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A small device that lets me use a USB MIDI keyboard while also charging the iPad?
I've been using the lightning CCK cable to plug a USB only MIDI keyboard (MiniLab) into the iPad but now I'm wondering if a solution exists where I can also charge the iPad while doing so. Is there a simple USB MIDI host hub thingy that does this?
So far the only thing I've found is iConnectMIDI4+ which seem way bulkier than what I'm looking for.
But then there's the first generation iConnectMIDI which, unlike the iConnectMIDI2+, has one USB A host port and 2 mini USB ports. Would this allow me to plug my USB MIDI keyboard into the USB A host port and then the connect the iPad 4 by some kind of mini USB to lightning or to 30-pin and then to lightning adapter while also charging the iPad?
Comments
Also came across Focusrite iTrack Dock which looks like a possible option, although I'm not sure about going the dock route, but it seems to be incompatible with my class compliant USB MIDI keyboard (MiniLab) and others according to a previous thread here: http://forum.audiob.us/discussion/comment/77370/#Comment_77370
although it seems to work fine for Doug Soundtestroom: http://forum.audiob.us/discussion/4924/video-focusrite-itrack-dock-setting-up-and-testing-with-audiobus
Never mind about the 1st Gen iConnectMIDI. Just found out that one doesn't charge iOS devices.
Is it still the case that there's no powered USB hub that will charge the iPad while the iPad is a Host? (iPad runs as a USB host when the camera connection kit is running.)
There's the Pluggable Powered USB which does charge the iPad but only when it is plugged into one of the downstream ports. When the iPad is plugged into the upstream port via the CCK it will not charge.
Any usb to midi devices out there? If so you can use the Griffin Studio Connect or that new IK Power Bridge
Maybe the first irig midi is something you could use? If your iPad uses the lightening connector, you can use the Apple 30 pin to lightening adapter, and it still charges your iPad. I'm pretty sure the irig midi 2 doesn't charge the iPad.
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigmidi1/
Edit - Sorry, I just saw that you have a USB only keyboard.
The IK one works ONLY with other IK peripherals.
Yeah, seems like my only options are iConnectMIDI4+ or iTrack Dock.
You can also consider iConnectAUDIO4+ if you need quality audio input/outputs as well - along with the USB-MIDI class compliant hosting - depending on how many MIDI DIN ports you need. iConnectAUDIO4+ (and iConnectMIDI4+) can charge your iOS device while hosting USB-MIDI devices. iConnectAUDIO4+ can be a standalone audio and MIDI mixer, but with iConnectMIDI4+ you CAN tell the iOS device to play from the headphone output.
Both iConnectAUDIO4+ and iConnectMIDI+ can be used as standalone MIDI merge and breakout boxes for your USB-MIDI class complaint devices and external MIDI DIN gear - iConnectAUDIO4+ just takes it a step further, allowing you to mix your iOS and external sound sources all from the interface. All you would need is a PA or powered speaker and your keyboard rig is complete!
Let me know if you have any other concerns about our line.
Cheers!
@Josh_iConnectivity those would work but they're all kind of overkill for the OP's 'MIDI + charging' use case. Seems like there should be something smaller and cheaper that does just that. He's not the only person to post here looking for one.
Hint.
I am in same boat. Looking for something. It turns out my old Edirol UM-1S USB to midi adapter does not work with iPad & Camera USB adapter- -- and I might be in the market for a new USB keyboard.
There is something cheaper and it works as long as you want to use a keyboard with an i and a rig in the name (which I do have but will not be getting the power cable) It's a great idea and I understand why they made it just for their products, but it does seem like a missed opportunity that some company could fill.
IMHO, this would still be the best and most flexible solution. Then you could use audio and/or midi interfaces with a hub. http://forum.audiob.us/discussion/6262/send-a-message-to-apple/p1
Leaving out USB MIDI host capability from the only compact device (iConnectMIDI2+) in order to upsell to a bulkier overkill unit was a huge mistake IMO.
The apogee duet for iPad works well, but is bulky and expensive. But has quality sound input and output too.
Huh. Guess I didn't know the Apogee Duet also hosted USB MIDI devices as well as charging the iPad at the same time but yeah that $600 price tag is a sick joke.
@shortbus - Having USB-MIDI hosting on a smaller unit (like iConnectMIDI2+) is a popular request, it's just not something we could make happen in the price range/market needed.
The iPad itself was never really meant to host USB-MIDI peripherals via CCK - more USB storage devices, even though it does work. That's why many USB-MIDI devices will cause power consumption errors in iOS or will need a powered USB hub to operate with the CCK.
Sounds like you are just looking for USB-MIDI to core MIDI/iOS while having it's own power supply, correct? You're not looking to use any other I/O?
Appreciate the feedback.
-JS
For me anyway, yes please.
Yes, I'd like to be able to charge the iPad while using a USB MIDI controller without adding too much to the footprint. Maybe something like a non-proprietary version of iRig Powerbridge? Audio I/O would be a bonus but not a requirement for me.
A tiny device that does nothing but be a low-latency bluetooth MIDI dongle to attach to class-compliant USB MIDI controllers would also be interesting.
Far from tiny but isn't that what retronyms wej is?
FYI my minilab worked perfectly with the itrackdock right out of the box, even though it isnt on focusrite's list of compatible controllers. That said, I still returned the itrack (because it doesnt support usb hub) and am awaiting my iconnectaudio4+ preorder.
I do like that the Wej acts as an iPad stand thus taking up not much room and that it's based on arduino to be open source friendly. I have to admit that the whole "super bright multicolor LEDs that dance in time to the music" thing almost totally ruins it for me and made me not take it too seriously as it just wasn't needed (Hopefully the light show can be turned off?). Too bad it's not available yet.
Thanks for the tip about no usb hub support. It's too bad that it only recognizes one USB MIDI device even when connected via a usb hub. One thing that has kept me from getting the iTrack Dock is that I'm not sure I want a dock that I have to take the iPad in and out of its case every time I use it since I take my iPad everywhere as it also doubles as a reading device and mobile sketchpad. I can see that it would work well for someone who can dedicate the iPad solely for music making where it lives connected to the rest of the studio. I think a small cable adapter solution like the iRig Powerbridge or an iPad stand solution like the Wej would be more ideal in my case.
Can the wej connect multiple controllers to the ios device at once? This is the first I've heard of it and it does look interesting.
Wej is actually pretty close but yeah, big and kind of costly if you just want MIDI+Charging (or maybe it's not and a cheaper option is just me dreaming). Plus, while they're often the bane of my existence, I trust wires.
Got me thinking... Maybe I just want a USB hub that can charge the iOS device like http://www.amazon.com/Cirago-Hi-Speed-iPhone-Charging-USH1070/dp/B007JGBUT8 and I'll take care of stuffing it with the options I want.
More options: http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-usb-hubs/
There's loads of comments on that page complaining that only one port charges the ipad but won't sync at the same time. Wouldn't that hinder what we're trying to do here?
Yeah, the reviews aren't glowing on that one but, to be honest, a USB hub that also had a charging port hadn't even occurred to me. The top one on the 'more options' link looks better all round (though for more than 2x the cost).
Syncing doesn't matter to me but if the hub can charge the iPad and see all of the other items on the hub, could be good. Should probably start a thread here to see if anyone else has tried something like this.
Powered USB hubs were the first possible solutions I looked at. As far as I am aware, there's no USB hub in existence that can charge the iPad while it's being used as a host at the same time (The iPad will be running as a USB host when connected via the camera connection kit).
There are popular USB hubs that are advertised as also charging the iPad such as the ones made by Plugable but in reality it only charges the iPad when it is plugged into a downstream port (or when the iPad is turned off). When the iPad is plugged into the upstream Port via the CCK it will not charge. I am almost certain there currently isn't a hub on the market that will, meaning act as a charging source in the loop with a USB device and the upstream host on the iPad.
The problem is that these USB hubs do not support Apple's proprietary rapid charging, beyond the 500mA rate which is standard for USB 2.0. This means iPads will only trickle charge, and only when the iPad's screen is turned off (if turned on, the iPad will report “Not Charging”). For iPods, iPhones, and other non BC 1.1 compliant devices, it will charge only at the standard 500mA rate."
The same was the case with the original iConnectMIDI which requires a power cable that unfortunately doesn’t charge your iOS device while it’s working.
TL;DR: USB hubs will not charge iOS devices while they're connected via the camera connection kit.
It's a sad, infuriating state of affairs that we still don't have a simple, inexpensive, and complete option for managing audio, midi, and power to an iOS device.
@shortbus Thanks for that dose of smarts and reality. Sadface. For the good of humanity: TL;DRs belong at the top of long posts!
@Josh_iConnectivity Market opportunity! Normal USB hub that can deliver the juice and the hubbiness—users decide what audio and/or MIDI to connect. Per the original request, if for some reason only MIDI is possible+charging, still think it's a solid market opportunity at the right price. As older iPads get cheaper, it's getting harder and harder for stand alone hardware sequencers to compete on price. They still win on more than 6-10 hours usage though!
If the keyboard has standard midi connectors, you can use the original iRig midi as it will charge the iPad and play the keyboard at the same time using the charger that came with your iPad. If you have a lightening connector you'll need a 30-pin to lightening connector.
Whaat??. I didn't realize that. Thank you!