#ipad midi

It is amazing how, given the right hardware platform, developers can find ways to create software that will ultimate change its behavior.  On the iPad and iOS, it is much more than creating a simple program – it is using code to alter the physical state of the device.  The iPad purposely has confined itself to an island where only 1 connection is allowed, and because of this, people have to jump through hoops in order to find a way to connect their devices to it.  Needless to say, this has not been a fun endeavor.  It usually begins with a mix of wires and connectors that end up piggybacking another wire or connector. Thankfully, Audiobus has found some ingenious solutions to our hardware woes.  Instead of having to route devices together externally, all of this processing is done internally.  This allows programs like djay to work with external MIDI devices and controllers.  There is only one serious problem they need to overcome – there is currently no real way to connect a large external device to the tablet.  The 128gb version of the iPad is a nice touch, but most of us DJs have much, much more than that to carry around with us. http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2013/04/audiobus-arrives-for-djay-on-iphone-ipad/

The beauty of being a software engineer or programmer is that changes can be made instantly, and the results can be seen quickly.  For the guys that make mixers and other pieces of musical hardware, the results are much slower.  There is also the problem of physicality – each part must work together and obey the laws of physics.  Also, it must be able to fit inside of a box.  This is why there are much more developers out there creating software and far less of them producing hardware.  Creating hardware not only takes the knowledge and ability, it also takes assets and materials.  Programmers simply need a computer and loads of time. [embed width="656"]http://youtu.be/BL18HQS_jlE[/embed] On the flipside, hardware developers do a better job of showcasing their gear, after all, it is something that can be seen and touched.  The item will typically speak for itself and it will sell itself to our wandering eyes.  When a programmer tries to create a video showcase for their software it can be a hit or miss ordeal.  Either they fail to show off what the program really does, or they themselves do a horrible job of selling it to us as a potential buyer. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2013/04/11/waldorf-nave-ipad-synthesizer/

Tablets are selling faster than laptops and the appeal isn’t always clear from buyer to buyer.  Students often buy a tablet (not necessarily an iPad) to supplement their school work.  It allows them to carry around one tablet instead of three of four textbooks which can way up to twenty pound on the shoulders.  Professionals often use tablets for specific reasons; perhaps they want to take credit card payments directly, or maybe they need to view documents and images on the fly – without needing paper printouts.  For musicians the tablet can be a multitude of things, it can be a recording device to replace a laptop or it can be used directly in a performance or live show.  For the DJ the use of the iPad is not as clear. They want something that is portable, and the tablet fits the bill.  However, they also need to be able to input instructions and actively use the device rather than just starring at it all day.  Since there are not too many ways to plug a device into the iPad, hardware is often built around it instead.  This is the case with the Numark iDJ Pro, which minimizes the amount of screen taps. http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2013/06/over-to-you-which-is-the-best-dj-controller-for-ipad-djay/

In terms of customization, the software emulation is clearly going to win out over the hardware alternative.  While any piece of software is not going to have the familiarity of a physical device, the fact that it can be programmed and changed scores it a few points in the user department.  MIDI control pads are growing like wildfire and each side think they have something they can offer to tip the scales.  Controllers like the Ableton push are designed to work with specific software, giving the user the best of both worlds.  Then there are generic controllers which are designed of many uses, aiming to fit a larger market of users who don’t know exactly what they want. Simulated controllers will still have their inherent flaws, like the lack of a physical response and the slight lag that is felt whenever a button is pressed on screen.  Users know that there is a limit to how hard they can pound on their touch screen device before they risk damaging the unit.  With all of these negatives, the flips side is that the unit can be anything they want.  When they can design their own controller in seconds, it helps sway our decision. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2013/06/05/livecontrol-2-live-control-ipad/

All of the little reasons that once prevented us from considering a tablet for any real DJ use are slowly disappearing.  One of the silliest arguments against using a tablet for DJing, was the inability to actually mount it anywhere at an acceptable viewing angle.  As bad as it can be for some DJs who only want to mount a laptop at the proper viewing angle, a tablet can be a pain too if not mounted.  Then there were issues of connectivity.  How were we to connect our drives and DVS without some sort of USB port?  Apple and other creative DJs found some clever ways to get around the old USB problem. Now that both Traktor and Serato have their own apps for the iPad, it is safe to say that the iPad is not going away, and that digital DJing with tablets is something many of us are considering (as well as the companies who produce them).  Digital decks that allow that tablet itself to be mounted inside of it have become more popular, and is no longer a novelty to many of us.  Reloop and Numark both have mounted solutions that securely fit a tablet inside or on top of it. http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2014/01/review-video-reloop-beatpad-dj-controller-ipad/