Audio/MIDI USB interfaces for the iPad/iPhone etc

[Rubber5oul]

Hi. I have an Akai LPK25 that I am trying to run through an iPad Air 1 using a standard, generic CCK. It starts working but after a few minutes (it varies) I get an error message stating that the device is not supported. Do you think that this is a power issue? If so, would a powered USB hub or the USB3 CCK discussed above solve this?

Thanks for your help. I’m going away for a few days and would love to be able to solve this on the cheap.

[The Elf]

I've seen this a few times and it seems related to the cables. When I've gone cheap on cables I've had this message and the only solution was to buy some good branded cables at which point that error message went away.

[Martin Walker]

Hi Rubber5oul!

It might just be relevant to have a read of this:

http://www.pocketables.com/2013/02/how- ... apter.html

Hope it relates to your problem!

Martin

[Rubber5oul]

Could be the cable, it was dirt cheap lol. Interesting read about adding a non powered hub into the chain. I'll try that when I get home and report back. Thanks.

[Rubber5oul]

OK so I tried putting the unpowered hub in the chain. Sadly the problem persists. Looks like it might be the CCK but I'm not keen spending £39 on the off-chance. I shall ask amongst friends and see if anyone has an Apple one I could test it with.

Will report back again...

[Neo-Classical Guitar Man]

Time to add to this...

Alesis Photon X25 (DC powered) > CCK > iPad Air

Is there any chance you could share the original Alesis drivers and the latest fixed ones if possible, so i can install them on my old Win XP laptop? I have seen this keyboard for sale at a local studio clearance, and it looks ideal for what I need and is in mint condition. There seems to be no trace of them on the Alesis website.

Thanks

[BillB]

The X25 is "class-compliant" which is why it works with the iPad. It doesn't need any drivers for Windows 7/10, not sure about XP but the chances are that you can plug it in and it will work.
Actually, I just rummaged through my files and found soemthing called:
AlesisPhotonX25-usbfix_v1_04.zip - which mentions WinXP in the readme file.
Don't remember using this, so you would be on your own. I will PM you with a link.

Bill

[BillB]

Also, just Googled for Alesis Photon X25 usbfix v1_04 and a few downlaod options came up.

[Guest]

Can anyone give me an idiot's guide to recording digital audio from an iPad into Protools? I have a number of synths, like Animoog and want to play them in real times as I am recording on Protools.

I have tried to follow various guides (one is from Sweetwater iOS update and discusses Inter App Audio and currently have set up and Aggregate I/O. I have connected the iPad via lightning connector and have enabled it in Audio-Midi setup/audio devices. The ipad comes up as having an input but the output is greyed out. Next to iPad it says 2 ins/0 outs.

I have opened Pro Tools and selected the playback engine as aggregate . I have then gone to I/O and under inputs, it says built in microphone. With output, it says Built in output. I was expecting the input to have a built in input but it doesn't - only built in microphone.

I have tried deleting the I/Os and selecting default but there is no sign of the iPad. Help!!

[Escapegoat]

Just adding the Focusrite iTrack Dock, which works fine via the Lightning connector.

Well, "fine" ... but with caveats. I use an iPad Air, but I think some thinner iPads need an extra shim so that the port/connector is correctly aligned. Another niggle: even some class-compliant USB MIDI controllers don't work (when they should, including some Korgs), and there are no 5-pin MIDI ports to use as an alternative. I'm currently using a Keystep.

And another, more annoying one (a facepalm-level design flaw): an electric guitar plugged into the Hi-Z input has excessive noise when recording. Because there's no grounding via the iTrack! So you get all of the 50Hz EMF hum that your guitar pickups can suck out of the air.

Workaround: to get the lowest noise floor, you can ground the unit another way. At home I did this by plugging the unused input into a nearby Integra 7's headphone socket (Integra is a proper device, with a permanently grounded chassis and jacks even when switched off). The noise floor was then normal. Same should be true if you plugged the iTracks outputs into some grounded active monitors.

Overall - working for now, but not ideal.

[Martin Walker]

Hi Escapegoat!

Well done in finding an alternative earthing point that solved your noise problem

If only all grounding issues were so simply and elegantly solved!

Martin

[Piloadami]

Hi all,

I'm running quantiloop pro on my ipad 3rd generation (30pin connector). I want to connect my usb alesis io2 souncard to the ipad so that I can use the inputs on the soudcard to play and record loops on guitar/vox. I went and bough a camera connection kit (30pin to usb adapter) and a usb 3.0 power hub. When connecting the hub into the ipad I get a message 'USB hub 2.0: the connected device requires too much power'. This is happening before I connect the soundcard into the usb hub which leads me to think the usb hub is not working might not be compatible with the camera connection kit?

The other issue that comes to mind is newer versions of the ipad run usb-c to apple lighting/usb 3 connector which means the ipad gets power from connection the charger into the usb 3 socket. Could this be the issue as my ipad is not getting power from anywhere?

Many thanks

[BillB]

Hi Piloadami

'USB hub 2.0: the connected device requires too much power'. This is happening before I connect the soundcard into the usb hub which leads me to think the usb hub is not working might not be compatible with the camera connection kit?

It sounds like the hub is not receiving power independently (presumably you have an AC-DC adaptor for it) and is therefore trying to draw power from the iPad. Can you check this? For example, does the hub power/charge other devices (keyboard, phone etc?). iPads are fussy (by design) as to which peripherals they will work with. Cheap (non-apple) options can fail, but then again, there are usually no apple-produced options for older devices like your 30-pin iPad.

Also, I recall that the Alesis "iO2 express" will not work with the iPad, irrespective of power arrangements. I hope you have the older iO2, which is at least theoretically compatible if you can get the power issue resolved.

[Escapegoat]

Hi all,

I'm running quantiloop pro on my ipad 3rd generation (30pin connector). I want to connect my usb alesis io2 souncard to the ipad so that I can use the inputs on the soudcard to play and record loops on guitar/vox. I went and bough a camera connection kit (30pin to usb adapter) and a usb 3.0 power hub. When connecting the hub into the ipad I get a message 'USB hub 2.0: the connected device requires too much power'. This is happening before I connect the soundcard into the usb hub which leads me to think the usb hub is not working might not be compatible with the camera connection kit?

One thing: Apple lies about USB power consumption. On some models on later versions of iOS, a USB device which won't work (popping up the message you saw). But it WILL work when connected via an UNPOWERED hub! Sounds completely batty but it's true. See here for one example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-I-nnocYtU

Of course, this might not be the only problem you have if the Alesis is not iOS compatible.

(Like you I have a 3rd gen iPad and Apple's CCK and after an iOS update the USB thumb drive I had suddenly "consumes too much power". Complete Apple BS. I got a £2 unpowered USB hub as shown in that video and the thumb drive now works fine. I'm pretty sure that Apple's arrogance makes third party suppliers think twice about making devices for iOS.)

[smntk]

The X25 is "class-compliant" which is why it works with the iPad. It doesn't need any drivers for Windows 7/10, not sure about XP but the chances are that you can plug it in and it will work.
Actually, I just rummaged through my files and found soemthing called:
AlesisPhotonX25-usbfix_v1_04.zip - which mentions WinXP in the readme file.
Don't remember using this, so you would be on your own. I will PM you with a link.

Bill

Hi, Bill.
I'm looking forward for the PhotonX25USBfix_v1_04.zip file. Do you have it? If so, will you send a valid link for downloading it? I'm driving crazy looking for it in internet!
Thanks a lot.

[BillB]

Hi smntk , welcome to the SOS Forum. I’ll PM a link tomorrow when I am in front of my PC.

[ef37a]

Escapegoat, I have had that warning about a memory stick, "Insufficient power for device" on a desktop PC even though the same port would happily run a bus powered AI!

I don't think it is just (or at all?) a power issue, maybe more a "handshake" problem?

Dave.

[smntk]

Thanks a lot, BillB! I go running to test it!

[smntk]

Working on Windows 10 !!!!!
Thanks a lot, BillB!!!!
But it was a headache to install windows XP with a virtual machine, and to have the files in the XP system. It couldn't read an USB device, it couldn't share files with host machine (running virtual machine under windows vista), it could't connect to internet neither via WiFi nor via ethernet cable. Finally, I decide to try with a really really legacy device: a CD
Surprisingly,I found a blank CD in a drawer, I burned it and... it worked!!!!!!!!!
Now, my alesis Photon X25 works perfectly in Ableton 10 Live! Even the axyz 3D controller dome!!!!!!!!
Thanks again, BillB for bringing to life my old Photon X25!!!!

[BillB]

Excellent new, smntk - glad you got there in the end! The X25 is quite a neat little keyboard.

[ManFromGlass]

I had to do an all battery powered gig this summer including the PA.
I was running two mics into Quantiloop running a few tasty FX then passing it back out to the PA.

I bought the Zoom U-24. It’s a fantastic interface and very versatile. Battery life was good but I turned it off between sets so can’t say how long they last. It’s not as solidly built as say the H4N so I wish there was a plastic case for it to protect it during travel like there is for the H4N.

2 mics/Zoom/latest CCK/iPad Pro
while sending the outputs of the Zoom to the PA and headphones and the H4N recorder.

[codypmack]

First post here - HI EVERYBODY. Made an act after seeing this iOS section of the site.

Currently running ALL sounds / synths / drum samples from iPad Pro 2 into Ableton 10.

I'm using the Zoom U-24 with the USB 3.0 CKK+ and a 30w USB-C (macbook pro) power block. The Zoom handles Audio OUT from the iPad, Audio IN from my guitar (Hi-Z ch.1), and MIDI IN from Ableton.

Connected to the laptop is a Focusrite 2i4 for audio IN from U-24, Audio OUT to a Mackie ProFX8 Mixer/amp/speakers, MIDI OUT to the U-24, plus all the MIDI hardware IN. Routing and recording is handled in Ableton.

I will also occasionally use my old iPad 4 for Touchable Pro (insane ableton control app) or Expression Pad MIDI OUT to the synth on the iPad Pro.

It's taken about 2 years to get this right... but it's finally working to the point I'm satisfied. The sounds + instruments available on iOS are not only high quality, but usually cost 1/10th what they would on PC.

[protman]

The X25 is "class-compliant" which is why it works with the iPad. It doesn't need any drivers for Windows 7/10, not sure about XP but the chances are that you can plug it in and it will work.
Actually, I just rummaged through my files and found soemthing called:
AlesisPhotonX25-usbfix_v1_04.zip - which mentions WinXP in the readme file.
Don't remember using this, so you would be on your own. I will PM you with a link.

Bill

Hi, Bill.
I'm looking forward for the PhotonX25USBfix_v1_04.zip file. Do you have it? If so, will you send a valid link for downloading it? I'm driving crazy looking for it in internet!
Thanks a lot.

Any chance I could get a copy of AlesisPhotonX25-usbfix_v1_04.zip and any related files as well? I just picked up a used photonx25 on ebay and it still has the old firmware. Thanks!

[BillB]

Here you go Protman - and welcome to the SOS Forum

https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... 83#p641542

[Guest]

I’m a big fan of the Behringer UMC204HD. Got two of them. I’ve had Apogee and others, I don’t see how the Behringer is in any way inferior. I certainly haven’t experienced "muddy" sound with it. The only problem is the prices on the Behringer keep going up. I got both of mine for less than one would cost today.