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.
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Maybe something about class-compliant interfaces, working with (and without) a headphone jack, line level I/O, etc.
For sure. There's enough regarding audio interface issues to fill many a post. Hopefully others will join in. I'm only good for the very basics (things like one-at-a time, last one wins).
Sue me but I feel pretty secure in storing straight from Logic Pro4ipad into iCloud, especially if I’m using apps from trustoroven developers like audiodamage , 4 pockets , etc.
First i love the Lumbeat apps! BUT to use them in a live performance is a pain in the A**!
I have tried all the tips and tricks, but nothing really worked 100% stable. So if i use them than only in this setup:
Dont get me wrong, these apps are great but old and in combination with other apps (even lumbeat apps itself) not suitable for live!
Yeh, some of these, short of a miracle, are going to end up in the “no workable solution” pile.
Loving this thread! Thank you!
I'll contribute more over time, but will start off with:
Practise the way that you'll play. As in use the same setup, same cables, same configuration, same table, same stance. Etc.
A lot of my big problems on stage have come from practising sitting and then playing standing live and my bluetooth pedals connection is unstable at that distance.
Or practising with my table then using a different one live that had more bounce and finding it that all my cables can come loose easily from the vibration.
Tape all your cable connections, and buy cables with right angle connections generally puts way less stress on the actual port. A right angle connection also allows you to tape the cable to your device (for a strain relief) in a way that looks slightly more professional and less messy.
😂
unexpected rain, and wind... This one resonates hard
Wonderful thread! Thanks @wim for the initiative. I definitely have a few things to add - specifically from the clock / sync corner. For now just a warning that can be found on merchandise of a well known German computer magazine:
Kein Backup, kein Mitleid….
No backup, no pity….
Here's a thing that often comes up when people are putting together ipad rigs:
Newer ipads with usb C output a higher current than older lightning ones. This can become an issue if you're powering many (or even one) hungry peripheral.
Of your using an older ipad with lightning plan on using less peripherals or at least self powered ones.
GO WIRED WHERE YOU CAN - AND USE GOOD CABLES
Some background information
One core problem of any wireless technology, be it Bluetooth or WiFi, is that it uses the electromagnetic spectrum. An open and shared space. Specially with WiFi it is tempting to think that using an isolated hotspot will give you reliable bandwidth and predictable latency.
The truth is that all WiFi stations are not only permanently announcing their presence (even with hidden SSID) via so called beacon frames, but also constantly process incoming signals from other hotspots operating on the same channel. This is necessary to minimize interference and allow hotspots to share the same channel.
This means that you share the available bandwidth with the other stations, so you suddenly only have a fraction of it available. And if someone else is "talking" on the channel, your own data packets might have to wait in a buffer of your hotspot until they are ready to be transmitted. This means unpredictable, varying latency.
There are tools (apps) available that show you the WiFi channel utilization. But they are of no use for a performance: You might suddenly share the channel that initially appeared completely free with a live streamer - bye bye bandwidth!
Specially for the great gig in a big city I can only recommend to carry bit more gear and go thoroughly wired.
A couple of years ago I was asked to do a security audit for one of my clients who has their office in a big city. I did a WiFi scan and the result was over 140 hotspots with over 500 connected clients in the vicinity of that office. And this was 8 years ago....
Bluetooth is less critical in this regard, but can still suffer from interference.
Hardware set up
Personally all my networked gear is connected via Gigabit Ethernet. All devices are plugged into the same network switch. The iPads are all using a class compliant USB / GigabitEthernet adapter and have WiFi switched off (very important!).
I have not tried this, but it might be possible to just tether one iPad via USB to another.
A word about (not only network) cables
I've seen it many times: Expensive and complicated hardware set ups that failed because of cheap cabling.
There is no need to go into the other direction and spend hundreds of pounds on esoteric cables made of hand drawn copper strands etc., but investing a bit into reliable wiring and connectors pays off. In my experience this applies to all kind of cables - audio, networking, charging, USB, synth patch, MIDI to name a few.
My #1 recommendation would be: Switch to desktop and don't even try to use your iPad Pro like a "pro" 😂
From my own struggles in the past...
iMazing helps but only for apps that are "young enough" to be signed by a currently supported AppStore developer certificate on later iOS versions. Older apps can still be installed but they just won't launch on a newer iOS version.
I'm keeping an older iPad with an older iOS version for this reason.
That hasn't been too much of an issue (except in Cubasis 2, where the MIDI clock bug was introduced in v2.2x and never fixed after that), since developers will usually release another update if reported well.
I'm very hesitant before updating to a newer iOS version, Apple introduced too many issues with various apps in the past.
Not a biggie for me except the regular purchases of new Lightning to USB cables...
No prob here while staying within the limits of the CPU I'm using
I"d use one iPad like a hardware synth (For me, these are Propellerheads thor and Franke's Stroke Machine groovebox).
Older iPads have Bluetooth MIDI and a headphones port, that works well enough.
Success completely depends on the app.
Good examples for slaving to MIDI clock well: Loopy HD, Loopy Pro, GR16, BM3, Drambo, Audiobus 3
Tip: Clock sync over Bluetooth MIDI is possible but you better not transmit anything else but the MIDI clock signal.
Most class compliant USB audio/MIDI interfaces work well with CCK3. I need to make sure that the attached gear and CCK3 don't move to avoid stress on the Lightning port. Sooner or later, the same will be true for USB-C ports.
This thread is a good idea. Here’s a current problem that I have that falls under the category of connecting thumb drives and saving files.
I want to use a thumb drive to save copies of the many Audioshare files I’ve accumulated. I bought one but found that it requires me to use a proprietary app for saving and organizing files instead of just using the ios Files app and it’s a total pain to work with; almost makes it impossible.
When I searched for answers Apple says that I’m supposed to be able to just see a thumb drive listed in the Files app but this one just doesn’t show up so I can’t use Files. I tried reformatting the drive but that didn’t work either.
So then I thought I’d just buy a new one and searching on Amazon it looks like every one I see says it requires their own special app to use. Are there any thumb drives that I can buy that just show up in the Files app? I will need one with dual lightning and usb connectivity.
That seems odd. Most thumb drives should work with no special app. Perhaps it's because you're trying to find one that has a lightning connector. Normally with a USB drive, one would use the Apple USB-3 Lightning adaptor and connect via a regular USB-3 port. I've never had any problems recognizing drives that way. That would be my suggestion.
You bring up a really good topic to add to the list though. Spotty external drive support is a big limitation and something definitely to list potential problems and best-practices for managing them.
I guess I should have asked you first which thumb drive you’ve used because I have not found one. I ended up getting a Sandisk iXpand drive and it, of course, required me to download yet another app. But this app will show up in the Files app and I can use Files to transfer my Audioshare recordings.
This brings up another annoyance. I must use ‘share’ to move files to the drive but I can only select one file at a time to move. Why can’t I just select a folder and move the whole thing?
This is one crazy issue with iOS. Something that was easy decades ago on the desktop. I can’t just select and move a folder of files? sheesh!
If you can recommend a drive that works as I’d like, even if I must get a lightning adaptor for it, I can still return this one for a refund.
That's a long story. For folders other than AudioShare and some others you can move folders. AudioShare was made before there was a files app and it's what's known as a "file provider". That type of legacy implementation has the folders limitation. It's not clear what would be involved to change the underlying mechanisms of AudioShare. It may not be possible without re-doing the whole thing. Jonatan has said he has plans to do a new AudioShare, but has given no idea if or when that will actually happen.
Anyway the point is, you can copy folders, etc in the files app. Just not for AudioShare and a few other legacy apps like it.
I don't have any recommendations. Everything I've ever tried works. I generally only use the Apple USB-C Lightning adaptor, but other readers have worked fine as well. I'm not a heavy USB stick user. My favorite is an old SSD I have around because its fast, but I've barely used the thing. (btw, I've also used old-school disk drives with a powered hub without issue)
The forum is rife with people having bad experiences assuming that files copied, and not having them actually there, etc. So, assume, there will be issues and check everything carefully.
tbh, using AirDrop when possible and using iCloud is a lot simpler and more reliable. ymmv. Of course AirDrop isn't an option if Windows is involved, but iCloud Drive is available from a Windows browser, and I think there may even be a Windows iCloud client. (?)
Thanks for taking the time with all this. The reason I'm struggling with thumb drives and stuff is because my old Mac Pro (2010) can't be updated to a current system and so my access to iCloud is limited.
Anyway, I'm glad I could contribute to a list of iOS vexations.
For live:
Bring a backup device/distraction
Have an analog mute box for the iPad
Have a towel around (hands I am comfortable playing guitar with don’t work on touch screen.)
Don’t use Bluetooth or Wifi
Run the iPad audio out through a DI before FOH
Try to limit interaction with touch screen
Never had a time something didn’t go wrong. If it wasn’t a crash, it was some new gesture I didn’t know about. I am eagerly waiting for Loopy Pro on Mac so I can ditch the touch screens for good.
For production:
Spend a day getting your sample and recording destination sorted, use a whiteboard or similar (non digital) to keep track of your progress.
If you just like mucking around with apps and experimenting, screen record and resample the audio. Don’t lose it!
Use a desk, iPad will ruin your neck if you use it in your lap.
Easy +1 for right angle cable plugs, and taping cable runs. The right angle cables alone will prevent a lot of accidents, and in my experience the cables will have a longer lifespan resulting in less "random" failures at the worst times.
Maybe this is being old-fashioned, but I don't trust anything wireless when it counts (in this context). Compact, right angle connections allow clean cable routing a-la pedal boards. I'd rather have physical wiring behind/under/along the iPad, including a good battery that can power multiple devices for 1-2 hours, and a dedicated SSD/Flash storage that can be plugged into a backup device on the spot if needed. The goal would be to reduce the iPad to just another component in the system, albeit a large central component.
Charging an iPad while pushing it with DSP will generate a good amount of heat. Try to set up so that the device is out of the sun or stage lighting if possible. If the device gets hot enough to be throttled, it's going to be a bad time.
Great point. I never would have thought of that.
I try not to limit myself by just staying on the iPad. If I can’t do something I just do it on my MacBook then transfer it back to the iPad. It’s not worth struggling with getting things right on the iPad.
Exactly this.
Use the tools that are available to hand.