Reddit reviews Alesis iO Dock Audio Interface for iPad
We found 2 Reddit comments about Alesis iO Dock Audio Interface for iPad. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
The world's first pro audio dock for iPad; use the power of your iPad to record audio, compose music and perfect your mixSimultaneously connect microphones and instruments including guitar, studio monitors, PA speakers, headphones, and MIDI controllersUniversal device works with virtually every audio and MIDI app in the App Store; Core MIDI compliantInput channel gain controls and switchable phantom power on (2) combo (XLR+1/4-Inch) inputs; mic/line and HiZ (guitar) switchableOutputs: (2) 1/4-Inch and 1/4-Inch headphone with separate volume controlsControl inputs: MIDI In, MIDI Out, USB MIDI, and assignable 1/4inch footswitchVideo output can send visuals to a projector, TV or monitor
iPad to MIDI keyboard: you'll need the Apple Camera Connector Kit - this will give you a USB port hanging off the Apple 30-pin connector. (I've got one of these.) There's a list of compatible keyboards and other MIDI devices here. Alternatively, you can pick up the Alesis IO Dock to get the MIDI ports and USB ports available from the iPad (however, make sure you read the reviews on Amazon, as some folks aren't terribly happy with this device). I'm currently looking for a good 4-octave keyboard that doesn't require a powered USB hub between it and the iPad, and am leaning toward the Behringer UMX490.
There's a bunch of excellent synths and music production tools for the iPad: Animoog, Sunrizer, GarageBand, FruityLoops and many others. Many of them have the capability to record either audio or MIDI and can send that data to your 'puter for further refinement. The specifics for how to do that are different for each of the apps, so you'll need to look at the user manuals and forums and such to figure out how for the apps you use.
Perhaps you could ask a little more specific questions -- what kind of communication are you trying to achieve between the iPad and the 'puter? When you ask what PC software "works best", what do you want to accomplish?
I am all hardware too.
My midi path is like this.
Electribe (clock) -> Midihub++(splitter) -> Voyager, Mopho, Minibrute, iPad (midi out of iPad goes to mopho).
I use one of these with a camera connection kit as a midi interface for the iPad. This has worked well and is a really cheap way to set it up. If you wanted something that was more durable and road ready you could get a Alesis IO dock.