iPad Pro Using usbc harware on vs4 iPad Pro issues (for music)

[Doobiesnax99]

Hey folks!

ok, so, I recently replaced my old vs1 pro for a vs4 12.9 pro. I bought it for all the usual usage like internet surfing etc (for which I LOVE it!) but also for Cubasis and recording/writing music, and I have had nothing but issue after issue and I’m regretting spending the £1000 price tag!

I’ll do my best to be concise here:

- I have two audio interfaces, both take many (5-7) attempts plugging and unplugging to make them work (with the FireWire wires, they used to ALWAYS WORK first time every time on my vs1 pro)

- no audio is registered via the audio interfaces in garage band or Cubasis unless I select input 2 on the tracks in the apps (default is always 1, and was never an issue with the older pro i owned - this also means, I can not use my two guitar tunner apps, as they do not register the sound, and have no settings for audio input) can anyone suggest WHY this is, or how to fix it? - is there something in the iPads settings that I have failed to find?

- Cubasis will ONLY play music through the speakers IF BLUETOOTH/AIRPLAY is set to on in Cubasis settings (the play button won’t move without Bluetooth on) I have made a post about this including a video, to show the issue, but Cubasis haven’t found a solution or offered any help other than the obvious soft and hard resetting, deleting and reinstalling the app, shutting all other apps and obvious stuff like that…..(which obviously I have tried MANY times) I can confirm, another pro vs4 user is experiencing exactly the same issue, on many apps including garage band and a keorg keyboard app - which leads me to think it is an iOS issue only on the usbc versions ( Cubasis do not own a current iPad, and so could not test or confirm)

- so, long and short, I’ve had to buy extra hardware to allow me to use wired headphones, (Usbc hub ) of which the sound quality is rubbish
- my old existing hardware takes many attempts before it registers and thus, works as intended


Apple offer no specific solutions or sell any hardware designed for musicians In mind (yet, we’ve had the usbc for years on Iphones and pro iPads! ) If it wasn’t for the fact I LOVE the larger 12.9 screen, I’d be taking this back to the Apple shop and make do with my old, badly cracked screen vs1!!

Any constructive advice (or pity lol) would be greatly appreciated

 

[AutomaticApple]

(yet, we’ve had the usbc for years on Iphones and pro iPads! )

USB-C isn't on any iPhones yet.

 

[Slartibart]

edit: misread

 

[sparksd]

Bottom line is that it sounds like you require a different tool for your needs. As pointed out in other threads, there are some tasks that the iPad is not suited for (e.g., I need a device with full Office 365 functionality which the iPad does not have; I need to be able to format drives, which the iPad cannot do.)

 

[Doobiesnax99]

Bottom line is that it sounds like you require a different tool for your needs. As pointed out in other threads, there are some tasks that the iPad is not suited for (e.g., I need a device with full Office 365 functionality which the iPad does not have; I need to be able to format drives, which the iPad cannot do.)

Thanks for the reply.
I bought my ipad Pro vs1 back in 2015, and bought quite a lot of hardware specifically designed for the iPad for recording and writing music on (as well as software). Since then, there has been an explosion in music creation software designed for the iPad, because, the iPad is powerful and handles music and complicated apps well….. the rise of the usbc seems to have ground musicians to a halt…..iPad WAS EXTREMELY capable of creating music on, but is now stunted by the lack of headphones and this connectivity issue with usbc compatible hardware?

Do any of you use usbc hubs or usbc mics or perhaps card readers or printers on the iPad? Do you have problems with the hardware not powering on the first few attempts? Is it just me?

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I have Apple’s USB-C to USB-A, power, and HDMI adapter. Connected to this I have a USB-3 hub, which connects my Casio piano and Scarlett 18I20 interface to GarageBand. This works flawlessly for me. I send output from the Scarlett to a mixer which drives 2 Peavey Dark Matter 112 PA speakers.

I love the fact that by plugging one cord into either my iPad Pro or my MBP and everything is connected and ready to go in either GarageBand or Logic Pro.

Maybe the problem is with Cubasis? My Scarlett came with Cubasis LE, and I quickly uninstalled it after messing with it for a bit. Seemed like every time I pushed a button, I got the “upgrade from LE to use this function” popup.

 

[Doobiesnax99]

I have Apple’s USB-C to USB-A, power, and HDMI adapter. Connected to this I have a USB-3 hub, which connects my Casio piano and Scarlett 18I20 interface to GarageBand. This works flawlessly for me. I send output from the Scarlett to a mixer which drives 2 Peavey Dark Matter 112 PA speakers.

I love the fact that by plugging one cord into either my iPad Pro or my MBP and everything is connected and ready to go in either GarageBand or Logic Pro.

Maybe the problem is with Cubasis? My Scarlett came with Cubasis LE, and I quickly uninstalled it after messing with it for a bit. Seemed like every time I pushed a button, I got the “upgrade from LE to use this function” popup.

Thank you for that reply, I feel I’m getting somewhere here lol!
so, first thing I have to ask is: Do you have to turn garage bands input on a track to 2 rather than the standard 1, or do you just set up a track, press record, and it records fine? As I said, I can no longer use my guitar tuner app, as it doesn’t recognise an audio signal ? ?

Do you power your Apple hdmi/usbc/usb hub with a usbc charging cable? I was explicitly told by focusrite that their itrack solo does NOT need power, and that a standard (cheaper) Apple bought usb to usbc cable would work absolutely fine….which it doesn’t 4 out of 5 times.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I use a powered USB-3 hub to connect everything. It’s what I had and it worked on the first try, so I haven’t tried anything else.

I treat my inputs as mono tracks in GarageBand. Had to line up the track in GarageBand with the correct output line from the Scarlett. I saved a template so I don’t have to remap for every new project. Just open the template project and save as a new file in order to keep the template clean.

 

[Doobiesnax99]

I use a powered USB-3 hub to connect everything. It’s what I had and it worked on the first try, so I haven’t tried anything else.

I treat my inputs as mono tracks in GarageBand. Had to line up the track in GarageBand with the correct output line from the Scarlett. I saved a template so I don’t have to remap for every new project. Just open the template project and save as a new file in order to keep the template clean.

I’m not sure where I’m going wrong tbh, but thank you very much for your input!
Using the same Hardware with the old pro and lightning cables was, as expected, super simple, and worked first time, every time.
Both my isolo and my apogee mic definitely DO work, but it’s never as simple as plugging them in and they work first time….though that said, once working in a session, they never stop working, so, my point is, why the hell am I having such issues? It’s a brand new, from the Apple shop iPad, there’s nothing wrong with the usbc port (no damage done, or misused)…perhaps I need to speak to apple and see about getting the actual iPad checked over for issues rather than pulling my head out wondering why my hardware (and software) isn’t working?

 

[Digitalguy]

I don't use cubasis, I use korg gadget and module. Like you, I have had no issues with lightning iPads with my audio interfaces. I haven't tried them with my 11 pro (only tried a USB C hub and it works).
Personally I'll keep using my lightning iPads for music. They (2015 pro and mini 5) have plenty of power for music applications. Plus they have an audio jack in case I don't want to use an interface, but just midi.
That said I play music more than creating it.
You don't have any lightning iPads left?

 

[Doobiesnax99]

I don't use cubasis, I use korg gadget and module. Like you, I have had no issues with lightning iPads with my audio interfaces. I haven't tried them with my 11 pro (only tried a USB C hub and it works).
Personally I'll keep using my lightning iPads for music. They (2015 pro and mini 5) have plenty of power for music applications. Plus they have an audio jack in case I don't want to use an interface, but just midi.
That said I play music more than creating it.
You don't have any lightning iPads left?

My 2015 pro still works, and works very well, but the screen is badly shattered, and it’s SO small compared to this lovely 12.9! I think you may be right about using the old iPad for music only though! It never had ANY issues, where as this one has been a headache from day 1!
Why is there so little on the internet about compatible hardware for the new pros ? I HAVE found a few people mention the issues I keep having (especially the fact usbc hardware often isn’t registered the first few attempts) but why did Apple make such a powerful device, but shun its usability?

 

[Digitalguy]

My 2015 pro still works, and works very well, but the screen is badly shattered, and it’s SO small compared to this lovely 12.9! I think you may be right about using the old iPad for music only though! It never had ANY issues, where as this one has been a headache from day 1!
Why is there so little on the internet about compatible hardware for the new pros ? I HAVE found a few people mention the issues I keep having (especially the fact usbc hardware often isn’t registered the first few attempts) but why did Apple make such a powerful device, but shun its usability?

If you say it's small it must be the 2016 pro (9.7) not the 2015 one (12.9).
Anyway I made a test with one of my audio interfaces, the most basic one, the only one I use with iPads (it's a small Roland interface, I also have a M-Audio one and the Babyface, which I know works with iPad too, but they are set up with my laptops, but I might give them a try at some point)
And it worked just as well as using lightning, both midi and sound worked with Korg Module (the interface was set to tablet mode).
So I really don't know if it's cubasis or if its your interface, but I suspect that if an interface works with lightning iPad (via USB through the CCK), it should work with USB C iPads too... since USB C is still USB...

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Unless there’s an issue with the USB-C to USB-A adapter, which is probably the only different piece of hardware between the two setups besides the new iPad.

 

[Doobiesnax99]

Unless there’s an issue with the USB-C to USB-A adapter, which is probably the only different piece of hardware between the two setups besides the new iPad.

Exactly what I was thinking late last night! I’m using the usbb to usba cable that comes with the audio interface, that then plugs into an official Apple female usba to usbc converter. I just ordered a decent make usbb to usbc cable, I’ll see if that makes any difference.

I still have the same issue with the usb hub doing the same thing, so, I’m not confident this new wire will fix the issue, but fingers crossed!
thanks for the reply.

 

[Doobiesnax99]

If you say it's small it must be the 2016 pro (9.7) not the 2015 one (12.9).
Anyway I made a test with one of my audio interfaces, the most basic one, the only one I use with iPads (it's a small Roland interface, I also have a M-Audio one and the Babyface, which I know works with iPad too, but they are set up with my laptops, but I might give them a try at some point)
And it worked just as well as using lightning, both midi and sound worked with Korg Module (the interface was set to tablet mode).
So I really don't know if it's cubasis or if its your interface, but I suspect that if an interface works with lightning iPad (via USB through the CCK), it should work with USB C iPads too... since USB C is still USB...

Thanks for trying that, much appreciated !

I absolutely agree, there really shouldn’t be any issue lol, that’s why I’m so frustrated. I’ve bought a new cable (see above) so, will try that first, and if there’s still an issue, I recon my next step is contact Apple (groan)

 

[Digitalguy]

Thanks for trying that, much appreciated !

I absolutely agree, there really shouldn’t be any issue lol, that’s why I’m so frustrated. I’ve bought a new cable (see above) so, will try that first, and if there’s still an issue, I recon my next step is contact Apple (groan)

I doubt Apple can help with this. What you should try, since you have a lightning iPad, is to use the same apps, same identical everything with the USB A to lightning CCK, then do the same with a USB A to USB C (Apple branded or not does not matter in my experience, contrary to lightning, I'd even try a different adapter on purpose to see if it makes any difference). Using a B to C as mention is another option, and if it works I would question the Apple A to C adapter...