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
Yes there is. Link works perfectly fine with the USB-Lightning Network Adapter (and the iPad switched into Airplane mode).
(I've done some research back then for my own stage show, since I didn't want to buy another WiFi Router, but had the other cables around)
My main issue with this is that I'm using the Lightning port for my interface.
Some routers have a USB B jack for doing networking over USB, any way that would work with iOS? If it did, you could go CCK to powered hub, than fan out to your interface and the router?
Further investigation:
Yes! I tested many many apps. So far, all these have the same exact problem:
iSpark, Infinite, iVCS3, SynthMaster Player, All AmazingNoises apps (Dedalus, apeFilter, GliderVerb, DubFilter, iDensity, Moebius Lab, iPulsaret), Roland Sound Canvas, Frobulator, Muckraker, Nebulizer, Shoom, jgEffects, Amplitube Acoustic
If I have a router that is transmitting a Wi-fi signal, but not connected out to the internet, and I try to start Infinite Looper or iSpark, it crashes on the launch screen. Doesn't matter if Ableton LINK is enabled or not, for either app... same result.
I thought it was an issue with my travel router. I had it set up as a range extender for my home network (so I could have a dedicated wi-fi network for LINK), and everything worked fine rehearsing in my studio. But when I went to the gig and the range extender didn't have an outbound internet connection, that's when Infinite Looper and iSpark started crashing.
However, I tested with my main home Wi-fi. Disconnected the WAN port from the internet, so I only have local Wi-fi, and Infinite Looper/iSpark both crash. So its not the travel router. Its something about these apps that hang if they can't call out to the internet when they see a Wi-fi network present. Turn airplane mode on, or plug back in the WAN port for my wi-fi, and the problem goes away.
Seems like many users would have noticed this before me... common use case (want to use LINK but not be on internet), many many apps with the bug. Anyone else notice?
I always have issues with an ad-hoc network, created by the Mac, when using AB (strangely it's no problem, when I set up a non-internet-network via Airport Xpress or Xtreme...). But never the kind of weirdness @gburks finds. Usually I use AB, AUM, Noatikl, Cyclop, Turnado, iFretless Apps, Sector, Egoist, Effektrix (different setups). All working nicely. When home, I'll try some of the other Apps mentioned... . Cheers, twobeers
So: all tested Apps work fine, being inside AUM or standalone.
(I don't own iSpark, SynthMaster Player, Roland Sound Canvas, Frobulator, Muckraker, Nebulizer, Shoom, jgEffects, Amplitube Acoustic, so I couldn't test those...).
Good luck finding what's wrong, and please let us know.
Ah, now this one I've definitely seen and work around by putting the iPad in airplane mode while setting up apps and then turning on the wifi without internet. For me, MiMix and sidecar hang like you describe. Given that the latter is also a @SecretBaseDesign app maybe Patrick can advise on whether the app is making a call for the internet that is not resolved and causes a crash?
Hmmm.... Sidecar itself isn't making any Internet calls, but there's a shot that some of the libraries that it uses does. Audiobus does some network wrangling (checking for new/changed supported apps), MIDIbus might (same sort of check), and Link is poking around on the 'net to find other Link apps. Even if Link isn't enabled, it still starts up -- so when it's "off," it isn't completely "off."
I'll see if I can set up some tests with ad hoc, to see if I can replicate what people are seeing, and track it down. Seems like it's hitting a bunch of apps, so this use case must not have gotten shaken out completely.
Wow! Surprised this works. Did some googling, found this
http://lifehacker.com/hack-together-a-way-to-connect-an-ipad-or-iphone-over-e-1770270331
^^ This!
Great first post! Welcome!
Thank you!
...
I ditched the travel router and got an Apple Airport Express. Problem persists. Non-internet wireless network, all of these apps crash on launch:
iSpark, Infinite, iVCS3, SynthMaster Player, All AmazingNoises apps (Dedalus, apeFilter, GliderVerb, DubFilter, iDensity, Moebius Lab, iPulsaret), Roland Sound Canvas, Frobulator, Muckraker, Nebulizer, Shoom, jgEffects, Amplitube Acoustic
Help! @SecretBaseDesign @mauriziogiri @lbiyikoglu
Hmm. Did an ad-hoc network on my Mac, turned off cell on my iOS device, connected it to the ad hoc... Started up Infinite, and no problems observed. I'm able to use WiFi MIDI, and that all seems fine. I'll poke around some more, but I'm having no luck in replicating the issue.
Does it work to open apps in airplane mode and then turn off airplane mode once everything is open?
Not sure if in any way related or helpful but when I launch all my usual apps in AB and then turn wireless on, most if not all apps hang/disconnect.
This would prove what @SecretBaseDesign was saying about ab connecting to the Internet which is understandable It's not ideal that apps disconnect though.
I just repeated your test, created an ad-hoc network, and it launches fine. However, this isn't a good solution for live because you can't secure an ad-hoc network on Yosemite and higher.
I've tried it with three routers (TP-LINK travel router, AT&T U-verse router, and Apple Airport Express), and can reproduce the issue in all three cases. @SecretBaseDesign do you have access to any Wi-fi network? Can you just pull the WAN plug out and see if you can launch Infinite or any of these other apps? Can anyone else reproduce?
Ahh -- ok, may have been able to replicate. Chasing this now.
Apologies for resurrecting this old one but was this issue fixed or a workaround found?
Yes, it's called MIDI clock sync
I would definitely rely on it in a live show, unfortunately not every app supports it.
ugh, no. I get terrible drift with MIDI clock. Ableton Link works without hiccup for me, however.
What's your setup?
Works perfectly tight here!
Link works great with wired ethernet. With the Macbook you can either connect the iPad directly using the Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter out of the Mac, into the USB Ethernet Adapter along with the CCK on the iPad. Or if you prefer you can use your travel router (presuming it has a couple ports) by plugging out the Mac & iPad to the router with the same cables.
I'd just use wired Ethernet if I were you. There's a couple USB hubs that seem to work with iOS that have Ethernet. Myself I just use wired Ethernet between multiple laptops....
Are you having problems with Link @lerosa?
I use it almost everyday and it's never once had hiccups with any app even though the wifi here is often playing up. Don't recall seeing any threads on Abletons forum with complaints either.
Looking forward to Link v2! If any developers are testing this in an app I would love to help out
I think he's talking about a live situation like at a club. When there are ton of phones in the same room link seems to break down completely due to too many devices on the wifi Network or competing hotspot signals etc. I've personally had it fail completely when trying it out at a friend's club. Hence why I moved to wires. With the Ica4+ it's actually better and more reliable to use midi link sync to receive midi clock from the PC and then make link slave to it. This should work for multiple iOS devices as well although I haven't tested it....
i would be too scared to try a live show with link or with the iPad running more than one sound. my iPad is used solely for song genesis/production and then mixing.
Here is how I have had best luck with LINK wirelessly.
I FIRST OPEN Coding Cod's MIDI LINK sync (free app) on secondary device.
I find that this independent first start LINK source is super dependable for keeping things that way.
It is crucial for me for this timing because iPad #2 is syncing my Circuit with iPad#1 for work. So, I use this set up every day for several hours a day with no issues.
However, I often also have my MacBook Pro with me, so usually it is for sample library access but I always keep a fresh Ableton set up and that acting as a master LINK beacon also seems to work. Maybe that is an option for you.
But, then again, I use Pocket Operators by ear and that works.
I think sometimes we, sorry, "I"am a baby with dependence on LINK. It is lining up a beat or changing a BPM setting. Really right. I forget that.
I survived for years without it and made great music or had great sets so it is a luxury and I must keep that in mind.
That is just me and my approach to your issue.
I had managed to miss that part about playing live @gonekrazy3000
Can imagine that would be a nightmare if it goes wrong and having a bulletproof solution would be essential!
When DJ'ing I always have a Ableton cued with matching BPM with a top/percs loop giving me a second to adjust.
That was the safety net.
I generally always have a similar thing happening these days with some non essential device having a silent synced loop of some rhythmic or percussive emergency transition loop.
That is on pioneer turn tables when no link was even in existence at the time.
Cue points be damned.....