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 Store

Audiobus is the app that makes the rest of your setup better.

Idiot trying to record his shitty music and has no idea what he's doing

Gear:

Steinberg UR22MKII
Ipad 7th Gen (or 6th, w/e is the latest that isn't Pro)
Epiphone Casino

Apps:

Cubasis
Audiobus
Amplitude
Beatmaker 3

What I'm trying to do:

Record guitar through Amplitude into Cubasis. Yes, I know I can use IAA to go from AMP directly into Cubasis but you can only do that once in a project so if I want to record the rthym part of of a song then come back and do lead I can't use AMP twice with IAA).

Problem that's occurring:

Everything sounds like shit. I have to turn my headphone volume up nearly all the way to even hear the guitar through Cubasis monitoring or there's weird clicks and scratches. These clicks and scratches don't happen when I'm just playing through the Steinberg or a real amplifier.

Basically, the sound I hear from my guitar IN Amplitude isn't what I get when connected to Cubasis through Audiobus. There's more but I'm just too angry and disappointed to remember it all. If anyone is using these items to success could you please tell me how/what I need to do to set it up right.

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Comments

  • Sorry to hear you're experiencing some pain, @Andrew430! (although I couldn't help but laugh at the title)

    Hmm. One thought: have you tried turning up the input gain in Audiobus settings? Some audio interfaces require the gain to be manually turned up full for some reason.

  • I don’t use Amplitude or Cubasis, but I have had similar issues with other apps. There are a lot of things that could be at fault. In my case I had to trace the signal path from my guitar to usb interface to the iPad and from app to app, back out to the interface and monitor speakers. Adjusting the input or output level at any stage could completely change things. Cheap or slightly damaged audio or data cables can make a MAJOR difference in quality, crackling, clipping, etc. I have an older iPad Pro and I find that certain patches in ANY of the guitar amp/effect apps when also using a DAW or Audiobus are just too much for it too handle so things sound terrible until I simplify the patch or just choose a patch with fewer or less resource hungry effects. Hopefully some of the iOS guitar gurus will chime in with more helpful answers.

  • @Andrew430 said:
    Gear:

    Steinberg UR22MKII
    Ipad 7th Gen (or 6th, w/e is the latest that isn't Pro)
    Epiphone Casino

    Apps:

    Cubasis
    Audiobus
    Amplitude
    Beatmaker 3

    What I'm trying to do:

    Record guitar through Amplitude into Cubasis. Yes, I know I can use IAA to go from AMP directly into Cubasis but you can only do that once in a project so if I want to record the rthym part of of a song then come back and do lead I can't use AMP twice with IAA).

    Problem that's occurring:

    Everything sounds like shit. I have to turn my headphone volume up nearly all the way to even hear the guitar through Cubasis monitoring or there's weird clicks and scratches. These clicks and scratches don't happen when I'm just playing through the Steinberg or a real amplifier.

    Basically, the sound I hear from my guitar IN Amplitude isn't what I get when connected to Cubasis through Audiobus. There's more but I'm just too angry and disappointed to remember it all. If anyone is using these items to success could you please tell me how/what I need to do to set it up right.

    Check your buffer and sample rate settings.

    I've got the same audio interface. There was a firmware update needed at some point to make it work properly with iOS.

  • Welcome to the Forum... you are with your peers.

    The best tools I have found to pull up a weak signal are:

    Limiter Audio Process
    NYCompressor

    Then I will notice a lot of noise and/or hum from my guitar:

    Brusfri removes noise

    I personally like a clean sound for guitar but those that do not seem to love Bias and ToneStack as
    an Amp Sim.

    For clean I like ReAmp, Stark, a combination of the FabFilter Compressor, Reverb.

    I would get a nice sound with AudioBus and these FX then just pipe it into Cubasis.

  • edited July 2019

    Try using the same audio track in Cubasis to record every take, but when you get a take you like, make a new audio track and move the recorded data onto this new audio track.
    Then you will have the Amplitude track empty and ready to record your next take, and when you get something you like, make another new audio track and move the second take here. Keep doing this until you are satisfied, at which point you can delete the Amplitude track if you no longer need to record more takes.

    This is for the first method you mentioned, Amplitude directly into Cubasis. Hopefully this method sounded good and artifact-free, and just the Audiobus method was giving you problems.

    Also, this requires loading Amplitude directly as an audio input in Cubasis, not in the FX slot. If you load Amplitude in the FX slot, the effect won’t get recorded. If the FX slot is your only option, you have to freeze every time to bake in the Amplitude effect on the recorded audio. Then you can move this frozen audio data to a new audio track.

  • I'll try some of the basic stuff you all talked about.

    @BroCoast : I JUST got this stuff in the past two months. Installed latest edition of everything. Has there been any updates since then?

    @CracklePot : If I was smart/knowledgeable enough to understand anything you wrote I probably wouldn't be having such a dumb problem. Thanks for trying though.

    I'm just not cut out for recording. I used to think I wrote ok songs but I'm not even really sure of that anymore. I'm at a real low point with all this.

  • @Andrew430 said:

    I'm just not cut out for recording. I used to think I wrote ok songs but I'm not even really sure of that anymore. I'm at a real low point with all this.

    Don’t give up yet! You could always use GarageBand while you are sorting out the problems with the chain of apps setup you currently have. It has amp modeling too and supports IAA. Just to get something going and get you making music it’s not a bad idea.

    With Cubasis crackles you usually want to check the bit rate and buffer to make sure it’s correct for the interface/ and or IAA. I’d put it at 16bit, 41k as I think most IAA needs that.

  • @Andrew430 said:
    I'll try some of the basic stuff you all talked about.

    @BroCoast : I JUST got this stuff in the past two months. Installed latest edition of everything. Has there been any updates since then?

    @CracklePot : If I was smart/knowledgeable enough to understand anything you wrote I probably wouldn't be having such a dumb problem. Thanks for trying though.

    I'm just not cut out for recording. I used to think I wrote ok songs but I'm not even really sure of that anymore. I'm at a real low point with all this.

    Make sure you have the latest firmware here: https://www.steinberg.net/en/support/downloads_hardware/downloads

    The original firmware had a problem with iOS where it would cause the problem you describe for recording and playback.

    I have no troubles with the configuration you're using. guitar>UR22>audiobus>amplitube>cubasis

    44.1khz 128 samples buffer.

  • @DMan said:

    @Andrew430 said:

    I'm just not cut out for recording. I used to think I wrote ok songs but I'm not even really sure of that anymore. I'm at a real low point with all this.

    Don’t give up yet! You could always use GarageBand while you are sorting out the problems

    Yeah I’d recommend this too. If you get good levels and can record ok in GarageBand then at least you know you are getting a good signal into the iPad.

    To do this In GarageBand, create a new project, add a track and swipe through the instrument selectors until you get to “Amp”. Choose an amp you like the look of and you can hit the little edit button that looks like a knob from the amp to tweak the sound.

    Then Just hit record with the amp track selected and you record. You can add multiple amp tracks.

    If your signal still sounds like shit you need to work through the audio chain from your guitar to the hi Z guitar input on the interface to the audio levels going into garageband.

    If it all works then you can try again with the other apps. Start by getting a good sound and levels in the amp app in standalone mode and wrk through the chain one step at a time.

    It might be that the combination of cubasis and AmpliTube are just maxing out your cpu and causing crackles and stuff. If so, GarageBand and it’s built in amp sims should be far easier on your cpu and you can always use it as just a recorder and then copy your audio into cubasis for arranging.

  • @Andrew430, all beginners on iOS have difficulties. Just keep asking questions. No question is too basic here (unlike some other fora). This is a great forum and people are very willing to help. Welcome and don’t give up! You can pm anyone, too. Like @CracklePot. He saved me several times and is a great teacher!

  • @Andrew430 said:
    Gear:

    Steinberg UR22MKII
    Ipad 7th Gen (or 6th, w/e is the latest that isn't Pro)
    Epiphone Casino

    Apps:

    Cubasis
    Audiobus
    Amplitude
    Beatmaker 3

    What I'm trying to do:

    Record guitar through Amplitude into Cubasis. Yes, I know I can use IAA to go from AMP directly into Cubasis but you can only do that once in a project so if I want to record the rthym part of of a song then come back and do lead I can't use AMP twice with IAA).

    Problem that's occurring:

    Everything sounds like shit. I have to turn my headphone volume up nearly all the way to even hear the guitar through Cubasis monitoring or there's weird clicks and scratches. These clicks and scratches don't happen when I'm just playing through the Steinberg or a real amplifier.

    Basically, the sound I hear from my guitar IN Amplitude isn't what I get when connected to Cubasis through Audiobus. There's more but I'm just too angry and disappointed to remember it all. If anyone is using these items to success could you please tell me how/what I need to do to set it up right.

    Believe or not, the only reasonable amp simulator ( to jam along) i have found is Garageband and lesser talked about Flying Haggis. You will have better luck recording guitar through GB. I have no experience with new Klevgrand offerings

    You can easily achieve rhythm lead bit on garageband

    I have found jam up,yonac, Amplitube, Ampkit, bias all terrible

  • @hisdudeness said:
    Believe or not, the only reasonable amp simulator ( to jam along) i have found is Garageband and lesser talked about Flying Haggis. You will have better luck recording guitar through GB. I have no experience with new Klevgrand offerings

    I doubt Klevgrand would work for you since I'm assuming you might prefer heavy distortions but that's just a guess.

    I have found jam up,yonac, Amplitube, Ampkit, bias all terrible

    OK. Still not sure. What guitar players do you want to sound like? That will help. I like Robbin Ford, Lee Ritenaur, Pat Metheny (when he doesn't use that cheesy Roland Guitar Synth sound), and SRV. Do you play into headphones as a rule or use power speakers?

    Context is critical with all advice. I have followed some advice here and wasted a lot of money because I heard "sampler" and thought it could load "ROM" like instruments but it was a slicer like an MPC. Guitar Amp is a similar sound... what's the best guitar amp to own? Rivera? Mesa Boogie, Dumble, vintage Fender, PolyTone, Marshall, Vox, ENGL, EVH or Crate? Trick question. It's a Roland Jazz Chorus obviously.

  • @McD The closest thing I can think of to the guitar sound I'm wanting is The War On Drugs' album "Wagon Wheel Blues", specifically the track "Taking The Farm".

    @BroCoast I have the latest firmware. The Windows update came out January 2019. I bought my UR22MKII in March and downloaded the firmware then. When you say "samples at 128" do you mean the latency settings? Your link was broken, btw.

  • Also, to everyone suggesting I use GB's amp simulator, the crackles happen there too. They happen when I'm just playing through the UR22MKII.

  • edited July 2019

    Is everything you try producing crackles?
    If so, check your cables. Even the USB cable connecting your audio device.

    I thought you were getting a good signal by going guitar>interface>Amplitude, and that could get recorded into Cubasis without crackles.
    But now I am not sure.

  • edited July 2019

    I used to play guitar into GarageBand amp sims on an ancient iPad 2 with an Apogee Jam over 6 years ago. It also worked flawlessly on an iPhone 4. My Jam still has a 30 pin connector!

    Today it still works fine with a bordering on ancient iPad Air 2 using the Apple 30 pin to lightning adapter.

    I have also had no issues with a zoom U24 either. This is just to illustrate that what you’re trying should be hassle free. I’m sorry that you’re having issues.

    Assuming guitar, jacks, cables and gain are all good, I think the issues are starting to point towards the interface.

    That’s the only variable Left I think.

    It may be a sample rate issue?

    Might be worth asking others with the same interface to comment? Perhaps there is a firmware update for it?

  • From the post title I thought you were looking over my shoulder.

  • edited July 2019

    @klownshed said:
    Might be worth asking others with the same interface to comment? Perhaps there is a firmware update for it?

    I'd bet a ham sandwich it's the known issue that these interfaces have with iOS that require a firmware update. I've suggested it 2x now but anyway it's up to the OP and I hope they get it sorted.

  • @BroCoast said:

    @klownshed said:
    Might be worth asking others with the same interface to comment? Perhaps there is a firmware update for it?

    I'd bet a ham sandwich it's the known issue that these interfaces have with iOS that require a firmware update. I've suggested it 2x now but anyway it's up to the OP and I hope they get it sorted.

    Good to know there is a firmware update to fix the issue. You’d better let the OP know where to send the sandwich.

  • For all the trouble he’s having my guess is that the OP has a bad CCK.

    @Andrew430 what lightning to USB adapter are you using to connect your iPad to your interface?

    It is strongly recommended to use the official Apple Lightning to USB adapter just because every other version has been proven to fail sooner, show wonky issues like you are having, or never work in the first place.

    The official Apple dongle is worth the expense just because it seems to solve so many potential problems.

  • edited July 2019

    @Hmtx said:
    For all the trouble he’s having my guess is that the OP has a bad CCK.

    @Andrew430 what lightning to USB adapter are you using to connect your iPad to your interface?

    It is strongly recommended to use the official Apple Lightning to USB adapter just because every other version has been proven to fail sooner, show wonky issues like you are having, or never work in the first place.

    The official Apple dongle is worth the expense just because it seems to solve so many potential problems.

    Usually unofficial adapters just cause dropouts and not audio issues like clicks and scratches.

  • @BroCoast said:
    Usually unofficial adapters just cause dropouts and not audio issues like clicks and scratches.

    True, just trying to help troubleshoot... starting with the basics.

  • @CracklePot said:
    Is everything you try producing crackles?
    If so, check your cables. Even the USB cable connecting your audio device.

    I thought you were getting a good signal by going guitar>interface>Amplitude, and that could get recorded into Cubasis without crackles.
    But now I am not sure.

    You can record in amplitude, save as Wav, drop into Cubasis, BUT it is a pain in the ass for two reasons:

    You can't do within the Ipad. I'd have to disconnect my interface, hook my PC up to Ipad, download Wave from Amplitude into a Shared folder, then from Shared folder into Cubasis' folder system

    And no, that's not THAT much of a hassle really but the real problem is the metronomes for Cubasis and Amplitude are slightly off from one another, to my ear at least. Amplitude's metronome has a bit of an embedded swing to it while Cubasis' is just a straight-ahead, hard-driving click. I assume, because Cubasis' long-time bread and butter has been for electronic music-making where the beat is more often mechanical in it's counting

  • @Hmtx said:
    For all the trouble he’s having my guess is that the OP has a bad CCK.

    @Andrew430 what lightning to USB adapter are you using to connect your iPad to your interface?

    It is strongly recommended to use the official Apple Lightning to USB adapter just because every other version has been proven to fail sooner, show wonky issues like you are having, or never work in the first place.

    The official Apple dongle is worth the expense just because it seems to solve so many potential problems.

    Official Apple Camera Kit 3 the one that has the input for the iPad charging cable as well.

  • I think we need to take this one step at a time to see where the problem is being introduced.

    @Andrew430 : if you have just AmpliTube loaded, does it sound correct?

    If the answer to that is yes, if you use AmpliTube as an IAA source in Cubasis, does it sound correct?

  • edited July 2019

    Question:

    Are we talking Amplitube, the amp simulator app
    Or Amplitude, the recording/enhancer app

    ?

  • @BroCoast I responded to you that I have the latest firmware update.

    As for everyone else, here's a bit of an update:

    Before you read the next part, please remember I've been an acoustic guitar player for the entirety of the past 8 years I've been playing/performing. Just remember that before you burst into uncontrollable laughter and reign mockery upon me.

    I don't know shit about effects, mic placement, cabinets, or heads. Hell, I didn't even really understand how to balance out tone/chorus tone knobs, until I stopped fighting with everything a few days ago and started reading articles about what types of set-ups my favorite guitar players use. Turns out Volume=10, Treble=10, Mid=2, Bass=0 (yes, REALLY) along with both pickups's volume and tone knobs turned to 10. Oh, and the strings for the Casino have likely been on for about a year and the song I'm working on is a synth-rock/pop with driving rythym guitar in Drop-D. Just to top it off, I'm playing this Casino (an OPEN-BODY guitar) in 200 sq ft. room with no insulation and a window unit AC blowing hard straight into it. I hope my idiocy has brought you some small amount of entertainment. You're welcome.

    Once I adjusted everything for a more balance sound, and changed to new strings with a heavier gauge, I've gotten a two-fold improvement. Crackles are mostly gone but they still pop up here and there. The Casino is a loaner and the friend to whom it belongs says it's likely a input/connector plate/wiring issue. The song I'm working on has some light over-drive that hides the occasional crackle so that's no longer an issue.

    What I'm struggling with now is there's no 'oomph' to the guitar. I get a lot of loudness but not a lot of volume, if that makes any sense. Someone on Redditt said they had the same problem when they powered their UR22MKII from the iPad and resolved it with powering the unit via 5v battery. I'm going to try that later tonight as well as changing my positioning in the room so as not have cold, dry, air (and several decade's worth of wood-shop dust) blasting into the guitar's body/electronic system. Obviously, I'm new at this but I just FEEL like that MIGHT be a problem.

    Thank you all very much for your help.

    Two questions and I'm done:

    Anyone experience/use ATH-M40X monitoring headphones? They come pretty highly rated and reviewed and they're in my budget. I know speakers are the best way to monitor/mix but that's not an option right now.

    Also, can anyone recommend a quality 1-octave MIDI controller. I just need a keyboard I can hook up to my synth apps. Suggestions for a full-sized controller are welcome too but my budget for that is $200-$250 and I don't expect there to be anything decent until the $300 marker.

    Ok, done.

    (stop laughing)

  • @Andrew430 ... you might do better with a plug in 5v adapter with your urmk2. I have same.

  • @Andrew430 said:
    Someone on Redditt said they had the same problem when they powered their UR22MKII from the iPad and resolved it with powering the unit via 5v battery.

    Aha! Yes this could be your problem/source of noise.

    If you power the UR22MKII via battery you will avoid it's main issue which is ground loops. I've always just used a Radial JDI with mine to take care of that issue but if I didn't it would be a nightmare plugging straight into the hi-z channel 2 input.

    Also if you are plugging your guitar into channel 1... don't. You need to use channel 2 with the hi-z button pushed in. That could be your lack of oomph right there.

  • Hey there.
    I honestly don’t know much about what you describe with Cubasis as I don’t use it much. It’s just me working all within my iPad, usually in Gadget, with no audio interface or inputs from external sources, nor any midi controllers. So I have no experience of level issues from external things.
    But one thing I did notice was that you mentioned about being able to use an IAA only once in a Cubasis project.
    But if you are recording an audio track into Cubasis from an IAA, you can actually use as many instances of an IAA as you like.
    Once the audio from the IAA has been recorded, you can remove the IAA from the source slot, and insert it again onto a new track to record audio from it again....then remove it....insert into another track....and so on.
    This is how I record and layer many instances of Mitosynth (which is only an IAA) in Cubasis.
    Sorry if I have misunderstood your questions and issues. I hope the IAA tip is useful to you in some way.

    Good luck & hope you sort your issue.

    🕷

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