Anyone MIDIing a sound module in the background while running iRealb?

[DaleMac]

GarageBand OSX came installed with my iMac. It only has a few disappointing keyboards. I'm guessing the iOS selection is similar, and I'd rather avoid any 3rd party sound plugins (if that's even possible on iOS).

I did download iGrand Free and SampleTank Free to audition. The voices sound pretty good, which is why I'm considering pairing it with their iRig. But it's Huge! Even though my iPod is 64Gb, it still takes a while for large apps to load (and crash - haha). But it's good to know the "skipping a beat" problem has gone away.

I was hoping a simple keyboard app might be available, without all the obnoxious loops, beats, fx, etc. Seems like everything out there is tailored for hip hop and DJs.

[dflat]

... But it's good to know the "skipping a beat" problem has gone away.

If the player is playing and you switch apps (presumably to the piano app) you get skipping beats (not unexpectedly) but from my tests it seems quite stable leaving the piano app in the background with iReal b in the foreground for choosing songs and tapping Play. I have not had to do this live, so have not tested this for a few hours to check any audio glitches. The only other thing I can think of is battery depletion and not being able to charge it while playing because of the midi connection.

[DaleMac]

Yeah, it suddenly dawned on me that individual volume control is going to be a major problem. I've never had a keyboard or module where all the patches were the same. Also (as I'm sure you're aware) there's considerable difference between the different style settings on iRealb and I always find myself readjusting volume and EQ while it's playing. I tried running iRealb and the SampleTank demo simultaneously, and switching back and forth between apps just isn't gonna work.

Probably at some point (as my eyesight deteriorates) I'll need to get an iPad, and then I can control each device separately. Meanwhile, I'm still pursuing the best module app, for those times I won't be running iRealb. I think I'll go ahead and get GarageBand for my iPod anyway, since it's only $5. And you're absolutely right, the best test is actually hooking everything up and using it! Thanks for your help. I'll keep you updated on my progress. P.S. Input from other members is still welcome.

[DaleMac]

Well, just thought I'd report that my final decision was to... Do Nothing. None of the apps I looked at really have what I want. (Of course, lots of stuff for 12 year old wannabe rappers who don't know the first thing about music.) The gear I have now gets the job done - my goal was to simplify and consolidate. But the more I read, the more complicated it got. However, the three apps I auditioned WILL do something my keyboards and modules don't do: crash with irritating frequency. When the dance floor is packed and the drummer clicks off the next song, I can't be the guy who yells "Wait a minute" while I reboot. After that happened a few times, I'd be the guy who doesn't get called for the next gig... So it looks like, at least for me, the 21st Century hasn't quite arrived.

Anyway, here's what I came away with (keep in mind, I was looking specifically for keyboard modules to use on the fly with my 64Gb iPod Touch 4G during live gigs):

Garageband ($4.99 / 689.5 Mb)
(Numerous reviews, demos & tutorials online)
Inexpensive!!! and has some good keyboard sounds (MUCH better than the ones on my OSX version) and has a sampling feature for creating your own patches. But you have to maneuver around all the other B.S. to get to them. Drum machine, sequencer, recording studio... It's trying to be all things to all people.
DaleMac's Rating: Close but no banana

SampleTank ($19.99 / 1.03 Gb; piano expansion pack $9.99; e.piano expansion pack $4.99)
Review: http://appcrawlr.com/ios/sampletank
(MANY demos on YouTube)
Has the best-sounding selection of keyboard voices. I discovered the reason the Free version is so huge: all the voices are already installed but you have to buy the expansions to unlock them. Takes forever to load. And, again, too many extraneous features to get around. Control buttons are too small on iPod - hit the wrong one(s) and you get lost, or crash.
DaleMac's Rating: One middle finger for no "Lite" version (and for clicking the "Remove" button)

iGrand ($19.99 / 256 Mb; expansion pack $9.99)
Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPrK_mkRrbg
By far the easiest to use with its scrolling piano selector, although the "control knobs" are somewhat awkward. True, it doesn't come with all the useless extra functions, but it has no electric pianos or organs. If and when they make a version of iLectric for iPod, I'll have to switch back and forth between apps to access them, no thank you.
DaleMac's Rating: One outstretched arm as I sadly wave buh-bye

============================================

And in case any members are interested, here are a few of the links I visited, although most of this information may be obsolete before you can blink an eye.

CMP Grand Piano for iPad iPhone 1GB piano
http://www.crudebyte.com/mobile/cmp_grand_piano/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoNT8IVrXeE

WaveSynth
http://www.crimsontech.jp/eng/wavesynth/iphone.html

8 Piano Apps Tested
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRnkbLCu1o0

Misc. links about apps:
http://appfinder.lisisoft.com/tag/mi...nd-module.html
http://www.iosmusician.com/app-lists/core-midi
http://appcrawlr.com/ios-apps/best-apps-sound-modules
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4782769

Midi Connectors/Accessories:

IK Multimedia iRig MIDI
Review: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/rev...etank-for-ios/
IK Multimedia iRig Midi prices:
Website: http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigmidi/
$69.99 includes "SampleTank FREE" for iOS
http://www.amazon.com/IK-Multimedia-...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
http://www.amazon.com/IK-Multimedia-...ef=pd_sim_MI_3
$50.59 free shipping
http://www.rakuten.com/prod/ik-multi...230241482.html
$64.00 free shipping
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/iRigMIDI/
http://www.guitarcenter.com/IK-Multi...64-i2120613.gc
$69.00
http://www.samash.com/ik-multimedia-...ipad-iirigmidi
http://www.uniquesquared.com/ik-mult...s-devices.html
$69.99

Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer II
Review: http://createdigitalmusic.com/2010/1...ich-apps-work/
Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer II prices:
Website: http://line6.com/midimobilizer/mmii/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MidiMobil2
$69.95
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Line-6-M...20-i2244813.gc
$69.99 (online only)
http://www.samash.com/line-6-midi-mo...ipad-lmidimob2
$69.99

Misc. links about accessories:
Connecting a USB MIDI Controller or Audio Interface to your iPad using the Camera Connection Kit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZOdtZ92iwQ

Lightning to 30-pin Adapter $29.99
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD...apter?fnode=3a
Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit $29.99
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC...connection-kit
Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit (MC531ZM/A) $25.49 free shipping
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003K1EYM6/

i-MX1 $69.99
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/music...sb-midi/i-mx1/

iConnectMIDI-1 $79.99
http://www.iconnectivity.com/iConnectMIDI1

MIDIConnect $39.99
http://store.griffintechnology.com/m...rface-for-ipad

MIDI Keyboard Connections information
http://www.claviercompanion.com/conn...yboard-to-ipad

iPhone Jailbreak Tweak For iPad Camera Connection Kit Support, iPhone USB MIDI
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/20...hone-usb-midi/

[pdxdjazz]

Wow, there's news you can use (for at least the next 20 minutes.....as fast as things seem to be evolving)
The take-home message seems to be this:
1. If you try to be all things to all people, you mess up what works. "Better" is often the enemy of "good".
I've been concerned that irb might head down that slippery-slope.
2. The K.I.S.S. principle (keep it simple) remains alive and well.
Thanks for sharing your quest.
)BOB

[DaleMac]

3. If Massimo ever decides to develop a keyboard module app for us real working musicians, I'll be the first one in line to buy it

[DaleMac]

Update: I went ahead and bought iRig Midi (Amazon knocked it down to $49.99, no tax & free shipping) and have had a chance to play around with the apps using a keyboard.

GarageBand wins the prestigious "Kiss My Ass" Award. When you switch between voices, it bumps all the internal effects (reverb and echo) back to the default settings. So, if I want to play acoustic piano on some songs and electric piano or organ on others, I have to go back in and reset everything - EVERY TIME. Even if this weren't the case, the acoustic pianos only have 8-note polyphony and the electric pianos only have 6. There is no way in hell any pianist could use it for live performances. Maybe... MAYBE... there's some way to assign more polyphony to a "Track" but I'm not going to waste my damn time finding out. (I wish I had my five bucks back.)

SampleTank and iGrand, both from IK Multimedia, have a problem: If you set "Latency" to Low, there's a slight delay between playing the keys and hearing the notes; setting it to Ultra Low helps eliminate the delay, but if you play anything more complicated than Chopsticks the data stream becomes a train wreck. The keyboards appear to have 16-note polyphony, which is twice GarageBand but still not really enough for serious playing. If I had to choose, the iGrand app loads fastest, is easiest to switch between voices, and has the longest sustain time which doesn't sound looped. But I doubt I'll be using it as a module on any jobs. On top of that, iRig drains the battery pretty fast and I'd either need to recharge between sets, or run yet another cable to some external power source. So, obviously, I won't be purchasing the "Full" versions of either app.