (or sequence with the Mac) and use the Mac to record all the audio. You also have the option to easily use the iPad as another synth or with an audio interface also an fx unit.
You could increase flexibility in the future with a patchbay.
I still like the IConnectivity interfaces for combining extensive audio and MIDI routing. I can hook it up to both my Mac and iPad at the same time and share audio and MIDI connections between them.
When I play live, I have 2 ipads connected to an ICA4+. I have an identical ICA4+ rig in the studio, though with an iPad and a Mac. The ICA4+ handles all my basic submixing needs in either environment, though they have other interfaces with more Audio connections if needed.
Sounds like you need a hardware sequencer too.
Or LK controlled by a MIDI controller and using the Macbook as a beefy preset/sample library player.
I second that. The virtual audio channels would really integrate the Mac and the iPad. If you just need that and if you are on a budget you could still use the old devices. They still work well on iPadOS 15 including the software. I bought a iCA 2+ for 120 Euro last year on eBay.
The latest version(5.x) of Studiomux work‘s really well and should be considered as an option. I sold my iConnectivity because of higher latency.
Wow thanks for all the ideas. I really appreciate the input. As it happens, I just bought Mixbox (on sale!) for my iPad and using the iPad as an effects processor is a perfect use case for me. As I am not in the position to buy another audio interface right now, I'm giving StudioMux a try. It is working but it seems a bit flaky.
Hopefully it will hold me over until I am able to pick up another interface for the iPad. I had not heard of the iConnectivity line until now. I'll keep an eye on them for future.