iPad Apps & Accessories for Music Making

Comment

Comment by lauren on July 12, 2012 at 4:40pm

I just acquired a little gadget called the Tascam iXZ Microphone and Guitar cable interface (iPad/iPhone- Amazon $30.27, GuitarCenter 49.99 in store). So far I've used it with garageband for iPad(1) and it works very well. Though I have to admit it took a few tries because the garageband app is completely new to me.
Interesting fact is that if the mic out setting in GB is not exactly right you can't monitor sound at all through headphones...that may account for some of the critical reviews that complain it just 'wasn't working'.

While I would not expect this to be a professional option for recording it does pretty darn well for a consumer gadget that is under $50.00. You can use a XLR mic input (phantom power is possible too!) or a 1/4 inch cable for guitar. They
 need to be recorded separately not together.

On my ipad in GB guitar recording was excellent using the AMP option (i used clean). For vocals I used the microphone recording option(mic icon) with a smidge of reverb and adjusted GB's gate option to get rid of 'noise' and it sounded really great. I'll upload or link examples next week after guitar camp. When hopefully I'll have some original material of which I'll be happy.

So I'll be using the Tascam iXZ, iPad(1) as well as the Tascam DR-07 recorder all next week to record my own song ideas(for songwriting workshops) at Richard Thompson's music camp Frets and Refrains(www.fretsandrefrains.com) in Big Bear, NY...Very EXCITED!!

Hoping to document a full account of the workshops, jam sessions and more through images and recordings etc. so it will be an 'app' trial by fire. If it works well and fast it's in - and if too much fiddling is required or if it's too temperamental it's out!

The Apps I anticipate using: Onsong, Garageband, EZcomposer and some others to do some on the fly song composing and recordings.

For still images and video: camera connect adaptor, iPhone, iPad, Sony HandyCam (older model) digitalvideo camera...simply because it just doesn't quit and has amazing battery life!

Lauren

Comment by lauren on April 7, 2012 at 5:27pm

Hi Group,

Sorry for delay ...I've been crazy busy but I have been using OnSong and

SongBook and will post reviews/thoughts on those on this coming Wednesday.

As well as gadgetry for securing ipad I and iphone to standard music stands.

Thanks for being patient!!!,

Best,

Lauren