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.
Recommend a good USB Microphone for iOS recording?
I have a gift card from Xmas, so I went down the "Amazon rabbit hole" today looking for a piece of equipment that would be useful for iOS. I have an Apogee Jam for guitar, but one thing I've kind of wanted as an option was an affordable microphone of some kind that could handle instrument recording (either acoustic guitar or mic-ing one of my guitar amps), plus maybe some vocals. I thought about getting one of the interfaces with XLR connections (FocusRite, etc.), but that's really above my amateur needs, and the interface, plus a microphone and cables was just costing too much for what I needed.
Can anyone recommend a good USB or iOS Microphone for instrument/vocal recording? I should note that I do have the camera connection adapters in both 30-pin and Lightning varieties, so I should be good to go there. Gift card was for $50, but I would spend a little more if I felt like would make an appreciable difference. Still, it'd be nice to keep it under $75, since this isn't something I have heavy plans for (yet).
The Audio Technica AT2020 ($130) seems to be the gold standard of the affordable ones. Everybody seems to rave about it. But it's a bit out of my desired price range:
Here's some other candidates, two of which are closer to $50:
CAD U37/U3 Condenser Microphone ($45-$60) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1P92VT9H3HB91&coliid=I2X2867PY0UXAE&psc=1
Samson Meteor Mic ($50) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MF39YS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1P92VT9H3HB91&coliid=I3S92URDLMETDM&psc=1
Blue Yeti USB ($120) http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B002VA464S
Any thoughts on any of those? Other suggestions? Thank you!
Comments
Have not tried any of those. Here is one to consider. http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Large-Diaphragm-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B00IACIN4U
I think iOS only recognizes one audio interface at a time. You are aware of this, right?
Just in case it matters I have the AT2020USB. Without a shadow of a doubt it's a great mic for music recording. Ice used it with my upright bass, banjo, guitar, flute. An excellent resource.
I personally have not been very impressed with my Samson Mics. I'd just steer clear of those, personally. Always muddy or underpowered in my experiences. And I tried them through PC as well as iPad. Sold both of them pretty quickly. I honestly got better results from a cheap Pyle (which is kind of pointless to mention because it is not USB).
@WMWM - Thanks for adding that one. Haven't heard of that one, but is close to the price of the AT2020USB.
@Macao95 - Yes, pretty sure I was aware of that. Not a problem for me, as I don't even like to record multiple apps (drums, guitar, etc.) at the same time - I would simply be layering one thing over other tracks in a DAW. Good to point out, however.
@miguelmarcos - Cool. The AT2020USB looks terrific - I have little doubt I would be impressed by it. I guess my thing here is whether I can find a good reason to go with one that is half the price.
Coincidentally, I thought to look for a YouTube "shootout" between the two. Some guy actually did one, though it was based only on about 5 seconds of talking and was about the least scientific experiment ever. Still, his claim that the CAD U37 lacks low end would be concerning if true.
@boone51 said:
Noted. I suspected the Samson stuff may not be that good, but hadn't heard anything. Blue makes inexpensive ones that plug right into the data jack, and I'm steering clear of those, too:
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Digital-Recording-Microphone/dp/B0078SAJ7Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1419889517&sr=1-2&keywords=blue+ios+mic
In the immortal words of Frank Zappa,
Larry: we got a present for you
marry: what is it, what are you ganna give me
Larry: it looks just like a Telefunken u47... you'll love it
marry: with leather?
I was given short shrift here as regards pop-screens ("Use a sock!" "Stand further back!") but as an aside (or an upon once you make your choice), I did buckle and spend 6 dollars on:
http://www.amazon.com/Dragonpad®-Studio-Microphone-Flexible-Gooseneck/dp/B008AOH1O6/ref=pd_cp_MI_1
and have found it lovely on my Apogee MiC 96K. Has helped me sound just a little less like Captain Olaf the drunken sea captain.
I bought the Yeti and had to send it back, didn't want to work at all. I borrowed a dirt cheap mic until I eventually bought a standard Sure mic and powered mixing desk. All of the above was via PC and Mac though, so maybe it works better with an iPad.
hello! This is recorded with Rode NT-USB directly in my iphone 6 plus
If it can help you...
http://forum.audiob.us/discussion/7137/multitrack-daw-app-on-my-iphone-6-plus-and-my-guitar-for-bailando#Item_1
two, possibly useless, cents: I'd consider buying an interface with XLR jacks and solid few days of trolling craigslist for a mic. A usb mic will only work in certain situations and once USB goes away, it's totally useless. A used XLR mic could last you 40 years.
Good advice, but I promise you I will be dead in 40 years Professor Syrup. I suppose I could put it in the will....
"Professor Syrup"... wins the audiobus forum for the day in my opinion...totally agree about using an interface for the mic. Better investment.
@boone51 said:
I don't disagree, but I wasn't finding an interface that works for me. Finding a mic wouldn't be that hard at all - I like the MXL 770 for 60 bucks. The FocusRite interfaces seem alright, but the Solo lacks basic features like a volume knob for the headphone jack. The 2i2 would be better, but at 150 bucks, the total cost climbs over 200 bucks.
Recommend a good interface to me for less than 100 dollars that handles XLR and instrument cables, and then I may be sold.
What's your audio I/O now? You might be able to get away with an xlr->1/4" thing if your interface has enough gain.
@StormJH1 Alesis io4, xlr, instrument inputs on all 4 channels and solid midi. Works great with cck. 2 in 2 out at 24 bit, 4 inputs at 16 bit. Mine was $70 at amazon.
@mrufino1 said:
Interesting. I had not seen that one. Reviews somewhat horribly on Amazon, but that appears related to driver issues, and I'm not worried about PC. If you're telling me it works with iPad DAW's, that's all I really need. Interestingly, I can find one for about $60 shipping included on Amazon, whereas the IO2 (only 2 channels) is $70.
I put my setup away and then pull it out when I use it, so I don't really need 4 channels for iOS recording. But it's an interesting looking device - I'll have to search for some videos of it in use, as it looks a little complicated. Thanks for the recommendation.
@syrupcore - the only "interface" I have right now is an Apogee JAM that accepts 1/4" instrument cables. Coincidentally, there is a video from Apogee showing how you can use it with a dynamic microphone with an impedance adapter. I wasn't sure if this was a good solution or not (the JAM does have a gain control, at least).
I bet that would work fine.
For portability the Apogee Mic is great; comes with a lightning cable.
By the way, I have an Alesis io4 and loved it a lot until my iPad just decided to dislike it. It works fine with my iPhone and my laptop. I'm 98% sure that there's something wrong with my iPad because I recently started getting similar audio freak outs with my focusrite. So yeah, mostly +1 on the io4.
The other bonus of going the xlr route is that there are so many choices for microphones. That said, it can be almost as bad as pedal or app addiction so maybe don't even start.
@Mythmongrel Agree with you. I love the Apogee, and it's easy-going enough that I take it with me most places. Had no trouble with it, however it was a gift and a little more than I would have liked to pay myself. Having said that (and here's always the hard thing when trying to determine value); I wouldn't want to go back.....
I've been using the focusrite itrack solo for abbot a day now, and its pretty sweet too. There is definitely a knob for volume on it too.
I know someone who has the itrack solo and he loves it. The io4 has worked well for me. I also have an apogee one, and it is awesome. However, I was pleased when I compared the alesis to the apogee; the apogee was definitely better in terms of depth of field, etc, but not by as much as I would have thought. I was surprised at how well the alesis matched up. I also have alesis' 26 channel (8 XLR, 16 adat, 2 spdif, plus midi) FireWire interface which is pretty good as well.
The io4 is not complicated and is pretty small and light, it's about the size of a paperback book and weighs around a pound, maybe less. It has a knob which let's you adjust the balance of direct signal to playback signal for no latency monitoring without needing any software control, so that's cool. And the midi has been very solid for me. I got it because I got a roland digital piano that did not work correctly with my cheap midi interface, so the alesis was about the same price as an irig midi with the added benefit of audio inputs. If I have time in the next day or two I will make a short youtube video about using it with the ipad. I got a zoom q2hd with an amazon gift certificate today thanks to a generous bandleader, so I need to test it out anyway.
I hope that was helpful, I'll throw one dark horse into the mix to confuse you further- novation Xio synth, it's a 25 key controller, a great synth, and an audio interface with one XLR and one line input. Runs on batteries, usb, and wall wart and works with a cck as both an interface and can record the synth directly through usb. Also works well with Mac and PC with all of the aforementioned features. I've seen them used now for around $150, an absolute steal. I use it on every gig as a synth and have used the interface many times to record others' vocals (nothing will make mine sound good, not even the new TC app!), it's fantastic. Maybe I'll do a video on that too. I have no New Year's Eve gig for the first time in many years, maybe it will be gear review night? Yeah, that's what wild and crazy nerds do on New Year's Eve!
Double post, sorry.
If you want something cheap and convenient the best bet is a Lightning connector microphone, something like the Blue Mikey, Rode iXY, Zoom IQ-5 or Zoom IQ6.
I have two setups: a Focusrite 2i4 with an Ocatava 319 condenser microphone for "proper" recordings, and a Zoom IQ 5 Lighting mic for recording practices.
The little Zoom mic was much cheaper, and obviously sounds different to the condenser mic, but it's much quicker to setup and more convenient to use as well as being much cheaper to buy and far more portable. The upshot is that I use it much more, and I think it's a really useful tool for practicing with.
The condenser microphone is much warmer and definitely more accurate, the Zoom mic doesn't capture the lower frequencies as accurately, and seems to hype the highs a little, but that's exactly what you would expect from any cheap mic.
One final thought: if you are planning on recording vocals with it make sure that whatever you buy will allow for direct monitoring, otherwise it's not going to be much use for singing with. My Zoom IQ5 does this.
Not really in an affordable category, but I also suggeest Apogee One. I used to have a Jam, but gave it to a friend and bought One which made an all-in-one solution. Portability is fantastic and I really like its built in mic. Use it all the time both for iOs and Mac on recording acoustic guitars and vocals.
I vouch for the Apogee One, too, but the price is way, way out.
What about the $39 Griffin mentioned elsewhere in the forum?
The mic I use with my ipad is the audio-technica atr-2100, it's a bit old now, very basic, get a few annoying clicks and pops at times when field recording, not sure if its the cck though. On the plus side it's cheap, quite good sounding, has mini usb and xlr connections, with the cables and headphone monitoring, might be worth considering, altho I don't use this for instrument recording just voice via xlr and field recordings via usb.
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4
@miguelmarcos - The $39 Griffin offers a MIDI hookup and good RCA audio output and that's about it. It lacks USB MIDI input, so my MPK Mini is out. Not even clear how you use a mic with that thing, given that it occupies the 30-pin jack and doesn't have an XLR hookup. Still tempted to buy it given the price, and that it is a functional stand.
My thread title was a little deceptive - I'm really looking for an interface AND a microphone. I wanted the mic to be decent, but I don't have professional needs or budget.
The one other suggestion that really intrigued me was the Alesis IO4 - because it seems to hit almost everything on my list. XLR, MIDI hookup, guitar cable hookup, gain control, etc.
IO4 owners (@mrufino1): Does this thing monitor with headphones with low-to-no latency? That's a volume jack for the headphones on the bottom left, correct?
I actually have an RCA to XLR cable for studio monitors, looks like the output here is a 1/4" jack, but I'm sure I can figure that out. My monitor right now is a single M-Audio BX5 speaker (need a second one eventually).
http://www.alesis.com/stuff/contentmgr/files/22/dc42d0b11993832257e378e750562b13/large/io4_ortho_web_lg.jpg
You can accomodate additional USB devices with a powered hub. In my case I've had an Arturia Beatstep, Mobilekeys 25, Apogee One or AT2020, and Korg Nanokontrol all active at the same time via a powered USB hub (hub optionally powered by a Mophie USB battery pack).
The only restriction to keep in mind is only one audio interface at a time.
There's lots of good info about powered hubs in the forum. Using an external battery is a useful option if you're out of reach of a wall socket.
On the issue of mics with the Griffin I'm wondering if you could use an XLR-to-TRS adapter. Maybe someone else can chime in on this.