If you think about it, your iPad or iPhone is the perfect street performer companion. Guitarists, you’ve got loads of amps and effect pedals on your phone with JamUp Pro XT – and a Audiobus to stream your guitar into a looper like Loopy HD (both highly recommended apps). If you’re a keyboardist, you’ve got unlimited sound possibilities from all of the synthesizer and sampler apps like BeatMaker 2 and Magellan, all on a super portable device you can take with you anywhere. There’s no need to bring expensive keyboards or amps, all of the sound can come from your iOS device, and your gear (amplifiers aside – solution) can be powered by your iOS device – even with your iPhone! Here’s a guide to the some apps and gear you can use to start perform with your iOS device on the go!
Note: On iOS 7, you can connect USB gear to your iPhone via the Lightning USB adapter OR with the iPad Camera Connection Kit + Lightning -> 30 pin adapter. If you have an iPhone with a 30 pin port, you can directly connect the iPad CCK as well. See this tread on the iOS Musician Forum to see what gear readers have successfully/unsuccessfully connected to their iPhones without needing a powered USB hub.
Gear
Roland Cube Street
The Roland Cube street is a battery powered (6 x AA, maximum 15-hour continuous use) portable amplifier ideal for the job. It has dual-channel architecture with guitar/instrument and microphone/line inputs, and a stereo aux in for plugging in an iOS device.
Portable, iOS Device Powered Keyboards
M-Audio Oxygen 49
This is a pretty large sized keyboard that can be powered by just your iPhone or iPad. A 61 key version is also available but I do not own one so I can not confirm (can you?) that it works with out a powered USB hub. Anyway, thanks to MIDI Learn, you could connect MIDI controllers and assign knobs inside your synth apps to the knobs on your controller to improvise with. If you play guitar too, loop your guitar and tweak a synth over it.
iPad Stands
If you need to use your iPad while you’re performing, an iPhone/iPad stand might not be a bad idea:
- iPad – Tablet Adjustable Stand
- Talent iCLaw Mic or Music Stand Holder for iPad
- Pocket Lab Works iRiffPort Guitar Interface
I recommend this guitar interface over others because it has an attached guitar cable – one less piece of gear to cary around. Also: the iRiffPort also has an extra headphone output on the end that plugs into your guitar which is GREAT for practicing with headphones on as you don’t need to constantly be hunch over your iPad.
IK Multimedia Blueboard
These Bluetooth pedal boards are great. Especially for street performers – no wires. You can assign the pedals to control different things in Loopy and JamUp via MIDI. If you already have a MIDI din pedal board, check out the iRig Pro. It’s a audio (guitar + XLR) and MIDI din interface for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Your MIDI controller may require an external power source, nothing a portable power supply can’t fix.
iPad Camera Connection Kit / Thunderbolt > USB Adapter
Keyboardists, connect USB MIDI keyboards or MIDI Din gear via USB DIN adapters. If you’d like to connect a MIDI controller as well as a guitar, check out check out the iRig MIDI Interface from IK Multimedia. With it you can connect a MIDI DIN controller as well as a guitar/XLR input. Ideal for connecting a MIDI foot pedal board to control your guitar guitar effects / a looper app
Apps
JamUp Pro
JamUp Pro
by Positive Grid Inc
-
Rating
- $7.99
-
Platform
iOS (Universal)
JamUp Pro
JamUp is the #1 multi-effects processor for guitar and bass. Available for iPad and iPhone, JamUp gives you instant access to a ToneCloud® sharing community with over 10,000 presets from artists, user, and our own Positive Grid team. It’s designed to work seamlessly with BIAS Amp to create your ultimate guitar amp. With more than 3 million users worldwide, JamUp has been featured in Macworld, Premier Guitar, Guitar World, Guitar Player, and more.
The original JamUp comes equipped with one amp and six effects. JamUp Pro gives you the power of six amps and 16 premium rack and stomp-box effects, including distortion, compression, tape delay, tremolo, and spring reverb. Both JamUp and JamUp Pro include jam player, phase sampler, tone sharing, preset manager, optional 8-track recorder, live view, tuner, and metronome.
With its easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, JamUp enables you to arrange a studio-quality collection of amps and effects models into your own custom signal chain. Get the optional expansion packs for access to a mind-boggling 52 amp channels and 50 classic effects.
Each amp model has been developed using Positive Grid’s MESH multi-stage modeling technology, and has been meticulously measured and analyzed against actual hardware. With its dead-on accuracy and tube-like touch and feel JamUp delivers dramatically improved sonic performance over other digital amp modelers.
Import songs from your iTunes library to jam along with using the Jam Player module. Adjust the tempo and pitch with the high-fidelity time-stretching engine. Easily record and layer looped parts with the sound-on-sound phrase sampler. With the built-in tuner and metronome, and optional 8-track recorder, JamUp delivers a complete, professional processing and recording solution.
Join our worldwide community with JamUp’s ToneCloud® connectivity. Create, share, and download custom presets right inside JamUp. Check out presets from top artists, staff picks, or user-created tones from all over the world.
JamUp now seamlessly integrates with Positive Grid’s BIAS Amp app, instantly expanding JamUp into a powerful and completely unified professional guitar system for live performance, recording, and jamming.
Features:
● Real-time guitar/bass amp and multi-effects processor
● Seamless integration with BIAS Amp
● Simultaneously run seven amp and effects models
● Drag-and-drop signal path for easy tone creation
● Six amps and 16 premium effects
● Additional 48 amp channels and 40 effect models (via in-app purchase expansion packs)
● Complete 8-track recorder system (via in-app purchase)
● Phrase sampler with undo feature, start module selection, and synchronized metronome
● Access to your iTunes library with time stretching (pitch/speed) engine via Jam Player
module
● Tone sharing, allowing you to download over 10,000 artist and user presets or share
your own
● 128 slot preset manager
● Live view control page
● Built-in tuner/metronome
● MIDI learning and assignment
● Audio copy/paste
● Audiobus support in 3 slots
● And much more!
For iPhone 7 users: You will need a Lightning interface with an output to use this Positive Grid app. For more information, please visit: https://help.positivegrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003558023-How-to-set-up-with-my-iPhone-iPad-
For more information, please visit:
www.positivegrid.com
Twitter: @PositiveGrid
facebook.com/positivegrid
First of all, JamUp has the best tone available on iOS. No questions asked. You can assign it’s amps and FX to the pedals on the AirTurn / BlueBoard / Core MIDI compatible pedal board.
If your pedalboard has an expression pedal, you can assign it to the output volume, wah pedal, and pitch shifter FX. You can also switch presets, control JamUps built in tempo clock, sampler, and music player (from the built in music app)
Loopy and Loopy HD
Loopy
by A Tasty Pixel
-
Rating
- $2.99
-
Platform
iOS (iPhone)
Loopy
As seen on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon -- Create music with Loopy by layering looped recordings of singing, beatboxing, or playing an instrument with a savvy, sophisticated, tactile new looper that totally reinvents the formula.
See also Loopy HD for iPad!
-- “This is the best loop station on the iPhone” -- Dub FX (dubfx.com)
-- “I pretty much own every mobile looper out there and Loopy is HANDS DOWN the best. Super simple interface with powerful features.” -- J. Alan Meier
-- “If you want a recording app that will get out of the way and just let you be creative, you just found it.” -- Dave Merson-Hess, indie film composer
-- “Loopy 2 is by far the best looper for the iPhone we’ve seen to date” -- iOS Recording
Compatible with the Audiobus app: Receive live audio directly from other Audiobus-compatible apps!
While other music creation apps tend to be either powerful but difficult to learn, or easy to use but limited in features, Loopy doesn't compromise. Loopy offers a sleek, expressive, instantly understandable interface that beginners can start using effectively straight away. It's fun, right from the start.
More advanced users, however, will not be disappointed by Loopy's rich feature set, with extra features many other loopers just don't have. Plus, a sophisticated interactive tutorial system lets users discover Loopy's more advanced features at their own pace.
RECORD AND LAYER
- Up to twelve beautifully rendered circular loops, with simple yet powerful controls.
- Count-in, count-out and record chaining lets you keep your hands free to play an instrument.
- MIDI control, to control Loopy via foot pedal or other controller.
- Overdub, to build beautiful, complex soundscapes from many layers.
- Support for tracks of any multiple or fraction of a beat, for flexible and expressive looping.
- Sophisticated audio or visual metronome to keep you in time - no matter what time signature you choose.
- Perfectly synchronized, low latency audio engine.
- Robust MIDI clock send and receive, and support for Ableton Link.
IMPORT AND CONSTRUCT
- Import loops from your computer via iTunes, with support for AIFF, WAV, MP3, M4A, CAF and more.
- Bring in audio from many other audio apps with integrated MAPI AudioPaste, with support for Intua general pasteboard format.
- Imported loops are automatically fit to your beat, no matter what tempo.
MANIPULATE AND TWEAK
- Full stereo audio, with pan controls for each track to create custom stereoscapes.
- Fix up timing by twisting tracks around to line up the beat, or make funky sound effects with dynamic time shifting.
- Drag a track onto another track to merge tracks, and clear up a space.
- Live, dynamic tempo adjustment to speed up or slow down your creations, without altering the pitch.
- MIDI clock sync, to play in time with other MIDI-capable devices or apps.
PERFORM AND SHARE
- Record whole performances with in-app session recording facilities.
- Upload performances or single loops straight to SoundCloud, and post to Twitter or Facebook.
- Email audio clips (with automatic conversion to compressed AAC audio).
- Share audio with many other audio apps with MAPI AudioCopy.
- Transfer loops or performances to your computer via iTunes.
---
Note: Loopy is a demanding application that requires an iPhone 3Gs and newer, or iPod Touch 3rd generation (with headset recommended) or newer to run well. Older devices are not recommended for use with Loopy.
-------
Loopy is developed by one guy who loves making great apps, and who is dedicated to responsive development and support. Please contact me with questions, bug reports, feature ideas, and other feedback at support@atastypixel.com or http://forum.loopyapp.com. I may be able to fix your issue in less time than it would take to write a negative review!
Loopy HD: Looper
by A Tasty Pixel
-
Rating
- $4.99
-
Platform
iOS (Universal)
Loopy HD: Looper
Create music with Loopy HD by layering looped recordings of singing, beatboxing, or playing an instrument with a savvy, sophisticated, tactile looper that totally reinvents the formula. As seen on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
https://loopyapp.com
-- “This is the best loop station on the iPhone” -- Dub FX (dubfx.net)
-- “I pretty much own every mobile looper out there and Loopy is HANDS DOWN the best. Super simple interface with powerful features.” -- J. Alan Meier
-- “If you want a recording app that will get out of the way and just let you be creative, you just found it.” -- Dave Merson-Hess, indie film composer
-- “Loopy 2 is by far the best looper for the iPhone we’ve seen to date” -- iOS Recording
Compatible with the Audiobus app: Record and loop live audio directly from other Audiobus-compatible apps!
While other music creation apps tend to be either powerful but difficult to learn, or easy to use but limited in features, Loopy doesn't compromise. Loopy offers a sleek, expressive, instantly understandable interface that beginners can start using effectively straight away. It's fun, right from the start.
More advanced users, however, will not be disappointed by Loopy's rich feature set, with extra features many other loopers just don't have. Plus, a sophisticated interactive tutorial system lets users discover Loopy's more advanced features at their own pace.
RECORD & LAYER
- Six, nine, or twelve beautifully rendered circular loops, with simple yet powerful controls.
- Count-in, count-out and record chaining lets you keep your hands free to play an instrument.
- MIDI control, to control Loopy via foot pedal or other controller.
- Overdub, to build beautiful, complex soundscapes from many layers.
- Support for tracks of any multiple or fraction of a beat, for flexible and expressive looping.
- Sophisticated audio or visual metronome to keep you in time - no matter what time signature you choose.
- Perfectly synchronized, low latency audio engine.
- Robust MIDI clock receive and send, and support for Ableton Link.
IMPORT & CONSTRUCT
- Import loops from your computer via iTunes, with support for AIFF, WAV, MP3, M4A, CAF and more.
- Bring in audio from many other audio apps with integrated audio copy and paste.
- Imported loops are automatically fit to your beat, no matter what tempo.
MANIPULATE & TWEAK
- Full stereo audio, with pan controls for each track to create custom stereoscapes.
- Fix up timing by twisting tracks around to line up the beat, or make funky sound effects with dynamic time shifting.
- Drag a track onto another track to merge tracks, and clear up a space.
- Live, dynamic tempo adjustment to speed up or slow down your creations, without altering the pitch.
- MIDI clock sync, to play in time with other MIDI-capable devices or apps.
PERFORM & SHARE
- Record whole performances with in-app session recording facilities.
- Upload performances or single loops straight to SoundCloud, and post to Twitter or Facebook.
- Email audio clips.
- Share audio with many other audio apps with audio copy and paste.
- Transfer loops or performances to your computer via iTunes.
-----
Loopy is developed by one guy who loves making great apps, and who is dedicated to responsive development and support. Please contact me with questions, bug reports, feature ideas, and other feedback at support@atastypixel.com or https://forum.loopyapp.com. I may be able to fix your issue in less time than it would take to write a negative review!
If you’re looking to loop your guitar in your performance look no further than Loopy HD (review). Paired with Audiobus, you can stream your guitar into Loopy and improvise over your recorded loops. Clock synth Loopy with a drum machine app like Funkbox and now you’ve got drums, too. Loop some guitars and have a jam session over a drum beat!
You can also assign the pedals on the AirTurn to control Loopy for hands free control over the app…
Street performance tips
Street Performing is all about location and having a clever act, if you’re in the right place at the right time doing something that makes your audience smile, like, say, looping your guitar and sequencing drumbeats all on your iPad to improvise / sing over, your audience will practically throw money at you. Another great thing you can do is talk to other performers to see where/when they’ve had/haven’t had success. Good luck!
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