Using an iPad as MIDI controller whilst simultaneously playing WAV

Johnbudsmen

Hello everyone,

I've been lurking on here ever since seeing someone use an iPad as a midi controller live and have finally bitten the bullet and posting my query!

I currently play in a band as a keys player (with four vocals, guitar and bass). I use two synths hooked up to a PA and play drum beats I've pre recorded through garageband on my ipad out of a PA via my little focusrite. I tap the next song in the set, tap play, let the beats do their thing whilst playing my keys and then when the song is over, tap out of the song and repeat.

I'm looking to simplify my rig and having seen someone use an Ipad and Midi controller live it got me thinking could I do this? The4 sounds he was getting sounded pretty bloody good to me and only a real synth nerd could tell you they came from an ipad and not analogue synth, especially with other instruments. The only thing I'd like to achieve with a midi/ipad set up that I didn't see him do was play beats somehow from the set up as he was with a live drummer.

I'd like to be able to know if I can use an Ipad Midi set up to play my bands beats live (WAV or through garageband going through another app or something) and also play my sytnh bits using a synth app and change sounds within a song a la square wave, to organ, to electric piano etc. Is this possible and what do I need to achieve this? I belive one of my synths already midi ready.

I imagine there's a more succinct way of outlining all of this

uncledave

Hi. Your title sounds like you want to use the iPad as a MIDI controller. But what you describe is using it as a MIDI instrument, controlled by one of your existing keyboards.

The AUM app could get you a long way towards this. Loopy Pro could also be an excellent choice; it's much more than just a looper. You can load different instrument apps (AUv3 preferred), sample players, wave players, etc., and control them by MIDI notes or other messages. There's a huge variety of synth apps to choose from. Many of them are free or have only a nominal price, and they sound pretty good.

You might want to add a small MIDI controller with some knobs and buttons to your rig, to make it easier to make dynamic changes, since the iPad screen can be a bit tricky in a live situation.

[Deleted User]

Surface builder allow for wav playback and build custom midi controller.

wim

As @uncledave mentioned, AUM has the ability to play audio files as well as receive midi from your keyboard to play apps. Loopy Pro can also host instruments and has more extensive features for looping audio files. It would be my recommendation, but both can do the job as you've described.

There are other apps such as Camelot Pro and KeyStage which are geared specifically toward this kind of thing. They might be worth checking out as well.

Youtube is a good resource for seeing these apps in action (especially AUM and Loopy Pro).

Loopy has a full featured 7 day free trial. Be sure that you have plenty of time to explore before starting the trial.

cokomairena

@Johnbudsmen said:
Hello everyone,

I've been lurking on here ever since seeing someone use an iPad as a midi controller live and have finally bitten the bullet and posting my query!

I currently play in a band as a keys player (with four vocals, guitar and bass). I use two synths hooked up to a PA and play drum beats I've pre recorded through garageband on my ipad out of a PA via my little focusrite. I tap the next song in the set, tap play, let the beats do their thing whilst playing my keys and then when the song is over, tap out of the song and repeat.

I'm looking to simplify my rig and having seen someone use an Ipad and Midi controller live it got me thinking could I do this? The4 sounds he was getting sounded pretty bloody good to me and only a real synth nerd could tell you they came from an ipad and not analogue synth, especially with other instruments. The only thing I'd like to achieve with a midi/ipad set up that I didn't see him do was play beats somehow from the set up as he was with a live drummer.

I'd like to be able to know if I can use an Ipad Midi set up to play my bands beats live (WAV or through garageband going through another app or something) and also play my sytnh bits using a synth app and change sounds within a song a la square wave, to organ, to electric piano etc. Is this possible and what do I need to achieve this? I belive one of my synths already midi ready.

I imagine there's a more succinct way of outlining all of this

It seem ou want to control the ipad by midi

You can achieve this in a lot of ways…

I would use AUM to load whatever synth you want and koala to launch your beats

cokomairena

Another very good option for a sound module would be korg gadget plus koala to launch the beats

espiegel123

@wim said:
As @uncledave mentioned, AUM has the ability to play audio files as well as receive midi from your keyboard to play apps. Loopy Pro can also host instruments and has more extensive features for looping audio files. It would be my recommendation, but both can do the job as you've described.

There are other apps such as Camelot Pro and KeyStage which are geared specifically toward this kind of thing. They might be worth checking out as well.

Youtube is a good resource for seeing these apps in action (especially AUM and Loopy Pro).

Loopy has a full featured 7 day free trial. Be sure that you have plenty of time to explore before starting the trial.

Fwiw, I think it is worth mentioning (since many seem not to realize it), Loopy Pro can record and play linear audio, too and not just loops and can do simple timeline linear playback and recording, too.