Agree about the Model 15. Got mine for a shade under a tenner. Brilliant. Plugged an old Korg NanoKontrol in there using a generic camera control kit, mapped the sliders to the Model 15's knobs: instant "analogue"!
Between that and the Korg M1 I've got analog and digital covered.
On the subject of equipping your iPad or iPhone with a MIDI in, you may not have to.
Korg's MicroKey Air keyboards transmit MIDI over Bluetooth with no hassle, negligible latency, and 100% reliability (in my experience). If you can handle the mini-keys they are also a very nice feeling keyboard, streets ahead of (for example) the Akai LPK-25.
You also get various bits of software, including a very nice acoustic piano, electric piano, strings and Hammond organ, in the form of Module Le. Runs on a modest spec: I can use my iPhone 5s as a wireless sound module!
Oh, and has anyone mentioned SynthMaster Player yet? It's bloody marvellous and you can get your hands on gorgeous, inspiring sampled mellotrons and hammond and things as a a £5 IAP (Art Rock Basics).
Last edited by Richard Graham on Tue Dec 05, 2017 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I have both this and the Model 15 and they sound great, but I've had no joy with integrating them with the computer using iPhone/Windows 10/Ableton and the Studiomux app. The user manual for the latter is atrocious for the Studiomux Server element of it.
Having just switched to Mac am hoping I can finally get these to work in a useful way.
Are you able to get sound via the lightning cable into your DAW and send MIDI out to Synth One from the DAW to sync it?
See my post above regarding the Moog apps. I still haven't been able to successfully do it. Makes any iOS apps a bit of a waste of time for me.
It can be done, but not just with a lightning cable. I have the iConnectivity iConnectMIDI4+ which is a USB MIDI interface for Mac/PC which is also a MIDI host for additional USB devices and a pair of USB/lightning interfaces for iOS devices which carries both MIDI and audio between Mac and iPad/iPhone.
You need to set up an aggregate device in your Mac audio settings. So far I've not used it in anger, but it is incredibly sophisticated in handling multiple MIDI devices with different connectors.
I us an Alesis iO Dock II to connect everything up.
Seems this was discontinued a while back so there may be some second hand deals around.
Be aware that earlier ones did not come with a lightning connection as standard.
Fortunately my iPad Pro 1st generation fits in pretty well.
In Cubase, the iO Dock shows up as the target for the midi from whatever device I choose so can even make it follow the chord track.
Audio comes back in via a stereo pair to my interface.
Totally agree that you need to set up an Aggregate Device.
Dave.P wrote:I us an Alesis iO Dock II to connect everything up.
Seems this was discontinued a while back so there may be some second hand deals around.
Be aware that earlier ones did not come with a lightning connection as standard.
Fortunately my iPad Pro 1st generation fits in pretty well.
In Cubase, the iO Dock shows up as the target for the midi from whatever device I choose so can even make it follow the chord track.
Audio comes back in via a stereo pair to my interface.
Totally agree that you need to set up an Aggregate Device.
Looks like the Alesis is specifically for iPad? I would require someting for iPhone use. I do have an iPad gathering dust but it's a second generation one and incapable of running any of these synth apps. My phone, however, is an iPhone XS.
zenguitar wrote:
It can be done, but not just with a lightning cable. I have the iConnectivity iConnectMIDI4+ which is a USB MIDI interface for Mac/PC which is also a MIDI host for additional USB devices and a pair of USB/lightning interfaces for iOS devices which carries both MIDI and audio between Mac and iPad/iPhone.
You need to set up an aggregate device in your Mac audio settings. So far I've not used it in anger, but it is incredibly sophisticated in handling multiple MIDI devices with different connectors.
Andy
This looks like what I might need. I will bear this in mind for future, as it has three sets of MIDI DIN in-outs as well.
After years of not bothering with this music lark, when I rediscovered my love for it a few years back I intended to do everything "in the box" and have largely kept it that way. But strangely I now find myself with (as well as all the software synths and sample libraries) a Moog Subsequent 37, a DFAM and a Volca Keys.
It's starting to expand outwards. Like my stomach!
redlester wrote:After years of not bothering with this music lark, when I rediscovered my love for it a few years back I intended to do everything "in the box" and have largely kept it that way. But strangely I now find myself with (as well as all the software synths and sample libraries) a Moog Subsequent 37, a DFAM and a Volca Keys.
There's no hope for you now, my friend. Sorry to be the one who has to break the sad news to you.
Dave.P wrote:I us an Alesis iO Dock II to connect everything up.
Seems this was discontinued a while back so there may be some second hand deals around.
Be aware that earlier ones did not come with a lightning connection as standard.
Fortunately my iPad Pro 1st generation fits in pretty well.
In Cubase, the iO Dock shows up as the target for the midi from whatever device I choose so can even make it follow the chord track.
Audio comes back in via a stereo pair to my interface.
Totally agree that you need to set up an Aggregate Device.
Looks like the Alesis is specifically for iPad? I would require someting for iPhone use. I do have an iPad gathering dust but it's a second generation one and incapable of running any of these synth apps. My phone, however, is an iPhone XS.
You can use it with an iPhone if needed - just use a lightning extension cable....
Michiel wrote:Korg iMS-20 (iPad only; €12.99 until 31/01/2011 double thereafter) is the coolest one I've so far got! Always wanted to own a real MS-20 when I was a lot younger.
I actually like and constantly use all of the KORG apps for the iPad -- iMS-20, iWavestation, iM1, both Electribe drum machines. They're really well done, sound good, and are a great bargain.
He's made a few more apps too, but just these two are enough for me right now.
You can't save what you've created in Bloom, but you can in Scape. Not sure about how his other apps work. If you like Brian Eno's music generally you're likely to enjoy these apps.
Dave.P wrote:I us an Alesis iO Dock II to connect everything up.
Seems this was discontinued a while back so there may be some second hand deals around.
Be aware that earlier ones did not come with a lightning connection as standard.
Fortunately my iPad Pro 1st generation fits in pretty well.
In Cubase, the iO Dock shows up as the target for the midi from whatever device I choose so can even make it follow the chord track.
Audio comes back in via a stereo pair to my interface.
Totally agree that you need to set up an Aggregate Device.
This dates back almost a year, but just wanted to update and say thanks. I finally got round to getting an iO Dock II off eBay, and it works perfectly with my iPhone and my wife's iPad Mini (which, much to her bemusement, now has a couple of Moog apps on it!)
Dave.P wrote:I us an Alesis iO Dock II to connect everything up.
Seems this was discontinued a while back so there may be some second hand deals around.
Be aware that earlier ones did not come with a lightning connection as standard.
Fortunately my iPad Pro 1st generation fits in pretty well.
In Cubase, the iO Dock shows up as the target for the midi from whatever device I choose so can even make it follow the chord track.
Audio comes back in via a stereo pair to my interface.
Totally agree that you need to set up an Aggregate Device.
This dates back almost a year, but just wanted to update and say thanks. I finally got round to getting an iO Dock II off eBay, and it works perfectly with my iPhone and my wife's iPad Mini (which, much to her bemusement, now has a couple of Moog apps on it!)
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Then I will take the opportunity to mention a few of my favourite musical iOS apps...
- MIDI Designer Pro (the reason I own an iPad!)
- Cubasis (clever, but very wearing to use on an iPad)
- AUM (turns the iPad into a usable virtual instrument host)
- StreetlyTron Pro (sublime noises)
- Enso (great little looper, only lacking an undo/re-do feature, IMO)
Streetly Tron, worth it just for the Rhodes.
Animoog, worth it just for one preset, you can’t say that about much, soft or hardware.
Synth One, one synth challenge standing on one leg.
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