There’s never been a better time to be a musician. Despite record stores closing up shop all over the place, recording your own tunes and having them heard by tons of people has never been so easy.
Especially if you’re using an iPad.
As put on display in a recent Apple commercial, the iPad is transforming how musicians are using technology to their advantage. And while the record industry is scrambling to find new ways to make profits, musicians are cutting out the middle man altogether and building their own music studios.
These aren’t just any musicians either — these are some of the most popular acts on tour today. And if you’re a musician who is looking for a way to record professional-quality music without breaking the bank, all you need is an iPad and a few accessories.
Oh, and talent.
Here’s what you need to convert your iPad into a portable music studio:
Apps
The iPad already comes pre-loaded with plenty of free apps that allow you to start recording music right away. But if you really want to take things to the next level, you’re going to have to install a few go-to applications. They may cost you some money, but they will also drastically improve the music-production process.
GarageBand
Anyone who’s tried recording audio on an Apple device has heard of this application for one simple reason: it works extremely well. That’s because GarageBand loads an entire collection of instruments along with a full-featured recording studio onto your device without taking up too much space. It also features an excellent sharing function so you can easily upload your songs to Facebook, YouTube, and SoundCloud.
iMPC Pro
If you need something a little more powerful than GarageBand to create beats and effects, this is the app you need. Developed by Akai in conjunction with Retronyms, iMPC Pro offers a 64-track music production suite with the functionality of a “real” studio. The developers also throw in built-in sampling functionality, a massive sound library, and over 30 performance-driven features.
NanoStudio
When you’re done creating your masterpiece, you’ll need this app to finetune your recordings and add extra effects to your songs. The NanoStudio app is all about mastering and includes two global effects sends with four insert effects per channel. This means you’ll be able to record, edit, and playback all fader and pan changes before sharing your music.
Serato Remote
The iPad can also be used during live performances and allows you to remix your music on the fly. The best app to do this with is Serato Remote because their software is considered to be among the best for digital DJ setups. If you need to control playback, sync tracks, create cue points, or just want to do some scratching on the one’s and two’s; install this app.
Accessories
Apogee MiC
In order to make your music sound as good as possible, you’re going to need a decent microphone. The Apogee MiC will not only make you sound good, it’s also the perfect size. Roughly the size of an iPhone, the MiC is the perfect accessory for anyone wanting a portable music studio with them at all times — especially on the road.
Monster 24K Headphones
Any good music producer requires a pair of amazing headphones. And if you’re the type of musician who demands advanced audio quality and who wants to make a fashion statement at the same time; nothing expresses that more than Monster’s 24K headphones. This headset was created with the listener in mind and will let you hear and feel everything while making you look like a rockstar.
IK Multimedia iRig
This will probably be your favorite accessory on the list because it works with any iOS device in your arsenal. Just plug in your favorite instrument to the iRig and you’ll instantly receive a clear signal on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod. You can also use it for more than just recording songs. It’s also perfect for pairing up with your headphones when you don’t want to disturb the neighbors.
iPad
With five different variations of the iPad currently available, there is literally one for every type of musician. And when you consider the iPad starts at $250, using one as your portable studio seems like a great idea — especially when you look at the list of apps and features at your disposal.
But if you can only pick one, the iPad Air 2 is the perfect choice.
iPad Air 2 Specs
Dimensions
- Height: 9.4 inches (240 mm)
- Width: 6.6 inches (169.5 mm)
- Depth: 0.24 inch (6.1 mm)
- Weight: 0.98 pound (444 g)
Display
- Retina display
- 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
- 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 ppi
- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
- Fully laminated display
- Antireflective coating
Chip
- A8X chip with 64‑bit architecture
- M8 motion coprocessor
Memory
- 16GB
- 64GB
- 128GB
A Reasonable Solution for Music Production
An iPad will never compete with a full-scale music production studio. But the fact that musicians are trying to do that is evidence that it will probably happen one day.
Don’t believe me? The idea isn’t as crazy it seems.
Communities like the subreddit r/ipadmusic are thriving on the idea that an iPad is all you need to create music. Websites like dischord are also providing resources for everything you need to start your tablet musical career. And if Apple’s video is any indication of the direction music production is heading, the next #1 hit could be anyones.
Even yours.
