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.
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Ipad - which to invest in?
Hi there forum,
I hope your expertise can lend me a had with some decisions...
Firstly, I'm on the fence between getting:
1) loopy pro i.e. - Ipad (specifically for using loopy pro) + (mixer with usb interface)
2) Boss RC-505mkii (which I was certain to get before I discovered loopy pro recently)
However, I'd like to know what is best to get in terms of which ipad model,
I understand that obviously software is always developing and if I had the dosh to get the latest ipad (certainly not happening),
So, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend what the best ipad to go for is, specifically for use with loopy pro (I would probably restrict it to this use only just to give as much processing power as possible).
e.g. would an ipad pro (2015) (£300) be a good choice?
It will effect my decision as, £300 for an ipad (if it lasts me for 3/4+ years would probably be worth it), but if it ends up being outdated in 2 years the 505mkii, which would function indefinitely, would possibly be a better choice.
If I got an £100 ipad, sure, I'm guessing it would run loopy pro but for how long?
In effect, my question is: what is the minimum priced but reasonably good ipad model that will run loopy pro with plenty of processing of power (i.e. 5 tracks all with 2 effects each - or similar to a 505mkii) to get that will last the longest using loopy pro?
Also, if anyone has any thoughts of using the rc-505 (or rc-600) versus loopy pro more generally, those thoughts would be welcome,
thanks for reading,
Comments
1) iPads have "always" been good at music. A 2015 model may not receive the latest operating system, but it will still suffice for quite some music tasks.
2) Aim for storage of 128GB or better. You're likely to need more than 64GB. Be prepared for subscribing to additional iCloud storage. Both for automatic back-ups and for storing data.
3) I personally prefer the 12.9" screen size over the 9.7" or 10.5" ones. But storage may well be more important, and you may be able to connect to a large screen.
4) I have recently "bought" Loopy Pro (one year of updates, optionally pay later to have newer features unlocked), but I haven't yet used it. I keep zig-zagging between intending to loop on an iPad and on discrete hardware. I'm not at all familiar with the hardware you mention.
5) There is more software that may support looping available for iPad, like pattern-based sequencers (as opposed to linear sequencers).
6) Do reserve some budget for cables, some interface, and similar. And for Audiobus... ;-)
7) Me, I have six iPads. I'm using three of them (including a 2015 and a 2018 large one) daily, and have two others ready for action (including an iPad 4 dedicated to making music). My first iPad (iPad 2) is "reset to factory" after a failed upgrade, but could be put to work.
I wouldn't get that first generation iPad Pro. You can get refurb iPad 8's from Apple (with warranty and new battery, basically as good as new) and they cost roughly the same ($269US for 32GB, $349 for 128GB) and have nearly twice the performance of those old iPad Pros.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/FYLD2LL/A/Refurbished-iPad-Wi-Fi-128GB-Space-Gray-8th-Generation
iPad benchmarks:
https://browser.geekbench.com/ios_devices/ipad
What's currently the best ipad for music if price is not an issue? I've got a pot of money at work I need to spend.
I would advice to get something more recent. I have a iPad Pro 2017 (2nd gen) and I always need to freeze most tracks
If price really is no issue, then the 12.9 2TB M2 iPad Pro.
A slightly more down-to-earth alternative would be 12.9 1TB M1.
No need to spend much for an ipad unless you dive in to complex / cpu heavy AU effects
As for the sorage , it depends how many tracks and how long they would be per project , plus how many projects you'd like to have on the ipad
You might want to add a controller later to the setup
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/48342/loopy-pro-midi-controller-compatibility-auto-mapping
as long the ipad works , then Loopy will work too , regardless the lack of iOS updates
Worst case scenario I can think is a bug where the update requires a min iOS version (apple's restriction) , that your ipad won't support
Pro 11” 4th gen.
I’m currently using 3rd gen and it’s running at 50% which makes me very confident about performing live.
hi, thanks all for these helpful comments.
I'm not super in the know with ipads/processing etc. but it does seem from reading here that I wouldn't need to invest more than around £200 in an ipad in order to get a fairly reliable loopy pro going, I will actually not be using many effects and will typically have max 10 min tracks with about 5 tracks with one or two of those with 2-3 layers.
I am still really on the fence about going for a multi-track looping pedal or the ipad/loopy pro, but will eventually whittle it down to one. thanks
See if you can buy an ipad 9 on ebay.
Its samish as air 3 but think you might likely by a screen issue air 3 as 2 ipad air 3s iv bought had same issue.
Or ipad 8.
Or pros of samish spec.
But best specs, it goes ipad 9. Air 3. Then ipad 8.
Thanks bro. I've got either $2K or $2.5K to spend down--can't recall exactly which. Does the M2 bring much to the table for music compared to the M1?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/20049286433?iid=354851592502
You said you would pay £300.
Theres a £250 bid
and a £350 buy.
I would get an M1 with more storage over the M2 with less any day of the week. That budget should comfortably bag you a 1TB M1. With $2.5k though you can get an M2 with 1TB, for a 30% boost in performance. Either way it’s going to fly.
It could mean. When you buy a 2k ipad. You need 4k. You need 2k saved. In case the ipad breaks.
Modular is cool for me.
If I made money from music then maybe buy pro.
Although modular cost the same ( maybe more )
Just cheaper to buy modular when faulty.
I suppose credit. Not saving and paying back credit. Is ok to offest potential faults.
I’ve been eyeing the ipad 9 for a long while. I really need to upgrade my air2 and this seems like such a great improvement. I don’t need the latest and greatest, just something that will let me noodle around with all these music apps for the next 5 years or so.
Apple pretty much forces you to buy the 256G version, I would be ok with 128. That ends me 650€ new. But if it lasts as much as this one…
Bad: lightning
Good: headphone out
Any tales of caution? I’m close to taking the jump. Heard some problems with the screen? So many conflicting answers if you search that… I trust you guys opinions better
2 x ipad 9 and air 3. Dont need a pro. Its a modular pro and theres no pro DAW, perhaps.
Id maybe save for air 5. If it were just an ipad 9 but only if using a multicore daw.
If you were uk. I may have sold an ipad 9 just bought.
Just because of connections.
Air 5 would have sorted connections.
but spent more money sorting it.
Hope it works.
Mind you. The air 3 can be glitchy.
and sold the air 3 to op because it isnt bad.
but cant now.
I think the performance difference is even less than that. The geekbench benchmark pages shows about 10% - 12% difference between M1 and M2 iPad Pros. https://browser.geekbench.com/ios_devices/ipad
Can you use an Air 5 to connect an external monitor (Touch Screen Monitor)? Thanks.
Why do you say the Air 3 is glitchy?
Hi.
Bought an air 3 from apple.
Example would be. When flicking away apps ( when you press home button ) to flick away apps to close.
They would just be locked or magnet back to position, until it unfreezes.
This were deemed a hardware issue but apple store, recently appeared to say.
A first ipad, with any issues. Apple will just favour it to be a hardware issue.
Whilst saying the air 3 they replaced it with. Which ended up with the same issue.
Is a software issue. Said its likey an app or software.
It can still freeze. Flicking away just a couple of apps ( in homescreen mode )
After a factory reset and just a few apps installed on ipad.
I guess it could just be unlucky it one of the few apps.
This ipad will just be a voice ipad though. Plus samples.
A voice and sample ipad. Then a synth ipad. A drum ipad.
Hope it works well as a daw thing, plus the additional audio inteface etc ( for 3rd ipad setup )
I could end up with an ipad for every synth lol. The model D ipad. The obxd ipad.
Even an ipad for each effect lol.
But honestly. Mainly hoping the audio interface will yeild ok results. Ipad glitch might be ok.
Otherwise it would seem like apple just originally sold a dodgy ipad. Then i buy the most recent ipad 9 because glitches are more annoying than un-workable.
But could have just bought an air 5 but apple decides to be weird with ram amounts. Think you get about 6g from 8gb ipad anyway.
Which is enough considering id still have a drum ipad but kinda liking idea of seperate, drums, synths and voice because the voice app could be multi out = A screen of loads of additional tracks.
But thats apple. Dodge ipad, than because of dubious ram etc. Makes you buy the wrong, additional ipad.
but you gotta blame someone.
Would strongly recommend a 2018 ie 3rd gen ipad Pro. Definitely not 2nd gen. Refurb would be the way to go. The 2nd gen ipad Pro performs very poorly compared to 3rd gen. As you will potentially be working with a lot of audio files over time, maybe you should prioritise storage over screen size if money is an issue, I'm personally a big fan of 12.9 inch though
@Gavinski thanks, I had a look at it seems to be a good shout.
I also had the thought, as I'm under the impression loopy Pro will be available for macOS at some point, to not ignore the option of waiting and then investing in a MacBook of some description. But that just opens up a whole other can of worms...
Just for anyone else that this might be helpful for. I went with an Ipad Pro 3rd gen (2018) 12.9" 512GB from backmarket for £490. I initially put aside less, but seeing as an RC-505mkii costs almost about that new, it makes perfect sense to get an ipad instead, which can obviously do more than just loop! And getting a cheaper ipad I worried that the longevity and processing power wouldn't be sufficient for ongoing looping over the coming years.
Thanks for all the advice shared here.