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Help Buying: What is the best keyboard for iPad?

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Comments

  • edited December 2013

    @dwarman: Do you use Auria, by any chance? If so, how well (if at all) does the Graphite's Mackie emulation work controlling Auria (and plug-ins)?

  • I have an Ipad mini and just started looking at the Behringer umx490. I want something that will not rely on the ipads batteries and has rotory encoders for things like filter sweep ect. . This has the bonus of an audio interface which would be nice for getting sounds from my external synths and guitars into cubasis. I had been looking at the Griffin studio connect lightning for this but if this audio interface works with the ipad mini I could save buying both a midi controller and a seperate interface. Anyone have any knowledge on this and idnit would work with the Ipad mini as both a controller and audio in?..??

  • Can't say enough good things about the Qunexus, really enjoying mine with the iPad. Once you get the response dialed in for your style of playing, it's very responsive. Sturdy too.

  • edited December 2013

    @dwarman so far I'm digging the Graphite. I'd like more drum pads but that's ok. Programming it is pretty straightforward though having to save after each assignment is kind of rude :). I grabbed the Graphite49 editor and that speeds stuff up. I wish all of these sorts of editors had a 'stripe' command like ProTools. Set one knob to 'cc20' and it auto sets the next 7 knobs from 21 to 28. Kind of weird that the unit doesn't ship with a straight "all CCs without midi channel assignment" preset. I made one if you'd like it.

    @washboy I haven't been able to coax auria into working with it.

    Other general review stuff for anyone interested:

    Keyboard itself feels very good. Classic springy synth action. The aftertouch is awesome - really playable and fully adjustable (as is the velocity curve). Sadly, it's not polyphonic aftertouch (like the Qnexus or the CME). The knobs are stepped which is both good and bad. They are precise but, and maybe this is only in my mind, slow to do long sweeps. I think I just prefer non-infinite knobs. Only 4 drum pads but they are bigger than most controllers and feel great. I dig having both octave and transpose buttons always available. Splits are easy to set up.

    Crazy amount of controls considering that there are two banks (= 17 sliders, 16 knobs, 8 drum pads and 16 buttons + transport). I wish the bank buttons were backlit to indicate state - instead there is a little Bank 1/Bank 2 indicator on the LCD. It would be easier to tell where you're at. Indeed, unless they're considering adding more banks in the future, I'm not sure why they have a bank left/bank right button at all - would be easier on the brain if it were a single toggle. Speaking of buttons and lights, the 16 buttons aren't backlit either - their state is also indicated on the LCD. It's fine but not as nice as it could be. This sort of stuff, I imagine, is the stuff that keeps the price down. Fair trade for me so far. The big screen is actually quite nice and conveys a lot of info once you get used to reading it.

    There are 30 preset slots. I don't think you can name your presets (or I haven't sorted out how to do it). When in edit mode, you can use the first 10 keys on the keyboard to enter numeric information. SO GOOD. I had a General Music workstation in the late 90s that allowed you to enter alpha and numeric info by mapping it all they way across the keyboard. There was some guessing involved but the first c# was backspace so it was super quick. Worked surprisingly well. Wish everyone would do it.

    I like that they Arturia Keylab can send chords from the pads and wish this could do the same but the pads can only be a single midi note or a single CC. Indeed, the Keylab supports more types of operations per control in general (Program change, MMC, NRPN/RPN...) whereas the Graphite is basically only Notes and CCs so far as I can tell. You can send program changes but not via single button press. This may be silly but I also like that the KeyLab has a few dedicated synth programming labels on the front panel (Filter, lfo, adsr...). Part of the challenge for me when setting these sorts of knob things up is remembering what knob I had assigned to which control on screen.

    Hope to try it with Logic tonight. The manual is online here: http://www.samsontech.com/site_media/support/manuals/Graphite49_OM_EN_v2.pdf

  • @syrupcore, good (phew).

    The knobs have ballistic response. Turn them faster and they output more CC steps per click, to where you can go from 0 to 127 with a wrist snap, vs single increment per click when moving slowly. A good compromise, but you have to get used to the feel.

    Assignment: also wish the presets could be named. I am using TouchDraw to build up assignment maps pictorially, but I'm currently thinking constant roles for the sliders and mapping them to the respective controls in the synths by synth MIDI learn or via MidiBridge Holy Mapper presets. So far OK but Thor is a challenge :)

    MB stream byter can also map single CC to multiple stacked outs. It is very versatile. The biggest issue is the promiscuous port synths that can't be routed. Unfortunately some of the best sounding ones are like this. Magellan is (their port selector may be broken, but I've heard nothing from them). So are the Korgs.

    I have one patch with all CC's like you have, also one with the sliders as MIDI channel volume controls. I also like how easy it is to leave the LCD in an edit mode so it's only a couple of taps to switch channel between different synths, yet leaves the knobs operable.

    Have you played with the zones mode yet?

  • The Behringer umx490 looks as solid as anything I have seen so far and the keys look like they are full sized and nice. There a couple of Yuotube vids showing this but I just do not know how well it would interface with Ipad mini. I want to purchase it but hope to hear from someone with some knowledge on its compatibility?

  • edited December 2013

    That's great to hear about the knobs. Thank you.

    but I'm currently thinking constant roles for the sliders and mapping them to the respective controls in the synths by synth MIDI learn or via MidiBridge Holy Mapper presets. So far OK but Thor is a challenge :)

    That's what I've been trying to do. The main reason I bought this thing was to be able to use some of the iOS synths like hardware synths - one knob, one function, no screen. So far, that's proven extremely difficult. I've only tried to set up iSem and Sunrizer and I ran out of controls both times. :)

    I'm trying to do something like:

    A Sliders: osc controls.
    B Sliders: amp and filter envelope.
    A knobs: filter and lfo.
    B knobs: secondary filter and lfo/ other stuff.

    And on neither synth was I able to get it all mapped out. Both synths have multistate switches that can't be controlled from the buttons and require another knob. Would be cool if one could program a knob to send a value in a sequence (say, 0, 25,50,75,100) on each press. Then you could use them to adjust switches like LFO shape that have 4-5 discreet values. Are there controllers out there that allow for that?

    I don't really want to mess with intermediary apps like stream byter if I can avoid it. The point of the purchase for me was more immediate and musical control. Think I just need to readjust my thinking and recognize that I won't be able to control everything on most iOS synths since we've been so spoiled with depth. Though... I do have a nanokontrol II and a little lpd-8 with 8 knobs so maybe I'll tape those onto the graphite and see if I can control it all!

  • What I actually want but lack the time and skill to create:

    One for Animoog, Sunrizer and iSem and I'd be a happy man.

    See 'em all:

    http://www.synth-project.de/controller_overview.html
    https://www.youtube.com/user/SynthProject/videos

  • edited December 2013

    im using my good old trusty oxygen 25 with the camera kit
    and sound prism for my projects

  • I recently bought Line6 Mobile Keys 49 on special offer from Thomann (£47 + £10 p and p). Fairly basic but keys are good. Am pleased with it as a basic entry foray to keyboard before deciding if I really need an all pads/faders/knobs model. Works ok using either direct genetic cable or midi/USB one through camera kit. Absolute bargain if looking for basic keyboard and works with all apps I have used so far - garageband/Gallileo/bs16/TF7/alchemy etc. but only tested at basic imput level so far. Cannot recommend Thomann too highly.

  • But aren't "genetic" cables expensive? ;-)

  • Yes...a replacement cable supplied by Line6 for direct connection ie not through camera kit costs more than $20 plus delivery from its online store as it is not a conventional keyboard socket, apparently. I am no cable expert but was pleased that the other cable supplied for USB connection to computer worked well through the ipad camera kit connector for my ipad3 and plugged into a different socket. Others have commented that the direct ipad connection is not too robust at both keyboard and ipad ends. Hope that makes sense.

  • Hi.
    This evening I went to a local store to buy a Apple "Lightning to USB adapter" to connect my Keystation Mini 32 to my iPad 4, and the seller said me:
    "I can't guarantee you that it works...If not, not refunds" (???)
    I hope someone of you have this combination and can confirm (or not) it that works properly.
    Many thanks at advance.

  • No refunds?!?!?! is there a real Apple store near you? I tried that before iOS 7, for my iPhone 5. I was told it would work, it did not, I got a full refund. But wth OS 7 it does work. IIRC the iPad 4 is close to the iPhone 5 that way, so it should work. But no respectable dealer should refuse returns for harware that does not perform as expected. Don't buy from there. Even Amazon will refund if it doesn't work.

    However, just checked the Amazon page, andnthey claim iPad 4 as minimum compatibility for the true Apple connector. You should be OK.

  • edited March 2014

    .

  • edited December 2013

    dwarman said:

    I am very pleased with my Samsun Graphite 49. It surprisingly will run powered directly from the iPad via CCK, has all the knobs and sliders like the others but has complete flexibility in programming them. Even easy to do ad-hoc.

    Tritonman says:
    Have you used an adapter with it and the ipad? I think this controller looks like one of the best deals out so far ! I want it for my Ipad mini but wow it even comes with instruments for my laptop as well. That is one heck of a sweet deal for a board with all of these features. The reviews I have read so far make it sound even more impressive.
    I would really like to be able to save the power from the ipad for apps though and use the adapter . Is that possible? Also what kind of battery life as far as how long on a fully charged ipad?

  • No really "Apple Store" in Spain. The first in Madrid is coming. It's an only Apple (and accessories) dealer. We live in A Coruña, Norwest of Spain. I can try other more reasonable dealer.

    Simon said:

    I don't know what the consumer laws are where you live, but in these situations I would take the keyboard in with me and say "I want to connect this keyboard to my iPad 4 - have you got a cable?".

    I said that to him...but he rejected the idea (you see, here's a seller with a great future ahead). I insist and ask him (looking they sell M-AUDIO keyboards (LOL)) if those keyboards buyers had some problems with the adapter...No answer.

    So I'm still waiting. The keyboard works well with PC and iPad2. I'll try another more reasonable dealer.

    Thanks.

  • encenc
    edited December 2013

    Maudio axiom air 32 here. Doesn't always recognise the ipad air first time. Was fine with ipad 4.
    Looks a bit plasticky and toy like but it's the only ultra portable with 32 keys.

    http://m-audio.com/products/en_us/AxiomAIRMini32New.html

  • Yes, the Kit MC531ZM/A it's the CCK iPad1/2/3 adapter. I got it. Works fine with M-AUDIO + iPad2.

  • encenc
    edited December 2013

    Not bad Toni, price is good but no knobs for parameter tweaking :-(

  • I was very surprised that the Samsun Graphite 49 can indeed run just off the iPad power directly. Seemed like it had a lot of circuitry for that, but hey it works!

  • edited December 2013

    dwarman said:

    I was very surprised that the Samsun Graphite 49 can indeed run just off the iPad power directly. Seemed like it had a lot of circuitry for that, but hey it works!

    How long will the Ipad power it for approximately?

  • Hi.
    Just to confirm that the "Lightning to USB" orginal from Apple works fine with Keystation Mini 32 + iPad4...even with my Canon 400 D! :)

  • Tritonman2: not tested it for life time yet. Usually I use other stuff as well (audio, QuNeo) so I run a powered hub.

  • @dwarman which powered hub do you use? Working ok?

  • I've used several and all work fine. Not sure there are any that do not work, as long as they use a normal CCK connection. The cheapo chinese 30 pin CCK with integrated hubs were great up thru iOS 6 but iOS 7 rejects them.

  • edited December 2013

    I was in burlington Vt. Today so I decided to go to Advance music. I knew they carried a bunch of stuff from Roland and I specifically hoped to try out the A49 ipad midi keyboard but they only had the 300 and the 500. I am hoping to narrow down my choice soon and right now it looks like the Samson Graphite, the Samson Carbon or the A49 from Roland. Unfortunately every time I almost feel that I am ready to order one , I change my mind so I am eagerly awaiting and looking for more information!
    Has anyone tried the Roland A49 perhaps? I like the small foot print but it is light on controls. I am leaning back towards the graphite once again and even called the company to verify that it was compatible with my Ipad mini. I was told i should order but hey , it was a Samson rep telling me this.
    Any further input is most welcomed.
    I have a korg M50 and can report that it works great with the Ipad mini, but I never take the M50 out of the house and want something else to use while banging around from room to room or when visiting elsewhere.

  • Well, I ended up ordering the Samson Carbon 49 after learning I could control a couple of functions from the Carbon directly. I plan on doing most of my tweaks right from the Ipad mini and the Carbon has such great reviews that I could not resist for a measly 89 bucks. I almost went with the graphite but I chose the Carbon for portability and simplicity. I just needed the keys really.

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