iConnectAudio4+ now available for pre-order on Sweetwater!!!

mericanfiend

I know several of us - myself included - have eagerly been awaiting the release of this bad boy for over a year… and it's finally available for pre-order!!! Link follows:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/iConnAudio4p

Placed my pre-order this morning to be sure to reserve one the of the first units to ship out of their warehouses! Then, just to be thorough, I spoke with a member of the Sweetwater sales staff who guaranteed the unit will ship no later than the second week of April… so hopefully will have my hands on it in another month or less hahaha!

As of writing this post, the iConnectAudio4+ isn't listed for pre-order on any of the other major distributor websites - i.e. zzounds, guitar center, b&h photo video etc. - but I will be checking them periodically and posting updated catalog listings here as they pop up!

edit: found a listing on Amazon dated March 4th but their list price is higher than Sweetwater's: http://amzn.to/18fRjK9

If anyone discovers any more relevant details, please post them here!

Johow

Looks like a nice interface if everything works as advertised.

Bootsy

Sorry, I was on the pre order list for the iconnectmidi4 for over a year and was assured by Sweetwater over and over it'll be here by ... I hope they're right this time. This promotion technique of telling people months or even years in advance that something is coming soon is getting old!

mericanfiend

Followed up by speaking to an iConnectivity support rep who "confirmed" (without me mentioning my conversation with the Sweetwater sales rep) that ICA4+ units are finally being shipped out to North American distributors and will be available to order within the next four weeks. This feels like an acceptable verification for me… goddamn I hope they aren't just blowing smoke!

Bootsy

Good luck.

mericanfiend

@Bootsy said:
Good luck.

Thank you! I've been waiting way too damn long for this!

telecode101

What is so good about this interface? Is it better than Komplete?

Bootsy

@mericanfiend, I know the feeling. Sad part is when I did finally get it I could t get it to work for shit with my PC, so I returned it. Hopefully this one is easier and works better.
@telecode 101, the iconnectmidi and audio have audio and midi pass thru. So you can record from iPad to computer and computer to iPad without signal loss.

mericanfiend

For me, the iCA4+ is better than NI Komplete, but that is simply due to my needs. The Komplete is perfect for my laptop-based endeavors and I have put plenty of miles on mine, but - even though I have a raging boner for Ableton 9 Suite - I prefer to utilize my iPad as my primary performance and production tool. Main advantages for incorporating the iCA4+ into my setup:

1. It will allow me to ditch my MacBook Pro when it isn't needed and make my iPad Air 2 my main method of madness. I was running a setup similar to this with a Behringer iStudio before adding an iConnectMIDI4+ to the rig and incorporating an audio interface running through Ableton. At the time it felt necessary as the iStudio doesn't have USB Host and I wanted to hook up more of my toys but lately I have found this to be an unnecessary complication!
2. The iCA4+ will charge my iPad when connected through one of the two USB ports on the back of the unit (using their included proprietary USB B > Lightning cable).
3. With the purchase of another of their proprietary cables, you can connect two iOS devices simultaneously and pass audio signals from one to the other, or send them both out of the mixer as separate signals. This really appeals to me due to my ever-growing mountain of iDevices!
4. USB host port in addition to 5 pin DIN In/Out!!! The host port will allow you to connect up to 8 class-compliant USB MIDI devices through a powered USB hub in addition to daisy-chaining toy upon to through the DIN ports! The only reason I added an iConnectMIDI4+ to my rig was so that I could simultaneously utilize my DIN and USB MIDI devices while waiting on the iCA4+ hahaha!
5. Simplification! My current setup is stupendously complicated. Eschew obfuscation, as mama always said. The other night I was attempting to explain to a incredibly knowledgeable audio engineer how signals are routed around between the iPad and iConnectMIDI and MacBook and audio interface and he kept looking at me like I was speaking Swahili! Face palm. Having a single interface to which I can connect all my audio, DIN and USB devices will make understanding my iPad endeavors so much easier for engineers and producers… and will eliminate the need for the MacBook Pro and Komplete completely hahaha.

iCA4+ was announced at Winter NAMM 2014 and I am not a patient man… I've already sprouted dozens of gray hairs whilst waiting! I really hope they don't dick us around any longer on this one!!!

mericanfiend

More confirmation via iConnectivity's Facebook!!!

"The projected date is late March for N.A. at this time. You'll want to check with the retailer around then for stock availability from them specifically. If a retailer is taking orders at this time, they are trying to get you on the list for their first shipment (if you see this on the web).

We will be sure to post once units start arriving at retailers, although not everyone will get them at the exact same time - depending on your region."

Woot!

nic_b_nice

Can't much longer!

I hope this is everything its been made out to be. I wont need to upgrade my interface for hopefully another 10 years!

gyom

that looks really good !! Can you find any info about latency ?

rad3d

Preorders have been available for at least 2 weeks on Sweetwater (I put mine in at that time). Iconnectivity have been putting potential shipping dates on their Facebook page since mid December.

It does sound like they'll be available soon, but it wouldn't surprise me if they go into April before we see them.