Audiobus: Use your music apps together.
What is Audiobus? — Audiobus is an award-winning music app for iPhone and iPad which lets you use your other music apps together. Chain effects on your favourite synth, run the output of apps or Audio Units into an app like GarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface output for each app. Route MIDI between apps — drive a synth from a MIDI sequencer, or add an arpeggiator to your MIDI keyboard — 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.
Comments
Why do they all have such a short cable?
Yeah, it’s BS. I had to buy a short extension and a 90’ angled adapter. I feel like I’m spending all my money on dongles.
Good question. I think it comes out from laptops. Usually, you don't need some more macaroni on your desk surface (no way, you'll have it). But with an iPad or any other tablet, it's a different situation. We need lossless cables; I mean power and the data. And it's not so easy to get them, especially if you look for more than 20 inches extension cord.
I remember, when I got a cheapo, 6 feet long USB-Lighting cord, and the battery in the iPad 6th gen was going down, while charging!
I use short 20 inches long extension cord from Manhattan and Unitec.
My last hub failed when it developed an electrical short in the chintzy hard-wired short cable that most of these type of devices are equipped with. I'd sometimes have my laptop on a stand and the hub would dangle with the weight of all the other cables attached. That put a lot of stress on the USB C connection point. It was an instant buy for me when I saw the UNI 8-in-1 hub that came with a detachable cable. I can use any length cable I want. I use a longer cable at home where I place the hub and all the unsightly cables out of view. In the future, if a cable goes bad, I just toss it, not the hub. It works great with my iPad Pro and MOTU M2 combo.
Here's the Amazon link if anyone cares. Link
That would be perfect if it had a headphone hole, I’ll have to see if they do variants. I also use a laptop on a stand so all these 2” cable things would be useless on two devices.
@Todd_M That sounds great. Maybe these designers are starting to recognize that there are uses beyond "laptop dock" for their devices. I notice that the Amazon description warns against using a different cable. What cable are you using, and how did you select it?
Nucleum plus this;
https://amazon.ca/gp/product/B07X91644V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
works for me but what an octopus of dongles.
https://www.anker.com/products/variant/powerexpand-direct-6in1-usbc-pd-media-hub/A83620A1
Just got this a month ago. Seems good so far. Only thing I don't like is that it makes a very loud noise through your headphones when you plug them in. > @boberto said:
My pleasure! You just plug the iPads charger into the USB C socket in the Anker. If I have my audio interface connected I always just put my headphones through it rather than tje Anker, but I can maybe experiment later and let you know
Thinking of getting the Anker:
https://www.anker.com/products/variant/powerexpand-direct-6in1-usbc-pd-media-hub/A83620A1
Been trying to pour over this thread and it seems like this has the best all around features for the money. Particularly appealing since it has an audio port. Curious @Gavinski (or anyone else) if you would choose this Anker again today knowing what you know
?
Those ones that sit flush to the iPad give me port strain fear. I have a few Anker products though and find them to be pretty decent.
I just quickly tested with a 6’ going from the iPad to the hub and a 3’ going from the hub to the M2. This works with and without pass thru power. I’m not sure if issues will arise in the future due to the extended length. Seems fine for now.
Thanks. I was actually wondering about the specific type of cable. Apparently, a USB-C cable must include a special chip to enable fast charging. Did you select your cables specially? Or are they intended as charging cables, so they are good by default? Just trying to clarify for any potential users, because being able to separate the hub from the iPad is frequently desired in this forum.
Here’s a link to the 6’ USB C cable I ordered from Amazon to use with the M2. Link
Honestly I didn’t give much thought to the cable when I ordered it. Got lucky I guess.
Great. The description emphasizes Power Delivery, and I guess that's the key.
Hi @boberto, have you had a chance to check out the HooToo yet? Curious your thoughts on it. I'd be curious if USB-C headphones might work with this hub?
Only got it a month ago, so what I wrote above is what I know now Greg lol. Seems good so far.
Wanted to post a follow up:
Ya don’t need that 10ft cable for the power supply as it comes with its own 6’? Cable. Whoops.
HooToo and ZMI = ACES✅✅✅. Full details is that I’m plugging a Tascam 2x2 Interface as well as a Alesis VI25 Controller into it, and plugging that into the iPad. The above combo powers all 3 devices, no need for separate power adapters. The Tascam handles DIN MIDI IN/OUT as well as audio in and out (via lines send). 100% Would buy again and can recommend. 👍🏼👌🏼🤘🏼
See above. In terms of it being a relatively universal connector, I don’t it see a problem but I can’t comment about the headphones directly because iOS is just fussy about multiple audio devices so if you have another audio interface as well as your headphones, you may have an issue.
Thanks for reporting back @boberto ! Does it do a decent job of charging? I assume you plug your iPad charger into the 100W power port?
The charger I listed plugs into the HooToo via usb-C, the other gear plugs into the HooToo via USB-A, and the HooToo plugs into the iPad.
It charges the iPad but the actual charging rate I can’t speak to because I’ve only cared that it isn’t losing charge while I’m performing/streaming.
I assume you can use any charger that charges the iPad including the charger that comes with the iPad, right?
WELL... I intentionally went ahead and upgraded the power supply so I could power other external devices. As per other messages on this thread YMMV, so I went ahead and ordered the one I linked to because I already knew that was my use case.
I see, thank you!
These hubs take several watts of power themselves. The ads usually show how much power they suck off. And of course the connected gear needs power too. So the basic iPad charger is likely too small to do a good job.
Does anyone know if you can get one of these things that has both audio in and out, as well as power delivery? I'm not entirely sure that's what I actually need, but like the idea of being able to sample from an input on it, while also using the audio out either to speakers or cans.
I almost ordered this then suddenly realized that it only has one USB-C port and its a charging port. My iConnectMIDI is USB-C data so I wouldn't able to use this with my setup. And same with the Anker that @Gavinski recommended. I could go with the Kingston Nucleum, but it's still missing an audio port. Kinda hard to find a hub that will satisfy all my requirements. I may choose to go with the Kingston Nucleum and use the USB-C data port with my MIDI interface while using my desktop and DAW there and using my USB-C earbuds when I not hooking it up through my desktop. Wish I could find a reasonably priced hub that would do it all!. Spent entirely too much time trying to sort through this
I ended up getting the Anker that @Gavinski recommended and I'm glad I did. All the ports work as I hoped. I do get the loud crackling sound as well when I plug in my headset! Also, I can use it off to the side just using a USB-C extension cable. Works great and feels solid. Very happy overall.
I bought this little one at Best Buy Canada. Works flawlessly. It is meant to be used with a case.
https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/kopplen-4-port-usb-3-0-type-c-hub-hub-c11sgr/14951021
check out this one:
https://www.lention.com/collections/usb-c-hub/products/lention-usb-c-multi-port-hub-cbtpc35h
works with my 12inch MacBook (1st Gen) and my Lenovo Surface clone.
Can't say anything about iPads because I'm still living in lightning-land.
cheers