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USB-C audio interface and headphone dongle: can I use both? [ANSWER: yes, you can]

dokwok2dokwok2
edited March 2022 in General App Discussion

I'm going to order the new iPad Air 5 when it becomes available. I'm puzzled, though, about how to manage my guitar interface and headphones.

On this forum, I've seen several recommendations for the Kingston Nucleum. Okay, I can get that. Here's the trick. At home, I have a Scarlett audio interface that plugs that runs in and out of a mixer. Shouldn't be a problem. But for travel, I have a single-channel USB interface from Apogee. (I use it for guitar.) I'm assuming the Apogee will plug in to the Nucleum. That's one audio interface. As I understand it, though, Apple's headphone dongle is a second audio interface, and iOS only allows one at a time. So how do I monitor what I'm playing?

Comments

  • klownshedklownshed

    @dokwok2 said:
    I'm going to order the new iPad Air 5 when it becomes available. I'm puzzled, though, about how to manage my guitar interface and headphones.

    On this forum, I've seen several recommendations for the Kingston Nucleum. Okay, I can get that. Here's the trick. At home, I have a Scarlett audio interface that plugs that runs in and out of a mixer. Shouldn't be a problem. But for travel, I have a single-channel USB interface from Apogee. (I use it for guitar.) I'm assuming the Apogee will plug in to the Nucleum. That's one audio interface. As I understand it, though, Apple's headphone dongle is a second audio interface, and iOS only allows one at a time. So how do I monitor what I'm playing?

    You could use a USB-C dock like the Kingston but your best bet might be something like a JAM+ or IK Multimidea iRig HD2 which are guitar interfaces with built in headphone jacks.

    FWIW the IK irig is about £68 on amazon at the moment which is less than the UK price of a Nucleus and you get full Amplitube for iOS (Or Amplitube 5 for Desktop) free. Full Amplitube for iOS is $99 on its own.

    I'd rather not have any docks involved personally. Especially when you just wanna plug a guitar into your iPad and jam.

  • mistercharliemistercharlie

    No. Just one at a time. Does the guitar dongle have its own headphone jack?

  • dokwok2dokwok2

    @mistercharlie said:
    No. Just one at a time. Does the guitar dongle have its own headphone jack?

    I have the original Apogee Jam: no headphone jack.

  • mistercharliemistercharlie

    @dokwok2 said:

    @mistercharlie said:
    No. Just one at a time. Does the guitar dongle have its own headphone jack?

    I have the original Apogee Jam: no headphone jack.

    Then I think you’re out of luck :(

  • dokwok2dokwok2

    @mistercharlie said:
    Then I think you’re out of luck :(

    Good to get that disappointment out of the way. Looking at the Zoom U-24 now...

  • aaaaaa
    edited March 2022

    In theory I think it's technically possible to use both. I haven't tried it bc I don't have access to a proper audio interface.

    Here's an excerpt from the audiobus help page on the Multiroute Audio feature:

    Multiroute Audio
    With Multiroute Audio mode you can use an audio device plugged into the headphone port (on iOS devices that still have one) simultaneously with a USB audio interface connected via the Lightning port. This can provide for separate monitor and house signals, for instance.

    Note that due to an iOS limitation, Bluetooth audio devices and AirPlay are not supported when this mode is enabled.

  • uncledaveuncledave

    @aaa said:
    In theory I think it's technically possible to use both. I haven't tried it bc I don't have access to a proper audio interface.

    Here's an excerpt from the audiobus help page on the Multiroute Audio feature:

    Multiroute Audio
    With Multiroute Audio mode you can use an audio device plugged into the headphone port (on iOS devices that still have one) simultaneously with a USB audio interface connected via the Lightning port. This can provide for separate monitor and house signals, for instance.

    Note that due to an iOS limitation, Bluetooth audio devices and AirPlay are not supported when this mode is enabled.

    I believe that applies only to the iPad headphone jack, not to adapters that connect over USB. And the OP's iPad will have no headphone jack.

  • chrkachrka
    edited March 2022

    @dokwok2 said:
    I'm going to order the new iPad Air 5 when it becomes available. I'm puzzled, though, about how to manage my guitar interface and headphones.

    On this forum, I've seen several recommendations for the Kingston Nucleum. Okay, I can get that. Here's the trick. At home, I have a Scarlett audio interface that plugs that runs in and out of a mixer. Shouldn't be a problem. But for travel, I have a single-channel USB interface from Apogee. (I use it for guitar.) I'm assuming the Apogee will plug in to the Nucleum. That's one audio interface. As I understand it, though, Apple's headphone dongle is a second audio interface, and iOS only allows one at a time. So how do I monitor what I'm playing?

    I sometimes use a Rocksmith cable for my guitar with a Kingston Nucleum and using the USB-C audio dongle with it works fine for output. (The Rocksmith cable shows up as an input in, for example, AUM, and the audio dongle as an output.)

  • dokwok2dokwok2

    @chrka said:
    I sometimes use a Rocksmith cable for my guitar with a Kingston Nucleum and using the USB-C audio dongle with it works fine for output. (The Rocksmith cable shows up as an input in, for example, AUM, and the audio dongle as an output.)

    Hmmmm... Does it matter, I wonder, whether the headphones have a microphone built-in?

  • AlmostAnonymousAlmostAnonymous
    edited March 2022

    @chrka said:
    I sometimes use a Rocksmith cable for my guitar with a Kingston Nucleum and using the USB-C audio dongle with it works fine for output. (The Rocksmith cable shows up as an input in, for example, AUM, and the audio dongle as an output.)

    You can have 2 interfaces if one is input only and the other is output only. I use the behringer stereo version of the rocksmith quite a bit. Same thing. This is why you can get a lightning/usb mic and still use the built in speakers/headphones.

  • dokwok2dokwok2

    Update: I finally got a chance to try this.

    Hardware setup:
    1. Kingston Nucleum into iPad's USB-C port
    2. Apple headphone dongle into Nucleum's USB-C port.
    3. Sony studio headphones with NO microphone into headphone dongle
    4. Apogee Jam (the original with no headphone jack) into Nucleum's USB-A port
    5. Guitar into Jam's 1/4" jack

    Software setup:
    1. In AUM, I opened an audio channel with source as "Jam" (my Apogee guitar interface)
    2. Set channel effect as "Yonac Tonestack Pro." (This isn't that relevant, but it's what I used to test.)
    4. Adjusted iPad's hardware buttons for headphone volume.
    5. Cautiously adjusted gain on the Apogee Jam.

    It worked right away. The crucial thing, as was suggested above, is that you can have only one output and only one input. If you're using headphones, you need to choose headphones that don't have a microphone.

    Thank you to all who helped.

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