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.
Best usb hub for mac ipad
Help me to find best possible usb c hub in relation quality/price
I will need it to power ipad as master device, while being connected to dc on the other side
Comments
Hi. From your description, you're looking for multiple USB-C data ports, with a Power Delivery connection.
Do you need any USB-A ports?
How many ports total?
What about the other bells and whistles: HD video, SD cards, Ethernet, high speed port for storage, etc.?
Edit: Another possible concern is how the hub connects. Some have a short "dongle" cable which is not ideal unless the iPad is on a table. (They're really made for laptop computers, resting flat on a table.) Some are slightly longer (0.5 m maybe), and some actually use a USB-C cable.
I'm looking at this one,
i dont need HDMI or SD Cards Slot:
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/10Gbps-Charging-Aluminium-Adapter-IB-HUB1743-CPD/dp/B0FP2QFWV2/
or this
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B0D9JYTKFK/?
Those look pretty decent, rational, unlike those feature-loaded docks. And they both include the power adapter and a longish connecting cable.
By the way, when you post these links you can delete the "?" and everything after it. Those details just reflect who you are and how you searched for these items.
Don’t tell him your hub Pike.
Thx you for the hint regarding the links
We are all but stupid boys, Captain...
@JohnnyGoodyear Welcome! I missed you, tho you might not know who is writing this 🤔
@panthera
The first one you linked would be up my alley. Many thanks, tho it is slightly too expensive for me atm
@uncledave
Thank you for your concern
I wouldn’t need USB A ports exept the one to connect to ipad through camera kit or I would just use usb c to usb a converter.
4-6 ports
Without bells and whistles, might be with short dongle
Remember that you must use the Host port to connect to the iPad. You cannot use a USB-A port on the hub. A "USB hub" is not actually a "hub", it is actually a "port expander".
Why are you looking for a USB-C hub when you're connecting to the iPad via a USB-A cable and camera connector? You would be buying a lot of data transfer performance you cannot use. And you cannot charge the iPad through the USB-A port on the camera connector; you must supply 5 Vdc to the Lightning port on the connector. USB-C Power delivery uses a more complicated technology.
What is your iPad model?
Not to mention that many adapters to go from USB-C to USB-A are prone to disconnections due to being sensitive to wiggling about and getting pulled out inadvertently.
It sounds as though you don't have a USB-C equipped iPad? If so, as mentioned above, you won't be able to charge the iPad just because you get a USB-C hub. Do you have USB-C devices that you need to connect to this? If not, then a USB-C hub is no benefit to you.
@Mateusz - you mention "Mac" in the title. Is there a Mac involved in this purchase decision, or only an iPad?
Wow guys, you know some tech behind the courtain.
Maybe I will draw a picture what I would like to accomplish.
2 scenarios.
1) I have iPad Pro first generation, with lightning port OS 16.5 (max) I have also camera kit .
I would like to buy hub which could:
Power iPad while connecting sound card, sequencer and mac to it. So I could use it as a master device.
2) Mac as master device, also charged while handling connections
Thanks in advance
Thanks for the added info. That helps.
Sorry, but you can't power a Lightning iPad through the host port of any hub. You can only plug the host port of the hub to the Lightning USB-3 adapter via USB-A connection. No power will go over that connection. You have to plug the power into the Lightning connection of the adapter. No data can go over the Lightning connection.
You might indeed be best off with a USB-C hub though since everything you want to connect is USB-C. If it has a PD port then that should serve well to power the attached devices (except the iPad).
You'll need a USB-C to USB-A adapter to plug the host port of the hub to the iPad adapter. Shop carefully for that. I would look for one with at least a short cable rather than just an adapter. The little adapters are really easy to wiggle out of good connection.
Next you'll need a USB-C to Lightning cable to go from one of the guest ports of the hub to deliver power to the Lightning connector on the iPad adapter. No data will go over that connection, only power. You'll have two cables going to the iPad but at least they'll be coming from the same place.
At least a 65W power supply for the hub is probably best.
Assuming the Mac has USB-C, you're good to go there. BTW, you can send audio to the Mac from the iPad using iDAM by connecting a Lightning to USB-C cable from the iPad to one of the guest ports on the Mac. You can also send MIDI in both directions using IDAM.
If you do get a hub with both USB-C and USB-A ports, you may be able to use USB-A Lightning cables for the two uses I mentioned using a USB-C to Lightning cable. Since USB-A Lightning cables are more common, that might be worth trying.
Sorry, I don't have recommendations about which hub to get. I don't actually bother with hubs often at all.
What are you hoping to do with the connection from the Mac as a guest device on the hub when the iPad is the master?
Just want to mention, there was an earlier Lightning Camera Adapter that had only a USB-A port, so could not charge the iPad when connected. I guess it was really meant to connect a camera for quick downloading of pictures. You need the current version of the camera adapter, which has a Lightning power port beside the USB-A port, in order to power the iPad while connected.
Also, some hubs, like those previously linked, include a 12 W USB-A port specifically intended for charging a device. Other USB ports may be limited to lower powers, maybe 2.5 W, or 5 W.
Thanks for adding that. I forgot.
I've run into trouble in the past with iOS and USB-C hubs having issues with charging and using an audio interface.
The best one I've found thus far is the CalDigit USB SOHO. I bought one used off eBay.
One major advantage is that the cable between the iPad is just a USB C cable and can be swapped out, unlike many USB-C Hubs. So you can use a long cable and not have the hub dangling off your iPad.
I've still had some minor weirdness with charging not starting with the hub when first starting, but unplugging everything from it and then plugging things back in again one at a time always seems to solve it.
Do you know if it supports 4K HDMI output at 60 Hz? Also, could you check if it delivers power to connected USB accessories (like an audio interface) if you unplug the computer port?
I wanted to replace my Uni 6-in-1 hub (which I chose because of the detachable cable and still works great) with the new 8-in-1 Pro version that supports 4K@60Hz, but sadly it doesn't power accessories while the host cable is unplugged.
The OP has a Lightning port iPad.
I’m Sorry for late reply. I would like to send audio to ipad via iDAM, but maybe I have all mixed up.
From what I understand, I can’t power iPad via adapter, what other I’d need to use? I have a slim one without sd slot. @uncledave
In this year I’ll be looking for a newer iPad Pro model, with usb-c, so something like CalDigit USB Soho should do? To power iPad on the end, and connected to hub devices?
I’m just worried it is short on usb-c ports
Best wishes
I believe IDAM requires direct connection to the iPad Lightning or USB-C port, with no adapter, hub, or dock on the iPad side. This is because it uses the OTG feature where the iPad becomes a slave to the Mac host computer. That means the iPad can only receive power from the computer port, which likely won't supply enough to charge it while running.
If you have the Lightning USB Camera adapter with a Lightning power input port, you can connect a USB charger to that port to power the iPad. Some powered USB hubs include a special port for that purpose, but you can just use your Apple charger.
Just be sure the USB-C hub includes Power Delivery. It should have one USB-C port specially marked for that purpose.
Just in case it's not clear from the above, iDAM can be connected to a guest port on a hub attached to the Mac by the hub's host port. The hub can supply power to the iPad from the computer if the computer puts out enough juice. If not a powered hub can charge the iPad.
iPad > Lightning USB cable > powered hubdoes work. In fact, sometimes a powered hub is needed to keep a stable iDAM connection. That is the case with my 2015 MacBook Pro. The iDAM connection isn't stable without the hub.The downside of iDAM, of course, is you can't use any USB peripherals such as an audio interface or USB midi devices attached to the iPad while using it.
That isn't possible with iDAM. Audio is one-way from the iPad to the Mac, not the other way around. MIDI is two-way.
To use iDAM, you must connect a Lightning cable directly to the iPad, then that must be connected either to a USB port on the Mac, or to a guest port on a hub that is connected to the Mac via the hub's host port. If it's a powered hub, it should be able to charge the iPad. Power to the hub might not be needed if the Mac provides enough power. If it's a USB-C port on the Mac, then likely that will be enough. ymmv.