iPad May Support USB Audio Interfaces Via Camera Accessory Kit

[knewsom]

maybe this product isn't for you.

I'll agree with you on this point. I've used an iPad, and its an interesting toy. ...but I really have zero use for one.

It just seems silly that they're trying to cram a square peg into a round hole to add functionality to this thing, when it would've been so incredibly simple and easy to just put in a real USB port. ...and what would have been the cost? What would have been the negative? There's just no reason not to have one.

 

[mcmlxix]

Upload your photo's in the exact same dimensions as the native resolution of the Ipad: 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi). Don't rely on the compression-engine of the Ipad.

Reformat everything to 132 ppi. Ridiculous.

 

[Journojulz]

Oh, mainstage please!

Or even a lite garageband!

Now getting interesting...

 

[noahrobd]

This would be nice for Korg's iElectribe iPad app. It would be cool if it could USB sync with other MIDI equipment and DAW system. If I got an iPad, I would definetly get the iElectribe.

Yes, it would be sweet if it could support MIDI as well as USB audio interfaces, so that you could connect MIDI Keyboards and other MIDI devices and also use the iPad as MIDI controller for external devices and desktop software.

 

[jeznav]

USBMassStorage

Camera connection kit is just a name to signify what it is intended for but really is just a USB to serial device. How else can it read a FAT32 filesystem on a storage with only .JPG and RAW formats?

I think it's using USBMassStorage as the protocol to read from disk/file based medium. I believe you are able to upload documents this way. Everything else is software. They can release USB protocol support like Audio, Display, Printer, etc provided that there are compatibily drivers extensions installed. It's going to be more like a computer.

 

[cppguy]

Come on now, give us a wireless camera connection kit that works with eye-fi.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

There are TWO adapters: one for SD, one for USB. The camera connector kit comes with both.

Thanks, for whatever reason whenever I saw the picture I always just thought it was an SD slot.

 

[troop231]

Come on now, give us a wireless camera connection kit that works with eye-fi.

How do you know eye-Fi isn't working on a wireless SD card to wireless SD card transfer? That'd be cool

 

[MacComas]

iPad feeding a Peachtree Nova

I have been trying to find a way to have the iPad be an audio input device to the Peachtree Nova and this may possibly allow it, but the iTunes player in the iPad would need to be able to stream out audio through that USB connection.

 

[c104]

Blue Yeti...enough power?

Just wondering if the iPad has enough to power the Blue Yeti or my centrance pro...
We'll see....would like to upgrade my current mini remote studio (iphone 3G and blue mickey)

 

[Ed91]

This is insanity.

Why anyone wouldn't use a laptop for this is beyond me. I highly doubt the iPad has enough processing power for any / many plugins, so the work will certainly need to be transferred anyway. A laptop could do pretty much everything (bar heavy, heavy signal processing - which would kill the iPad), and isn't that much more of a load to carry around considering you have to take the audio interface too.

The iPad would make an amazing touch screen controller for a desktop audio app, but not an amazing host for audio applications..

 

[blindzero]

Ya know, for all the "why doesn't it have a USB port" whining, I haven't heard anyone actually say WHY they want one - not a "gee I'll pull this reason out of my *** to justify my whining", but a real "I have device X and have a viable reason to use it with an iPad".

As for the thread's subject: the port, electrically, is there. If you need, really need, USB then use the adapter; no reason to add weight & cost & size for something that truly won't be used most of the time when a postage-stamp sized adapter will do in the small percentage of time only a few users will actually need it for. If you REALLY need a USB port, then maybe this product isn't for you.

It's hardly whining. Printing, Control Surfaces, connecting to digital video cameras for external monitor/follow focus, direct file transfer for something other than photos when you're not around a computer with iTunes.

There are plenty of practical purposes. I'm not saying it needs a USB port but they could loosen up what the 30 pin connector can be used for. Also Apple restricts what kind of communications apps like Final Cut allow even through WiFi. It's their software so it's fine to do that, but give us 1st party solutions.

While this may be a minimalist device to some...it is minimalist only in design, not function.

 

[John.B]

All of my interfaces (Apogee Duet, MOTU UltraLite-mk3, etc.) are currently FireWire.

Maybe this could get me to upgrade to the UltraLite-mk3 hybrid (FW + USB). Not for a production environment, mind you, but just to be able capture bits of noodling in my spare time without needing to cart around a truckful of gear.

 

[John.B]

I would like to see a CF adapter, but as with MacBook Pros, Apple seems to go the SD consumer way.

Maybe the USB connector will work with a USB CF-Card reader???

I've wondered what would be technically different between an Apple SD card reader and some hypothetical 3rd party CF card reader. Monoprice.com, are you listening? Griffin? Anybody? (...is this thing on?)

 

[firewood]

seriously...? WTF guys? Why didn't you just give the galdurn device a USB port???

No drivers. None written for ARM. None written for iPhone OS. None that will run outside of an apps sandbox. Other than the few special ones that Apple has developed. Which may be locked to iPod connector licensing. Because that's another way for Apple to make money (licensing fees) to pay for writing drivers.

 

[ValSalva]

Was there any constructive thinking at Apple when they designed the iPad? This USB Audio Devices via camera accessory kit is a kludge inside a kludge.

They worked on this thing for six years and less than one month after release these workarounds are being developed out of necessity? Pitiful.

 

[striatedglutes]

My guess it would*, but either you have crappy compressed photo's, or you have some interpolation.

*-> I don't have an Ipad yet, but i am a little familiar with how to show photo's, and am thinking right now in terms of using the Ipad to show your portfolio. From my point of view, you always do how you think your photo's are shown best. If that means downsizing to the native resolution of the Ipad, so be it. It's one way or the other.

I agree. If I were showing my portfolio I think I'd know exactly what to do; I was just playing what-ifs.

 

[shervieux]

I would love it if I could use my Korg Nanokey as a midi controller for a GarageBand clone on my iPad. Or better yet, GarageBand itself on iPad

just downloaded isequence for my iphone, looks like a relatively nice Garageband like app for my iphone. Probably would be nice on the ipad. I would love to be able to hook up my M-AUDIO KeyStudio 25 I bought at an Apple store, which is hooked to my mac right now.

 

[OS X Dude]

It could only really be used for light recordings or basic sound engineering... but this would stop me from getting an HP Slate if this is true.

As other people have said, a Nanokey would be great with an accompanying app to quickly get some chords down or another idea. I would use it basically as a musical notepad where I could lay down anything I come up with whilst travelling.

 

[ctdonath]

Seriously, one USB port to attach devices and one little SD card slot for transferring files

Both of which are not used by most people most of the time, are aging interfaces for an aging paradigm (wired), take up space & weight & cost on an extremely space & weight & cost sensitive platform, and (esp. USB) open up a Pandora's box of, as another poster just aptly put it, craptastic devices which now must be supported and screw up the user experience ("I just plugged in my $5 no-brand standards-ignoring POS webcam and it doesn't work - why does the iPad suck so much?").

Revisit your needs - your ACTUAL needs, not your made-up-to-whine-about ones - and reconsider whether the iPad is really what you want for that application, and whether maybe what you're trying to attach is old-school pre-cloud thinking and needs updating as well. Maybe you need to upgrade something else to Bluetooth/WiFi/3G instead.

 

[kevinkt]

Hello?

How does it connect? Isn't the camera connector kit just an SD slot or something? Or is there a USB port on it as well?

This is exactly why there are haters of the iPad. People don't do their research and end up oblivious and ignorant about the device. I'm sorry but that's the truth

 

[sishaw]

Ya know, for all the "why doesn't it have a USB port" whining, I haven't heard anyone actually say WHY they want one - not a "gee I'll pull this reason out of my *** to justify my whining", but a real "I have device X and have a viable reason to use it with an iPad".

Here you go: I'm sure sooner or later there will be sound processing apps (Audacity, Garage Band, Ableton Lite ports, or similar apps) and I would like to be able to use my m-audio box to input, for example, my guitar. It works by USB. Or a midi controller.

And I think I'm FAR from the only Apple fan who also has the same interest.

 

[caleby]

Real-world iPad annoyances: A timeline
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-20002550-250.html

I guess he can take that off the list now... provided he buys the ad-on accessory kit (ca-ching! $$$ for Apple) and knowing Apple, no 3rd party webcam kits (ca-ching! $$$ for Apple).

"Understand the iPad for what it is" - I agree - its a locked-down device intentionally crippled to draw people in and then start nickel and diming them for what should otherwise be standard features on a device in this price range. Stop defending Apple's arrogant approach and be realistic. Apple didn't include a clock and calculator likely because their appstore purchase statistic indicates that people are will to pay for one.

 

[DKatri]

If you can connect to a DAW via a cable as opposed to wifi, it could be absolutely amazing. WiFi is not always reliable/fast enough to use live for DJing ect but tethered it could work.

Would be cool if you could run a DAW on the iPad and then connect any USB controller to it. maybe something like the vestax spin. not sure if the 1GHz A4 would handle a modern DAW though.

*DAW=Digital Audio Workstation

 

[sishaw]

Both of which are not used by most people most of the time, are aging interfaces for an aging paradigm (wired), take up space & weight & cost on an extremely space & weight & cost sensitive platform, and (esp. USB) open up a Pandora's box of, as another poster just aptly put it, craptastic devices which now must be supported and screw up the user experience ("I just plugged in my $5 no-brand standards-ignoring POS webcam and it doesn't work - why does the iPad suck so much?").

Revisit your needs - your ACTUAL needs, not your made-up-to-whine-about ones - and reconsider whether the iPad is really what you want for that application, and whether maybe what you're trying to attach is old-school pre-cloud thinking and needs updating as well. Maybe you need to upgrade something else to Bluetooth/WiFi/3G instead.

Right. That's why I use at least 2 USB ports almost every day (m-audio guitar and microphone/printer) and my SD card slot (digital camera) at least 2-3 times a week on my iMac. It's rather presumptuous of you to tell ME what I NEED a device to do. I know quite well what I need a device to do.

And likewise, I wouldn't presume to tell you or anyone what YOU need. But the thing is, it's not a symmetrical argument. If the iPad doesn't have these inputs, it leaves people like me in the lurch. But if it DOES have them, we can be accommodated at no loss to you--you can just ignore them.