Garageband (and the like) on iPad

[Otta]

My wife's work has a good offer on iPads, and I've been considering getting one solely for the music apps. Can anyone tell me whether they are any good?

[Sue]

I know several people who use Garageband, and it is supposed to be excellent.

Can I have a cheap iPad now? :))

[Otta]

What I'm not sure about is how garageband for iPad compares to the full mac version.

[Sue]

Otta Wrote:

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> What I'm not sure about is how garageband for iPad

> compares to the full mac version.

xxxxxx

Ah, OK. No idea :))

[*Bob*]

iPad's great on garageband, Otta. Really quick for getting song sketches and ideas down. I don't think you'd be taking anything you recorded on it further than the iPad, but that's not really the point of it. It's just a sketchpad, but a really good one.

Built-in mic works fine for vocals / acoustic guitar. You can get a line in from your electric but I've never done that. You can export from iOS GB into Logic or GB proper on the Mac.. Though (as I say above) I'm not sure why you'd want to, other than as a guide when you re-record properly.

Don't use GB full on Mac, but the iPad will no doubt have bare bones functionality and (of course) lack the soundcard capabilities of your Mac. However, on the plus side the touchscreen gives you strummy-type instruments which are fun to use. It sounds terribly naff, but you you can get it all going.. drums, bass, guitar, bit of keyboards.. And then sing over the top of it - in ten minutes - while you wander around your house in a dressing gown. Bosh!

I find the restrictions of it quite liberating. There's nowhere to hide on it - and it really shows when you get something right.. Or wrong.

I have various stuff on the go with a co-writer.. Songs go on a shared 'cloud so either of us can make changes to the same track whenever we feel like it.

?2.99 well spent.

[Jeremy]

Well, ?401.99 well spent...

[*Bob*]

Yes Jeremy.. But this investment will surely repay itself many times over with just one global smash-hit record?

[Jeremy]

True, there is LOADS of money to be made in music these days.

[*Bob*]

I don't think the money has disappeared, it just gets differently re-distributed.

[El Pibe]

ive got it if you want a tinker otta, not that I've the faintest idea what I'm doing.

I recorded a fab version of 'christmas pudding' for Pibi?o Dos on it!

[Jeremy]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> I don't think the money has disappeared, it just

> gets differently re-distributed.

200,000 listens on Spotify, and you might be able to cover the cost of the ipad...

[Otta]

El Pibe that would be cool.

Bob is convincing me. I never thought it would give me professional recordings, but the chance to chuck some drums and flesh behind raw guitar ideas is appealing.

[*Bob*]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> 200,000 listens on Spotify, and you might be able

> to cover the cost of the ipad...

One decent sync on a syndicated TV show and you can buy an iPad, have a new kitchen and go on holiday.

[Jeremy]

The ipad could be worth going for if you really need something portable.

But if you have a PC, you can get an audio interface bundled with an entry level version of Cubase for around ?100. And you'll get better results.

[Otta]

Really? That might be better. I got guitar rig for ?20 which allows me to plug guitar in to USB and choose a few amp models and various effects so maybe that's the way to go...

[Jeremy]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> Jeremy Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> > 200,000 listens on Spotify, and you might be able

> > to cover the cost of the ipad...

>

> One decent sync on a syndicated TV show and you

> can buy an iPad, have a new kitchen and go on holiday.

I actually had some music on a TV show once. Only a one-off, though. It paid for two band practises.

#livingthedream

[*Bob*]

Otta Wrote:

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> Really? That might be better. I got guitar rig for

> ?20 which allows me to plug guitar in to USB and

> choose a few amp models and various effects so

> maybe that's the way to go...

YES That's what you need - those amp models and the effects. And a better audio interface. And some cool synths. It's all that's standing between you and writing those great songs! (Or is it..?!)

I think buying an iPad just for garageband is probably a bit mad unless you've got money to waste. But it does lots of other things too of course. Think I got mine for about ?275, which was about as much as I wanted to spend on it. So if you can get one cheap..

[*Bob*]

Just on a technical point, Otta..

If you want to plug your guitar into the iPad (which I assume you will) and play along whilst still hearing the track through headphones, I think you'll another cable - because the 'line in' uses the headphone socket.

There are cheap options for a few quid (a splitter cable which give you mono line in and mono headphone out) and more fancy interfaces available as well.

[Jeremy]

I agree that buying an ipad just for garageband is a bit OTT... unless you wanted one anyway and just need that extra excuse.

I'd just get something like this : http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/tascam-us-122-mkii--67856

Which comes bundled with a basic version of Cubase, and will give you everything you need to record guitar and vocals, and program some basic drums/bass/synth/etc.

[Otta]

That does look good. I hadn't seen anything that "cheap". Think that could be the way forward.

[*Bob*]

As Jez suggests, almost any other system/platform will give you better sonic results and more technical possibilities.

The iPad wins on 'fun' though, every time. And I think fun counts for a lot, because if something is fun, you want to do it.

I don't think you'd be happy if this is your only means of making music though. At some point you'll want to get the 'right' guitar sound and those dream drums. The thing about GB iPad I really like is that it stops you farting about for hours with guitar sounds and drum programming - before you've actually got anything worth spending any time on.

If you don't do vocal ideas then it's probably a couple of notches less interesting. Being able to warble and idea into it over your cornflakes without having to go near a proper computer is very appealing.

[Otta]

The band do all that, and Jeremy is out master recording man. I just want something that will allow me to send them an idea with a bit more flesh on it than just some guitar, so they kind of hear what I am thinking for the wider song as opposed to just a guitar riff.

What iPad do you have bob? The one on offer at Mrs Otta's work is the newest one, but I'd happily go for a cheaper older model just for this purpose.

[*Bob*]

Given the choice between 2 and 3 - I went with 2, with the smallest 16Gb configuration.

Can't say I miss having a retina screen. The third-gen one is slightly - annoyingly - heavier than the second, putting it into 'that feels a bit heavy' territory. Battery charge quite slow on 3, comparatively. Apps made for 3 also eat memory, so I think if you did go for a 3, the low-spec version would be unwise.

Play on Pibe's first though, in case you hate the whole idea!

[Otta]

I think the one I was looking at was 4th gen. So I imagine going for a 2 should be significant ly cheaper.

[*Bob*]

Factor in that if you want to record line-in guitar whilst, eg, playing along to some drums, you'll need that extra cable.

The cheapo splitter will do it, but you'd probably want something better than that. Haven't investigated these fully but I reckon ?40 or thereabouts would do it.