Ipad connection advise... possible editor recommendations??

[breakerbreaker]

I've had a very redundant iPad Air 2 which I bought years ago to save me taking my Macbook (which contains my whole work life!) on holiday.

I've recently dug some old synths out, particuarly a Roland JD990 which I love the sound of but got bored trying to alter presets due to user interface, so wanted to get an iPad editor.

Getting a decent connection is the main thing I want to solve. Can anyone recommend decent lightening to MIDI converter cables?

Google seems to suggest a camera adapter to get USB, then a USB to MIDI - the former semms fairly standard... but I've had issues with USB to MIDI converters in the past, and theres'a plethora on Amazon.

If anyone has any suggestions for the app that would also be appreciated, there are a couple aimied at the JD990 - which is the main want. However, I also have a JV2080 and MKS50 so if there's one which does many - even better.

For compatibility, my iPad currently has iOS 15.4.1 - a Google search suggests the latest version it will support is iOS 15.7.

Cheers.

[tacitus]

I’d go CCK - USB - MIDI. If you get the latest CCK (from Apple, so you know it works) you can charge the iPad while connected, which sounds like a plan if you’re likely to get involved.

The USB to MIDI bit I’m not sure about, but look for what’s available used and Google to see what the experience is with those devices.

I guess there are more experienced MIDI/iPad users who might chip in. I use that Korg thingy that goes from lightning to 5-pin DIN MIDI, but only for Korg Module, so that would work, wouldn’t it?

[tacitus]

Korg PlugKey is the device. Still wires everywhere, but simpler in theory than the CCK route. Whether it’s OK for what you want I have no idea. I think it looks better in black rather than the white one I have, and that’s my technical knowledge on the thing exhausted.

[The Elf]

My iPad is connected wirelessly - no problems with that apprach, but if it were to fail I have a 'camera' connector and mio iConnect on standby that works flawlessly.

For an iPad MIDI editor I always turn to MIDI Designer Pro, for which I typically create my own editor Layouts, though there are oodles of shared Layouts out there for most popular gear. The joy of MDP is in being able to create any custom Layout you can dream up - and I do!

[sonics]

I use the IK Multimedia iRig devices for iOS MIDI. They've never given me any issues.

[sleekitwan]

I can guide you on hardware attachment…Yes it’s always the camera connector so-called, only buy the proper Apple one, it’s got a chip inside the Lightning end connector. If you buy anything else than Apple, it will work if at all, then fail later as Apple cripple yet another fake by software fixes.

So, that’s the Lightning to USB adapter part sorted out.

Then you would normally simply use the cable that comes with the keyboard/midi controller. I bought the iRig Keys37 mini-key pint-sized thing to start with and it’s worked flawlessly really I cannot complain - finally I gave in to aspirations and brought down the Novation Launchkey 61 I bought earlier but did not use…and that’s worked pretty well except the mod wheel needs a physical clean or adjustment to let it get all the way back to zero now. Tried the rest thing, no go.

‘Class compliant’ is what you need the midi controller to be, no drivers are allowed. Don’t get it if it is not specifically iOS-approved, or stated to be ‘class compliant’.

So, assuming you buy the ‘camera kit’ adapter from Apple or Argos, and get a midi controller keyboard that’s class-compliant with it’s own cable that goes from the ‘D’ shaped USB printer-style socket (usually) on the keyboard, to a USB ‘male’ that fits into the Lightning-to-USB camera kit adaptor forementioned…

…there’s just the power supply issue! The advantage of a dinky little iRig keys37 is that it powers from the 100mA permitted out of the Apple Camera adaptor cable. It doesn’t take much, before things get shut down - I remember now, my Novation Launchkey 61 would not work without a PSU supplying juice separately. I vaguely remember using a ‘powered USB hub’ as an alternative method but it’s just as much of a clutter either way.

But that’s worth it for full-size keys - you won’t want that if you are on the move so a mini-key device like the £60 iRig keys 37 is ideal as it also doesn’t need the extra power supply. I usually plugged in my iPad Pro 2 though, using…the bigger Apple adaptor! The one with a spare Lightning charge connector built-in, it’s not called the ‘big camera kit’, it’s something else.

I’ve moved on to a used purchase of an iPad Pro M1 so that’s basically unusable without a Belkin Dock I found, for having bits and pieces attached. It definitely will have limits on the current drain too but I have a USB hub (Anker, powered), cabled into the Belkin dock, cabled as the ‘nexus’ for everything as the M1 ipad only has one TB3-looks-like-a-USB-C port.

Latency was fine on the iPad Pro 2 with the little ‘keys’ keyboard, despite the Lightning limit being about 120Mb/s, quite low. I have more latency if I attach a USB-C hub in between the ipad M1 and the Launchkey 61, than the old setup with the keys 37. Hence the Belkin, as it’s ThunderBolt 3.

For a fuller version of this advice, here’s a link to click…no, seriously there’s not. As for MIDI editing itself, I have only utilities for checking what MIDI is coming through, so cannot advise.

My best regards.

[breakerbreaker]

Many thanks for the advise people.