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.
Connecting Powered USB A Hub to a iPad Pro 2021 11”
So, I have a powered USB A hub that I use to connect MIDI devices to and charge my iPad Pro 10.5”. Is there a way I can connect this same hub to a new iPad Pro 2021 11” and also charge the iPad? I’ve looked all over Amazon and it seems like my only option is to buy a new USB hub—am I missing another solution?
Comments
You'd need a hub that has USB-C PD (USB-C Power Delivery) to power the iPad.
There are some hubs out there...
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerExpand-Ethernet-Delivery-MacBook/dp/B08C9HZ5YT
(That's just one after a quick Google search).
I use the Apple USB-C AV Multiport adapter to connect my old USB 3 based hub to my 2021 iPad Pro. You can charge with the USB-C charger to the USB-C power connection on the dongle. I don't use the charger though. Instead I connect the high power output of my USB hub to the AV dongle using a USB-A to USB-C cable for the power delivery.
It's overpriced and I don't use the HDMI output, but it is reliable.
This would do it I think:
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/46574/great-usb-c-pd-hub-uk
Recommended by @supadom, I have one too, I can plug my usb-a hub into it with or without it’s own power (audio interface and 3 midi controllers), though obviously it’s a 4 port hub in itself.
EDIT: and it will all run off the iPad power, doesn’t need the usb-c pd connected to work, though obviously it’ll last longer when powered.
This seems to be exactly what I’m looking for. Unfortunately, I’m in the US and all searches for that device have come up empty. Anyone have an affordable, available in the US, alternative?
This looks good:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CXHP1Y6/?coliid=I1IBE7Z0AGO44Z&colid=RDJQT4RBMO4Z&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Has HDMI, 3 x USB3, USB-C data, USB-C charging (60W), SD slots, and 3.5mm audio.
I just ordered it, I don’t yet have an iPad with USB-C yet, but it will be useful for my Macs in the mean time.
Is 60W enough to keep the iPad charged?
It's going to depend on what you are doing and what you have plugged into the hub to some degree, but for my iPad Pro with an audio interface plugged in, the included Apple charger will charge the iPad while I'm using the iPad. That's while using the iPad to power the interface and not using a powered hub but just the AV adapter. I think the charger that comes with the iPad is 20W.
This should work: https://www.amazon.com/Rankie-2-Pack-Adapter-Hi-Speed-Black/dp/B01EL4PVFE/ref=asc_df_B01EL4PVFE/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312760964359&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17923271902617987464&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011789&hvtargid=pla-462634329304&psc=1
Thanks for all your recommendations. In the end I decided to go with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09DST5JPJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
As mentioned you just need a standard USB C hub and if you want to also charge find one with power delivery.
Here is the official information, which isn’t very detailed.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209186
I personally have a HyperDrive and love it. I use it with my iPad and MacBook. I also like that accepts SD cards so I can load extensions to my MPC One via SD, charges my iPad and gives me aux output.