Anyone using just the iPad touch screen keyboards?

[Deleted User]

Just curious how this shakes out here in the ABF.
I like to MIDI controllers but wonder if I can just “downsize” to the iPad and some headphones

wim

I use the screen about 90% of the time these days. I don't have a place where I can leave things hooked up or even left out. I'll usually opt not to bother.

But I'm also far from a good keyboard player, so what I do is very basic anyway. If I had more keyboard chops then I'm sure it would be different.

NeuM

I use touch screens on iPad Pro or keyboard on desktop (no, not a synth-style keyboard... the QWERTY one). Too much hassle and not enough room to hook up my synths or a controller keyboard. Let's just say it's less than ideal, but nothing else is a workable option for me at this time.

HotStrange

Right now I’m just using the iPad screen. My iRig keyboard shit the bed and needs it’s micro usb port replaced and being in the middle of a move, I can’t afford to replace it or the keyboard. Also we’re moving into a tiny home so space will be limited anyway. Right now, I’m thinking a cheap Korg Nanokey will do the trick but until then, I’m happy with Xequence Keys/Pads, Velocity Keyboard, and Geoshred.

Gavinski

The logic pro for iPad keyboard is surprisingly good as long as you set velocity to dynamic and to a range between 1 and 127. Touch lighter it will play softer, touch harder it will play harder. It also has some limited pitch bitch bend abilities (snaps to keys too hard but still). Velocity Keyboard is better for the pitch bends, but the Logic keyboard surface is vastly superior when it comes to detecting velocity, as long as you set the large range mentioned above. For non mpe stuff, I love Xequence AU Keys.

NeuM

@Gavinski said:
The logic pro for iPad keyboard is surprisingly good as long as you set velocity to dynamic and to a range between 1 and 127. Touch lighter it will play softer, touch harder it will play harder. It also has some limited pitch bitch bend abilities (snaps to keys too hard but still). Velocity Keyboard is better for the pitch bends, but the Logic keyboard surface is vastly superior when it comes to detecting velocity, as long as you set the large range mentioned above. For non mpe stuff, I love Xequence AU Keys.

Yes, Apple's own implementation of their on-screen keyboard is excellent. And more than just a few of the manual play drum kits are really smartly done.

Gavinski

@NeuM said:

@Gavinski said:
The logic pro for iPad keyboard is surprisingly good as long as you set velocity to dynamic and to a range between 1 and 127. Touch lighter it will play softer, touch harder it will play harder. It also has some limited pitch bitch bend abilities (snaps to keys too hard but still). Velocity Keyboard is better for the pitch bends, but the Logic keyboard surface is vastly superior when it comes to detecting velocity, as long as you set the large range mentioned above. For non mpe stuff, I love Xequence AU Keys.

Yes, Apple's own implementation of their on-screen keyboard is excellent. And more than just a few of the manual play drum kits are really smartly done.

The snapping for mpe pitchbend is a disaster in my view, but I put in several messsages yesterday on Apple’s feedback form for Logic. Fingers crossed they make the snap customizable like on Geoshred. The touch velocity response really is good though.

NeuM

@Gavinski said:

@NeuM said:

@Gavinski said:
The logic pro for iPad keyboard is surprisingly good as long as you set velocity to dynamic and to a range between 1 and 127. Touch lighter it will play softer, touch harder it will play harder. It also has some limited pitch bitch bend abilities (snaps to keys too hard but still). Velocity Keyboard is better for the pitch bends, but the Logic keyboard surface is vastly superior when it comes to detecting velocity, as long as you set the large range mentioned above. For non mpe stuff, I love Xequence AU Keys.

Yes, Apple's own implementation of their on-screen keyboard is excellent. And more than just a few of the manual play drum kits are really smartly done.

The snapping for mpe pitchbend is a disaster in my view, but I put in several messsages yesterday on Apple’s feedback form for Logic. Fingers crossed they make the snap customizable like on Geoshred. The touch velocity response really is good though.

I agree with you there. Few developers have taken full advantage of whatever Apple is doing to sense velocity (possibly in combination with finger pad contact size?) on iPad for keyboards.

Gavinski

Yes - hopefully this will inspire a new generation of better virtual keyboards in apps. @j_liljedahl would die for a keyboard like this in AUM! (With pitch snapping abilities) but would be equally happy to see @SevenSystems add this, and other mpe options to Xequence AU Keys and Drums, which even now have some advantages over the Apple Logic Keyboard in terms of their beautiful design, CC sliders, etc

HeavyWater

Thoughts on picking up KB-1? It looks pretty versatile, but I have AU keys / pads, and Velocity KB. No physical Controller, unless an external qwerty counts

michael_m

@wim said:
But I'm also far from a good keyboard player, so what I do is very basic anyway. If I had more keyboard chops then I'm sure it would be different.

I think this is probably the biggest thing that would prevent me from going over 100% - it’s just not possible to play on a virtual keyboard with the same feeling as a weighted keyboard. Tapping on a hard surface is no substitute for the resistance of various keyboards.

wim

@michael_m said:

@wim said:
But I'm also far from a good keyboard player, so what I do is very basic anyway. If I had more keyboard chops then I'm sure it would be different.

I think this is probably the biggest thing that would prevent me from going over 100% - it’s just not possible to play on a virtual keyboard with the same feeling as a weighted keyboard. Tapping on a hard surface is no substitute for the resistance of various keyboards.

Unless you play such simple sh*t that it makes no difference. That would be me.

HotStrange

@HeavyWater said:
Thoughts on picking up KB-1? It looks pretty versatile, but I have AU keys / pads, and Velocity KB. No physical Controller, unless an external qwerty counts

Haven’t tried KB-1 but I have that exact combo and I’ve never felt I was lacking in anything. Those are both great apps and work super well for me.

Gavinski

@michael_m said:

@wim said:
But I'm also far from a good keyboard player, so what I do is very basic anyway. If I had more keyboard chops then I'm sure it would be different.

I think this is probably the biggest thing that would prevent me from going over 100% - it’s just not possible to play on a virtual keyboard with the same feeling as a weighted keyboard. Tapping on a hard surface is no substitute for the resistance of various keyboards.

Though when you have a keyboard like Xequence AU Keys which allows a lot of vertical width, and control over whether velocity will be mapped to Y axis, it can be surprisingly expressive once you get used to it. Quantising to scales ability also allows for playing that would be extremely hard to do on a real weighted keyboard. But yes - I’m sure most real piano players with a decent weighted keyboard will prefer that overall

michael_m

@wim said:

@michael_m said:

@wim said:
But I'm also far from a good keyboard player, so what I do is very basic anyway. If I had more keyboard chops then I'm sure it would be different.

I think this is probably the biggest thing that would prevent me from going over 100% - it’s just not possible to play on a virtual keyboard with the same feeling as a weighted keyboard. Tapping on a hard surface is no substitute for the resistance of various keyboards.

Unless you play such simple sh*t that it makes no difference. That would be me.

I wasn’t suggesting it won’t work, I was just agreeing with your thought that ability to play is relevant to whether a virtual keyboard is suitable for everyone.

drez

I only use glass. If I’m going to hook up a controller, then I’d rather just use the MacBook with it.

GeoTony

100% IPad glass, 100% GeoShred… I don’t really agree about the lack of expression but I guess I would say that 😊
I’ve a boxed Roli Seaboard Block keyboard in the cupboard but never use it, I’ll be taking it on the Antiques Roadshow in 50 years !

Gavinski

Haha... The battery probably won't work by then if it's never been used. Would still look nice on a coffee table or wall though. You really should pull it out though, they're enjoyable.

@GeoTony said:
100% IPad glass, 100% GeoShred… I don’t really agree about the lack of expression but I guess I would say that 😊
I’ve a boxed Roli Seaboard Block keyboard in the cupboard but never use it, I’ll be taking it on the Antiques Roadshow in 50 years !

BroCoast

I do a lot of stuff on the glass, I like that it stops me from playing too many notes.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

bygjohn

@HeavyWater said:
Thoughts on picking up KB-1? It looks pretty versatile, but I have AU keys / pads, and Velocity KB. No physical Controller, unless an external qwerty counts

I have it, and tend to use it in scale mode. It’s not entirely bug free, though, and outputting it through my SQ-1 to my Moogs doesn’t work well, lots of stuck notes. Which I don’t get with the AUM keyboard, so KB-1 is the culprit. Though it may well be something in the settings - I don’t try to use it for hardware enough to spend the time troubleshooting.

If you have AU keys/pads, you probably don’t need it - I got it in a sale, and it’s OK. It does, however, have knobs as well, which is occasionally useful.

NB I am no keyboard player - my playing is very, very basic!

And in answer to the main question, I’m pretty much 100% touch screen, don’t own any other controllers.

dendy

@JMcMillanMusic said:
Just curious how this shakes out here in the ABF.
I like to MIDI controllers but wonder if I can just “downsize” to the iPad and some headphones

To use just iPad is soo much more comfortable than having to deal with all kinds of external gear. It literally kills for me whole point of using iPad if i should connect controllers and stuff to it :-)

So yeah, for most part of 13 years of my iOS music journey i use just iPad and headphones. Sometimes sound card but just to quickly record some stuff from HW synths and then quickly back to touchscreen-only workflow

FastGhost

I have a desk set up with various hardware bits on it but only use it when I really have to. I like to consider my iPad as an entire studio on its own so that I can make stuff wherever I am. I'm also an absolutely terrible pianist.

hes

@wim said:
I use the screen about 90% of the time these days. I don't have a place where I can leave things hooked up or even left out. I'll usually opt not to bother.

But I'm also far from a good keyboard player, so what I do is very basic anyway. If I had more keyboard chops then I'm sure it would be different.

Are you referring just to the piano keyboard? I can't imagine you typing out all those Mozaic scripts on the touchscreen QWERTY one.