Loopy Pro: Create music, your way.
What is Loopy Pro? — Loopy Pro is a powerful, flexible, and intuitive live looper, sampler, clip launcher and DAW for iPhone and iPad. At its core, it allows you to record and layer sounds in real-time to create complex musical arrangements. But it doesn’t stop there—Loopy Pro offers advanced tools to customize your workflow, build dynamic performance setups, and create a seamless connection between instruments, effects, and external gear.
Use it for live looping, sequencing, arranging, mixing, and much more. Whether you're a live performer, a producer, or just experimenting with sound, Loopy Pro helps you take control of your creative process.
Download on the App StoreLoopy Pro is your all-in-one musical toolkit. Try it for free today.
The monkey wrench that is the M1 equipped Air 5
Apple really surprised me with this Air 5 announcement. I was content to wait until maybe the 2021 Pro's came down a bit or even see what the future 2022+ Pro's will be offering, but now that this Air 5 is in the mix it's certainly clouded up the decision making process.
I started iOS music production in 2015 on an Air 2 128GB 2GB RAM. In 2019 I was very close to buying a Pro when the surprise Air 3 announcement came down. I got an Air 3 256GB 3GB RAM shortly after they came out and it's been a good platform for recording... to a point.
I never felt it was as powerful as it said on the tin, possibly it's the 3GB RAM & A12 chip set up next to the Pro's available at the time. I have enjoyed the Air 3 but the CPU spikes and clicks & pops have made me very conservative about what I was doing with track counts, unfrozen instrument tracks, etc .
Once again I've been thinking of getting a Pro but now this surprise M1 equipped Air 5 has just brought more confusion. I know there will always be limitations with iOS music production but I am just uncertain about what the best move from an Air 3 is.
The 256GB storage limit on the Air 5 is a concern, but I've been able to survive with 256GB on my Air 3 for a few years now. If the iCloud preloading scheme didn't eat up so much space I'd really not even sweat it.
What are some of your opinions on which one you'd go with: Air 5 or 2021 Pro? I went through the Apple event thread and didn't see any real solid recommendations either way (of course the Air 5 isn't technically on the street yet but there's been a lot of numbers thrown around.) Appreciate the insights...
Comments
the new air is almost the same as pro, only a little bit worse. don’t think that ipad pro is an overkill, i think in 2022 it’s the most future-proof ipad.
https://www.idropnews.com/news/benchmarks-show-the-ipad-air-5-is-an-m1-powerhouse/182842/
should I sell my iPad Pro 12,9 1TB ? ….just kidding 😂
Been pondering the same question aswell depends if you want to save £130 UK difference between the 256GB models of IPad Pro or Air 5 for that 120 HZ display and a better camera which seems to be the main differences.
I’ve been looking for some benchmarks and analysis, this article totally cleared up some of the fog, thanks @Sam23
For me personally I don’t care about Face ID; my iPad’s never leave the house really, they’re tools in my home studio. I don’t watch movies or play games on my iPad’s so a 120hz refresh rate isn’t necessary for my needs. One big issue with the Air 3 is that it has the stereo speakers on just one side; the 4 changed that and the 5 has the same setup, a speaker on each side in landscape. I don’t really need another set of speakers like on the Pro…I monitor through headphones or monitors.
Those M1 Air 5 numbers are unreal. I’m pretty much decided. The Air 5 is a Pro basically without a few bells and whistles. I wanted more than 256GB but I think it’s doable with some housecleaning and using cloud storage. Wow…
Let us know how you get on if you pick up a Air 5, our probably go for the Pro as need the storage in the long run.
I was upgrading from an Air 1 with 64gb, all set to get the Air 5. Then I thought about that 64gb. Do I really want to shuffle stuff on a new iPad to stay under that limit? No, so I change my order to the 256gb Air 5...and realize I am US$50 from a Pro 11 with 128gb, with better cameras, screen, speakers. Bought the Pro.
Just something right on point
https://youtu.be/pwHNannxolo
He always is. One of the best tech YouTubers out there.
I went to the Apple store to compare the pro to the old ipad air. Strangely, it’s the speakers that impressed me the most in the pro. Especially the 12”. It felt almost like an instrument when playing. It kind of vibrates, feels solid and sounds good. Anyone else have that experience or choose the 12” pro for that reason?
Only considering audio applications, it seems to me that there are only two differences that might have an influence on which one to choose. The Pro has more storage options and that could be important depending on use case. The Pro has Thunderbolt and the Air seems to only have USB-C. That difference might come into play at some point in the future with better ethernet possibilities and maybe even AVB. Faster external drives and maybe better audio interfaces at some point too.
If I had to choose between the two now, I'd go for the Pro because 64GB isn't enough storage for me but 128GB is, so I would trade the bigger storage space of the 256GB Air for the 120Hz display of the Pro.
Hadn’t seen this guy before. He’s good. Just subscribed. Not in the market yet, but he basically sold me on the Pro vs new Air
My current iPad is the 2017 10.5 Pro, and the speakers are remarkable still. This is one of the reasons I think I’d stay Pro when I upgrade
I don't really see how they're comparable. You're not going to be able to run logic, or whatever, on these iPads. If you need OSX you'll have to buy a macbook pro. Am I missing something?
For me the 120Hz display is definitely worth the upgrade to the Pro, everything feels smoother and more fluid.
M1 MacBook Air runs OSX/Logic just fine.
I meant the iPad vs the desktop. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
I think the original question is comparing the new iPad Air to the current iPad Pro now that they both have M1 processors.
Ah. my mistake
Well, Apple's naming schemes are becoming as blurry as the current iPad product delineation. I'm kinda surprised that they didn't rename the iPhone SE as the iPhone Air.
Yes, the Air 5 and the 2021 Pro 11inch are extremely similar. What keeps me in limbo is the storage. My Air 3 with 256GB has 6GB left free, and that's mainly due to the iCloud preloading scheme that we users really have no control over. Anytime you use/access files on iCloud they're downloaded to the flash storage; Apple claims when you need more room it will magically flush out those downloads so you get your storage back. Of all the wonky things Apple does this may be the most irritating.
I'm thinking from a clean slate the Air 5's 256GB will be okay. Because if you think that the 120hz refresh rate and the few other upgrades make the 2021 Pro worth the extra $50 or whatever you get the Pro yes, but you only get one with 128GB of space. Matching the storage of the Air 5 256GB at $750 with the 256GB Pro at $900 is the more fair comparison. But then you're looking at $150 more. If you want to get out of the 256GB shackles all together then a 512GB Pro 11 inch is $1100.
I've had an Air 2 and an Air 3 and have been happy with both. In truth if the Air 5 announcement had it as an A14 iPad I wouldn't be as excited, not nearly as much. My Air 3 is okay but I have never felt is was powerful enough for what I want, which is just the freedom to run sessions that are 10-15 tracks with a few plugs in each and not sweat popping, ticks, CPU spikes and force closes. The M1 with 8GB RAM, up from the 3's paltry 3GB should get me there for a while.
I appreciate everyone's input. When (if? Nah, we're at when now...) I get one I'll update my findings with you guys. Take it easy ....