iOS LIVE SOUND PRODUCTS & APPS
Posted on Fri 02 March 2012 in entries
iOS Live Sound
It has only been very recently that iOS devices have become linked with the world of live recording, but after the recent NAMM 2012 show, a selection of live mixing desks that make use of iOS products have started to make their way onto the market…
Announced at NAMM 2012, the Mackie DL1608 is the ultimate flexible live digital mixing console. The unit features 16 boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps and 24-bit Cirrus Logic AD and DA converters for exceptional sound, but instead of featuring physical faders and dials, it features an iPad dock! Simply download the DL1608 Master Fader app and you can control the entire mix from your iPad touchscreen. As well as controlling your master levels, pan and EQ, you can mute and solo channels, set up auxiliary sends and even run plug-ins (such as dynamics processors and effects) on tracks of your choice. Because you get all this built into the app itself, it means that you don’t have to splash the cash on a load of other outboard gear, so you have everything you need create the perfect mix at an unrivalled price.
Plus, perhaps most exciting of all is that because the iPad has wireless capabilities, you don’t even have to be stood behind the DL1608 desk to control your mix! This means that you can wander around the venue and sort out problem spots from the perspectives of the crowd and the performer(s). You can even use it with up to 10 iPads at once, allowing different engineers to control the mix from different locations, or even for bandmembers to have control over their own mix settings!
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Mackie DL1608 with iPad"]
](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/recording-47/mixers-473/mackie-dl1608-digital-mixing-console-requires-ipad-47188)[/caption]
For more information on the Mackie DL1608, click the link below:
MasterLink Live mixers come in two different models – the MasterLink Live 16 and the MasterLink Live 24, with 16 and 24 channels respectively.
MasterLink Live mixers have a very familiar live mixer layout (i.e. faders, solo and mute buttons, EQ knobs, send knobs, input and output connections, etc.), but above the Master section, they have a dock for an iPad. All you need to do is to load up the Alto Professional Live Drive App and you have a large touchscreen to perform mix analysing, processing, recording and compression! This adds a futuristic and intuitive way to control your mixes to complement the traditional layout of the rest of the mixer.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Alto Masterlink Live 24"]
](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/recording-47/mixers-473/alto-masterlink-live-24-24-channel-mixer-with-ipad-dock-47175)[/caption]
For more information on the Alto Masterlink Live series, click the links below:
Alto Masterlink Live 16 - More Info/Buy
Alto Masterlink Live 24 - More Info/Buy
The StageScape M20d is a live mixer with a built-in colour touchscreen. It features 16 analogue inputs with 12 mic preamps as well as built-in effects, and the touchscreen gives you a highly visual approach to live mixing, which eliminates the need to clutter your mixer with labels. This concept also means that you get extremely in-depth control over your mix without the need for a huge design with loads of hardware controls.
The StageScape M20d also has wireless capabilities, allowing you to control it with an iPad from anywhere in the building (within reason)! This means that you can make mix adjustments on the stage or in the crowd, if you so wish! You can even connect multiple iPads to the M20d, allowing you to load a different screen on each (e.g. EQ on one, effects on the other) for use in combination with the main screen, to help speed up and simplify your workflow.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Line 6 StageScape M20d"]
](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/recording-47/mixers-473/line-6-stagescape-m20d-digital-mixing-system-47216)[/caption]
For more information on the Line 6 StageScape M20d, click the link below:
Line 6 StageScape M20d - More Info/Buy
• iRig Mic
The iRig Mic is a microphone that has been especially designed for use with iOS devices. It’s an ideal product for recording vocal performances, instruments, speeches, or capturing samples to your iOS device and it is also very handy for practice purposes, allowing you to record your performances and listen back to them from your iOS device. It’s also a great product for use with Karaoke apps!
The mic itself is built very well and features a condenser capsule with a uni-directional pattern. It also features a 3-level gain switch, allowing you to customise the mic for optimal recording of any source.
The iRig Mic features a split connector, which fits into the headphone socket of your iOS device. The mic itself comes out of one half of this connecter and you can fit a pair of headphones into the second connection so that you can monitor your recordings in real time.
The iRig Mic is ideal for use with the IK Multimedia VocaLive or VocaLive Free apps, which offer performance effects and tools for vocalists.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="iRig Mic and iPhone"]
](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/computer-music-46/hardware-4612/ipad-iphone-accessories-46128/ik-multimedia-irig-mic-for-iphone-ipod-touch-and-ipad-25370)[/caption]
For more information on the iRig Mic, click the link below:
The iPad iKlip allows you to connect your iPad or iPad 2 to a microphone stand for easy access during recording and live performances. You can even adjust its angle, allowing you to find the best placement for all situations. This simple product makes using your favourite apps extremely practical for all musical purposes.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="iPad iKlip"]
](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/computer-music-46/hardware-4612/ipad-iphone-accessories-46128/ik-multimedia-iklip-universal-mic-stand-adapter-for-ipad-24313)[/caption]
For more information on the iPad iKlip, click the link below:
• iPhone/iPod Touch iKlip Mini
As you have probably already guessed from reading the iPad iKlip description, the iPhone/iPod Touch iKlip Mini allows you to attach your iPhone or iPod Touch to a microphone stand, for easy access to your favourite musical apps during recording and live performances.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="iKlip Mini and Mic Stand"]
](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/computer-music-46/hardware-4612/ipad-iphone-accessories-46128/ik-multimedia-iklip-mini-mic-stand-holder-for-iphones-ipod-touch-smartphones-45558)[/caption]
For more information on the iPhone/iPod Touch iKlip Mini, click the link below:
iPhone/iPod Touch iKlip Mini - More Info/Buy
The iKlip Desktop stand provides you with easy access to your iPad Touchscreen when working on a flat surface. Perfect for use on a studio or live mixing desk, the iKlip Desktop allows you to fix your iPad at a number of different angles, so that you can change its position depending on where and how you are using it.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="iKlip Desktop"]
](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/computer-music-46/hardware-4612/ipad-iphone-accessories-46128/ik-multimedia-iklip-studio-desktop-ipad-stand-47270)[/caption]
For more information on the iKlip Desktop, click the link below:
iOS Live Sound Apps
In all honesty, there currently aren't many apps on the market that are made solely for live sound, apart from the product specific-apps mentioned in this article. Therefore we don't really have enough of a selection to work with in order to compile a Top 5, although I'm sure that as time goes on, we will see more of these apps creeping onto the market.
For suggestions of live vocal effects apps, click here to read our iOS Production and Recording article and for suggestions of live guitar effects apps, click here to read our iOS Guitar article.