OK, I'm iPad ignorant at this time, but I see that the iPad Air looks like a decent deal. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1011234-REG/apple_md788ll_a_16gb_ipad_air_wi_fi.html

I read the memory is not expandable so I need to know how much I'll need before I buy.

I plan to do music apps and read a magazine or two on it. If I can get the music off when I'm done I won't need to store it there. So how much memory do I need? Is the 16G model enough or should I spend $126 more for 64G? I know it's better to have than need, but will I need that much storage?

Is there any way to transfer files to and from a Windows computer, say if I get a lightning to USB cable? I like cable transfers better than wireless as my old wireless router is difficult to use (I don't have the manual anymore either).

If I can't get music and other files back and forth from the iPad to a Windows computer, it's a deal breaker for me.

I've never had an iOS product so this will be new for me. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

I'm thinking an iPad instead of a Droid tablet, because the way I understand it is that there are many more music apps for iPad than for Droids. I let the software choose my computer platform.

Thanks,
Notes

Bob, I have both an old iPad 2 and an iPhone 6, with quite a few indispensable music apps, and no Mac. I have had phones with 16 GB that worked fine as far as storage, though my current one is 64. The real problem with any iOS product is the internal memory limit of 1 GB when using more than one app at a time, not the app storage that you can buy as either 16 or 64 GB. If you don't multitask, 16 would probably be adequate. Correct, you cannot expand after purchase. I use an app, System Status, to clear RAM.

Yes, using iTunes and a Lightning to USB cable, you can transfer files from the device to the PC, as well as backup your whole device.

My favorite app is V-Control Pro, which I use to remote control my DAW (SONAR).

Somewhere on this forum is a post from about two years ago with a pretty good list of my music apps, and those used by others.

[EDIT] Wow, it's older than I thought. I went back four years. If you decide to get an iPad, maybe you could start a new thread asking about apps. I'll chip in what I think are good ones.

i vote for the 64GB the OS is getting bigger and the apps and data they create

you may find this link useful

ipad iOS music\multimedia links

you will need the camera connection kit if you plan on connecting anything to the ipad and possibly a powered usb hub depending on the power requirements of what you connec

if you get an apple tv device you screencast what's on your ipad

I've been doing pretty well with 64GB on my iPad and I keep quite a bit of stuff on mine. Since the memory is not expandable, I've always purchased the max that was available at the time I was buying. I've got about 4 GB of free memory right now but I keep thousands of songs and a couple of hundred ebooks on the device that could just as easily be kept in the cloud.

Thanks all.

But I'm still confused about one thing.

Matt says I can transfer files to and from my PC with the lightning to USB cable (which I see is supplied) and Mike says I need a camera connection kit.

I guess I could always use drop box but my internet connection is slow.

I might want to multitask with music apps (I really don't know at this time) so perhaps 64GB is worth the extra >$100

I'm getting it predominantly to read a couple of magazines that went digital only, and since I've also read that the majority of music apps are on the iPad rather than 'droid, I figure I may as well get the iPad. I have no idea what is out there, but I'll have fun finding new toys to play with.

Thanks again,
Notes

I'll clarify.

I use Dropbox when I can because it's faster and saves steps. I use iTunes to transfer pictures and songs, things that iTunes handles.

For apps that generate data, each one that I can think of has a way to share the data. That may be Dropbox, or email. This is one characteristic of apps that I consider before purchase.

i was thinking of a usb device, camera, midi controller, audio interface etc

ituens as matt said is your friend for files that it handles dropbox or something like it, of course apple wants you to pay for icloud storage after you exhaust the 5gb they provide, for most everything else


i happen to prefer the ipad mini for reading a it fits my hands better

I love what the mini looks and feels like, but I tested a PDF of a lead sheet on one in a store. I didn't think I would be able to use that in place of sheet music, whereas I can and do with a regular-size iPad.

One accessory that works really well for this purpose is the Bluetooth foot pedal for turning pages. I use the Airturn BT-105 Digit.

Thanks again. Looks like Dropbox will be my friend.

I have an iPod with almost 10,000 tunes on it, but I don't use iTunes, I use CopyTrans manager. It keeps me out of the Apple store, and is much easier for me to use.

Most of my songs have been ripped from my own extensive LP and CD collection and the few that I bought, I got through Amazon as mp3 files.

The only time I use the iPod is when I'm in the car, so mp3 is fine.

Back to the iPad

It looks like 64G Ram and the Air


Thanks again for all your help. It's greatly appreciated.

Notes

There are more music apps for IOS because it has low latency core audio and core midi built in. Camera connection kit needed for using USB audio/midi interfaces, if you don't have a purpose built device that the iPad plugs into. Garageband is an excellent app on IOS. The drawbar organ and electric pianos are worth the 5$ price alone.

Thanks!

Bob check out the Ipad air 2. It has 2 gigs of ram memory and the latest (faster) cpu. Also go over to the
http://forum.audiob.us/ forum site. There's a lot of good info on apps and ipad hardware comments.
I'd go to the ipad air 2 and as much memory as you want to afford because you're going to live with this for awhile.
Hope this helps Wyndham

Now 2 gigs RAM? Thanks, I didn't know that. It will make a difference when multitasking.

Thanks again!

Well the iPad arrived. I'm working through the basics, it's not much different from my cell phone, it just takes slightly different actions to do the same things.

The build seems good and the picture clear, of course, I expect this from Apple. I wasn't wild about the Safari browser, was surprised to find Firefox wants me to pay for it (it's free on my PCs) and since I like Dolphin on my 'driod phone I decided to try it on the iPad.

As soon as I get the basics down, I'll start playing with the music apps.

A lightning to USB cable came with it, but I haven't tried to hook it up to the computer yet. I hope it will work without opening the iTunes store. If not I'll register drop box.

Heavy weekend of gigging will slow the progress, next month's very busy too, so I'll take it step at a time.

Any music app suggestions are welcome.

This looks interesting http://www.shiverware.com/musixpro/index.html - anybody try it?

Thanks,
Bob

I have Musix Pro and quite like it. There are several options available for custom usage. I don't play the internal sounds very often instead opting for the MIDI out to other synth apps.

While Musix Pro is a nifty controller app, I much prefer Geo Synthesizer:

http://www.wizdommusic.com/products/geo_synthesizer.html

which is a controller that allows for more playing variation and has internal sounds that I find more appealing than Musix Pro.

Good luck and enjoy when you get the time.

I prefer the Chrome browser on my iPad and iPhone, and it's free.

Keebo, Thanks.

What do you need to get MIDI out of the iPad for Musix Pro and/or the Geo. I have nice MIDI modules with tons of voices.

Is there any way to change the volume of the notes? I guess I could hook up a MIDI footswitch controller.

I find different controller configurations get me of my old fingering habits so I can discover new things.

Matt,

I like Chrome OK but Google is the advertising giant of the Internet, so I suspect they sell every little site I visit - seriously, I didn't like Chrome on the PC because I could accidentally close a half dozen open tabs with a mouse click. Firefox gives me a warning when I try to close multiple tabs.

Thanks to you both.

Bob

Notes, to get midi in/out there are a couple of options:

1. You could go with an entire interface designed for the iPad - that has both audio and midi I/O. Here's one from Alesis that doesn't care if it's 30 pin old-school or lightning connection: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/iODockII

2. There's the smaller sized option of something like the Griffin stuff: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StudioConLt

And then there are options that are a bit more tricky to get full functionality involving camera connection kits and whatnot.

The first music app I bought for my iPhone was Garageband. It's 5$. The drawbar organ and electric piano sounds are simply phenomenal - very very good and very likely better than any external sound modules you might have; particularly the drawbar organ. Now, when I was doing this I also bought an app which allowed MIDI control into Garageband so that I could use an Akai Synthstation 25 controller control the soft-synths inside. That app is called MIDI Bridge. I don't believe it's the case with the IO Dock.

The guitar amp simulation in Garageband for iOS is also remarkably good. If you want something other than that, you can use the freebie Amplitube stuff - there's a free Fender version - which if I remember correctly, there's black-face model in the free version; my favorite Fender Amp. I can't demonstrate any of this any longer because I no longer have my iPhone 4s.

iOS8 has a cool feature called Inter-App audio which acts like an internal digital patch bay, so you can use stuff like Amplitube simultaneously with Garageband and other audio apps.


But before you buy ANYTHING - if you have an Apple store nearby, take your favorite headphones over and fire up Garageband and pull up any of the keyboards (not the smart keyboards) and have a play. You'll be buying Garageband for 5$ after that, or just go ahead and buy it now, it's a fairly fun tool as a scratchpad DAW as well.

Here's a Behringer option for $99 similar to the IO Dock II

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/is202

WHEN I buy an iPad, this will be the unit I'll pick up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciish0zZeS8

Thanks again for all this wonderful information.

I DL'd Garage Band and my first impression is that it looks like fun.

I do want to use my external MIDI modules so I'll be investigating the interfaces too.

I have a couple of synths, a half dozen sound modules, and a couple of hardware samplers and that gives me access to a few thousand instrument sounds. For example I can choose for guitars 335, tele front pup, tele rear pop, strat, les paul, and dozens more different guitar tones. I also have 18 different standard drum kits, that many jazz, brush, electric and other kits as well. I have B3 organ that the leslie speed is controlled from one of the continuous controllers. I don't mind adding new sounds, but on the other hand, I don't want to lose any either.

Things have slowed down for the weekend though. The oil pressure gauge went on in my van on the way home from the Gig on Friday, so I had to rent a van for Saturday. I have gigs on Tuesday and Thursday so hopefully the problem is minor and can be fixed on Monday - renting vans is expensive and time consuming - missing a gig is not an option.

All future suggestions are also appreciated.

Thanks again,
Bob

As most iPad apps are built to run on older devices and don't need to store much data the cheapest iPad you can buy that is current will work fine. For comparability purposes of cabling anything with a Lightning Cable should be new enough to run almost any modern Music applications.

I had an iPad but it was getting on. Updates were no longer available. I found with only 16 gig i was having to move stuff or think about what I wanted. A few months ago I bought a new one 128 gig. I use very little of it but I don’t have to worry about room etc. For the extra peace of mind the extra cost was worth it. (Only about $150 or so after complaining that a poor ole pensioner needs the tool and a discount). OK Garage band is a nice toy I thought I would be laid up for some time and it would keep me amused but nah it is not my style. I converted my mixed tracks to MP3 and put my tracks on the iPad and listened on a different device which was good I found some nuances I did not like so edited a lot of my stuff yet again.

If you are going to use external interfaces etc on it make sure they can work with it. There is only one sound port and one Apple port. You can get a camera kit to connect other interfaces. You may need to supply external power to drive some devices as the iPad might not provide enough power. (I don’t use the iPad this way). I understand the MIDI keyboard I have will work fine with the iPad and they even supply tools with it.

My main uses for the iPad are mail, internet and I use it largely for these forums. I can sit in my lounge chair, relax and watch tv and the forums.

Tony

Wow, this thread back from the dead (zombie?)

Since March of 2015 at my last post I bought an iPod Air and am both happy and a bit disappointed with it.

Disappointed because it is very difficult to transfer files from my PC to the iPod without installing iTunes.

It's more difficult to get any serious work done on it that it is with a laptop. I knew that, but I didn't know how much more difficult.

Happy because for couch surfing, it's superb. That's about all I use it for, but it's a good use.

When it dies (everything has an expiration date) I'll probably get another.

Insights and incites by Notes

You don't need an expensive iPad for that kind of thing. I bought an Amazon Fire HD 10 for $149 a few months ago mostly to use as a chart reader on gigs. There are several good ones for Android, I use Fakebook Pro that cost a whopping $3 along with iRealPro. Works great. When people say iPads have many more music apps than Android the question to ask is what kind of music apps are they talking about? Yes, Apple has many more synth and DAW apps plus controller apps for digital mixing boards and things like that but as far as your needs Notes, you don't care about that stuff. You have all your sounds and performance related stuff covered with your hardware. That leaves the basic tablet functions that makes IOS and Android equal.

Bob

Following

Thanks Bob. That can save me money.

I downloaded a number of music apps when I first got the iPad, and I admit, Garage Band was fun to play with for a while, then it got boring. The rest of the music apps I downloaded got perhaps 2-3 hours of play each at most. Some were too simple, some were just lame apps that begged for in-line purchases (not that I'm opposed to purchasing something I plan to use, but they were lame).

Leilani and I went to Australia this year and I took about 800 pictures. I wanted to move about 250 of them to the iPad to show to my family when we get together around Thanksgiving. I bought the Lightning to USB interface and found I still couldn't transfer the photos to the iPad.

With lots of googling I found I need iTunes to do this. I had iTunes when I had an iPod and really disliked it. So I searched for alternative methods, and they were not to my liking - too complicated or didn't work.

Solution, put a folder up on my web site, upload the pictures I wanted to transfer to the iPad (I found I had to shrink/resize them as +-6M hi-rez pictures take too long to upload/download), then go to each web page, one at a time, download and save to the camera roll in the iPad.

So what should have taken about 15 minutes unattended took many hours, 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there, and in about a month it was done.

It's enough to make me dislike Apple. Don't get me wrong, Apple makes good hardware but while everybody else goes to universal standards, Apple tries it's hardest to be non-compatible in order to keep Apple people from buying anything competitive. And they've been that way since my first Mac computer (Classic II) that you couldn't even get into the case without a tool that Apple only sold to authorized Apple repair centers.

OK, enough Apple Rant. For those who like them and don't want to use anything but Apple, they are fine.

On stage I use ThinkPad laptops, my 2002 XP ThinkPad still plays my backing tracks and displays words and/or music charts, my newer Win7 does the same thing (one of my 2002 ThinkPads had an accident that messed up the hinge).

I use the newer, more powerful ThinkPads at home. They are quite reliable.

I thought about switching the ThinkPads to tablets on stage, but I like having the separate keyboard. While one file is playing, I can Alt-Tab which brings up file explorer, type a couple of letters which highlights the next song to play, when the first one is done, hit Enter and the next one starts immediately. When the dance floor is full, immediate is good.

Since I got the iPad in 2015 I'm happy with the service it's giving me. Apple does build good hardware, and my iPad is still working well. When it dies (everything has an expiration date) I'll look at the other options.

Insights and incites by Notes