The 2017 iPad Pro 10.5 is a little harder to find these days, but it's worth purchasing if it's cheaper than $350. It's slower than the new iPad Air, but it has two extra speakers, a bit more RAM. As far as I know the pros are still twice the price. What you're paying for in the pro is better screen resolution and the pencil support as well as all the other bells and whistles. The 2017 iPad is capable enough for audio production, provided you get the 128 or 64 gigabyte one. As should be expected, Apple's iPad Pro is known for high-speed processing, and the A12X Bionic chip handles multitasking easily. This is really the best tablet for musicians, or music in general, and is compatible with Apple pencil, Smart and Bluetooth keyboards. With up to 10 hours on a single charge, you'll have plenty of juice to get. Top iApps for music productionI made this 100 and + list while preparing my YouTube video about the top 40 apps for iPad Music production of 2019. It was really hard to limit to only 40 so I listed here the entire list of iapps for music production that I prefer.
What is Audiobus? — Audiobus isan award-winning music app for iPhone and iPad which lets you useyour other music apps together. Chain effects on your favouritesynth, run the output of apps or Audio Units into an app likeGarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface outputfor each app. Route MIDI between apps — drive asynth from a MIDI sequencer, or add an arpeggiator to your MIDIkeyboard — or sync with your external MIDI gear.And control your entire setup from a MIDI controller.
Download on the App StoreAudiobus is the app that makes the rest of your setup better.
I've had an Ipad Mini checked out from the library all summer, but our librarian wants me to return it as soon as school starts. I'm very concerned by the ongoing thread on issues with the new Pros. So which is my best option? Thanks for helping the noob....
Comments
IMO the best bang-for-the-buck is the 128Gb non-pro. Sweet spot for storage and performance at a decent price.
Currently?
The old iPad Pro 12.9
It has no problems, but 4 GB RAM, IIRC
The new Pros seem to have problems.
The old iPad Pro 12.9
and ipad air 2 those are the best for AUV3@tja said:
Currently?The old iPad Pro 12.9
It has no problems, but 4 GB RAM, IIRC
The new Pros seem to have problems.
How do I tell the old one from the new one? I am a total noob at Ipads.
- edited August 2017
I'm thinking the iPad 2017. You get the same processor as the Pro. Same storage. Less ram but enough. Half the price. Of course the 12' pro would be fun, but those things are a bit harder to carry around
I run an Air2 and Mini4. Both are awesome, won't be updating soon!
@LucidMusicInc said:
I'm thinking the iPad 2017. You get the same processor as the Pro. Same storage. Less ram but enough. Half the price. Of course the 12' pro would be fun, but those things are a bit harder to carry aroundBut RAM is very important!
I would definitely take an old 12.9 Pro ... and maybe it is not soooo expensive now, with the new Pro´s
@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
How do I tell the old one from the new one? I am a total noob at Ipads.Good question.
Apple is regulary so stupid to call the new things just 'iPhone' or 'iPad' ...
Did the old one already have 4 speakers?@tja said:
@LucidMusicInc said:
I'm thinking the iPad 2017. You get the same processor as the Pro. Same storage. Less ram but enough. Half the price. Of course the 12' pro would be fun, but those things are a bit harder to carry aroundBut RAM is very important!
I would definitely take an old 12.9 Pro ... and maybe it is not soooo expensive now, with the new Pro´s
As far as I know the pros are still twice the price. What you're paying for in the pro is better screen resolution and the pencil support as well as all the other bells and whistles. The 2017 iPad is capable enough for audio production, provided you get the 128 or 64 gigabyte one.
- edited August 2017
The 9'7' Pro: same form factor as the old Airs, 256 GB of storage, 2GB of RAM and an A9X processor - the RAM is the same of an Air 2, but the CPU is much faster. It seems to handle everything I throw at it.
@LucidMusicInc said:
As far as I know the pros are still twice the price. What you're paying for in the pro is better screen resolution and the pencil support as well as all the other bells and whistles. The 2017 iPad is capable enough for audio production, provided you get the 128 or 64 gigabyte one.Why you keep repeating that?
The question was not 'which iPad would you buy now?'
That, you answered.The question clearly was 'Which Ipad is best for music?'
And the answer is: Original iPad Pro 12.9
@theconnactic said:
The 9'7' Pro: same form factor as the old Airs, 256 GB of storage, 2GB of RAM and an A9X processor - the RAM is the same of an Air 2, but the CPU is much faster. It seems to handle everything I throw at it.I have that and constantly have problems with memory, more than with CPU.
The bigger iPad with 4GB would be better ....The first iPad pros are available here (Germany) now for €300 less.
@tja said:
@LucidMusicInc said:
As far as I know the pros are still twice the price. What you're paying for in the pro is better screen resolution and the pencil support as well as all the other bells and whistles. The 2017 iPad is capable enough for audio production, provided you get the 128 or 64 gigabyte one.Why you keep repeating that?
The question was not 'which iPad would you buy now?'
That, you answered.The question clearly was 'Which Ipad is best for music?'
And the answer is: Original iPad Pro 12.9
Yes I suppose so. There are reports that the new ones have problems. So get the IPad over the pro, unless you can get the older ones.
- edited August 2017
@Cib said:
The first iPad pros are available here (Germany) now for €300 less.wo denn? (where?)
.. I'm also considering the iPad 2017 now (non pro) since reading about the latency problems with the new pros, my 32 GB mini 2 is just to mini
... grad gesehen, Cyberport (u.a.) 799 € 128 GB Version
I saw it today at MediaMarkt f.e.
(They also have huge sales on macbook etc.)
But i prefer notebooksbillger.de where i think about to buy the new macbook pro for also €500 less.
Never buy from Apple and wait a few months.
Also the new iPads Pro are cheaper elsewhere.Ive read in various threads that this iPad Pro issue is likely a software problem to be hopefully rectified by apple, as of course it will be affecting their own apps like garageband. That being the case it may be worth still considering the latest iPads or wait at least to see if the issue is fixed.
- edited August 2017
@LucidMusicInc said:
I'm thinking the iPad 2017. You get the same processor as the Pro. Same storage. Less ram but enough. Half the price. Of course the 12' pro would be fun, but those things are a bit harder to carry around der to carry aroundNot true! The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) comes with the A9 chip and embedded M9 coprocessor.
The iPad Pro 10.5/12.9 have a more advanced A10X Fusion chip with embedded M10 coprocessor though, said to be 30 per cent faster in performance and 40 per cent faster in graphics to the A9. Would be innacurate as well: the old pros have the A9X, which is a lot faster
- edited August 2017
What are the pro issues? I have considered upgrading to a pro 10.5, from an air2, just for the extra RAM. I don't see me doing it for at least 6 months, but what pisses me off as a customer, is that apple, not satisfied with screwing you up with storage prices, does the same with RAM, withholding your choice of models to the overpriced 'pros', when it would be trivial to fit an air2 with 4Gb and have customers like me happy.
- edited August 2017
Ugh... ok A9 vs A9X and now A10... whatever. They both run at similar speeds because the IPad has a lower screen resolution and therefore less taxing on the CPU.
The question is what iPad is the best for music... the iPad Pro has Apple Pencil and the better screen resolution and therefore better suited for graphic designers. The IPad in my view gives you enough processing power and storage at the right price because the additional features, better camera, larger screen, Apple Pencil, extra RAM etc aren't necessarily required for music recording/beat production.
Here's a side by side comparison video:
That's my take, I might be wrong on the specs but as far as Use goes there's no noticeable difference in performance because of the mentioned trade offs. Of course if price isn't a concern... than buy all means by a pro but maybe wait until all the iOS 11 problems have been dealt with on the new model.
Again, that was it the question.
The best current option is the original iPad Pro 12.9
And from my experience, more RAM is very important - at least when you use multiple Samplers.
Also, I sure would not like to miss the Pencil ;-)
Use it every day, esp. in sequencers / Piano rolls.@tja said:
The best current option is the original iPad Pro 12.9
The problem is still: how do I find one of these beasts and know it's not the current version?
@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
@tja said:
The best current option is the original iPad Pro 12.9
The problem is still: how do I find one of these beasts and know it's not the current version?
Screw it, save some money and just get a 2017 ipad and wait for the OS to get up to Pro standards.
@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
@tja said:
The best current option is the original iPad Pro 12.9
The problem is still: how do I find one of these beasts and know it's not the current version?
Look in the Apple refurb store, they have some of the older 12' Pros (in the UK store anyway). I always buy refurb from Apple, it's a fair bit cheaper.
Personally think the non-pro iPad is still the better value proposition, but if you have the dough for the big Pro then go for it, it's certainly more future-proof.
Just out of curiosity, when you say you are a Noob; a Noob to iOS or to music production or...?
@AudioGus said:
Just out of curiosity, when you say you are a Noob; a Noob to iOS or to music production or...?Both. I had a bunch of synths back in the 80s, but I sold them and spent the last twenty years pretty much just playing a nylon-string guitar.
@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
@AudioGus said:
Just out of curiosity, when you say you are a Noob; a Noob to iOS or to music production or...?Both. I had a bunch of synths back in the 80s, but I sold them and spent the last twenty years pretty much just playing a nylon-string guitar.
Ahh I see. Hmm, well if coin is not an issue than yah the original 12' sounds like a good one but if coin is an issue and if you want to be micing up any gear you may want to save some for an audio interface, extra hardware etc.
Currently for my needs I am finding having two 'less than best' ipads operating at once in my setup works far better than one of the best ipads would by itself. It really does come down to what you want to be accomplishing.
@AudioGus said:
Ahh I see. Hmm, well if coin is not an issue than yah the original 12' sounds like a good one but if coin is an issue and if you want to be micing up any gear you may want to save some for an audio interface, extra hardware etc.
Currently for my needs I am finding having two 'less than best' ipads operating at once in my setup works far better than one of the best ipads would by itself. It really does come down to what you want to be accomplishing.
Thanks, interesting take! What are you doing that you prefer two? I can probably get my job to buy me one, and will self-finance the add-ons.
2017 Ipad Pro
Mobile music production has come a long way in a very short time, with loads of great music production apps on the market for you to create new sounds on the go or just with a different set of tools. Even though you might not need a four-track recorder and mic any more to lay some tracks down now, the 'less is more' principles of creating music this way can still be the same as on your smartphone or tablet.
Unfortunately, the app store divide is very real and not all apps are available on both iOS and Android - even the ones that are can differ in terms of features or performance. We've focused on iOS apps for this piece, but included Google Play links too where we can. There's also the issue of price. While you might not bat an eye spending £50 on a new plugin for your DAW, you're very unlikely to be parting with the same amount for an app. We've mixed up our list with some free apps and also some paid ones for those who are happy to splash the cash.
With that in mind, let's take a look at some of our favourite apps for making music on your phone…
The Top 10 Best Music Production Apps for iOS
A staple for macOS users for over 15 years now, Garageband's versatility has helped producers, podcast owners and beginner musicians to start creating sounds with its simple and intuitive user interface.
The mobile version of Garageband has come a long way since its release on iOS in 2011, and now you can create a full song with its virtual pianos, drums, voice recorder, instrument loop, MIDI functionality and just about everything else that you could possibly want from a stripped-back DAW.
Price: FREE / iOS only - GarageBand
Animoog
First of all, what's not to like about a Moog that can fit in your pocket? One of the best-selling music production apps, the Animoog captures the classic synth sound at a fraction of the price. It's a lot to pay for an app, but still saves you hundreds off the hefty budget required to buy the real thing.With modular synth panels, Moogerfooger pedals and more, the Animoog's library of comprehensive sounds have been captured directly from classic vintage and modern Moog oscillators.
Price: £9.99 / iOS only - Animoog
Moog Filtatron
Another app from Moog Music but this one focuses mainly on filters and modulation. High-res oscillators, FX modules and LFO are just some of the key features of this neat little app, which also comes loaded with a bank of presets to give you a leg up if you have no idea where to start.On Filtatron you can use line-in or mic inputs, samplers or the built-in oscillator to add filters and effects with a simple interface which mimics the original Moog filter. It's less comprehensive than Animoog but it's also a lot more affordable.
Price: £4.99 / iOS only - Filtratron
Figure and Take - Propellerhead
Of all the apps out there to help you make music, Figure is one of the most visually appealing. It's incredibly easy to lay down some simple beats, a bass line and a lead synth within minutes, meaning you don't need to have any existing production knowledge to get creative.Version 3.0 comes complete with a drum machine powered by Reason's Kong system, quantisation to keep you in time always and integration with your desktop version of Reason.
Since app developer Allihoopa closed in early 2019, the future of both apps seemed uncertain until Propellerhead reacquired both in April 2019.
Figure - Price: Free / iOS only - Figure
Take - Price: Free / iOS only - Take
Korg iElectribe
If you still need convincing that mobile apps aren't powerful enough to create full releases then here's where the buck stops. Whilst the Gorillaz toured the US in support of their 2010 album Plastic Beach, the virtual band's frontman Damon Albarn create an entire record using a guitar, a handful of keyboards and an iPad with Korg's iELECTRIBE installed.While the impact of the album wasn't as great as their other releases, Korg were impressed enough to create a special Gorillaz edition of the app, giving fans the opportunity to remix the tracks from the album.
Price: £19.99 / iOS only - KORG iELECTRIBE
Korg iKaossilator
As far as virtual instruments go, few look as cool as the Kaosillator, with bold, colour graphics giving you an exciting visual experience as well as a unique method of making new sounds. Whilst the proper kit can cost you a few hundred quid, the iKaossilator app is a fun and easy way of using their X-Y pad design to provide an expressive way of creating music at a fraction of the cost.You can make new sounds by stroking, tapping or rubbing your device's screen, use one of the 150 strong bank of built-in sounds, create a looped sequencer with multiple parts and much, much more.
Price: £19.99 / iOS only - KORG iKAOSSILATOR
Steinberg Cubasis 2
One of the most popular desktop DAWs moved over to mobile to take on Garageband in a big way. Since then, the second generation of Cubasis apps continues to push the boundaries of what should be possible on an iOS device with an incredibly powerful music system in your hands.Best Ipad For Music Production
In one project you can have an unlimited number of audio and MIDI tracks, assign up to 24 inputs and outputs, take advantage of the built-in VSTs and synthesizers. Mixdown within the app or link up with your desktop Cubase to pick up from where you left off. If you want to have a play without investing the cost, you can download a limited version in Cubasis LE 2.
Price: £22.99 / iOS only - Cubasis 2
Native Instruments iMaschine 2
Native Instruments' iMaschine combines the classic pad input everyone knows and loves with the dexterity and intuitive controls of your iOS's screens device. This means you can control the attack and release of notes with ease, as well as creating quick drum beats, sequencing and samples using the collection of sounds and projects in the huge library. For just under a tenner it might not give you the full experience of the Maschine MK3 but it's a good starting point.Price: £9.99 / iOS only - iMaschine 2
Casio Chordana Play
For years Casio have been at the forefront of music education, going all the way back to light-up keys to help beginners find their way through the early stages of learning the piano. Chordana Play has an intuitive music score and piano roll notation interface to teach you one of the 50 songs included in the app using the onscreen piano or linking with a compatible keyboard.Best of all, it's a free app and learning a few basic chords and patterns on a keyboard can make a huge difference to your music production so why wouldn't you want to invest a few hours in having a play with Chordana Play?
Ipad 2017 Model
Price: Free / iOS - Chordana Play
Voice Memos
Yep, that's right - Voice Memos. The humble voice recorder app might not have all the bells and whistles of a bespoke DAW or an emulated synthesiser but its simplicity can help you capture ideas or sounds quickly and easily. If you get an idea for a new vocal melody, lyrics to make your next killer hook or just a song on the radio that you like the sound of then simply open up the app and hit record. Gathering your own bank of rough ideas and sounds gives you plenty of options for creativity should producers block kick in.Price: Free / iOS - Voice Memos
So there we have it, our favourite apps for music production on smartphones and tablets. If you're looking for something a bit more traditional, check out our DAW templates for the likes of Maschine.
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