Make Full Use of Your iDevice with Additional Hardware
Humans have always been obsessed with trying to predict the future. Sometimes, the futurists among us are quite accurate in their predictions, but most of the time, they couldn’t have been further from the truth. For example, take the common prediction that everyone would have flying cars, robot maids, and 25-hour work weeks by the turn of the century. Here we are in 2011, driving on roads to work, cleaning up after ourselves, and working more than ever.
Hindsight being 20/20, most people can come to terms with these rash predictions of the future. However, as we watch technology unfold before us, it is oftentimes stranger than fiction. At the crux of the new world vision sits Apple, with their revolutionary iDevices (the hip, all-encompassing word for Apple’s mobile devices), which seek to transform, or at least cast a new light on, every activity of daily life, including the process of making music. Who saw that coming?
If you own one of these iDevices, it has no doubt changed your life, and if you haven’t yet explored the possibilities, it can also change the way you make music. For this article, we’ve featured various peripheral products that expand the musical functionality and expressive ability of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
IK MultiMedia iKlip
If you plan on using your iPad as a performance tool, you’ll need a stable and accessible way to hold it on stage. The IK MultiMedia iKlip offers just that. Durable but lightweight, the Italian-made iKlip safely cradles your iPad or iPad 2, and attaches to a standard microphone stand for easy visibility. It is fully adjustable. Use it to see lyrics and music for a tune, as your guitar effects processor, as a digital recorder, or take advantage of its many synth and instrument apps in your live performance.
MSRP: $40 www.IKMultimedia.com
MultiTrack DAW
This app is about as close as it gets to having a professional-level digital audio workspace (DAW) on your iDevice. Coupled with a peripheral like the Alesis iO Dock, MultiTrack DAW turns your iPod Touch, iPad, or iPhone into a 24-track, CD-quality recording studio, complete with an entire suite of editing tools like EQ, compression, pan, and fades. When you finish your mix, easily export it to your computer or sound cloud via Wifi in a variety of popular digital formats.
MSRP: $10 www.harmonicdog.com
Alesis iO Dock
The Alesis iO Dock turns your iPad into a powerful recording device. The iO Dock has two combo XLR/TRS jacks with gain control, and a low-z switch on input two for connecting your guitar monitor through the headphone jack or the main stereo outs. The iO Dock also features video out, MIDI i/o, and a footswitch jack for quick punches. Both first and second generation iPads are compatible. However, keep in mind that 1G devices do not come with GarageBand; therefore, you will need to download a separate recording app.
MSRP: $200 www.alesis.com
Peavey Ampkit LiNK
Turn your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch into a mobile guitar rig. The Ampkit LiNK from Peavey allows you to plug your guitar into an iDevice, while also giving you a headphone jack to simultaneously monitor your sounds. A powered device, Ampkit LiNK eliminates feedback problems, and can be used with any recording, processing, or tuning app in the app store.
MSRP: $40 www.peavey.com
Samson Meteor Mic
If you’re looking for a simple, foolproof method of getting great audio into your iPad, a USB condenser microphone might fit the bill wonderfully. The Samson Meteor Mic has a wide cardioid pattern with a full frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, and CD-quality A/D conversion. Instead of using a standard XLR cable, it has a USB cable that is easily plugged into your iPad with the camera adapter kit. The Meteor Mic has an adjustable built-in tripod and a standard 5/8-inch thread for mounting on a microphone stand, and a 3.5mm output jack makes monitoring with headphones or speakers easy.
MSRP: $150 www.SamsonTech.com
Gemini iTRAX
There’s nothing quite like live music, but sometimes a party or event calls for a DJ. If you can get your hands on a couple of iPods, the iTRAX by Gemini offers a fun, easy, and portable way to start spinning tunes on your own. The iTRAX is essentially a two-channel mixer that allows you to blend and manipulate the songs from two iPods simultaneously via the dual docking ports. The console features three-band EQ for each channel, along with channel volume faders and a rail glide cross fader that lets you fade easily from one track to the next.
MSRP: $200 www.GeminiDJ.com
