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Using basic iRig i/o for Effects
Anyone using the basic $15-$20 iRig audio adapter with the TRRS connector for effects duties?
I'm thinking of getting a pair, one for my iPad Air running Flux:FX, and the other for my iPhone 5 running AltiSpace. Using these as cheap (since I already own the iPad and iPhone) solutions for Aux send fx on my hardware mixer.
Is the iRig input sound passable for line level input?
I like the price point and being able to keep the iOS devices charging while I use them is appealing.
Comments
Oh, and I have no desire to record through this thing, I'm just looking to turn the iOs devices into fx boxes with simple in and out.
If you can, look for the Peavey Ampkit Link instead. All headphone interfaces suffer problems with cross talk (the headphone out feeding into the line in). The Peavey thing has some active electronics it them that seem to help minimize it and they're about the same price.
Either way, prepare to hit them with a pretty hot signal, keep the headphone volume low on the units themselves and then boost again as needed on your mixer returns. Keeping the headphone volume quiet is the best bet for reducing that cross talk problem. Also note, in case it matters to you, these will mono inputs as that's all the headphone adapter supports.
I wouldn't, especially through a big PA. Lots of noise issues, a very severe high pass filter (which is not necessarily bad I guess and can be defeated in audiobus - or audioshare- one of them lets you access measurement mode, can't remember which), and many ways to get crosstalk.
The microphone input wasn't designed for high quality audio, so the irig (or any device through the mic input) is a cool idea but it doesn't really work too well.
I can't imagine using a iRig or any headphone jack adapter for an iOS "aux send fx" setup, for all the reasons mentioned above.
The extra $ to purchase a UCA 222 or similar would be totally worth it for the sound improvements with the digital audio interface.
Snobs! ;p
I think the ampkit link works fine for something like an effects loop. I used one for quite a while. As long as I managed the gain staging and didn't expect it sound like an Eventide with an Apogee front end, it worked perfectly well. There are cheap USB interfaces but they also require CCKs. Two interfaces plus two CCKs and things start looking not exactly cheap.
All that said, I totally agree that the value of the CCK+cheap USB interface is pretty great for the comparative audio quality. Plus: Stereo I/O.
If you happen to have a 30pin->Lightning adapter, http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StudioCon looks to be a pretty great deal.
Blue Digital Mikey also has a stereo in via the device port. The 30 pin models are also dirt cheap if you look around. Again, if you have adapters already that is...
I wouldn't get any mini-jack interface nowadays. Got Peavey Ampkit Link years ago, now I have cross talk with it... useless. I would expend a bit more and get a decent USB interface and the CCK.
Sometimes inexpensive means value, sometimes it means cheap. I had an irig, and now a similar cable, that I use when I just need to quickly learn a song at a gig or something and I can't set up something else, but I wouldn't use it in a live performance. I tried playing my bass through jamup using that cable one time (in soundcheck), the noises coming out of that PA were, uh, interesting.
I do sound a lot and one thing has been made clear to me now- anything that "might" work is best avoided, because even if it works fine in soundchecks, etc, it will decide to give out at a critical time.
Believe me, I'm far from a gear snob, but I've learned many lessons the hard way, and in this case, unless you're a noise/ glitch act or something, a headphone jack device is not for gigs. I did play bass on gigs using jamup and my Alesis io4 and that worked really well. The Alesis cost me about $60 if I remember correctly. I also use my iPad headphone out into my mixer on my pedalboard using iSEM for synth bass on every gig- it's the headphone jack input that's the issue, not the output.
Sorry, double post...
That's kinda cool: we both took his post to mean our most common environment though he said neither. Agreed, I'd be really hesitant to make a headphone jack interface mission critical for a live show. In the studio when you have time and volume control, it's a different scenario.
Again, have to stress that the Peavey is notably better at this than the iRig.
Thanks so much for these responses.
I already have a uca 202 but when I use that I have to run from battery power. I'm looking to run Flux:FX for hours longer than my iPad Air's battery can cope with on a single charge, as I use all the FX slots and it's rather CPU heavy.
Any options that aren't too pricey that will keep the iPad plugged in to power ?
Also, mono input is fine as that is what my mixer aux sends anyway. And it has plenty of gain to give for a hot input signal.
This will be used for simple modulated reverb/delay effects which are only making up about 15% of the sound. The setup includes new electribe, volca sampler, volca keys, mini brute SE, some pedals, and a monotribe. Lots of gear outputting unbalanced 1/8" signal anyway.
So the AmpKit Link II seems affordable, and appears to allow me to keep the Lightning connector for power.
Thanks for the AmpKit tips guys.
That griffin will. You'll need an adapter from 30pin. Still probably your cheapest 'quality' option.
Are you performing live? I don't have the griffin so it's a guess, but I'd worry about stability ( physical, as in holding the iPad, not as in crashing software). However, if in a calm environment then it's probably a great option.
My apogee one charges the iPad while using it, but it depends how you define affordable. I won mine in a contest, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten it because my Alesis met my needs and its price, while affordable for quality audio gear, isn't affordable to me at this time. It is great though and would definitely do what you are asking very well.
On the other side of the coin, trying the headphone jack option wouldn't be expensive and you may prove me wrong!
Ahhh, I keep hitting quote rather than edit, so I'll just add here that I've seen the ampkit link hd , which does charge the device and is digital, for around $50 on eBay. That would work well.
Thanks, folks. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a good deal on an iRig HD for the iPhone 5. Looks like I'll have to go battery powered on the iPad Air anyway and just use the UCA-202 for i/o, as I'm going to need to use midi output from Auxy to send midi sequences to a synth. I'll have to test, but I think I can get at least 3 hours battery on a full charge at 30% brightness running Flux:FX with all fx slots in use, and Auxy sending midi.